Lieberman's at it again: Internet 'kill switch' proposed for US

[no_hypocrisy]

A new US Senate Bill would grant the President far-reaching emergency powers to seize control of, or even shut down, portions of the internet.

The legislation says that companies such as broadband providers, search engines or software firms that the US Government selects "shall immediately comply with any emergency measure or action developed" by the Department of Homeland Security. Anyone failing to comply would be fined.

That emergency authority would allow the Federal Government to "preserve those networks and assets and our country and protect our people," Joe Lieberman, the primary sponsor of the measure and the chairman of the Homeland Security committee, told reporters on Thursday. Lieberman is an independent senator from Connecticut who meets with the Democrats.

Due to there being few limits on the US President's emergency power, which can be renewed indefinitely, the densely worded 197-page Bill (PDF) is likely to encounter stiff opposition.


http://www.zdnet.com.au/internet-kill-switch-proposed-for-us-339303838.htm

[HereSince1628]

1. Joe needs to get back on the tranquilizers

The FEAR is really getting to him.

[Jkid]

3. You've never experienced FEAR until you met Alma.

[HereSince1628]

6. I've never met Alma

so I guess I can't know

[Jkid]

7. That was actually meant for Joe

As in Joe has never experienced real FEAR until she meets Alma.

[jp11]

20. That game was lame and too short IIRC, I'm angry I bought it grrr.

:argh:

[DirkGently]

15. Protect us from what, exactly -- commie SPAM?

Put down the fascism, Joe, and slowly back away.

:crazy:

[saigon68]

2. Joe needs removal

[lonestarnot]

5. Why is he still there? Needed that last election.

[saigon68]

28. The present Occupant lets him keep his committee

He is a traitor and worse

[LaurenG]

4. Why? Why would the government need to have the power to declare Marshall Law over the internet?

:shrug:

[liam_laddie]

17. It's "martial" law...n/t

[LaurenG]

27. Ooops thanks - nt

[denverbill]

8. Because you can never give up enough liberty to be secure. n/t

[ellenfl]

9. did you read the comments?

do they sound liberal? zdnet is a cbs company.

ellen fl

[Ian David]

10. As long as I have enough notice to fill my hard drive with porn first. n/t

[City Lights]

11. How would an internet kill switch protect me?

Sounds like a steaming pile of bullshit to me.

[unblock]

18. i think the idea is that if 2 terrists are chatting harmlessly on the innertubes,

it's better to shut down the whole thing, until the oil of unrelated country has been secured.

[City Lights]

24. Just as I suspected!

:argh:

[Better Believe It]

29. It would protect you from knowing the truth. The government will tell you what to believe.

[Angry Dragon]

12. I would like to see a kill switch for fox news

[me b zola]

13. I have a better Idea:

A shanghai style trap door under Lieberman's senate seat.

[formercia]

16. Arrgh!

Where's me Grog, ya' bootie!?

[Laelth]

14. Holy goodness, no!

Shall I quote the First Amendment?

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

That's right. Congress shall make no law that abridges the freedom of speech. That's exactly what this proposed law would do, and it would be unconstitutional on its face.

Lieberman took an oath to uphold the Constitution. He should be ashamed, and his proposal should be put to rest immediately.

:dem:

-Laelth

[MadHound]

19. Like the Constitution is going to stop this sort of madness

It started with the Patriot Act and continues to this very day. My bet, this bill is passed and signed into law before November. That way, Dems facing reelection can tout it as part of their "being tough on terra" initiative for the voters.

[Laelth]

23. The new face of fascism? Kinder and gentler because its proponents have a D after their names?

I can not accept that. Sadly, I fear that you are right.

:dem:

-Laelth

[umeyer]

21. What he really wants is automatic kill switch for anti-Lieberman Web sites

[SoCalDem]

31. I think Joe's senate days are numbered..and he probably knows it too.

I'm sure there's a cushy job out there waiting for the old fart

[Fumesucker]

22. And yet it was Ralph Nader's fault that Gore did not become President..

:eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes:

[cliffordu]

25. How about a STFU switch on Lieberman??

[Catshrink]

26. The Iranian theocratic model of government moves closer

[Divine Discontent]

30. just absolutely disgusting, and a further march down the road for Big Brother...

this shit has to end. we have to put progressives in like Franken, and no more 'centrist' than John Kerry (who I admire greatly!). we need to tell people to think about which Democratic candidate they're voting for and mention these kinds of stories - and have them ask themselves, who would approve of this happening? We know all Repubs would, but all blue dogs reps and some Dem senators probably would too.