Ahem....One can only imagine if the Bush administration had pulled this...

[kpete]

The Federal Bureau of Investigation improperly obtained calling records for more than 3,500 telephone accounts from 2003 to 2006 without following any legal procedures, according to a newly disclosed report by the Justice Department’s inspector general.

Instead, according to the 289-page report, F.B.I. agents informally requested the records from employees of three unidentified telephone companies who were stationed inside a bureau communications office.

Based on nothing more than e-mail messages or scribbled requests on Post-it notes, the phone employees turned over customer calling records, the report said.

.................

And agents twice improperly gained access to reporters’ calling records as part of leak investigations.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/21/us/21fbi.html?_r=0
http://www.balloon-juice.com/2013/05/15/rubin-con-crossed-again/

[liberal N proud]

1. This is the whole problem the Democratic Party has - Balls er, Backbone to stand up and say WTF!

Last edited Wed May 15, 2013, 11:25 AM - Edit history (1)

This has been happening for decades, the republicans and right wing groups do whatever the f@#$ they want and get away with it. Let the Democrats or any government agency under a Democratic Administration do the same thing and all the shit hits the fan and people are forced to resign, hearings are ordered and threats of indictments and impeachment are all broadcast throughout the land.




The meek shall inherit the earth my ass!

[NewJeffCT]

10. Can we use "backbone" or "spine" instead of "balls"?

As Betty White says, “Why do people say "grow some balls"? Balls are weak and sensitive. If you wanna be tough, grow a vagina. Those things can take a pounding”

[Half-Century Man]

15. Hats off to Betty White

Misplaced Male Bravado

[Sirveri]

25. Betty White never actually said that...

Seriously, someone just made that up stuck her name on it and posted it on a picture of her before plastering it all over facebook.

[NewJeffCT]

26. Still, it's a great quote

and very appropriate, I think.

[pscot]

2. No Problemo

I GOT THIS

[uponit7771]

3. but but we were sKeered,

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. And some of us were just as outraged then

I wish some folks (in DC) did not decide to look forwards and keep that powder so damn dry it blew away

[Pab Sungenis]

5. The Bush Administration DID do this.

Anti-war organizations and protesters were routinely targeted and persecuted by the IRS.

The conservative media didn't give a shit.

[judesedit]

9. EXACTLY!

[NewJeffCT]

11. Can you send me some links

showing that?

I'd love to send that to my local newspaper.

[Pab Sungenis]

17. Here.

http://www.alternet.org/bush-used-irs-fbi-cia-and-secret-service-go-after-opponents-where-was-fox-and-gop-outrage

"Bush Used the IRS, FBI, CIA and Secret Service to Go After Opponents -- Where Was the Fox and GOP Outrage?"

[NewJeffCT]

22. thanks

I appreciate it.

[ProSense]

6. But

"Ahem....One can only imagine if the Bush administration had pulled this..."

...memory!

Alberto Gonzales Recalls Time He Declined To Subpoena Reporter
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022846160

[marshall]

7. This story has legs because it's the press that has been screwed

The press is more inclined to look the other way when it's not them in the crosshairs.

[skydive forever]

8. IOKIYAR

nuff said

[NewJeffCT]

12. that's what it comes down to

Bush IRS targetting liberal and/or anti-war groups - check
Bush Justice Dept grabbing phone records - check
Bush White House covering up Iraq war lies, Plame leak, etc - check

but, it's okay, because they're Republicans.

[siligut]

13. Really just a matter of taking back the media

Elected officials are very sensitive to the media and the GOP knows this and have invested time and money into owning it.

[BlueCaliDem]

16. Bingo! They've hijacked our fourth estate and incorporated it to be used against We the People

to further political power in favor of a Corporate takeover of America.

Has it ever been put to pen, "if you can't beat them, infiltrate and conquer them"?

The major problem here is, is that Americans are still under the wrong impression that we have an unbiased news media. We don't. We have skilled journalists who are trained to use focus-group-tested words that they use to write homogenized news {propaganda} that always bashes the enemies of Corporate America {usually Democrats} and what will make it easier for Corporations to takeover. The fact that this administration is being pummeled by Corporate Media is all the proof you need that they've become the enemy of U.S. Corporations . . . at least, those with nefarious goals.

This should alarm everyone.

[siligut]

20. Has it ever been put to pen, "if you can't beat them, infiltrate and conquer them"?

Writing it down is one way to get caught. To conquer from within, one has to be covert until one is stronger than the victim.

[navarth]

18. They decided to buy it when it took Nixon down

I've been convinced of that for years. They saw what CBS and Dan Rather did to Nixon and they knew they had to own the media to keep that from happening again....to a Republican.

[siligut]

21. Wow, definitely offered an increased impetus

Maybe the intention started with Nixon, it seems to me that Reagan opened the doors to media monopolies, at least with radio. Control of information is Tyrant 101.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

14. Sounds to me like the phone employees were too damn eager to cooperate...

BTW: There is no duty as a citizen to assist the police with their inquiries.

[es466]

19. But, but, but.....

I thought that the entire media was "liberal"?

[ProSense]

23. But Ashcroft! n/t

[Savannahmann]

24. That is a small part of why I object now.

I opposed war under Bush. I would be unable to look at myself in the mirror if I supported it now. I objected to heavy handed intimidation of reporters then, and continue to object now. For me, principle trumps party.

[ProSense]

27. Kick! n/t

[NYC_SKP]

28. K/R (nt)

[ProSense]

29. Kick! n/t

[ProSense]

30. Food for thought:

The AP's being investigated by a grand jury for who they coordinated with in Congress over the leak.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022848186

Wow, This is Pretty Epic (Republicans manufactured evidence on Benghazi)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022857236

Will a GOP aide be fired over Benghazi email changes?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022858340