2015 American Politics Thread: The 114th Congress Is in the House!

Freedom of the Press Foundation:

While the bill has many significant flaws, the USA Freedom Act vote is also historic: it’s the first time since the 1970s that Congress has indicated its intention to restrict the vast powers of intelligence agencies like the NSA, rather than exponentially expand them. It also shows the power that investigative journalism and brave whistleblowing can have on even the most entrenched government interests. Two years ago, debating these modest changes would’ve been unthinkable, and it is absolutely a vindication for Edward Snowden.

Unfortunately, the bill is also woefully inadequate and largely symbolic, and Congress would’ve been better off letting Section 215 of the Patriot Act expire permanently. The USA Freedom Act supposedly bans bulk collection of phone records or any other private records, and we certainly hope it actually does. But its provisions are vague and confusing, leading many legal experts to believe they could be re-interpreted in secret—by NSA lawyers with a history of warping the common definitions of ordinary words beyond recognition—and could lead the FISA court to continue to allow the NSA to collect large quantities of Americans’ data in secret. (The administration will shamefully now re-start the phone program that expired on Monday for six months, as allowed under the new law's "transition" period.)

The ultra-secret FISA court, a Kafkaesque nightmare for civil liberties, also gets to keep many of its worst features, with just minor changes around the edges. Such an anathema to democracy should be dismantled entirely.

https://freedom.press/blog/2015/06/our-statement-congress-passing-usa-freedom-act-nsa-reform-bill

But its provisions are vague and confusing, leading many legal experts to believe they could be re-interpreted in secret—by NSA lawyers with a history of warping the common definitions of ordinary words beyond recognition—and could lead the FISA court to continue to allow the NSA to collect large quantities of Americans’ data in secret.

http://www.theblaze.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/John-Yoo.jpg

ahhh that chump

Unfortunately, the bill is also woefully inadequate and largely symbolic, and Congress would’ve been better off letting Section 215 of the Patriot Act expire permanently. The USA Freedom Act supposedly bans bulk collection of phone records or any other private records, and we certainly hope it actually does. But its provisions are vague and confusing, leading many legal experts to believe they could be re-interpreted in secret—by NSA lawyers with a history of warping the common definitions of ordinary words beyond recognition—and could lead the FISA court to continue to allow the NSA to collect large quantities of Americans’ data in secret.

this is classic "good as the enemy of perfect" and while there is basis for their concerns it seems like the more successful rhetorical tack to take would be to build on this bill's passage and the forces behind it to ensure that the concerns enumerated do not come to pass

That's how I regard it.

But its provisions are vague and confusing, leading many legal experts to believe they could be re-interpreted in secret—by NSA lawyers with a history of warping the common definitions of ordinary words beyond recognition—and could lead the FISA court to continue to allow the NSA to collect large quantities of Americans’ data in secret.

i assume this is what will happen, but at least now if they are found out (thanks to some snowden jr.?) it will be clearer that they are going against the spirit of a bill passed by congress.

that's not a lot to be thankful for, though. but until more people in this country get mad about this stuff and actually vote out their politicians for this issue we're not going to see much changing. c'est la vie...

not to be a total downer cynic but oliver north was going against the spirit and letter of a bill passed by congress, and somehow became a national hero.

to be fair, he's a hero to a minority of folks. most people know him as a criminal.

i mean sgt. calley was a hero to some, also.

but he never meant shit to me, etc.

most people know him as a criminal.

most people know him as that guy with shows on the history channel, I expect

what show is that? "great traitors in history"?

oh I guess it's on Fox

"War Stories with Oliver North"

the "Fox Business Network" to be precise

i'm skeptical because i assume that requests to spy on americans will continue to disappear into the FISA black box, because there are neverending methods to be kafkaesque, but have to admit this warms my heart and encourages me that it's a step in the right direction

McConnell: USA Freedom Act is "a resounding victory for those who are currently plotting against our homeland."

i hate a lot of politicians, but he's one of the select few where my brain just automatically replaces certain words with their opposite and it always makes more sense

trust me, i was there, and there was considerable "populist love" for North right after his testimony

and yes i'm sure Prez Hil and/or Walker/Jeb and the Republican Congress will dismantle the security state, hope i live to see it

that didn't take long

Denny is so going to jail

ugh

the tide is shifting on fast track--they're trying to put it to a vote friday.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CHKX8L1UkAAHA0x.jpg

wow that image was a lot bigger than I thought!

beware men with cherub's curls

so mooching is the biggest scandal we got on him, eh

Diane Rehm: Senator, you have dual citizenship with Israel.

Bernie Sanders: Well, no I do not have dual citizenship with Israel. I'm an American. I don't know where that question came from. I am an American citizen, and I have visited Israel on a couple of occasions. No, I'm an American citizen, period.

[Diane] Rehm: I understand from a list we have gotten that you were on that list.

Sanders: No.

Rehm: Forgive me if that is—

Sanders: That's some of the nonsense that goes on in the internet. But that is absolutely not true.

Rehm: Interesting. Are there members of Congress who do have dual citizenship or is that part of the fable?

Sanders: I honestly don't know but I have read that on the internet. You know, my dad came to this country from Poland at the age of 17 without a nickel in his pocket. He loved this country. I am, you know, I got offended a little bit by that comment, and I know it's been on the internet. I am obviously an American citizen and I do not have any dual citizenship.

npr apparently has a "list."

and it never will be missed

is this npr being dense or is this a scoop of some sort Im confused

jewish journal thinks this is the list in question so You Decide

http://www.jewishjournal.com/images/bloggers/diane.jpg

wow, so many dual citizenships, must be credible

since Schumer has/will have infinitely more power than Sanders, this was a curious time to bring up an old list (w/ JoeMentum and Barney Crank on it).

p sure Jerry Nadler is not a Likudnik

"a curious time to bring up an old list," surely the age of the list is not the most notably curious aspect of bringing it up. shush, morbz.

"it's not even up to date! some of these dual loyalty rothchildians aren't even in office anymore!"

so that list is basically just JEWS right?

yes mord, i agree, the fustiness of it just adds to the weirdness

i chuckle at whatever scurrilous horseshit gets thrown at Schmucko and his departed protege the Schwanz, however

NPR just trying to get a teeny bit more fed funding by proving to President Nixon they are not run by Jews, 45 years late.

so that list is basically just JEWS right?

― Οὖτις, Wednesday, June 10, 2015 2:59 PM (11 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

yeah it seems to be almost every jew in congress. so NPR basically asked sanders a question based on a "list" put together by some anti-semite crazies?

i have an old list by some guy named mccarthy they might want to run by the candidates, too.

fair and balanced public radio, embracing old-school capitalist traits (at the behest of Ira Glass, oh the irony)

well, that was an incoherent post

fwiw rehm has already come out on the "clearly this is false, i'm **glad** i could help put this **rumor** to **rest**" front

"i'm gley-ahhhd i could heyyulp put this roomher to rayust"

Now, now, Rehm has a health condition that makes her speak like that. But yea, she never researches that well, and has now apologized for this line of questioning saying she "read it on Facebook."

House votes Friday on Trade Promotion Authority

A piece on the business front of this morning’s New York Times runs down some of the language being inserted into the bill to get Republican votes, including anti-immigration language from Iowa Rep. Steve King. A Huffington Post item getting circulated widely among progressives says that the customs enforcement bill being voted on Friday includes language that would excuse the U.S. from any trade deal obligations to address climate change. Unions are threatening to back primary challengers against members who cross them on this vote, and they’re running ads in swing districts on the issue. These stories make it harder to sell the base on the necessity of siding with the president.

Now, now, Rehm has a health condition that makes her speak like that.

! is that so, i had no idea

yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees

http://obamatrade.com/

cmooooooon wingnuts lets go

Trump is always so angry

ugh god having actually looked at that site i feel gross now