A little 80s flashback…
This time two years ago, George Bush was still on vacation. If you haven’t seen it, do take a little while to watch the David Shuster review of Bush’s very bad week. (H/T to C&L.) And Dan Balz has this to say in the WaPo:
From the intoxicating heights of President Bush’s 2004 reelection victory, the GOP has fallen into a state of disrepair that rivals the party’s low ebb after Watergate in the 1970s. In some ways, conditions may be worse today than they were then.
Whoever leads the party into the 2008 general election will be saddled with responsibility for charting a vision that offers independent voters a credible break from the record of the past few years while reenergizing a conservative coalition that has been vital to the party’s achievements.
The party’s political success over the past three decades was built by assembling a conservative coalition based on economic, security and moral issues. Consider the ways in which Republicans have surrendered the high ground on all three.
Or, how about this, Dan? The GOP’s political success was built on smoke and mirrors — and lying to the people for whom the issues you list actually mean something in order to gain the one thing that mattered: power. But for those for whom power is the biggest motivation, the corrupted core is eventually exposed for the fetid turdblossom that it is.
Grand old party, indeed. The difference today from where we were in 2004? A helluva lot more people see the tiny man behind the curtain for the freak show he’s leading the nation on down the yellow brick road paved with brick upon brick of failure.
(And if you have an 80s video you’d like to share, please do so in the comments. We could all use a bit of a break today, couldn’t we?)
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Christy!
zip?
nooo, not wang chung!
Near zed!
Christy’s here! But there seems to be a video missing . . .
zed?
zed?
Yooouukilis!!! Go Sox!!!
That is what chaps my ass tho. :/
hardly
I read first
Christy’s up late tonite
Dang, stopped to read first. Good to have Christy this late in the day!
Bob in HI
CTuttle @ 8
Settle down Charles……they ain’t gonna beat my Yankees
Video is there — WordPress ate the damn link and I had to insert it a second time. If you refresh the page, it’s there.
Thought we could all do with a dueling 80s video distraction thread. *g*
james @ 12
The fat lady ain’t sung yet…!!! :P
Or, you could consider the ways in which Republicans fooled folks into thinking they were on the high ground in the first place.
Oh, look — a shiny penny! . . .
detroits best kept secret of the 80s
http://www.figuresonabeach.com/video.htm
Christy writes:
DINGDINGDINGDING!!!!
There is no way that the Rethugs could win elections if they ran honestly on their platforms and actual policies, rather than their lies and Orwellian obfuscations.
Sunlight goes a long way to disinfecting the diseases of these cockroaches.
Federer up 6-1, 4-3 leads 30-15
Christy! You’re up late tonight.
Is a Wang Chung anything like a
Wang Dang Doodle?
Peterr @ 15
scary gays and brown people
Just a meager request. Might the fat lady sing prior to an invasion of Iran? Just asking?
A
Late NitePajama Party with Christy? Oh boy!yazoo!
LS @ 21
Party Pooper…!!! :P
George Michael~!
Haven’t see anyone mention it yet, and I sort of breezed over it since Katie Couric reporting from Iraq sounded like a yawn. However, according to the NY Times, Couric is hoping to arrange an interview with the 7 soldiers who wrote the op-ed in the Times.
WOO HOO!
Yankees 4-3.
Mo’s got a naaasty cutter.
todd @ 26
I’ll watch her if she does that.
hey, it’s lower case jane hamsher on her treo!
I’ll be Dancin’ in the Streets Inauguration Day 2009!
Fat ladies sing it the BEST!!
todd @ 26
I mentioned it. I think it is a ratings ploy. The only good part of it was that Lara Logan was supposed to do 4-5 reports.
Here’s the real deal…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMylfkSDKV0
I just saw the PBS Moyers report on the leadup to the war. I knew about much of this before, but seeing it all there is really SHOCKING! And to think that most of those warmonger liars are still deep in this shit- Crystol, Perle, Krautheimer, Friedman, the folks and the Washington Post, Time, NYT, Newsweek – to say nothing of Fox, CNN, ABC, NBC. It boggles the mind just how bad this has been and continues. And then they say, well the Democratic party is supposed to offer an alternative view. And of course we know that for the most part the Dems basically laid down and played chicken to the Rethug wolves.
Somehow we have to find a way not to let IRAN happen.
I don’t think we are over with these jerks by a long shot. Part of it is party (Rethug versus the neo-con branch of the Dem party), but part of it is much bigger than this.
And for some weird reason, my snarky YouTube links got eaten in the post, too — they are all now back in if you’d care to refresh.
mack @ 20
The mechanism of control is fear. Keep everybody afraid of the everybody else, starting with the scapegoats du jour. We no longer have a two party system. We have a political party and a gang of brownshirt thugs… with guns.
What is war good for?
At least back in 1974 the Republicans still had some leaders of stature (deserved or not) that were personally untouched by the Watergate scandal (Reagan, Goldwater, Dole, Howard Baker, among others.)
I’m not saying they were saints or anything, but they were giants compared to what’s left on the GOP depth chart now.
Elliott @ 30
Good one, Ell!
jane hamsher @ 27
Is that a nasty bad naughty cutter?
and speaking of scary 80s gays,
Klaus Nomi
Christy Hardin Smith @ 35
Heh, Redd, that’s the one…!!!
travy @ 23
lol, yeah, i was more into yaz, laurie anderson and the baus haus.
todd @ 26
10 to 1 it is to rip them to shreds. She is such a pro-war nut it is scary. Beneath the perky is a ms. nasty.
Loo Hoo. @ 37
erm
70s , I think
mack @ 41
RIP Klaus
OT
Crude oil supplies fell by 3.5 million bbl last week. This leaves stocks still above the average range.
Gasoline fell by 3.6 million bbl. This is a 20 day supply the lowest it has ever been. Last year by contrast, it was around 20.5 days. However, Labor Day is near and inventories while remaining tight should not significantly worsen.
Crude oil prices rose to $73.51. I don’t have a good explanation for this but crude oil has been high all summer without any specific triggers. If this persists it may indicate not speculative gamesmanship but the beginning of long term effects from peak oil. Stay tuned.
captain sensible – wot
todd @ 26
yeah. And I’m sure she’ll just be so f-ing cute that I’ll have to gag myself with a spoon.
“Open your eyes to the light right in front of you”
Lords of the New Church.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kz4-utQ8mtA
lyrics once again on point.
A message to you Rudy.
Here’s one especially for Christy . . . Live Aid, 1985
If I were a cynic, I’d say that the repubs plan to dump their scandal-ridden members and get replacements quickly might be their best chance. Especially since theyll then shower federal money on these districts so that the new reps can shine.
1982. The Clash.
Great song. Great history lesson. Plus ca change….
The video is here: Rock the Casbah
solai @ 28
That might just save her!
this calls for a glass of wine, anybody else?
Christy Hardin Smith @ 35
Nice! Thanks, Christy.
Eureka Springs @ 51
I saw them and Willie DeVille at Irving Plaza….what a night!!!
Generals and Majors
Bryan Adams – Heaven.
As much as I’m grateful for finding a job, oh mannie, what a long day. And this song brought back a little of the innocence of those days.
Hope some of you gals who liked him them enjoy it. And, there’s a totally cool recorder solo on this updated version.
Peace.
Eureka Springs @ 51
good one
Shorter Katie “But I’m a Cheerleader” Couric: “82nd Airborne…Go Team, Go! Yaaaaay!”
Simple Minds is my contribution.
mack @ 20
Vegan anarchists are really scary – whole bunch of ‘em (SHAC) got sent to Federal prison for their website.
Imagine what vegans could do if they ever get tired of pixels and start slinging objects…
bunch of skinny kids throwiing tofu all over Burger King’s boardroom, or something
Hey – what about enviros? we’re scary too, now.
Now that we’re regarded as domestic terrorists for having sit-ins and tree-sits.
(Of course, before that we were known as “eco-terrorists”…after a timber industry PR flack peddled the term for years.
Well, I guess Big Timber was terrified.
The “Zero-Cut” campaign threatened to end corporate logging in our National Forests, after all.)
I’m not sure this is 80’s either, but wtf? Be sure you turn up the volume!
Loo Hoo. @ 55
Do you think she’d do that to praise them or try trapping them into saying something they can be brought up on charges for?
the flying lizards – money
Peterr at 52 — Oh, you are far too good to me. *g*
Valley Girl @ 49
oh just give her perky a couple days in Iraqi heat. if it doesn’t wilt, she never left the AC & you won’t have ta watch her, unless you’re hooked on pre-digested fauxnewz.
Elliott @ 56
Thanks, but I’ve heard never to mix the grape with the grain.
wangdangdoodle @ 31
Is this the linky?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-D99n9f3vU4
Elliott @ 56
Uhmmm…this is a Pajama Party! I thought we were gonna have Shirley Temples?
Elliott @ 30
Gonna be just like you say, Elliot! The whole world will be dancing.
wangdangdoodle @ 70
surely good advice ;)
Thompson Twins and the Republican Theme Song Lies
And for Senator Craig
She Bop
travy @ 67
Wasn’t that one of the songs on “The Wedding Singer”….
One of my all time favorite movies…..
james @ 66
whichever she thought would get better ratings…
yeah, bRick….. House!
CTuttle @ 71
Oh, you such a fungi!
;)
I hear the fat lady in the distance, Charles!
james @ 66
Hadn’t thought of that. Just assumed it would be an honest interview. What was I thinking.
wangdangdoodle @ 31
Who ever heard of a MALFORMED VIDEO?
james @ 66
The latter. She can be vicious with anyone who doesn’t tow the administration line. I think she is neocon at heart. Her maternal grandparents were holocaust survivers I think, but she was brought up Episcopalian. Who would do that to a kid? Must have been strange. She is sorta two faced maybe as a result in part.
mack @ 45
Yeah, well, two points for you, but…
Loo Hoo, very cool song. I played it for sonny-boy who was introduced to it watching Rush Hour.
Very Cool, Sistah!
Mad Dogs @ 72
PILLOW FIGHT!!!!
Dang, this YouTube stuff is addictive. George Harrison-Set On You is one of my all time favorite songs.
I miss Imus. He would have been all over that story.
YANKEES!!!!!!!!
4-3
Elliott @ 56
Already there! All this 80’s music, I’ll have to go and tease up a wall-o-bangs. Hope I still have some AquaNet around somewhere!
80’s you say?
Craig special…
In honor of Redd and Jane and all the other fearless ladies of da Lake.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAYK_e1uDoo
Jonathan Richman – I Was Dancing in the Lesbian Bar
And Rove is still out there running amok, transacting his dirty business. While Lieberman, Cheney and the Israeli government push us into Iran.
solai @ 81
I don’t trust her even though I could throw her.
So, did everyone hear that Sen. Craig is going into rehab to treat his restroom leg syndrome?
(ba dum bum…thank yew!)
THHUUUUUUUUH YANKEES win!!!
(Which means that Boston loses!)
Yankees still 6 back in the East, but tied for first with Seattle in the Wild Card race!
Big Mitch is happy guy!
Loo Hoo. @ 82
Oh, hell. That was supposed to be Aretha Franklin’s “Think”. I am tech-doomed today!
james @ 88
:P!!! Bosox are still the best in the Bigs and 6 ahead!!!
wangdangdoodle @ 70
I’m with you sister. Fosters tonight.
Contrary to pubic opinion, not only was there good music in the 80s, but not everyone had big hair. Gadgets were big, though.
[warning: 10 minutes of the late, great Michael Brecker with band and a very boyish Mike Stern on guitar]
May all you profs, lecturers, kndgtn herd-dawgs, & everyone else, especially partners of same, have a smooth beginning to the “school” year!
[in spite of no-child-behinded *sigh*]
Huzzah!
Here’s another . . . it’s a long video, but the song you need to hear that says “1980s” starts at about 3:20.
A couple years ago, my little one heard this one Saturday on DVD, then demanded to have it played it over and over until he had it memorized. On Monday morning, he went into his pre-school, raised his little three year old fist, and started singing the chorus.
I had to explain it to the teacher, who burst out laughing. “I was a classmate of Paul Simon’s in college, and sang with him in a couple of college talent shows!”
newspaperbrat @ 91
Great choice!
Christy Hardin Smith @ 68
Hey, just returning the joy you bring around here.
newspaperbrat @ 91
I second that!!
I just finished a Spaten with my veggie burger….
unusual combination but it does work…..
infoshaman @ 54
o yeah, clash city rockers :)
wangdangdoodle @ 85
Somebody’s bra is going to end up in the freezer, I just know it!
Christy Hardin Smith @ 95
That’s it! no more spew warnings for you! *s*
Hi demi! Welcome to the party!
TheOtherWA @ 103
Kewl Tribute!!!
Christy Hardin Smith @ 95
Christy- is that really you? Or has someone hacked your moniker? ;)
Oklahoma kiddo @ 93
glass-a wine, roughrider?
ticktock @ 106
Spaten works with many things. I like the HefeWeizen, meself.
VG at 112 — Oh, it’s me. I’m just punchy because I’ve been back-up modding all day on top of doing research for tomorrow… *g*
I think this was the 80’s.
Valley Girl @ 112
OMG….OMG…OMG….
I’m glad I just finished my beer…
hahahahahaha
infoshaman @ 54
jimmy jazz :)
TheOtherWA @ 103
Indeed.
*raising glass*
To the Ladies of the Lake!
*ding*
Sorry to bug you guys, but earlier today I was pushing a program on CSpan2 about FISA and the whole NSA surveillance law. The program was a panel put out by the Center for American Progress with Kate Martin, Mort Halperin, Mary DeRosa, and Mickey Edwards. It is the best I’ve seen at explaining the whole ball of wax. Thought you might want to know it’s being replayed right now.
madmommy @ 108
I just KNOW I’ll be the first to pass out and get decorated with a Sharpy marker.
My extra-special dedication to Alberto Gonzales — Scandal’s “Goodbye to You”.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAKyHhuw1HA
-S
ticktock @ 118
lol
OK, this is from 1977 but … Ian Dury & the Blockheads … how can you not love it?!?
wangdangdoodle @ 110
Party. Party. Party.
It’s So Freakin’ Hot in LA, still over 100 on my front porch. I think I’m gonna do that bra in the freezer thing.
boing – back dive, half twist, straight position, no splash
g’evening everyone (waving to christy)
AP – Congressional auditors have determined that the Iraqi government has failed to meet the vast majority of political and military goals laid out by lawmakers to assess President Bush’s Iraq war strategy, The Associated Press has learned.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 115
Well, if that’s what it takes… ;)
Christy Hardin Smith @ 95
I hear Relax is a therapy that might work for the Senator
Ann in AZ @ 120
that was really a worthwhile forum.
Is someone here ambitious enough to put all these links on a CD for us? I’d pay for that.
Loo Hoo. @ 65
Late ’70s … GREAT song from a great Bay Area band!
wangdangdoodle @ 121
with all the tattoos out & about these days, how we gonna tell?! u leave instruckations?
Suzanne @ 126
((((((((((SUZ!))))))))))
wangdangdoodle at 131 — I hope not. Because that would be some serious piracy and copyright infringement…
O.o
Christy Hardin Smith @ 115
Roar!
(I didn’t get a chance to say You’re Welcome for the writeup on Issa’s Deputy guy. I was on vacation, then I came home to start a new Job. Too bad I need the money, I like being here betta!)
Suzanne @ 126
Hiya Suzanne!
Can we request a splash for the next one?
LooHoo
sorry to be such a pedant
^_^
War Rox
another from the 70’s for all those leaving washington to spend more time with their families
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1DZi2A0qlQ
Oklahoma kiddo @ 127
Golly. Nothing gets by Congressional Auditors.
In other news, they predict the sun will rise in the east.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 127
But the dems are going to pony up another 50 billion anyway b/c they’re afraid of being called soft on terra. What’s 50 billion between friends?
Suzanne @ 126
Another graceful dive, Ma Cheri!!! *g*
Christy Hardin Smith @ 135
Ooop! I take it all back!!!
TheotherWA beat me to my first choice, so here’s my second…what I do to the tv and the computer frequently…Shout (Tears for Fears)
wangdangdoodle @ 137
sure, wangdang, who ya want to be on the receiving end?
Elliott @ 130
That’s why I’m watching it again. I’m hoping it’ll be available on-line in archives.
Suzanne @ 126
yer not name droppin’ are ya? *g*
just teasin’ ya, gf.
wangdangdoodle @ 121
I don’t know, I might not make it long either. It’s been a pretty emotional day around here. I tried watching some of the commemorative stuff, after Smirky McSmirkface was safely on his way elsewhere, of course. Very heartbreaking.
A toast-to all those who lost friends, family, homes, livelihoods 2 years ago today. This should never happen in America again.
wangdangdoodle @ 142
That’s what Mitt said about Craig, isn’t it?
Beautiful dive Suzanne
Good evening!
Peterr @ 147
No, Mitt said “buh, buh, buh Clinton”
Suzanne @ 144
Me and demi, weather’s been hot!
Airport Cat @ 124
This band was certifiable…..
It’s good to pay homage to genuis….
james @ 66
See there? The thought never occured to me…
hackworth @ 139
The real question is whether the Dems will be willing to stop the Iran bombing pressure that is being mounted now.
wangdangdoodle @ 151
I certainly can do that – we hit 100 up here today.
Lea-no uh @ 150
I’m surprised he didn’t say mmmph mmph mmmmph mmph
Richmond @ 153
Since they have shown remarkably little backbone thus far, my guess would be no.
Nice game tonight, Charles!!!
Ehrenstein’s got a Graham Greene piece up with a rare Shirley Temple review. Its on page two. It caused a libel suit at the time. A scathing review it is. Greene had a way with words.
OT My apologies
Christy I just sent you an email re: Voting machines and your post of August 14th. I would appreciate your taking a look. Thanks!
hackworth @ 139
about 1500 new high schools… or health insurance for one year for 5,000,000 Americans.. but then again, what do I know about setting public priorities? :)
Speaking of music:
CBGB founder Hilly Kristal passed away
Suzanne @ 155
It’s been kind of cool in Austin today. I don’t think we broke 96.
madmommy @147
Amen to that.
wangdangdoodle @ 162
You know it’s been hot when you can appreciate ONLY getting to 96 :0)
Whew, finally all caught up with today’s posts. How is everyone?
LoudounLib @ 162
RIP Hilly
sad indeed
(an underrated singer as well)
Airport Cat @ 124
I do!
And to close out my night, Roger Federer wins
Night pups!
The real question is whether the Dems will be willing to stop the Iran bombing pressure that is being mounted now.
I heard that! They certainly left the door wide open when they had every opportunity to slam it shut. A major disappointment.
Beer run, potty break, ciggie.
(Yes, AGAIN!)
james @ 169
Yes he did! :-)
g’night james
newtonusr @ 90
No jueno.
But here’s the Elvis I prefer. Don’t shoot!
YouTube is really phenomenal, huh?
nite all
Demi!!! How is the new job going? SSSoooo happy for you.
JML @ 160
No trade secrets here…
wangdangdoodle @ 151
And, so are we! Ha!
How ’bout late 80s Tower of Power doing “Only So Much Oil in the Ground”.
Loo Hoo. @ 173
Damn. Fixed…
Sweet dreams James & mack – you fellows must be east coasters.
94 here in WA today. No a/c. I kept the shades down and windows closed all day to keep the heat out. It worked ok, it stayed below 80 in the house.
As soon as the sun goes down, I’ll open the windows again and get some fresh air.
This sure is informative:
“”We’re disappointed in what’s going on. It’s a matter for the senator and the Senate Republican leadership to address,” deputy White House press secretary Scott Stanzel said.”
Yep. No national interests involved here. Just an internal ‘lil rethug administrative matter. …not like heterosexual fellatio with interns, which, unlike this situation, merits an independent counsel and presidential impeachment. Nope. Nothing to see here.
I really can’t argue with this:
At the presser in Teheran, Ahmadinejad said the US president was “wicked, selfish and arrogant”
from the AP: Aug 28 2007
Here’s one for the TheoCons!
Spew warning: set down your beverages, or at least get a firm grip on them.
newtonusr @ 179
Ahh…southern girls with really big hair. We have an expression-”the higher the hair, the closer to god”
I’ve got a weakness for 80s music, so I’m making a mental note to swing back through this thread to see what videos people posted.
Demetrius and I always found the line “Everybody Wang Chung Tonight” oddly amusing.
Been helping Son in Ohio with unfinished summer homework all afternoon and evening. Tomorrow morning I’ve agreed to fill in for one of the teachers at the community college. Need to get there early to pick up the materials.
Must sleep.
Peterr @ 139
Back-flip into perfect belly-flop by the fat lady. N-o S-p-l-a-s-h… Oooooooo
It’s all in the mind….
C’mon OKK. We’re all cried out for today.
We.will.never.forget.
Tomorrow’s back to the trenches, ‘kay?
Factoid: cadaver-locating dogs get burnout, as do search-&-rescue dogs, unless they get some positive rewards on a regular basis.
Non-stop grieving is just what it says, and it’s a killer. I know. Please accept and don’t ask for details.
You can do amazing good deeds, incredibly deep and productive work on even the most difficult problems, and survive better to do more, if you give yourself a break every once in awhile.
Go give Lahoma a hug for yourself, and for all of us, & ask her to do the same for you. Okay?
{{{{{Peace}}}}}
Suzanne @ 155
Get Out! Heat Wave! Did ja stick your sweet pink toes in the creek?
Well, this link has to do with music. But not the 1980s.
But, this is one of the YouTubes that I watch every so often, just because it makes me smile, even laugh. It is a great great interview- Howie Klein talking about music censorship, sorta. Really, Howie is hilarious.
Howie Klein on Joe Lieberman vs rock music
eddie grant – i don’t wanna dance
(please start a new thread or i’ll never stop)
TRex is upstairs, on a more than slightly heavier note.
travy @ 190
Ask, and you shall receive.
Gotta go. Nite pups. ;->
Richmond @ 34
“In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.”
George Orwell
Loo Hoo. @ 173
I like the same Elvis and this is one of my faves … the man is incredibly versatile.
Peaceful and Sweetful dreams. Adie.
Peterr @ 184
perfect!
Killing Joke —
Living in the Eighties.
Wardance
Millenium (Bonus intro!)
The following are news highlights that need to be heard in open forum where the sounds of pointless chattering about useless political debats and agends will not deafen the alarms of the serious and real problems at hand:
FBI’s Unknown Eavesdropping Network:
http://yro.slashdot.org/yro/07/08/29/1248212.shtml
“Building off the design mandates of CALEA, the FBI has constructed a point-and-click surveillance system that creates instant wiretaps on almost any communications device. A thousand pages of restricted documents released under the Freedom of Information Act were required to determine the veracity of this clandestine project, Wired News reports. Called the Digital Collection System Network, it connects FBI wiretapping rooms to switches controlled by traditional land-line operators, internet-telephony providers and cellular companies. It is intricately woven into the nation’s telecom infrastructure. From the article: ‘FBI wiretapping rooms in field offices and undercover locations around the country are connected through a private, encrypted backbone that is separated from the internet. Sprint runs it on the government’s behalf. The network allows an FBI agent in New York, for example, to remotely set up a wiretap on a cell phone based in Sacramento, California, and immediately learn the phone’s location, then begin receiving conversations, text messages and voicemail pass codes in New York. With a few keystrokes, the agent can route the recordings to language specialists for translation.’”
More about this phenomenal contradtion to our Independence can be found here:
http://www.wired.com/politics/…..08/wiretap
Congress to eye feds’ spy satellite scheme:
http://news.com.com/8301-10784…..blogs.item
Posted by Anne Broache
When politicians return to Washington from their August recess next week, one of their first orders of business will be lobbing questions at Bush administration officials over recently disclosed plans to open up powerful spy satellites to the likes of American border-security agents and police.
On September 6, the U.S. House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee plans to hold a morning hearing entitled “Turning Spy Satellites on the Homeland: the Privacy and Civil Liberties Implications of the National Applications Office,” according to a press release issued by the panel. Scheduled to appear for questioning are the Department of Homeland Security’s Chief Intelligence Officer Charles Allen, Chief Privacy Officer Hugo Teufel, and Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Officer Dan Sutherland.
The event is apparently a direct response to a Wall Street Journal report about two weeks ago, which revealed that the sprawling federal agency had signed off on expanded use of the so-called “eyes in the sky.” By October, Homeland Security is poised to establish a new subset called the National Applications Office, which would oversee expanding access to the surveillance images.
Data about domestic incidents is already fused and sorted 24/7 at Homeland Security ‘nerve centers’ like this one. (Credit: U.S. Department of Homeland Security)
The military has been using the Cold War-era surveillance gadgets overseas for years in an effort to spot terrorist hideouts, to track contraband movement and to plot routes for U.S. soldiers, the WSJ reported. Domestic agencies like the U.S. Geological Survey have also had access to the high-resolution images for mapping and environmental studies.
But the use of the monitoring technique for domestic law enforcement purposes appears to be on murkier legal grounds. That’s why the plan has attracted concern from some congressional Democrats, including Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.), the chairman of a congressional telecommunications and Internet panel, and Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), the Homeland Security Committee’s chairman (click here for a PDF of Thompson’s August 22 letter).
Homeland Security officials, for their part, say they have already briefed the various congressional intelligence committees about their plans and have even secured a budget for their activities, according to the WSJ. That may make it more difficult for politicians the House Homeland Security panel to get answers in an open forum next week, as the Bush Administration officials may claim they’re not at liberty to discuss classified details.
It’s likely no coincidence that the hearing is set to occur during Congress’s first week back in session after a month-long recess. Congressional Democrats are clearly seeking to rebuild some credibility among privacy and civil liberties advocates after caving at the last minute to the president’s demands to enact what critics argue are unacceptably sweeping changes–albeit temporary ones–to federal electronic snooping law. (Since then, both House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid have implicitly threatened to let that law die unless the administration cooperates with Congress’s demands for more details on its surveillance programs.)
What is nice about this story is that congress is finally looking in a spy system that has been around since the 90’s, if not earlier…
Dire Straits – So far away
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcnP5CjOy1Y
Dire Straits – Money For Nothing (Wembley Arena)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDpMqKSrr7Y
And finally…. ; )
Mark Knopfler & Eric Clapton – Sultans of Swing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQ-JyAGUsys
newspaperbrat @ 91
Wow. Thanks! I really like that – have never heard the song or seen the video.
A great note to say good night on to all the pups. And thanks to Christy for turning up in Late Night, cheering us up like it was Saturday morning.
You want 80s video? We got your 80s video right here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bKD6khHqCM
Richmond @ 83
Are you saying she’s Jewish? Wow! I doubt her white-bread WASP audiences would never guess that.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 183
If he keeps that up Bush will have to appoint Ahmad as our new AG. You just know Bush gets a kick out of being called all those manly things.
madmommy @ 185
Arizona’s former Governor Rose Mofford must have been VERY close to God:
Unfortunately, the picture in this article does not do justice to her fame in this area, showing only a tame memory of the Mofford Mop.
I had to go off to a meeting before finishing this comment, which will now lie buried deep in EPU territory.
Bob in HI