Scandals cast light on congressional lobbying
• ReutersThe investigation has highlighted the close relationship between the 535 members of Congress and the 27,000 registered lobbyists who shower them with sports tickets and other perks.
Page Two
House Approves 5-Week Extension of Patriot Act
• New York TimesThe House of Representatives approved a five-week extension of the USA Patriot Act this afternoon and sent it to the Senate for final approval this evening in a late flurry of action to prevent the broad antiterrorism law from expiring on Dec. 31.
Lobbyist Abramoff Nears Terms on Plea Deal
• New York TimesProsecutors in Washington have been sifting through evidence of what they believe is a corruption scheme involving at least 12 lawmakers and their staff members, many of whom worked closely on legislation with Mr. Abramoff and accepted gifts a
Conyers, others introduce resolution demanding surveillance probe
• The Raw StoryThe standard for getting a wiretap warrant from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court is so low that only 5 out of the 19,000 applications have been denied since 1978. We even allow FISA orders to be obtained on a retroactive basis for the firs
Diebold Hack Hints at Wider Flaws
• WiredElection officials spooked by tampering in a test last week of Diebold optical-scan voting machines should be equally wary of optical-scan equipment produced by other manufacturers, according to a computer scientist who conducted the test. [They are
NY Police infiltrate protest rallys
• New York TimesUndercover New York City police officers have conducted covert surveillance in the last 16 months of people protesting the Iraq war, bicycle riders taking part in mass rallies and even mourners at a street vigil for a cyclist killed in an accident, a
Chairman Spector will hold hearings in January on domestic spying
• Associated PressSenate Judiciary Chairman Arlen Specter said Wednesday he remains skeptical about a government surveillance program despite an explanation from Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. "I would summarize it by saying I have grave doubts about his lega
NY Times released story on domestic spying after 14 months because ....
• The New York ObserverAccording to multiple NY Times sources, the decision to move forward with the story was accelerated by the forthcoming publication of Mr. Risen’s book, State of War: The Secret History of the CIA and the Bush Administration.
File the Bin Laden Phone Leak Under 'Urban Myths'
• Washington PostPresident Bush asserted this week that the news media published a U.S. government leak in 1998 about Osama bin Laden's use of a satellite phone, alerting the al Qaeda leader to government monitoring and prompting him to abandon the device.
Britain will be first country to monitor every car journey
• The IndependentUsing a network of cameras that can automatically read every passing number plate, the plan is to build a huge database of vehicle movements so that the police and security services can analyse any journey a driver has made over several years.
Internal breakdowns, not shortcomings in spy laws, were at play before Sept. 11
• Los Angeles TimesA inquiry by the House and Senate intelligence committees blamed interagency communication breakdowns — not shortcomings of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act or any other intelligence-gathering guidelines. The incident Bush referred to involv
Judges on Surveillance Court Want Briefing on Spy Program
• Washington PostThe presiding judge of a secret court that oversees government surveillance in espionage and terrorism cases is arranging a classified briefing for her fellow judges to address their concerns about the legality of President Bush's domestic spying
Conformity, Don't stand out in public schools
• Associated PressNathan Warmack wanted to honor his heritage by wearing a Scottish kilt to his high school dance. Then a principal told him to change into a pair of pants.
Senate passes 6 month extention of Patriot Act
• Associated PressRepublican leaders and Bush wanted to make most of the law permanent, but were stymied by a filibuster in the Senate and had to resort to a 6 month extension. "This will allow more time to finally agree on a bill that protects our rights and fre
If Bush treats his own Party's congressmen like this ...?!
• USA TodayJust after being named House Intelligence Committee chairman, Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Mich., was invited to the White House for what he thought would be a get-acquainted meeting.
Annan whines about press covering his corruption
• ReutersTerrorism and conflicts across the Middle East will be major global issues in 2006, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said at a year-end news conference and he also lashed out at the media for its coverage of the oil-for-food program.
Updated: Appeals Court Refuses to Transfer Padilla
• Christian Science MonitorIn a sharp rebuke, a appeals court denied a Bush administration request to transfer terrorism suspect Jose Padilla from military to civilian law enforcement custody, also refusing to vacate a ruling that gave Bush authority to detain "enemy comb
Nothing like a good old fashioned police (and FBI) beat down in New Orleans
• Associated PressTwo officers were fired for a beating in the French Quarter shortly after Hurricane Katrina that was photographed and videotaped by The Associated Press. A third officer was suspended for assaulting the reporter. The FBI joined in the fun.
Canadian court allows clubs for group sex
• ReutersGroup sex among consenting adults is neither prostitution nor a threat to society, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled as it lifted a ban on so-called "swingers" clubs.
3<sup>rd</sup> Quarter Report on our economy
• ReutersThe U.S. economy grew a bit less robustly in the third quarter than previously thought and prices picked up, the government said in a report that showed consumers beginning to rein in their spending.
Democrats want you to know Abramoff's bribes went <i>mostly</i> to Republicans
• Bloomberg ReportPresident Bush calls indicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff "an equal money dispenser'' who helped politicians of both parties. Campaign donation records show Republicans [who are in charge] were a lot more equal than Democrats.
Armed Santa takes on terrorist
• The Raw StoryOkay, I'm all for zero restriction gun ownership, but this is just plain weird: Santa Claus points a handgun at a masked terrorist on a Christmas card that the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, sent this year to a number of
Grand jury probe won't end with Rove ... Cheney, Niger?
• The Raw StorySpecial Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald is not expected to shut down his investigation into the leak of covert CIA officer Valerie Plame Wilson when he finishes his inquiry of White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove's role in the leak
CIA Director says prepare for air strikes against Iran
• Turkish PressPorter Goss asked for Turkey’s support for Washington’s policy against Iran’s nuclear activities, charging that Tehran had supported terrorism and taken part in activities against Turkey. Goss also asked Ankara to be ready for a possible US air opera
Arizona Libertarians are eligible for continuing recognition for the 2006 elections.
Ernest HancockVote or not,... You'll notice :)
Abramoff to squeal; Congress to fall
• New York Times (via Raw Story)Jack Abramoff, the Republican lobbyist under criminal investigation, has been discussing with prosecutors a deal that would grant him a reduced sentence in exchange for testimony against former political and business associates
Spy Court Judge Quits In Protest
• Washington PostA federal judge has resigned from the court that oversees government surveillance in intelligence cases in protest of President Bush's secret authorization of a domestic spying program
US handed out over $40 million in 'Sorry we killed your family'
• Washington TimesThe U.S. government has spent scores of millions of dollars helping the civilian casualties of its military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Why did Whitehouse go around the courts to spy on Americans?
• Los Angeles TimesBut they also indicated that they had a more fundamental concern: the tougher legal standard that must be met to satisfy the court. The 1978 law creating the secret tribunal, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, authorizes intelligence gatherin
Yukon high school group found on U.S. threat list
• CBS News (Canada)The Whitehorse school group is among a list of more than 1,500 anti-war groups considered a risk to American security. They have been lumped in with other organizations such as the Florida Quakers and student unions from major American universities.
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