Jen Rubin, World’s Worst Hack(tm) on Eric Holder and the AP subpoenas being the worst thing ever:
It’s time to clean house, get some real legislative oversight and make certain there are consequences (legal or political) for those responsible. And the president needs to come forward and answer lots and lots of questions.
Worst thing EVER.
One can only imagine if the Bush administration pulled this.
Ahem.
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.
On some occasions, the phone employees allowed the F.B.I. to upload call records to government databases. On others, they allowed agents to view records on their computer screens, a practice that became known as “sneak peeks.”
Moreover, the report found that the F.B.I. improperly uploaded into its databases large numbers of calling records without determining whether they were relevant to an investigation.
On four occasions, the bureau made inaccurate statements to a court that authorizes national security wiretaps about how it had obtained calling records, the report said.
And agents twice improperly gained access to reporters’ calling records as part of leak investigations.
Sure was unprecedented and hard to imagine, yep. You know, instead of just going through legal channels and informing the AP, all the folks screaming that Obama is “chilling free speech” seem to forget the last guy simply had the FBI take reporter’s phone records and didn’t give a damn. We only found out several years after the fact. Somehow, I don’t see anyone recalling that….least of all Jen Rubin.
Let’s back the hell up and remember what illegally obtaining reporters’ phone records actually looks like as opposed to sending a subpoena, people. Oh, and Rubin is beyond embarrassing, she’s just sad at this point.
How the hell is this woman still employed? Oh yes, because argle bargle derp.
c u n d gulag
IOKIYAR.
Certified Mutant Enemy
@c u n d gulag:
Always.
beltane
If the records were obtained pursuant to a subpoena I don’t get what the “scandal” is. Does this mean that the government is barred from investigating leaks?
debbie
That’s a keeper.
Kristin
Where can I get a high paid job where I have to do no research and can just spout off self-serving crap all day? If I turned out drivel like Rubin’s, my bosses would fire me on the spot. Twice. Just for good measure.
Just Some Fuckhead
Partisan hack is partisan. Yawn.
Kristin
@beltane: Yes, when a Democrat is in office.
(Honestly, I’m not a fan of what happened, but Rubin and all Republican authoritarians who think the 4th amendment is just a suggestion should shut the hell up.)
Bulworth
@beltane: According to the NYTWashPOST, who are VERY VERY upset about this terrible infringement of First Amendment Rights!, it’s a scandal because the gubmit is supposed to ask the media first, or something.
Zapruder F. Mashtots, D.D.S. (Mumphrey, et al.)
I’ve written to the ombudsman three times about Rubin. The first time, he wrote back and told me that “she isn’t [his] favorite,” and that he was working on a piece about her scribbling, but nothing came of that. The last two times I wrote, he never even wrote back.
Bulworth
Also, too: site changes!!!1!!11!11111!!!! ArgleBargle!!!!
Someone has to Stand Athwart History Yelling “STOPPPPPP!!!!!” I mean, did our Innernets need site changes in the 1950’s when Amercia was Free?
Jerzy Russian
To be fair, Ms. Rubin has no access to google, Nexis, or a library.
Zapruder F. Mashtots, D.D.S. (Mumphrey, et al.)
I’ve written to the ombudsman three times about Rubin. The first time, he wrote back and told me that “she isn’t [his] favorite,” and that he was working on a piece about her scribbling, but nothing came of that. The last two times I wrote, he never even wrote back.
Zapruder F. Mashtots, D.D.S. (Mumphrey, et al.)
I’ve written to the ombudsman three times about Rubin. The first time, he wrote back and told me that “she isn’t [his] favorite,” and that he was working on a piece about her scribbling, but nothing came of that. The last two times I wrote, he never even wrote back.
Zapruder F. Mashtots, D.D.S. (Mumphrey, et al.)
I’ve written to the ombudsman three times about Rubin. The first time, he wrote back and told me that “she isn’t [his] favorite,” and that he was working on a piece about her scribbling, but nothing came of that. The last two times I wrote, he never even wrote back.
Zapruder F. Mashtots, D.D.S. (Mumphrey, et al.)
I’ve written to the ombudsman three times about Rubin. The first time, he wrote back and told me that “she isn’t [his] favorite,” and that he was working on a piece about her scribbling, but nothing came of that. The last two times I wrote, he never even wrote back.
Zapruder F. Mashtots, D.D.S. (Mumphrey, et al.)
I’ve written to the ombudsman three times about Rubin. The first time, he wrote back and told me that “she isn’t [his] favorite,” and that he was working on a piece about her scribbling, but nothing came of that. The last two times I wrote, he never even wrote back.
Zapruder F. Mashtots, D.D.S. (Mumphrey, et al.)
I’ve written to the ombudsman three times about Rubin. The first time, he wrote back and told me that “she isn’t [his] favorite,” and that he was working on a piece about her scribbling, but nothing came of that. The last two times I wrote, he never even wrote back.
Zapruder F. Mashtots, D.D.S. (Mumphrey, et al.)
I’ve written to the ombudsman three times about Rubin. The first time, he wrote back and told me that “she isn’t [his] favorite,” and that he was working on a piece about her scribbling, but nothing came of that. The last two times I wrote, he never even wrote back.
Zapruder F. Mashtots, D.D.S. (Mumphrey, et al.)
I’ve written to the ombudsman three times about Rubin. The first time, he wrote back and told me that “she isn’t [his] favorite,” and that he was working on a piece about her scribbling, but nothing came of that. The last two times I wrote, he never even wrote back.
Zapruder F. Mashtots, D.D.S. (Mumphrey, et al.)
I’ve written to the ombudsman three times about Rubin. The first time, he wrote back and told me that “she isn’t [his] favorite,” and that he was working on a piece about her scribbling, but nothing came of that. The last two times I wrote, he never even wrote back.
Zapruder F. Mashtots, D.D.S. (Mumphrey, et al.)
I’ve written to the ombudsman three times about Rubin. The first time, he wrote back and told me that “she isn’t [his] favorite,” and that he was working on a piece about her scribbling, but nothing came of that. The last two times I wrote, he never even wrote back.
Zapruder F. Mashtots, D.D.S. (Mumphrey, et al.)
I’ve written to the ombudsman three times about Rubin. The first time, he wrote back and told me that “she isn’t [his] favorite,” and that he was working on a piece about her scribbling, but nothing came of that. The last two times I wrote, he never even wrote back.
Zapruder F. Mashtots, D.D.S. (Mumphrey, et al.)
I’ve written to the ombudsman three times about Rubin. The first time, he wrote back and told me that “she isn’t [his] favorite,” and that he was working on a piece about her scribbling, but nothing came of that. The last two times I wrote, he never even wrote back.
Zapruder F. Mashtots, D.D.S. (Mumphrey, et al.)
I’ve written to the ombudsman three times about Rubin. The first time, he wrote back and told me that “she isn’t [his] favorite,” and that he was working on a piece about her scribbling, but nothing came of that. The last two times I wrote, he never even wrote back.
Zapruder F. Mashtots, D.D.S. (Mumphrey, et al.)
I’ve written to the ombudsman three times about Rubin. The first time, he wrote back and told me that “she isn’t [his] favorite,” and that he was working on a piece about her scribbling, but nothing came of that. The last two times I wrote, he never even wrote back.
Zapruder F. Mashtots, D.D.S. (Mumphrey, et al.)
I’ve written to the ombudsman three times about Rubin. The first time, he wrote back and told me that “she isn’t [his] favorite,” and that he was working on a piece about her scribbling, but nothing came of that. The last two times I wrote, he never even wrote back.
Zapruder F. Mashtots, D.D.S. (Mumphrey, et al.)
I’ve written to the ombudsman three times about Rubin. The first time, he wrote back and told me that “she isn’t [his] favorite,” and that he was working on a piece about her scribbling, but nothing came of that. The last two times I wrote, he never even wrote back.
Zapruder F. Mashtots, D.D.S. (Mumphrey, et al.)
I’ve written to the ombudsman three times about Rubin. The first time, he wrote back and told me that “she isn’t [his] favorite,” and that he was working on a piece about her scribbling, but nothing came of that. The last two times I wrote, he never even wrote back.
Zapruder F. Mashtots, D.D.S. (Mumphrey, et al.)
I’ve written to the ombudsman three times about Rubin. The first time, he wrote back and told me that “she isn’t [his] favorite,” and that he was working on a piece about her scribbling, but nothing came of that. The last two times I wrote, he never even wrote back.
Zapruder F. Mashtots, D.D.S. (Mumphrey, et al.)
I’ve written to the ombudsman three times about Rubin. The first time, he wrote back and told me that “she isn’t [his] favorite,” and that he was working on a piece about her scribbling, but nothing came of that. The last two times I wrote, he never even wrote back.
Zapruder F. Mashtots, D.D.S. (Mumphrey, et al.)
I’ve written to the ombudsman three times about Rubin. The first time, he wrote back and told me that “she isn’t [his] favorite,” and that he was working on a piece about her scribbling, but nothing came of that. The last two times I wrote, he never even wrote back.
Zapruder F. Mashtots, D.D.S. (Mumphrey, et al.)
I’ve written to the ombudsman three times about Rubin. The first time, he wrote back and told me that “she isn’t [his] favorite,” and that he was working on a piece about her scribbling, but nothing came of that. The last two times I wrote, he never even wrote back.
Zapruder F. Mashtots, D.D.S. (Mumphrey, et al.)
I’ve written to the ombudsman three times about Rubin. The first time, he wrote back and told me that “she isn’t [his] favorite,” and that he was working on a piece about her scribbling, but nothing came of that. The last two times I wrote, he never even wrote back.
Zapruder F. Mashtots, D.D.S. (Mumphrey, et al.)
I’ve written to the ombudsman three times about Rubin. The first time, he wrote back and told me that “she isn’t [his] favorite,” and that he was working on a piece about her scribbling, but nothing came of that. The last two times I wrote, he never even wrote back.
Zapruder F. Mashtots, D.D.S. (Mumphrey, et al.)
I’ve written to the ombudsman three times about Rubin. The first time, he wrote back and told me that “she isn’t [his] favorite,” and that he was working on a piece about her scribbling, but nothing came of that. The last two times I wrote, he never even wrote back.
Zapruder F. Mashtots, D.D.S. (Mumphrey, et al.)
I’ve written to the ombudsman three times about Rubin. The first time, he wrote back and told me that “she isn’t [his] favorite,” and that he was working on a piece about her scribbling, but nothing came of that. The last two times I wrote, he never even wrote back.
Zapruder F. Mashtots, D.D.S. (Mumphrey, et al.)
I’ve written to the ombudsman three times about Rubin. The first time, he wrote back and told me that “she isn’t [his] favorite,” and that he was working on a piece about her scribbling, but nothing came of that. The last two times I wrote, he never even wrote back.
Zapruder F. Mashtots, D.D.S. (Mumphrey, et al.)
I’ve written to the ombudsman three times about Rubin. The first time, he wrote back and told me that “she isn’t [his] favorite,” and that he was working on a piece about her scribbling, but nothing came of that. The last two times I wrote, he never even wrote back.
Zapruder F. Mashtots, D.D.S. (Mumphrey, et al.)
I’ve written to the ombudsman three times about Rubin. The first time, he wrote back and told me that “she isn’t [his] favorite,” and that he was working on a piece about her scribbling, but nothing came of that. The last two times I wrote, he never even wrote back.
Zapruder F. Mashtots, D.D.S. (Mumphrey, et al.)
I’ve written to the ombudsman three times about Rubin. The first time, he wrote back and told me that “she isn’t [his] favorite,” and that he was working on a piece about her scribbling, but nothing came of that. The last two times I wrote, he never even wrote back.
Zapruder F. Mashtots, D.D.S. (Mumphrey, et al.)
I’ve written to the ombudsman three times about Rubin. The first time, he wrote back and told me that “she isn’t [his] favorite,” and that he was working on a piece about her scribbling, but nothing came of that. The last two times I wrote, he never even wrote back.
Zapruder F. Mashtots, D.D.S. (Mumphrey, et al.)
I’ve written to the ombudsman three times about Rubin. The first time, he wrote back and told me that “she isn’t [his] favorite,” and that he was working on a piece about her scribbling, but nothing came of that. The last two times I wrote, he never even wrote back.
Zapruder F. Mashtots, D.D.S. (Mumphrey, et al.)
I’ve written to the ombudsman three times about Rubin. The first time, he wrote back and told me that “she isn’t [his] favorite,” and that he was working on a piece about her scribbling, but nothing came of that. The last two times I wrote, he never even wrote back.
Zapruder F. Mashtots, D.D.S. (Mumphrey, et al.)
I’ve written to the ombudsman three times about Rubin. The first time, he wrote back and told me that “she isn’t [his] favorite,” and that he was working on a piece about her scribbling, but nothing came of that. The last two times I wrote, he never even wrote back.
Zapruder F. Mashtots, D.D.S. (Mumphrey, et al.)
I’ve written to the ombudsman three times about Rubin. The first time, he wrote back and told me that “she isn’t [his] favorite,” and that he was working on a piece about her scribbling, but nothing came of that. The last two times I wrote, he never even wrote back.
Zapruder F. Mashtots, D.D.S. (Mumphrey, et al.)
I’ve written to the ombudsman three times about Rubin. The first time, he wrote back and told me that “she isn’t [his] favorite,” and that he was working on a piece about her scribbling, but nothing came of that. The last two times I wrote, he never even wrote back.
Zapruder F. Mashtots, D.D.S. (Mumphrey, et al.)
I’ve written to the ombudsman three times about Rubin. The first time, he wrote back and told me that “she isn’t [his] favorite,” and that he was working on a piece about her scribbling, but nothing came of that. The last two times I wrote, he never even wrote back.
Cassidy
But surely, our pure progressive betters are on to something when they say that this is the worst ever and Obama is the devil, right?
Keith
I have a recollection of Cristiane Amanpour having her phone bugged. There was a small dustup, but IIRC it got yelled down by accusations that she was spying for Al Jazeera or something.
Mark B
So, basically all of this was happening under the Bush administration, differential treatment based on politics by the IRS, rummaging through Press phone records, and editing public statements relating to sensitive intelligence information. But, since Obama is black and a Democrat, and they’re relatively open about when they screw up, it’s suddenly a huge fucking scandal? Hmmmm….
Cassidy
But surely, our pure progressive betters are on to something when they say that this is the worst ever and Obama is the devil, right?
Jerzy Russian
To be fair, Ms. Rubin has no access to google, Nexis, or a library.
Caliph Garrett
Love the site changes. (See, Cole—sometimes, even the part-time posters can be constructive.)
Now, will this comment get eaten by a grue in the moderation dungeon like all the rest? …
Zapruder F. Mashtots, D.D.S. (Mumphrey, et al.)
I’ve written to the ombudsman three times about Rubin. The first time, he wrote back and told me that “she isn’t [his] favorite,” and that he was working on a piece about her scribbling, but nothing came of that. The last two times I wrote, he never even wrote back to me.
max
You know, instead of just going through legal channels and informing the AP, all the folks screaming that Obama is “chilling free speech” seem to forget the last guy simply had the FBI take reporter’s phone records and [journalists] didn’t give a damn.
FTFY. Nor did they care about RAGTIME and all that other stuff. Nope, giant awesome spy penises to deadline rescue.
At any rate, Holder recused himself, so he’s he didn’t do the subpoenaing. The Deputy did it, and no one has told me anything about the deputy.
Free speech has been taking a thorough beating for a decade (not mention freedom of association and freedom of worship and freedom from unwarranted searches) at every level, and the complaints from the centrist newsy types has been all about fucking anonymous trolls, the one place wherein freedom of speech has gained a tiny smidgen of ground. When Bloomberg rousts Occupy from Zacotti or engages in incessant stop and frisk, that’s strong leadership. When the FBI decides to go after centrist journalists to their faces, then it’s suddenly all Hitler this and Hitler that, and that tough enforcement and strong leadership and bully pulpit stuff is out the fucking window. Jesus fucking Christ.
max
[‘”The most spoiled brats on God’s green earth!” — Iggy Pop.’]
Mark B
Could anyone explain to me why the AP ‘scandal’ is a scandal? As I understand it, the bugging was done with court approval, so it’s not like they were doing anything illegal or unethical. Warrants are hard to get, so I assume there was sufficient justification for the wiretap. Is stopping leaks only a priority when Republicans are in power? Help me out here.
Edit: no bugging, they just subpoenaed phone records. The point still stands.
maya
The Washington Post was The Dick’s fave-of-right mine to salt yellow cake in. Stand by Davey, your up next to help sell the sparkly glitter to the rubes.
mapaghimagsik
@Kristin:
Management. Particularly information security.
Argle bargle derp fud fud fud
beltane
@Bulworth: I don’t have a link but I think I read that the AP was initially asked to provide this information and they refused. Obama clearly sucks at the whole dictator thing.
mapaghimagsik
@Kristin:
Management. Particularly information security.
Argle bargle derp fud fud fud
mapaghimagsik
@Kristin:
Management. Particularly information security.
Argle bargle derp fud fud fud
Mike in NC
The Washington Nationals could do worse than using Jen’s head for batting practice.
mapaghimagsik
FYWP, with a rake
Cassidy
Well, it’s about time. FYWP has spoken and decided it’s not going down without a fight.
Corner Stone
Balloon-Juice IV: The Borking Returns
And this time he uses all CAPS
Tone In DC
@Mike in NC:
They’d break the damn bats. Splinters everywhere.
Zapruder F. Mashtots, D.D.S. (Mumphrey, et al.)
Jeez. I wrote one comment, and it didn’t go through, so I changed a word or two and sent it through again. I didn’t send it through 87 times. Can you pull all the copies?
Roger Moore
@Jerzy Russian:
Or, apparently, a functioning brain.
beltane
@Mark B: Heck, the Bush administration deliberately leaked/fed information to their favored stenographers. Now these same stenographers are whining that obtained information regarding leaks through scrupulously legal means. There may be legitimate grievances regarding the laws that were invoked to obtain the subpoena, but that is another matter entirely and one which the media didn’t seem too concerned with until now.
As for the AP, they have their heads so far up the GOP’s rectum that they once fired their Vermont bureau chief for writing something they thought was too critical of Bush. I don’t trust them or their crocodile tears in this matter.
Senyordave
@Zapruder F. Mashtots, D.D.S. (Mumphrey, et al.): I e-mailed the ombudsman, and I got a reply that practically said she was a partisan hack. If she didn’t get fired over the Norway shooter story she has a job for life. She is a fairly overt bigot when it comes to Muslims who doesn’t really even hide it well.
Belafon (formerly anonevent)
@Zapruder F. Mashtots, D.D.S. (Mumphrey, et al.): Maybe FYWP really liked your comment.
Maude
@Zapruder F. Mashtots, D.D.S. (Mumphrey, et al.):
When I did a comment edit, it didn’t come back to the main page. I had to come back to BJ.
BTW, did you write to the ombudsman?
Roger Moore
@Senyordave:
And she knows it. I get the impression that every hack pundit finally has an ahah! moment when they realize that they can’t be fired for anything in their column other than insulting the boss, and they really let themselves go after that point. They become even dumber and more repetitive than ever, and the quality of their arguments declines to the “because I said so” level.
Nylund
Let’s not forget it was the GOP who demanded that the leak issue be investigated.
Linda Featheringill
You mean the Administration went to court and was given a subpoena for AP’s telephone records? And how is this illegal? And how is it a crime?
Svensker
@Zapruder F. Mashtots, D.D.S. (Mumphrey, et al.):
Perhaps that was your problem with the ombudsman… :)
RSA
@Zapruder F. Mashtots, D.D.S. (Mumphrey, et al.):
I did the same thing last night, but my comment(s) never appeared. I’m almost afraid to go back to that thread now…
RinaX
@Linda Featheringill:
Because Benghazi, and President Obama is suspected of being a Black.
See above.
Comrade Jake
Awesome new site here, right guys?!?!?!
Thor Heyerdahl
@Zapruder F. Mashtots, D.D.S. (Mumphrey, et al.): I just thought you were sending a bunch of letters to the ombudsman on everyone’s behalf.
Omnes Omnibus
I am not really happy with the idea of any administration rooting the through journalists’ phone records. That being said, since the administration subpoenaed the records, the AP had a chance to go to court to have the subpoena quashed. I don’t see the horrible scandal in what happened; the administration appears to have complied with current law.
Suffern ACE
The mistake this administration made was saying there was no credible threat of an al quaeda attack on the anniversary of bin Laden’s death. What they should have done is issued a Terror Alert Orange. Then the AP wouldn’t have asked any questions, or decided to run with its “Neener neener” story. Terror Alert Oranges were useful. Those were not to be questioned to carefully.
TaMara (BHF)
I see the black cat is back.
Rich2506
Jen Rubin wrote something equally hackish for the Inky today. Basically, she thinks that an abortion only involves one living being and the baby takes immediate and unconditional precedence over the slut that houses the baby until it’s born. I placed my comment below the piece.
catclub
@RSA: I am betting it will very slowly come out that the same GOP guys who are bleating about this case both asked for this leak investigation, and also voted AGAINST a press shield law when it came up.
Plus, legally obtaining (a needlessly wide) subpeona is a little different from wiretapping.
Frankensteinbeck
@Linda Featheringill:
Maddow said there’s a regulation where the DoJ is supposed to tell the press before going through these records, and another regulation that the DoJ has to focus the search as tightly as possible to the subject as hand. The AP claims neither happened. I’m pretty sure the Patriot Act changed these regulations, but Maddow is about the only actual journalist out there. I give her a lot of credit and will wait and see how this plays out before 100% dismissing it. Pretty damn skeptical that there’s any ‘there’ there, still.
LAC
That stale coffee breathed twit is employed because someone on WAPO doesn’t want those donkey sex show pictures to come out.
Suffern ACE
@catclub: I don’t even know if it is a needlessly wide subpoena. It could be broad because the story involed 5 reporters and the information gathering took place over several months.
Anyway, it probably would have been better to subpena the reporters and then hold them in contempt when they decided to protect their source. Whoever this “source” is, its probably not some low level field agent.
Frankensteinbeck
My text seems to be much larger than anyone else’s. I didn’t do anything specific. The new site design, while pretty, is exploring brave new vistas of FYWP.
Omnes Omnibus
@Frankensteinbeck: It is embiggened during the edit period.
Just One More Canuck
@Zapruder F. Mashtots, D.D.S. (Mumphrey, et al.): That’s one mighty fine FYWP
sherparick
For the Village IOKIYR is their guiding philosophy.
By the way, so much for “moving forward, and not looking back.” Obama should have appointed a special prosecutor on his first day to look at Guantanamo, torture, and various high crimes and misdemeanors. But unfortunately, not only Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld and their cronies were involved, lots of Democrats in Congress, particularly Tom Dashcle and Nancy Pelosi had signed off on dubious stuff, plus everyone wanted to “protect” the CIA and its agents and contractors (the contractors having done much of the work you can see samples of on GoT this season with the Theon bits). So he did not, and if fact has let the logic of Empire drive him to certain new points beyond Bush-Cheney in jettisoning 800 years of slow progress in Anglo-American human rights and civil rights. But I expect the huffing and puffing of the AP story will end pretty quick since the Republicans don’t care about the press/media. Benghazi and the Treasury story, despite there being no there, there, will be the Obama Whitewater stories.
catclub
@Frankensteinbeck: I bet aimai can tell us the name of the Washington reporter who simply read a lot of Government reports and found verrrrry interesting things to write about. Back when reporters read reports.
I.F. Stone
Lucky aimai
Snarki, child of Loki
I think the “argle bargle derps” would be ashamed at being associated with Rubin.
Suffern ACE
@Suffern ACE: Also, I don’t know whom to trust about whether or not the proper “procedure” was followed to obtain those records. The AP is saying that they weren’t notified properly. But how do we know they aren’t lying about that?
Bill
@Linda Featheringill:
Not exactly. The DOJ used the subpoena power it was given by Congress to get the records. It didn’t go to a court.
DOJ got the records from phone service providers rather than the AP itself. It appears (although this isn’t entirely clear to me from the reporting I’ve seen) that DOJ didn’t report the subpoena and record collection to the AP until after it had the records in hand. If true, that effectively eliminated the AP’s ability to march in to court and seek to quash the subpoena.
That being said, it appears that everything DOJ did is perfectly legal under existing law. The scandal here isn’t whether the department acted illegally, it’s that post 9/11 laws have eroded the fourth amendment.
Republicans are just getting around to noticing it because there’s a black, muslim socialist in the White House.
magma
@Zapruder F. Mashtots, D.D.S. (Mumphrey, et al.):
Have you written to the ombudsman?
Cassidy
Oh Zandar. You’re so articulate.
TAPX486
Three comments. Exactly who is it that ‘isn’t complaining’ . Second if I remember correctly the patriot act doesn’t require timely notification of the target of the warrant. Third when the NY Times reported on the Bush wireless wiretaps people like Coulter and Limpdick were screaming treason.
Roger Moore
@Suffern ACE:
Yeah, because that wouldn’t have created any backlash in the press. If the goal is to create the appearance of doing something, holding reporters in contempt might do it. If the goal is to actually track down a leak and hold the leaker accountable, checking the records is probably a better approach.
sherparick
@Mark B: Just to clarify, I believe under Title II of the Patriot Act, this was a subpoena to the AP’s Internet Service Provider and telecommunications provider, not the AP. And under that same law, which is the very same law all the Republicans (except Crazy Uncle Ron Paul) voted for who are now feigning outrage, the ISP cannot tell the customer about the subpoena without DoJ’s permission, which they apparently did not get. Former Senator Russ Feingold tried to amend the Patriot Act to include such a provision, but both Orrin Hatch and the Bush Administration said that would just help “terrorists” find out that they were under investigation. DoJ has some internal rules restricting subpoenas that get information from media sources, but guess who can waive those rules? The AG, or where he is recused, the Deputy AG.
Jockey Full of Malbec
@Nylund:
Is there a cite for this?
Kay
Here’s a principled conservative who only wants an investigation:
That’s John Boehner, calling for…. people to go to jail! What an asshole. I’m so glad he’s not actually in power, oh, wait, yes he is.
Odie Hugh Manatee
@Thor Heyerdahl:
I thought he was yelling it into a canyon. That or the blog has been relocated to one. :)
Mel
They did not “send” a subpoena…whatever mechanism they used was secret, and goes against ALL of the DOJ’s supposedly iron-clad regulations on soliciting phone records from journalists. They are supposed to be notified up-front, and attempt made to negotiate with the agency, and only then are they allowed to “seize” phone records. This is in all the reporting. But there are some who are as blindly incapable of any Obama criticism as those on the other side. This is a very, very bad precedent. And a clear example of this Administration’s dangerous war on whistle blowers beyond all other presidents.
Comrade Dread
Yeah, if everyone wants to sit down and have a nice long discussion of the Patriot Act now and the expanded survellience powers granted the State, that’s great.
Aw, hell, who am I kidding? The media is only upset about it because it’s being used against them instead of a commoner without access to widespread readership.
Met-e-or! Met-e-or! Met-e-or!
Teresa
Rubin is of low standards and that is what her employers like about their own product. It’s of low quality.
rikyrah
Rubin is an idiot.
period
spacewalrus
@Cassidy: Our progressives betters are about as smart as the mealy-mouthed dumbasses on the right. Take an ideologue, stuff their half-brain full of muddled misunderstood facts and you have this week.
@Comrade Dread: isn’t the law used from like 1986?
Like, I’m reading at DKos this morning and some dude’s got a diary up where he’s all, “I don’t really know the details of the AP story, but it’s bad. And because I don’t like Holder for other reasons, he should resign or be fired.” Does it even matter that Holder recused himself almost a year ago from this investigation? Reality-based community my ass. The online left is as flighty and flaky as the right in this country. Same dumbass ideological temperament; only the words are different.
Boots Day
@Kay: Has Boehner bothered to tell us which law has been broken, what crime has been committed, such that would send someone to jail?
Kay
@Boots Day:
No, of course not. Investigations are for sissies. The trick is to call for an investigation immediately prior to sentencing. Then you can say anything.
I think we should randomly jail some low-level IRS workers right now. Only then will our honor be restored, regarding pretending political action groups are not political action groups.
Steeplejack
@Zapruder F. Mashtots, D.D.S. (Mumphrey, et al.):
I think you set a new record!
Jay B.
So, IRS targeting of organizations, whether right or left, is OK, because Bush did it too, but event though it’s totally OK, this Administration didn’t do it because they didn’t know anyway. The Patriot Act, totally Okey Dokey, because our Administration is the one doing the legal end around in order to prosecute whistleblowers who talk to journalists and that the AP is only getting what it deserves after trying to get information that the government won’t release — we as citizens should be entirely kept in the dark because it’s more important than to understand what’s going on in our name. And “Warrants are hard to get, so I assume there was sufficient justification for the wiretap.” HAHAHAHAHAHAHA, that’s precious that someone believes that there are strict standards for warrants, especially in a secret court which doesn’t have to make anything public. I’ll remember all of this when the GOP comes back to the Oval Office.
I’m in favor of the welfare state and I’m largely opposed to the surveillance state and the military-industrial complex. Why you want to tie yourselves in knots over justifying these things is beyond my ability to understand.
Zandar
@Jay B.: Obama administration has been pretty merciless to leakers and whistleblowers. That’s a problem. What it isn’t is “Ahh screw it let’s just steal reporters’ phone records.”
dance around in your bones
@Zapruder F. Mashtots, D.D.S. (Mumphrey, et al.):
Whoa – 37 identical replies? New Balloon Juice record! Congrats!
Calouste
@Zandar:
What’s the problem with being merciless to leakers (whistleblowers are a different matter)? You sign up to do a job with an organization and that organization decides how it communicates with the outside world. If you don’t want to follow the rules about that, you are working against your colleagues who are responsible for managing communications, and you are inviting getting sacked.
Jay B.
@Calouste:
What’s the difference between leaker (bad!) and whistleblower (maybe good!)? And, in the case of the United States government, the “organization” is subject to all kinds of necessary transparency clauses which it routinely ignores. Don’t you even give a shit what’s being done in your name? Why the hell do you think they put Freedom of the Press in the First Amendment? It’s particularly a place where government should tread incredibly lightly, but since they’ve eviscerated the First and Fourth Amendments, they can pretty much run rampant — save for that incredibly difficult (heh) to obtain “warrant” signed by a secret court. Aren’t you tired, at all, of the kind of country we’ve turned into?
Jay B.
@Zandar:
No, but it’s still a very dubious, heavy-handed thing to do. Just because we passed The Patriot Act and allow secret courts to rule on due process matters doesn’t actually make either of them OK, even if they are legal. They know this is the worst of the three slices of shit sandwich, but it’s the one they will stonewall the most. Benghazi is idiotic overreach by the GOP, the IRS thing is something they are obviously dealing with (in fact, they demanded the resignation of the acting commissioner), but this is the new normal. It’s scary, all-access government that is done, legally, in the name of “national security”. If you don’t see how this is a terrible step the government to take, I don’t know what to tell you. FISA is fucking disgusting and invites this to happen again and again.