This is ABUSE OF POWER >>>

[Stephanie]

Prosecuting the witness to your crimes? Going after the whistle-blower while proclaiming that you will continue to break the law and nobody can stop you? WHERE WILL THIS END? WHO WILL STOP BUSH?

Justice Department Launches an Investigation Into Leak of NSA's Domestic Surveillance Program
By TONI LOCY Associated Press Writer
The Associated Press

WASHINGTON Dec 30, 2005 — The Justice Department has opened an investigation into the leak of classified information about President Bush's secret domestic spying program, Justice officials said Friday.

The officials, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the probe, said the inquiry will focus on disclosures to The New York Times about warrantless surveillance conducted by the National Security Agency since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The Times revealed the existence of the program two weeks ago in a front-page story that acknowledged the news had been withheld from publication for a year, partly at the request of the administration and partly because the newspaper wanted more time to confirm various aspects of the program.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=1456023

[marylanddem]

1. Outrageous. Everyone needs to write to their congresspeople

and DEMAND impeachment. I finally got around to it the other day - Steny Hoyer. I don't know what took me so long. If we can all
just keep this ball rolling, I think we will get the impeachment we want. That's the only solution I see.

[mattomjoe]

2. What I REALLY want to know is when will this story

have its "Murtha moment"? Who is willing to come out and throw down the gauntlet on this???

[converted_democrat]

3. I'm really beginning to believe that no one will be able to stop them

before it's too late, and I'm beginning to fear it's already too late.

[tavalon]

33. We'll know in the Fall

earlier if we invade Iran.

[me b zola]

4. Clearly this is intimidation of whistleblowers

This criminal administration have a long history of intimidating those who would speak out against them, and crushing those who would be whistleblowers. This is so over the top it is mind-numbing.

Sibel Edmonds was calling for other whistleblowers to step forward. I hope they do so en masse.

[Fleshdancer]

5. It's getting so absurd, I actually laughed when I read this story

You know it's bad when crap like this doesn't surprise you anymore.

[underpants]

7. Consider the timing of this folks

Half of MY office is gone for the day. I doubt that many people will pay much attention to the news this weekend. They get this going and before you know it they are arresting reporters for telling the truth about them.

[Stephanie]

9. Exactly - It's the Ultimate Friday News Dump

The Last News Dump of the Last Friday of the Year

[underpants]

10. DING!

Yep.

Great work this year Stephanie with the pix and all. :thumbsup:

[Stephanie]

11. Thanks pal! Happy New Year!

:hi:

[Fleshdancer]

12. and I'm watching CNN reporting on the Rose Bowl Parade....

I actually watched an exchange between Rush's girlfriend and a political cartoonist discuss how today was a "slow news day" because "nothing was happening". This exchange was 30 minutes ago. So even if it wasn't close to a holiday, the major cable news channel is continuing their "hear no evil see no evil speak no evil" style of reporting. I swear I get more information watching the E! channel these days.

[underpants]

14. Outside our pods the Machines really have gotten off script

I posted this earlier-

the joke that I have been telling is "The Matrix" related--- You know, outside of the pods the machines are clearly running off of the script right now.

Things are so batshit crazy that it is hard to keep them straight. I could run down the laundry list but in the last two weeks alone I have heard nothing but ALL IS WELL and BE SCARED TO DEATH at the same time. Apparently "The capital of the world" takes a nutshot from a transit strike and all I have heard is how expensive it was and how the masters are hearing less gold fall into their coffers. At the exact same time Walmart pays $172 MILLION to people they drove like rented mules and didn't even let them fucking EAT during a 9 hour shift but no connection is made there. What message got out? Well from the holiday get togethers the sheeple were aghast at the benefits the MTA folks got "They can retire at 55!!!" Well shit sounds like our dumbasses need to get organized but no that can't get out there.

Seriously this is crazy. The President of the US openly admits breaking the law and the sheeple again rush out to make excuses for him. This is the same crowd that supposedly FEARS this very thing happening. Their own personal jesus is above the law, their country, them, and common sense. He actually bragged about doing it and then accused the reporters of being a threat to their fellow countrymen for telling the truth!! What is the hell is going on here?

Okay I could go on and on but this shit is nuts.

[Stephanie]

15. AP now reporting the probe was requested by NSA

The Justice Department's investigation was being initiated after the agency received a request for the probe from the NSA.

***

The administration formally defended its domestic spying program in a letter to Congress last week, saying the nation's security outweighs privacy concerns of individuals who are monitored.

In a letter to the chairs of the House and Senate intelligence committees, the Justice Department said Bush authorized conducting electronic surveillance without first obtaining a warrant in an effort to thwart terrorist acts against the United States.

Assistant Attorney General William E. Moschella acknowledged "legitimate" privacy interests. But he said those interests "must be balanced" against national security.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051230/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/domestic_spying_probe;_ylt=AgqD.SseHis45oVzK672nays0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA2Z2szazkxBHNlYwN0bQ--

[underpants]

17. "anonymous"persons asked for this?

First it wouldn't be hard for the WH to just demand that they ask for it. Secondly I understand that they have to remain anonymous (everyone at NSA basically is) but it reaks of this person not actually existing. I'm just saying.

[Lowell]

6. Beware! It is now a crime to report a crime

idiotic administration

[patriotvoice]

38. It's not a crime if you tell the authorities.

However, if you tell reporters, and it's an issue of national security, you are breaking the law.

(On Edit:
National Whistleblower Protection Act

"a) "Employer" means any individual, partnership, association, corporation or any person or group of persons acting directly or indirectly on behalf of, and shall also include any public or privately owned corporation, all branches of State and Federal Government..."

"An employer shall not take any retaliatory action against an employee because the employee does any of the following:

a) Discloses, threatens to disclose or is about to disclose to a supervisor or to a public body, an activity, policy or practice of the employer, a co-employee or another employer, that the employee reasonably believes is in violation of a law, or a rule or regulation promulgated pursuant to law, a violation of environmental or public health and safety requirements..."

So, while you can be prosecuted under the Protection of Confidential Intelligence and National Securities Act for going "public," you can rightfully defend your position with the National Whistleblower Protection Act)

[RufusEarl]

8. Interesting angle

If they "JD" get this person(s) will it help them or hurt them? It seems to me that this person(s) may have allot of information that could hurt this admin, me thinks they may not look very hard to find these "what I consider to be great americans"

Me thinks this is yet another smoke screen by this admin, try and muddy the waters and make it look like a crime has been commented by someone other then the president.

[Toots]

13. So if the Administration has known for over a year and asked them not to

publish it then the only Leaker is the Administration itself. They have had well over a year to go after the Leaker and yet did not do so. It is way past time for Congress to get involved in a big way. Democrats must demand investigations or walk out. If they do less they are complicit.

[Stephanie]

16. Democrats must return to Congress on time whether Repubs do or not

They must return in early January and get started. This criminal administration can't be allowed to run rampant and unchecked.

[druidity33]

32. whistleblower...

Please, let's give respect where respect is due and call this person(s) a whistleblower, after all they did REPORT A CRIME. Leaker just makes it sound too sleazy.

...small stickers to put in public restrooms...

[texpatriot2004]

18. Yet another example of abuse of power. They break the law,

but that's not the problem in their minds, the problem is that the info is leaked! Outrageous!

[smoogatz]

19. Bet the leaker is someone like Wilkerson

Powell's former aide. A disgruntled former WH, DOD, DOS or NSA staffer. I'll bet they've got more dirt than illegal NSA wiretapping on W. Best watch their backs.

[mwb970]

20. My latest missive to my Representative (Deborah Pryce, ick)...

Dear Ms. Pryce,

I would like to know as soon as possible what your response is to the revelation that our president has knowingly and willful violated American law (FISA) and the Constitution, and with it his oath of office, in ordering spying on American citizens without a court order, while reassuring Americans in speeches (e.g. April 20, 2004) that the government does not wiretap without a court order.

We now hear that the president considers the revelation of this crime to be the actual crime, and they intend to attack the messenger, as always, with full force.

This is horrifying and disgusting. The president is not a king or emperor. He is not above the law. He is not immune from the checks and balances built into the Constitution, which Bush apparently believes is nothing but a "piece of paper".

Do you, Deborah Pryce, support this illegal, unconstitutional behavior on the part of the president? Many consider this to be an impeachable offense. Do you?

I look forward to receiving your response.

[carolinalady]

21. Unfortunately, this has to be done-if we express outrage over

this then it appears that we hold a double standard re: Plame. Let them look, while we focus on the bigger fish which is the fact that the President broke the law and VIOLATED THE CONSTITUTION!!!!!!

[me b zola]

23. I disagree. This is an opportunity, once & for all,

to highlight the difference between leaking to report a crime (domestic spying), and leaking as criminal behavior (Plame/Wilson).

[Stephanie]

24. I wouldn't even call outting Plame "leaking"

In the Plame case, Rove et al. attempted to co-opt journalists in a crime - the crime of exposing the ID of an American spy. Some (Novak) took the bait and are complicit, others declined to participate but are witnesses to the crime. The outting was in and of itself the crime. Whereas a whistleblower, by definition, exposes a crime that he has knowledge of. Committing a crime versus exposing a crime. That's the difference between the traitors who outted Plame and the whistleblower who exposed Bush's illegal wiretaps.

[carolinalady]

27. Regardless of the fact, the case is being presented to the public

in the same light as the Plame case as far as a "leak". Everyone here knows how the spin machine works. Repukes will spin it so that if we complain about this investigation, we have a double standard. I have already heard comparisons on certain news networks. We will be so caught up in the rhetoric, the fact that once again Bush broke the law will be diminished. We need to stay on message that the cabal is corrupt and will use all means necessary to suppress the will of the United States people.

[desi]

22. And please don't forget what the answers to future questions

..will be after today. "We will NOT COMMENT on ongoing investigations." This regime is sooo slick.

[Lindsay]

31. I first read your comment as saying the regime is

"sooo sick."

I guess it's both.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

25. The crooks are sending in the "enforcers" to shut up whistleblowers.

Fascism is such fun. Aren't we glad to live in a country with a "transparant government"?

[me b zola]

28. Yeah, they're just spreading some more of that freedom & democracy

Fun with Fascism. Sounds kind of catchy.

[zoeb]

26. IMPEACH THE CHIMP!!!

Anyone know where I can get impeachment bumper stickers?

[yy4me]

30. Made mine a few days ago,

Printed in Huge letters IMPEACH W (the W centered under the word impeach). Printed and mounted it on an orange file folder.( Cut the folder to about 14" X 8". the Impeach W on white paper is smaller so that the sign has an inch or so orange border. Its not as professional as a real bumper sticker but it gets my thought across. It is proudly taped to my rear car window. I should make another saying "now" but I'll probably get stopped by the police for obstructing my view. I guess my comeback would be that I can see clearly, the only obstruction is in Washington. Its worth the ticket I know I'd get.

[zoeb]

34. I love your idea

I think Staples carries bumper sticker material. I may pop in tomorrow and pick some up.

[fooj]

29. I am sick of these rat bastards destroying my country.

When will enough be enough?

peace.

[ddeclue]

35. Actually the WHISTLEBLOWER

was obeying the law by exposing a criminal consipiracy. The President was obstructing justice by stamping it "TOP SECRET". They got Nixon on the same thing and also for intimidating and bribing witnesses which is what this "investigation" of the NYTimes smells like to me.

This "investigation" will blowback on the administration however because the NYTimes buys ink by the tanker truck and has a huge megaphone to shout down the administration. Other administrations have found out the same thing, Richard Nixon for instance over the Pentagon Papers. In fact that will be the first citation the NYTimes lawyers will bring up.

Doug D.

[walldude]

36. Ha! Typical... subvert the Constitution then blame it on the people

who ratted you out. Yo, maybe if you clowns inspired some kind of loyalty people wouldn't be in such a hurry to rat you out. Jackasses. This reminds me of the whole Gannon thing, when it came to light Faux did a bunch of stories on how it was the bloggers that were screwing up America, not the WH that let a gay hooker in the press room.

[StefanX]

37. "Prosecuting the witness"

I think you've hit on a very good soundbite there.