Dept. of the Duh: Dems Air concerns over Wiretap and Search Bill THEY JUST APPROVED WITHOUT READING

Boy, sometimes losing one's liberty can almost be amusing. Take a look at this story from Sunday's New York Times:

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Concern Over Wider Spying Under New Law
By JAMES RISEN and ERIC LICHTBLAU

WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 — Broad new surveillance powers approved by Congress this month could allow the Bush administration to conduct spy operations that go well beyond wiretapping to include — without court approval — certain types of physical searches on American soil and the collection of Americans’ business records, Democratic Congressional officials and other experts said.

Administration officials acknowledged that they had heard such concerns from Democrats in Congress recently, and that there was a continuing debate over the meaning of the legislative language. But they said the Democrats were simply raising theoretical questions based on a harsh interpretation of the legislation.

As Expected, Fed Channels Easier Money into Market --

As noted previously at the Conspiracy, the Federal Reserve, in response to its own mishandling of the money supply, decided Friday to drop the discount rate by half a basis point", or .5%, a fairly large drop, and one that was inspired by the Fed's already bungled management of the money supply. Scroll down at this site to see the reasons why people holding variable rate mortgages were beginning to default, or, if they weren't defaulting, they were pulling money out of their stocks to pay their debts.

Here is a good piece on the action of the Fed, from MSN:
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Will the Fed's move save stocks?

Portion of Patriot Act Could Give Gonzales Power to Supersede State Death Penalties

As reported by the LA Times, it is now being revealed that an as yet unstudied portion of the Patriot Act could allow Atty. General Alberto Gonzales to supersede state laws regarding death penalties. For both supporters of the death penalty and opponents of it, this should come as a shock. The concept of federalism is being completely destroyed by the Congress, Senate, Supreme Court, and Executive Branch (i.e., by every branch of the federal government). One would hope that traditional conservatives would speak out about this usurpation, but given the track record of the talk radio biggies, this may be unlikely.

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AGAINST THE GRAIN COMING BACK! Listen August 20th, to WTPL, 107.7 FM Concord, Soon in New London, Keene -- Largest Coverage YET!

Here is the news, as Conspirators who have signed on to the mailing list already know! The show will be simulcast at www.wtplfm.com, and audio files will be made available after the fact here. Look forward to a larger role for the Conspiracy, for merchandise, and for interplay with you here and on the radio!

This is a copy of the press release issued from WTPL, and Great Eastern Radio:

Great Eastern Radio Announces Partnership with Gardner Goldsmith -
To Lead State in News, Information and Opinion Programming

August 13, 2007 - Concord, NH –

WTPL general Manager Jim Whedon announced today the revelation that Great Eastern Radio has established a new partnership with popular radio talker Gardner Goldsmith, who has become recognized throughout New Hampshire as the state’s most powerful voice in favor of small government, economic growth, and individual liberty.

Fed Money Manipulation to Make Temp Fix of Previous Manipulation! Nothing Like Government Control of Money!

As many conspirators noted, last week, the Federal Reserve tossed out 36 billion Dollars in liquidity -- viola, like that!!!

Why did they embark on this bit of David Copperfield prestidigitation? Because back in 2002, the Fed lowered rates dramatically, and then started raising them when they feared inflation... But wait, let us explain.

See, the founding fathers made a mistake when they allowed the federal government to coin money and fix the value thereof. They didn't go so far as to exclude competition from private banks that could issue currency based on their own gold or silver reserves, but they allowed the gub-ment to get into the money biz (thanks SO much Hamilton).

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Bush Hints at Veto of Senate-Congressional Gas Tax Proposal

The Associated Press has just reported that President Bush will likely veto an increase in the gasoline tax, although it remains to be seen whether he would oppose other regulations on energy providers if a revised version of the energy and transportation legislation were to cross his desk.

Here is the piece, from the Associated Press:

WASHINGTON - President Bush dismissed Thursday raising the federal gasoline tax to repair the nation’s bridges at least until Congress changes the way it spends highway money.

“The way it seems to have worked is that each member on that (Transportation) committee gets to set his or her own priorities first,” Bush said. “That’s not the right way to prioritize the people’s money. Before we raise taxes, which could affect economic growth, I would strongly urge the Congress to examine how they set priorities.”

Congress Passes Huge Tax Increases on Oil Companies, Regulations on Electricity Generators, Gives Tax Breaks to 'Green' Projects

As reported by the AP, Congress Saturday passed yet another counter-productive energy bill that will slam oil companies in the US with 16 billion Dollars more in taxes (which WE CONSUMERS will pay). The bill will also force energy providers owned by private investors (rather than state utilities) to have to get 15% of their power from non-oil sources by a date as yet unreported. This bill would be combined with a Senate proposal passed last month, one that forces automobile manufacturers to make all their cars get 35 mpg by 2020.

Yes, do you hear that sound? That tumbling, rolling sound? Audio analysis indicates that it is, indeed, the Founding Fathers rolling in their graves.

House Approves Expanded FISA Law - No Judge Approval Needed Now for Federal Wiretap, Fourth Amendment Close to a Dead Letter

As has been noted by conspirators, the exposure of Americans to federal wiretaps has increased many thousand fold under the Bush administration. When this was noted by news organizations last year, the Attorney General (you know, a real expert in constitutional law) said that the FISA law passed in 1978 allowed the NSA to spy on Americans. It was then noted that the law did NOT give permission to eavesdrop on Americans, even if a foreigner was on the other end of the phone. Gonzales tried to call this "foreign" surveillance, when, of course, it was, by definition, domestic, since an American citizen's line was being tapped. Gonzales then tried to explain it away by saying that "Congress gave the President 'broad discretion' when it granted him permission to use military force in 2002."

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US Senate Votes to Expand Domestic Phone Tapping, House Vote Tonight

Oh, yeah, lest we forget, the Bush Administration calls it "Foreign Surveillance". So if an American is talking to a foreigner on the phone, he can have his phone tapped, and is no longer considered an American with Fourth Amendment rights. Remember that, now.

Here is the article, from the Washington Post:
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Senate Votes To Expand Warrantless Surveillance
White House Applauds; Changes Are Temporary

By Joby Warrick and Ellen Nakashima
Washington Post Staff Writers
Saturday, August 4, 2007; Page A01

The Senate bowed to White House pressure last night and passed a Republican plan for overhauling the federal government's terrorist surveillance laws, approving changes that would temporarily give U.S. spy agencies expanded power to eavesdrop on foreign suspects without a court order.

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Brilliantine and Snooty Newt Gingrich Proclaims 'America Needs a New Energy Strategy' -- More Top-Down Thinking

The so-called "conservative", Newt Gingrich, who is OBVIOUSLY going to announce a plan to run for President in September, came out with more over-blown rhetoric this week. This time, his statist ideas were directed at coming up with a "new" energy policy paradigm for the US.

How about this, Newt? How about you get the government out of the regulation and manipulation of the energy market, and leave us alone?

Can you do that, Newt? Are you strong enough? We doubt it. You know better than consumers, don't you...

Here is the piece, from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

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Gingrich says war on terror 'phony'

Still in the RED, Never ONCE in the Black, AMTRAK Will Offer Free Booze -- Would Be Taxed If You Bought It Yourself in Stores

The Federal tax on alcohol is $13.50 per proof gallon (or one gallon of 100 proof liquor).

Now, some of those federal taxes go to do what... Yeah, you got it, to subsidize AMTRAK! And why should AMTRAK be subsidized? To... Um... Buy booze for customers who already get subsidized rides at below market rates!

Check this out, but beware, it may make you so frustrated you might be driven to drink.

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By DEVLIN BARRETT
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - Amtrak is trying to gin up new business by offering $100 in free alcohol to customers on some overnight trains.

The national passenger rail company is making the unusual offer to promote a new high-end service being offered on a trial basis for certain sleeper car trips.

Elton John Calls for Death of Internet, Even As He Licenses His Mind-Numbingly Boring Music to Be Sold Online

When was the last time you saw a court jester do a trick? Elton John seems to be very adept at playing the fool.

Or... Is he really playing? Here is the story, from the Sun Online:

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POP legend Sir Elton John wants the internet CLOSED DOWN.

Never one to keep his opinions to himself, the Rocket Man has waded into cyberspace with all guns blazing.

He claims it is destroying good music, saying: “The internet has stopped people from going out and being with each other, creating stuff.

“Instead they sit at home and make their own records, which is sometimes OK but it doesn’t bode well for long-term artistic vision.

DEA Steals, Gonzales Lies

Gard joins Ian and Mark on Free Talk Live July 30, 2007…

DEA Steals, Gonzales Lies

Gard joins Ian and Mark on Free Talk Live July 30, 2007…

DEA Steals, Gonzales Lies

Gard joins Ian and Mark on Free Talk Live July 30, 2007…

Report Finally Exposes Gonzales Dishonesty and Prevarication -- V05 Will Soon Be Packing His Bags if He Doesn't Come Clean

The Alberto V05 has run into more trouble: Pop media outlets are beginning to compare his statements over time, and to compare them with the law. Strangely, he's not looking so good nowadays.

Here is some interesting material from the Washington Post:

First, a "Post" comparison of statements, indicating his dishonesty: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/graphic/2007/07/30/GR200707...

Next, an article from the "Post" about this:
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Gonzales's Truthfulness Long Disputed
Claims of Misstatements to Shield Bush Stretch Back a Decade

By Dan Eggen and Amy Goldstein

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