Dems want to see citizen-monitoring database

[annabanana]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15856195/

(Just on NBC Nightly News - GOOD report!)

A year ago, an NBC News investigation revealed the existence of a secret Pentagon database that included information on antiwar protests and American peace activists.

Now, newly disclosed documents reveal new details on who was targeted and which other government agencies may have helped monitor Americans. At universities across the country, an antiwar group called Veterans for Peace has staged protests by setting up crosses for soldiers killed in Iraq. In New Mexico last year, the local paper described the event as a display of honor

-snip-

"What's clear is that there's a proliferation of surveillance and targeting of Americans who have done nothing wrong, other than disagree with the government," Anthony Romero (ACLU) says. The documents also suggest for the first time that agents of the Department of Homeland Security played a role in monitoring antiwar activities. A DHS spokesman says agents merely disseminated public information about public events that could impact federal buildings.

-snip-

"I fully intend to ask what's in those databanks, because many of them go way beyond any legitimate needs for our security," says Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy.
Congress wants to know not just what data was collected, but why and how it was to be used.

[Mythsaje]

1. I hope they carry through with this...

Monitoring people who are simply exercising their rights too frightening a precedent to tolerate.

[Cobalt Violet]

2. K & R.

I love to hear this.

[William769]

3. K & R.

[Radio_Lady]

4. Good for Pat Leahy -- let's see some follow through...

Thanks for posting.

[bonito]

5. I hear oversight , kick n/t

[w4rma]

6. Got to love those double meaning headlines.

:sarcasm:

[JerseygirlCT]

7. Yeah that one really caught me, too nt

[Richard Steele]

22. Yup, I know. That's a beaut, innit?

[williesgirl]

8. This database needs to be deleted and a law passed forbidding ever again.

recommended

[Sirveri]

18. I don't really understand the sentiment.

They make a database saying person X went to this anti war rally. OK. I don't understand really what the big deal is. If asked if you ever went to an anti-war rally, would you deny it like you were ashamed of it or something? I guess I just don't understand how this is bad or even usefull to anyone. At worst it seems like it is simply a waste of time. Maybe someone here could explain it to me better. I think of it like my mom blocking her phone number from showing up on caller ID, I don't get it. I'm not attacking the position, I'm just trying to understand where it is comming from.

[benEzra]

20. The question is, if what the government is doing is so innocuous,

then why are they doing it? Because they are simply curious as to which Americans attend anti-war rallies? If that's it, why would they spend millions of dollars to do it without a purpose in mind?

BTW, there are a LOT of people within the government that would like to create databases for "fighting terror" and then use those immense powers against petty non-terrorism-related crimes. Advocates of the Patriot Act are already bragging about how those 4th-amendment-busting powers are being used against people suspected of drug crimes. (Purchased any books on hydroponics using a credit card lately? You might be next.)

As a gun-owning nonhunter, this type of crap has always made me nervous, for obvious reasons.

[Tight_rope]

30. DING! DING! DING! "simply a waste of time" and lets not forget the money

This what our hard...and I do mean hard earned tax dollars was/is wasted on.

[NVMojo]

9. once upon a time in Amerika, conservatives feared their government

would do this to them ...today, they are directing it ...fucking explain that to me

[Charlie Brown]

10. they are not "conservatives"

they're f****** fascists.

[Eurobabe]

11. title is a little confusing, but after reading, I see what the MSM meant

Kind of like Dems want to bring back the Draft!!

I hope Dems get this out in the open.

[file83]

13. Me too! I thought by "want to see" they meant "want to create"...

...I was just about ready to do a back flip. :rofl:

[Vidar]

12. Good to hear. Recommended.

[drm604]

14. Let's hear it for oversight!

:applause:

[Zorra]

15. Makes me even prouder to be a Democrat. n/t

[nam78_two]

16. I am thankful for Senator Pat Leahy/nt

[zann725]

21. My thoughts exactly!

n/t

[Threedifferentones]

17. That headline is a bit misleading

I was angry for a second, the title seemed to suggest that Dems were in favor of a database that monitors citizens.

[PBass]

19. I'd bet "dollars to donuts that the list coincides strongly

with the citizens who have been spied on without a warrant (NSA wiretaps).

I GUARANTEE that some of the warrantless wiretaps were used against protestors, as well as progressive political "enemies". (Just a hunch)

You go, Patrick Leahy!!!

[Naipes]

29. I absolutely agree! Liberal Media My Ass

The title should be Dems want to investigate... not Dems want to see...

That title was used on purpose.

[AIJ Alom]

23. The peace activists must be kept quiet and in check otherwise the

support for invasion and war will be undermined by such things as facts. I mean if peace activists were not stymied, watched carefully, and the media led away from their protests and declarations of facts, then how else would the majority of Americans be duped into supporting a war based on lies and false intelligence that has been planned for years.

[Tight_rope]

32. LMAO...you made me spit my tea..

Don't do that again...LMAO

[stepnw1f]

24. Who? Liberals, Activists, Democrats, Greens....

....that's who's in this database.

[sarcasmo]

25. Kick for the truth.

[BrightKnight]

26. I ran into some stuff in Crawford.

There was definitely an intimidation / reconnaissance effort. I still don't feel comfortable posting the details in a public forum.

I'm not easily intimidated. Saying something about it at the time would have played into their hand. I was just a moderate freedom loving American Democrat that disagreed with the idiots in charge. Apparently I was not alone.

This is not the USSR! Somebody should shine a light on these KGB assholes. This kind of thing must stop. All the of data that was collected should be reviewed by a committee. If there is no compelling case for keeping the information it should be destroyed.

[Massachusetts]

27. Power (control of information included)

Must be put back in the hands of We The People, otherwise Our Democracy doesn't work.

[zreosumgame]

28. next look at the 'Do Not Fly' list

the one that 'just happens' to include Teddy kennedy and Cindy Sheehan, along with 6 month old babies. In fact just about anyone EXCEPT the real bad guys.

[TexasLawyer]

31. Sandia Labs

They should also look into the info being collected and/or monitored at Sandia Labs.

How was this employee at Sandia able to access this detailed information on the Linkin Park lead singer?!?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2630911

[smb]

33. Proof That

Term Limits Isn't Enough -- We Need Jail.

[LiberalFighter]

34. MSM should ask how many of them are in that database

[NotGivingUp]

35. God, I would LOVE to see them nail their asses!

[GreatPirateRoberts]

36. Oh Yes!!!

Bushco needs to go down for the count!

[symbolman]

37. Notice the USE of the words here:

"public events that could impact federal buildings." in relation to AntiWar protesters.. IMPACT.. sounds pretty bad, don't it.. How about "affect", nope, doesn't sound SCARY enough considering 911..

It's called a few things, Wordsmithing in the old days, Psyops now..

These things don't write themselves :)