Geeks With Guns » President

New Bill Gives Obama ‘Kill Switch’ To Shut Down The Internet

HGIC — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 17:40:19 +0000

The federal government would have “absolute power” to shut down the Internet under the terms of a new US Senate bill being pushed by Joe Lieberman, legislation which would hand President Obama a figurative “kill switch” to seize control of the world wide web in response to a Homeland Security directive.

“The legislation says that companies such as broadband providers, search engines or software firms that the US Government selects “shall immediately comply with any emergency measure or action developed” by the Department of Homeland Security. Anyone failing to comply would be fined,” reports ZDNet’s Declan McCullagh.

The 197-page bill (PDF) is entitled Protecting Cyberspace as a National Asset Act, or PCNAA.

The 197-page bill (PDF) is entitled Protecting Cyberspace as a National Asset Act, or PCNAA. – [source]

The largest Internet-based corporations are seemingly happy with the bill, primarily because it contains language that will give them immunity from civil lawsuits and also reimburse them for any costs incurred if the Internet is shut down for a period of time.

“If there’s an “incident related to a cyber vulnerability” after the President has declared an emergency and the affected company has followed federal standards, plaintiffs’ lawyers cannot collect damages for economic harm. And if the harm is caused by an emergency order from the Feds, not only does the possibility of damages virtually disappear, but the US Treasury will even pick up the private company’s tab,” writes McCullagh.

Obama’s assassination program

HGIC — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 14:31:10 +0000

George Bush’s decision merely to eavesdrop on American citizens without oversight, or to detain without due process Americans such as Jose Padilla and Yaser Hamdi, provoked years of vehement, vocal and intense complaints from Democrats and progressives. All of that was disparaged as Bush claiming the powers of a King, a vicious attack on the Constitution, a violation of Our Values, the trampling on the Rule of Law.

Yet here you have Barack Obama not merely eavesdropping on or detaining Americans without oversight, but ordering them killed with no oversight and no due process of any kind. And the reaction among leading Democrats and progressives is largely non-existent, which is why Olbermann’s extensive coverage of it is important. Just imagine what the reaction would have been among progressive editorial pages, liberal opinion-makers and Democratic politicians if this story had been about George Bush and Dick Cheney targeting American citizens for due-process-free and oversight-less CIA assassinations.

The American Prospect‘s Adam Serwer has an interesting post reporting that civil rights groups have issued a joint letter opposing the closing of Guantanamo if it means — as the Obama administration has suggested — that Guantanamo and its defining injustices will simply be re-located to U.S. soil. As part of his reporting, Serwer writes this:

[B]road assertions of executive power haven’t even been limited to the last administration. Instead, we’ve seen the powers of the president expand, with the Obama administration asserting the right to assassinate American citizens without any due process or finding of guilt whatsoever.

From a civil libertarian point of view, we’re in a much worse place than we were during the Bush administration, when Democrats were willing to oppose Bush’s expansive claims of executive authority. Now we have only muted criticism from Democratic legislators and hysterical cries from Republicans that Obama isn’t going far enough.

- [source]

No copyright/patent reform for you, America

HGIC — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:49:55 +0000

Since Obama was the young newcomer, technically savvy, many of us were hoping that he might support patent and/or copyright reform. In case our story earlier on this subject didn’t already tip you off, this certainly will: Obama has sided squarely with the RIAA/MPAA lobby, and backs ACTA.

It seems that the RIAA, MPAA, and similar organisations have been successful in lobbying the US administration into supporting their cause. This means that the US government will continue to (financially) support an industry that is simply outdated, and has failed to adapt to the changing market – which seems remarkably anti-capitalistic and anti-free market, even for a Democratic president.

Luckily for at least us Europeans, the European Parliament has already shot the ACTA agreement down in an overwhelming 633-to-13 vote, while also forcing total openness – something the US does not want. This means that despite Obama siding with the content providers, ACTA will most likely not come to fruition.

Sadly, all this also means that American consumers will continue to see their rights eroded, as corporations and content providers further gain influence within the government. This means that devices you buy will not actually be yours, that uploading a video of your daughter dancing to a song on the radio could cost you thousands of dollars in damages, and it will also most likely mean that three strikes laws will be enacted.

Good times. – [source]

White House Anti-Gun Agenda Being Argued In Supreme Court

HGIC — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 18:21:04 +0000

It’s official Obama was lying, and now the White House Anti-Gun Agenda is set to be argued in Supreme Court.

The long-awaited challenge to Chicago’s handgun ban will be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court on March 2, 2010 and already it is looking like everyone, on both sides of the issue, anticipates that the justices will rule that the Second Amendment is incorporated through the 14th Amendment as a barrier to local gun bans.

Even anti-gunners appear to realize the notion that the Amendment is incorporated, but want the justices to leave enough wiggle room in their ruling to allow most, if not all, existing gun control laws to stand.

Alan Gura noted during a press conference at the annual Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show that the case “would not have happened without the support” of the Second Amendment Foundation, and toward the end of the conference, he encouraged people to contribute to SAF “and take a new person shooting.”

Attorney Alan Gura, argued the landmark Heller case before the U.S. Supreme Court almost two years ago. The case of McDonald v. City of Chicago is one of two challenges filed against the Chicago handgun ban within 24 hours of the Heller ruling. Gura is representing the Bellevue, WA-based Second Amendment Foundation and Illinois State Rifle Association, and four individual Chicago residents.

This leaves many hard-core gun rights advocates once again demanding, “What part of shall-not-be-infringed don’t you understand?”

Obama said “I’m not going to take your guns away” and “Lawful gun owners have nothing to fear…I think people can take me at my word.”

I wouldn’t take Obama’s word if he said it rains a lot in Seattle. Apparently, law-abiding gun owners have nothing to fear unless they own sport-utility rifles, semiautomatic shotguns, handguns and any other firearm that Obama and his anti-gun attorney general don’t like.

Obama sent Holder to the Senate to detail his support for a national gun owner registration scheme and authorizing the government to ban firearm possession for any person by merely adding that person’s name to the terror watch list.

Attorney General Holder aggressively detailed the Obama anti-gun agenda in

Holder’s public statements before the Senate Judiciary Committee:

Holder wants national, permanent gun registration system.

Holder wants new federal authority to prohibit any person on the federal watch list (reported to be 400,000 names) from buying guns and supports confiscating guns from those on the list who possess them.

Apparently, law-abiding gun owners have nothing to fear unless they own sport-utility rifles, semiautomatic shotguns, handguns and any other firearm that Obama and his anti-gun attorney general don’t like. – [source]

A Warrior Passes in Texas

donttreadonme — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 04:36:46 +0000

Retired Army Col. Robert L. Howard, a Medal of Honor recipient for combat action in Vietnam in 1968 and one of the America’s most highly decorated Soldiers, died Dec. 23 in Waco, Texas.

The 70-year-old Howard died in a hospice in Waco, according to a report in the San Antonio Express News today. The paper, quoting a longtime friend of Howard’s, retired Sgt. Maj. Benito Guerrero, said Howard had been suffering from pancreatic cancer.

Howard began his Army career as an enlisted man. During one 13-month tour in Vietnam he was nominated for the Medal of Honor three times, but in the first instance the award was downgraded to the Distinguished Service Cross. Several biographies say that downgrade, as well as another — to the Silver Star — was to avoid the problem of noting in the Medal of Honor citation specifics of the combat operations, which were covert.

But one nomination did result in the awarding of the MoH. It was presented to him by President Richard Nixon during a White House ceremony in 1971. – [source]

Amtrak to Store Gun Toting Passengers In A Box?

HGIC — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 18:19:07 +0000

It may sound absurd, but President Obama signed a bill into law Wednesday that requires passengers who carry firearms aboard Amtrak be locked in boxes for their journey.

It’s a mistake in the law’s wording. But for now, the clerical error is the law of the land.

Earlier this week, Congress sent the president a massive spending bill that funded dozens of federal departments. Tucked into the transportation section of the legislation are safety requirements for Amtrak customers who carry firearms on board the government-backed train system. The bill Congress passed mandates that passengers with firearms declare they have weapons with them in advance and stow them in locked boxes while on the train.

Aides to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., became aware of the problem Wednesday night as the House voted on its final slate of bills for the year. Pelosi’s staff tried to negotiate with Republican aides to see if they would agree to change the text of the bill without revoting the entire piece of legislation. But it was all for naught as Obama had already signed the measure into law.

It’s clear the typo alters the legislation’s mandate. But no one quite knows the origin of the mistake. – [source]

As White House talks turkey on health care

HGIC — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 13:28:22 +0000

The White House is pulling out all the stops to pass ObamaCare, including an attack on Gun Owners of America and the Second Amendment.Unable to pass a bill that is openly hostile to millions of gun owners, the President and his anti-gun allies are forced to try to attack us through deception.

On the official White House blog, deputy communications director Dan Pfeiffer denied that the health care bill would affect gun owners. After all, he writes, “there is no mention [of] ‘gun-related health data’ or anything like it anywhere in either the Senate or the House bills.”Well, unlike so many in Congress, GOA attorneys have actually read the bills, something they have been doing since before Mr. Pfeiffer was born.

So, how would this bill attack gun rights?

First of all, the fact that the bills do not mention the words “gun related health data” is meaningless. Those who know even a little bit about gun law understand the increasing use of statutes which do not mention guns – and common law which was not intended to apply to them – in order to vent hatred for the Second Amendment. -[source]

The War On Terror

donttreadonme — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 06:28:55 +0000

by donttreadonme, link written by others,

I don’t see the War On Terror ever coming to an end, until all countries eliminate the threat within their own borders. I’m shocked to see Syria become a safe haven for jihadists. For one, Khadaffi, while standing in a puddle of his own wee watching the Twin Towers fall, called President Bush at The White House denying responsibility for that days events, informing Dubya of Syria’s full cooperation hunting down those responsible.

The Syrian leader must’ve remembered Reagan’s wrath, another cowboy Republican that wouldn’t let anyone step on the toes of Americans……….

military.com

News flash from the year 2035

HGIC — Sat, 04 Dec 2004 04:17:33 +0000

Castro finally dies at age 112; Cuban cigars can now be imported legally, but President Chelsea Clinton has banned all smoking.

Ozone created by electric cars now killing millions in the seventh largest country in the world, California.

White minorities still trying to have English recognized as California’s third language.

Spotted Owl plague threatens northwestern United States crops and livestock.

Baby conceived naturally… Scientists stumped.

Couple petitions court to reinstate heterosexual marriage.

Last remaining Fundamentalist Muslim dies in the American Territory of the Middle East (formerly known as Iran, Afghanistan, Syria, and Lebanon).

Iraq still closed off; physicists estimate it will take at least ten more years before radioactivity decreases to safe levels.

France pleads for global help after being overtaken by Jamaica.

George Z. Bush says he will run for President in 2036.

Postal Service raises price of first class stamp to $17.89 and reduces mail delivery to Wednesday only.

35 year study: Diet and Exercise is the key to weight loss.

Average weight of Americans drops to 250 lbs.

Massachusetts executes last remaining conservative.

Supreme Court rules punishment of criminals violates their civil rights.

Average height of NBA players now nine feet, seven inches.

New federal law requires that all nail clippers, screwdrivers, fly swatters, and rolled up newspapers must be registered by January 2036.

Congress authorizes direct deposit of illegal political contributions to campaign accounts.

Capitol Hill intern indicted for refusing to have sex with congressman.

IRS sets lowest tax rate at 75%.

Florida Democrats still don’t know how to use a voting machine.