SMART PHONES SUBJECT TO GOVERNMENT MONITORING

WASHINGTON, (UPI) –  Americans should be worried that their smartphone use, text messages and Web surfing as well as phone calls, can be logged by Washington, U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden warns.
“The government will not state clearly what the rules are with respect to tracking Americans on their cellphones, and I have asked this repeatedly at public hearings in the Intelligence Committee,” the Oregon Democrat and member of the Senate Intelligence Committee told the C-SPAN program “Newsmakers.”

“I can’t get into the details of any specific operation, or whether it’s being conducted, but … having that computer in your pocket increases the potential that certainly people could be tracked 24/7,” he told the program, which aired Sunday.  “Under the Patriot Act, the government’s authority to collect is essentially limitless.” 

What has transpired since the first of the current scandals hit the news about two months ago is that we have advanced from meek confessions and finger-pointing to a bold and in-your-face, "W don't care whether you like it or not, we're going to continue doing it. We have no one to blame but ourselves, for allowing this to happen to us. 

IRS PROBE WIDENS

Congressman Darrell Issa's House Committee has widened its probe into the IRS amid new allegations that the agency was unjustifiably targeting conservative organizations which already had tax exempt status.  Several groups are alleging they have been subjected to repeated audits and required to answer ludicrous questions.  The Administration continues to assert that the whole scandal is phony. 

GOVERNMENT DEMANDS YOUR PASSWORDS

Both CNET and THE BLAZE are reporting that the federal government is demanding  major internet companies turn over users’ stored passwords.  “If the government is able to determine a person’s password, which is typically stored in encrypted form, the credential could be used to log in to an account to peruse confidential correspondence or even impersonate the user,” the report says. “Obtaining it also would aid in deciphering encrypted devices in situations where passwords are reused.”  But it doesn’t end there; the government is not only requesting the passwords, but its also asking for algorithms and even security questions. 

The report does not say if we should blame the NSA, the DOJ or both.   And just how do you like the thought of some non-descript government agent having your secret passwords? 

NSA COMES UP LAME

The government agency with the fastest computer in the world, with enough available memory to suck up every byte of information ever created about 15 times over, is unable to respond to Freedom of Information (FOIA) requests because it cannot search its own emails, according to Cindy Blacker, FOIA Official for the NSA.  The way the files are set up, she insists, makes it virtually impossible to to an effective search for information.  

Sounds to me like we're the ones being set up.  I mean, isn't that beyond preposterous? 

ANOTHER BENGHAZI HERO IDENTIFIED

One of the most severely wounded survivors of the Benghazi terror attack, Diplomatic Security agent David Ubben, risked his life to help save his fellow Americans, and is still being treated at Walter Reed medical center to this day, Fox News has learned.  Ubben went back into the burning Consulate to rescue the body of Sean Smith and was on the rooftop with Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty defending the compound.  

The State Department is refusing access to the Congressional Committee investigating the Benghazi Massacre.  Our government is acting like Mafioso thugs, daring us to do anything about it. 

"PHONY SCANDALS"

Emperor Barack Husein Obama declared all scandals to be phony history yesterday and declared that the nation must turn its attention to jobs.  He stopped short of adding, "Or else." 

I see.  The IRS admission that it had been targeting conservative groups and groups with "Tea Party" or "Patriot" in their names did not take place?  We never heard it?  The NSA admission that it has been collecting all of this data, the DOJ admission that it targeted the Associated Press and FOX... all of those scandals never existed and none of those "confessions" occurred.  

So, it turns out, there is no one to blame.  That's a pretty darned convenient position to take on the day that we found out that William Wilkins, his political appointee as Chief Counsel at the IRS, met with Obama personally before Wilkins issued a list of new targets and strategies to the IRS, as the White House visitor's log of April 23rd attests.   Then, of course, there was the initial White House denial that such a meeting took place; now, the story is that the IRS was not discussed?  Why was Wilkins there, except maybe for an Easter Egg roll?  

I should add that this is the umpteenth time Obama has turned to the issue of jobs since he took office, but he has yet to do anything for jobs. 

Well, he IS the Emperor and whatever he proclaims or declares is the law of the land, right? 

SCANDALGATE UPDATE

FOX NEWS is reporting that General Carter Ham, then in charge of U.S. forces in Africa, says that it was "quickly" evident that the Benghazi attack was the act of terrorists.  “It became apparent to all of us quickly that this was not a demonstration, this was a violent attack,” Ham said.  He refused to speculate as to why Hillary Clinton insisted that it was a demonstration as a result of the infamous anti-Muslim video.  

The NATIONAL REVIEW is reporting that Community Organizers will have access to all of the information about you contained in the Federal Data Bank.  Ostensibly, this will enable them to contact you and make sure you are enrolled for ObamaCare.  "Community Organizers" represent to me the well-known organization of "ACORN."  I don't care what the damned reason is, this is a blatant, unconstitutional invasion of my privacy!  

The NSA is outraged over attempts to rein in its powers to collect data.  See MY AMERICAN OPINION.COM

THE MUCK OF THE SCANDALS IS GROWING

As reported here, Marine Colonel George Bristol was in charge of Special Operations Forces in Northern Africa on the night of the Benghazi, Libya terror attack and Congress wanted to talk with him to see what he knew.  The Pentagon said that Bristol was retired, entitled to his privacy and refused to tell Congress where to contact him.  

Congressman Lindsay Graham discovered last week that Bristol was NOT retired; we had been told another damned lie.  After a whole lot of coughing and hacking, the Pentagon has put Congress in touch with Bristol, who will be called to testify.  

In the meanwhile, there's another scandal brewing in Homeland Security involving the acting Inspector General who has been blowing a ton of our cash and who hired his wife and has allowed her to work from home.  

Meanwhile, there's a report floating about that says the IRS Chief Counsel who was appointed by the Obama Camp was at the White House for a meeting just two days before he drafted a new targeting list for the IRS. 

Looks to me like the whole damned Administration is corrupt from the top down.  And that includes Congress, because they're not doing anything except hissing, huffing and puffing. 

THE INEVITABLE QUESTION IS...

Is Holder investigating the Justice Department targeting of the press and media?

Is Holder investigating the EPA scandal?  The IRS scandal?  The NSA scandal?  The DOS scandal? The Benghazi Massacre?  

Well, then, why is he so hot to trot in investigating and prosecuting George Zimmerman? 

STATE DEPARTMENT AGENCY ON LIFE SUPPORT

An obscure little State Department agency whose work is called "critical to the Department's information security posture" has been in a shambles for years, and is still in chaos, according to FOX NEWS and an audit report by the department's inspector general released Thursday.  The security checks that the agency is supposed to perform and subsequent approvals for use that it is supposed to bestow every three years on 36 of those State Department systems have lapsed entirely, meaning that they are operating, in effect, illegally.

The Office of Information Assurance of the State Department's Bureau of Information Resource Management (IRM/IA) staff apparently has no sense of what security functions their unit is actually required to perform, has failed for years to update information security manuals used by thousands of other State Department personnel, and has often left important details about the  vulnerability of  State's  information systems where they can be accessed by  people with lower-level security classifications.  

 

The problems and scandals emanating out of Washington these days are systemic, meaning they are very wide-spread, pervasive and either tolerated or directed from the very top.  It's fine to poke fun at Obama and his goons, but the fact of the matter is that our national security had been badly damaged and our standing among nations has become a water-cooler joke. 

IRS SCANDAL PRACTICALLY AT WHITE HOUSE STEPS

As expected, testimony on The Hill yesterday revealed that a top political appointee of the White House at the IRS was "in charge" of delaying all applications from conservative groups.  Carter Hull, a top administrator at the IRS said that he was taking orders from William Wilkins, the political appointee and Chief Counsel for the IRS.  Hull repeatedly said that he was not told specifically to hold up applications. But he confirmed that after meeting with the chief counsel's office, applications were eventually taken out of his control and forwarded on for "further review," which he said rarely occurred.

The committee also heard from Elizabeth Hofacre from the Cincinnati Office and Inspector General J. Russell George, who originally spilled the beans.  Democrats spared no words in trying to blame George for starting a political vendetta against the President, but failed to address the fact that the bad news came out after the November elections and not before. 

It was clear from the testimony that Lois Lerner is a central figure in everything that has been reported so far.  Although she claimed the Fifth Amendment when called to testify last month, Committee Chairman Darrell Issa has said he intends to call her back. 

My guess is that William Wilkins and Lois Lerner will soon be awarded Executive Privilege by Obama. 

HOLDER'S GAG ORDER ON NSA

Microsoft has written a letter to Eric Holder asking him to remove the gag order imposed by the Attorney General against companies that have been collecting data on Americans for the government's National Security Agency.  I didn't even know the gag order existed, it was so gagged.   The letter says the incredible secrecy prevents the company from telling the truth about the program -- to the detriment of America itself.  

Microsoft says it has resisted the government where it could: It does not provide the government with direct access to its servers and it did not give the government keys to its encryption.  

It is obvious that this Administration is going to continue to do what it wants, when it wants, and to whom it wants... whether it's legal or not. 

JUSTICE REFUSES TO PROSECUTE I.R.S. CASE

A government watchdog is alleging that the Department of Justice, once made aware of at least one case where the I.R.S. improperly accessed the tax records of a political donor or candidate, refused to prosecute.  Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, wants to know if that DOJ decision was "politically motivated."

In a related development, the word is that a Thursday Congressional hearing is going to produce blockbuster information because it will show that instructions for audits of political donors or candidates and refusals to issue tax exempt status to conservative groups came from the "highest echelons" in Washington.  IRS agent Elizabeth Hofacre, who works in the agency's Cincinnati office, is said to be ready to excoriate her D.C. bosses. 

RECENT REVEALING STATEMENT BY SNOWDEN

Transcript of Edward Joseph Snowden statement, given at 5pm Moscow time on Friday 12th July 2013. (Transcript corrected to delivery)

---

Hello. My name is Ed Snowden. A little over one month ago, I had family, a home in paradise, and I lived in great comfort. I also had the capability without any warrant to search for, seize, and read your communications. Anyone’s communications at any time. That is the power to change people’s fates.

It is also a serious violation of the law. The 4th and 5th Amendments to the Constitution of my country, Article 12 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and numerous statutes and treaties forbid such systems of massive, pervasive surveillance. While the US Constitution marks these programs as illegal, my government argues that secret court rulings, which the world is not permitted to see, somehow legitimize an illegal affair. These rulings simply corrupt the most basic notion of justice – that it must be seen to be done. The immoral cannot be made moral through the use of secret law. 

I believe in the principle declared at Nuremberg in 1945: "Individuals have international duties which transcend the national obligations of obedience. Therefore individual citizens have the duty to violate domestic laws to prevent crimes against peace and humanity from occurring."

Accordingly, I did what I believed right and began a campaign to correct this wrongdoing. I did not seek to enrich myself. I did not seek to sell US secrets. I did not partner with any foreign government to guarantee my safety. Instead, I took what I knew to the public, so what affects all of us can be discussed by all of us in the light of day, and I asked the world for justice.

That moral decision to tell the public about spying that affects all of us has been costly, but it was the right thing to do and I have no regrets.

Since that time, the government and intelligence services of the United States of America have attempted to make an example of me, a warning to all others who might speak out as I have. I have been made stateless and hounded for my act of political expression. The United States Government has placed me on no-fly lists. It demanded Hong Kong return me outside of the framework of its laws, in direct violation of the principle of non-refoulement – the Law of Nations. It has threatened with sanctions countries who would stand up for my human rights and the UN asylum system. It has even taken the unprecedented step of ordering military allies to ground a Latin American president’s plane in search for a political refugee. These dangerous escalations represent a threat not just to the dignity of Latin America, but to the basic rights shared by every person, every nation, to live free from persecution, and to seek and enjoy asylum.

Yet even in the face of this historically disproportionate aggression, countries around the world have offered support and asylum. These nations, including Russia, Venezuela, Bolivia, Nicaragua, and Ecuador have my gratitude and respect for being the first to stand against human rights violations carried out by the powerful rather than the powerless. By refusing to compromise their principles in the face of intimidation, they have earned the respect of the world. It is my intention to travel to each of these countries to extend my personal thanks to their people and leaders.

I announce today my formal acceptance of all offers of support or asylum I have been extended and all others that may be offered in the future. With, for example, the grant of asylum provided by Venezuela’s President Maduro, my asylee status is now formal, and no state has a basis by which to limit or interfere with my right to enjoy that asylum. As we have seen, however, some governments in Western European and North American states have demonstrated a willingness to act outside the law, and this behavior persists today. This unlawful threat makes it impossible for me to travel to Latin America and enjoy the asylum granted there in accordance with our shared rights.

This willingness by powerful states to act extra-legally represents a threat to all of us, and must not be allowed to succeed. Accordingly, I ask for your assistance in requesting guarantees of safe passage from the relevant nations in securing my travel to Latin America, as well as requesting asylum in Russia until such time as these states accede to law and my legal travel is permitted. I will be submitting my request to Russia today, and hope it will be accepted favorably.

If you have any questions, I will answer what I can.

Thank you.

HERE'S WHO IS TO BLAME FOR ZIMMERMAN VERDICT

Ben Kruidbos, the Information Technology (IT) Director for the Florida State Attorney General's Office has been fired for revealing that the office withheld crucial evidence favoring George Zimmerman.  He said he was worried prosecutors didn’t turn over information about deleted images and text messages he recovered from Trayvon Martin’s cell phone, including photos of a hand holding a gun and a plant that looked like marijuana. 

Like Edward Snowden, the friends of the Administration seek to marginalize and punish those who stand up for what is right. 

ANOTHER PENTAGON BENGHAZI COVERUP

Ever since the Benghazi Massacre, every Administration agency even remotely involved with the event has been stalling and stonewalling.   We already know that outright lies were told and that the perpetrator, Susan Rice, is being rewarded for doing so through a promotion to the President's National Security Adviser.  We also know that there were witnesses on the ground in the Consulate and that they are now back stateside, some still under medical care, and that the Administration is refusing to name them or allow access to them. 

Marine Colonel George Bristol was in a key position that night; as such, he's high in the list of people the House would like to talk with.  But, he's now retired.  Since he's retired, the Pentagon has no idea where he is or how to reach him.  Oh, my.  They can tell you how many times the IRS Director visited the White House, who he talked to, who he emailed, who he voted for and how much he gave to candidates, but... they have no idea where a Marine Colonel is.  Members of Congress in both the House and Senate, including Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., have asked the Pentagon for assistance in locating Bristol so that they can question him about events the night of the terrorist attacks in Benghazi; but those efforts have come up empty.  

I keep saying that when and if we ever get to the bottom of the Benghazi story, Obama will be out.  And, I insist, that is where our efforts must be directed, getting to the bottom of that night. 

ZIMMERMAN VERDICT

The Prosecution went to great lengths to blame the verdict on the jury.  Somehow, I think that's what American justice is all about.  So, why the blame? 

IS MORSI TO BLAME FOR BENGHAZI?

WND.COM is reporting that a letter by a top Libyan official blames the attack that killed U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens on Mohamed Morsi, the now deposed president of Egypt.  What follows is a translation of that letter. 

Ministry of Interior
National Security Directorate of Tripoli
Reference Number: 442.67D
Date: September 15, 2012
Report Regarding Egyptian Accomplice Terror Cell That Raided and Burned The American Embassy in the District of Benghazi

His Excellency and dignified Interior Minister, a blessed greetings.

We are honored to bring to his Excellency’s attention regarding the arrest of the Egyptian [terror] cell, which carried out the crime and our investigation up to this date and this hour. That is, after the carrying out of the crime of invading and burning the American general consulate building in the district of Benghazi which happened on Tuesday, September 11, 2012 which resulted in the killing of Mr. Chris Stevens, the American Ambassador in the nation of Libya and Mr. Sean Smith, who finances the Department of Information of the United States Foreign Service including other employees [working] for the embassy. Based on the confessions declared by some who were arrested at the scene of the incident and through our fruitful cooperation with the Department of Security agencies in Benghazi with the information obtained shows that some of the accomplices have escaped the scene of the crime and concentrated themselves in Tripoli. Based on this provided information, an investigative and research group in the agency gained a precise location of the whereabouts this escaped cell was hiding in the vicinity of Khilat Al-Farjan. Immediately after, they were engaged by a special strike force unit, which was able to arrest persons from the cell, all of whom are Egyptian. The initial investigation shows that the membership of the group [belongs] to the jihadist group Ansar Sharia in Egypt which was established and led by Egyptian cleric Marjan Salem.

In addition, there were extremely crucial information as to the financial sources of this group and the planners and executers of the operation which carried out the breaking and entering of the American Consulate in Benghazi and killing all occupants including the desecration of their bodies in revenge for the film which was produced by the Crusaders who produced the film that insults the Messenger, Peace and Prayers be upon Him. The most distinguished names that were obtained from the confessions by members of the cell, is the person, the President of Egypt, Muhammad Morsi, Safwat Hijazy and Saudi businessman Mansour Bin Kadasa, the owner of Al-Nas TV station, Muhammad Hassan, previous candidate Hazim Salah Abu-Ismael, Egyptian attorney named Mamdouh Ismael, Egyptian cleric Atef Abdul Rashid, and other personalities. We also promise your Excellency to exert all our efforts to complete all the investigations and place the final report with your Excellency with 48 hours, Lord willing.

We are honored to announce to your Excellency our continual care to work hard with innovation through out blood and soul for the sake of Libya the land of the brave.

[Please] accept the highest greetings

Colonel Mahmoud al-Sharif,
Security Chief – Tripoli
[SEAL] Department of Security
[SEAL] Department of Security, Tripoli
Office of Chief of Security
Issued
Number: 960-13-B
Date: 12-09-15
Signature

What is Obama's relationship with the Muslim Brotherhood and did it play a role in the Benghazi Massacre?  

ANOTHER DOJ DIRTY DEED

News came out Wednesday that the Department of Justice, at our expense, funded a group of demonstrators that went to Sanford, Florida in March and April of 2010 for the express purpose of stirring up support for Trayvon Martn.  Records obtained by the watchdog group Judicial Watch, under the Freedom of Information Act, showed that members of the Justice Department's Community Relations Service were sent to Sanford in March and April of 2012 to help manage protests. 

"These documents detail the extraordinary intervention by the Justice Department in the pressure campaign leading to the prosecution of George Zimmerman," said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton in a statement posted on the watchdog group's website. "My guess is that most Americans would rightly object to taxpayers paying government employees to help organize racially charged demonstrations." 

Is there no end to the continuing revelations of illegal and unethical activities being perpetrated by the various agencies of this Administration?  I wonder why they're going to lay the blame on for this?

PROPOSED I.R.S. BUDGET CUTS ARE A SHAM ON AMERICA

The proposal by the House to cut the budget of the Internal Revenue Service by $3 billion is just about the dumbest move I have ever heard of. 

To begin with, it leaves in place those responsible for the lavish spending, the conservative targeting, the mis-publication of social security numbers and other sins.  Cutting the budget is not going to stop what has been going on and continues to go on; the mentality of these people is that they will cut some payroll and keep on with "business as usual."  

This amounts to an end-run around the responsibility to investigate and assign blame and to punish those responsible.  It is an abrogation of oversight authority and totally leaves the American public without a due and proper resolution of the matter.  

This Congress refuses, absolutely refuses, to come to grips with the fact that we have an out-of-control  runaway government that can do whatever it wants, whenever it wants.  Are we to accept cutting the budget of State, E.P.A., D.O.J., N.S.A. and the rest of the gang as being the answer to misfeasance and malfeasance in office?  Are our elected officials too afraid of Obama and his goon squad to throw the bums out? 

IRS PUBLISHES 100,000 SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS

In a direct violation of the law, the IRS published the names and social security numbers of some 100,000 donors to tax-exempt political groups.  An IRS spokesman says they are evaluating and assessing the situation.  

Now then, why do you suppose the IRS had isolated a list of contributors to tax-exempt political organizations in the first place?  Obviously, they intended to use it for something.  I'd like to know how many people on that list are now undergoing audits, wouldn't you?   I wonder if I write a letter asking for my donation back, they will take my name off the list.  For some reason, I feel like there's a target on my back.    

SNAIL MAIL ALSO BEING MONITORED

Leslie James Pickering, a former member of a radical environmental group labeled eco-terrorists by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and called the Earth Liberation Front, told the New York Times that he found a misplaced card in his mailbox last September which indicated that the United States Postal Service was monitoring his mail.  As it turns out, there are two major programs for monitoring your mail.  The original, called Mail Covers and its successor, the Mail Isolation Control and Tracking program, photograph the front of every piece of mail that moves in the U.S. and keeps digital track of who sent it and where it was sent to.  That amounted to somewhere near 160 billion pieces of mail last year.  

Who eventually gets this information, or who has access to it and how long it is maintained and where.... are questions that the government is so far refusing to answer.  So much for the Fourth Amendment?  

WHILE YOU WERE PARTYING...

They always like the stincking stuff that can't pass the smell test to ooze out when the press and media are not paying attention and while we are out partying. 

Well, we all know that Barry and Eric told Robert Mueller and the FBI to be the ones to investigate the IRS.  Then we know that a few weeks later, Robert was asked who was in charge of the investigation and he didn't have the slightest idea.  Then, of course, there was Lois Lerner, who batted her eyes at Congress and told them how innocent she was, and then pleaded the Fifth Amendment. 

Wednesday, just as the parties were starting and the press and the media ran out of stuff to report on the Zimmerman trial, someone brought out the point that the FBI has yet to talk to any of the conservative groups or individuals that were targeted for audits or delayed issuance of a 501 (c) (4) status.  And by Thursday, while we were all headed to the convenience store to reload on party materials, Lois "The Innocent," faced with a potential Contempt of Congress citation, suggested that she might be willing to go ahead and testify after all... if she's granted immunity from prosecution for what she has to say. 

And then I started to think... Is this all just one big, fat charade, or what?  First, there was Fast & Furious.  Eric and his boys rushed out, gathered all of the evidence and stonewalled Congress.  Eric even received a Contempt of Congress Citation over that, and where did that get us?  Assertion of Executive Privilege by Barry.  And all of the huffing and puffing from Congress that, by God, we ARE going to get to the bottom of this, Fast & Furious is ancient history, relegated to the "stories that might have been." 

Did the FBI ever really investigate the Benghazi Massacre, or was that also just a dog and pony show, and where is all of THAT evidence?  Has the FBI even decided yet to assign one agent... any agent... to the IRS investigation?  Will the DOJ ever investigate the DOJ, and who's in charge of that evidence?  What about the NSA surveillance of Americans and who, besides the Billy Graham organization, has actually been surveilled?  Is all of this huffing and puffing by Congress just all for show?  Are Barry, Eric and Congress simply massaging the public prostates?  

Are we simply figments of our own imaginations?  Do we care?  Will we ever have had enough of all of this horseshit? 

HI

Hiatus until Monday the 8th.  Enjoy the 4th, don't drink and drive.  

While you're enjoying yourselves, keep in mind that the FBI, assigned by Holder and the President to investigate the IRS targeting of conservative groups over a month ago, has yet to contact any one of them.  

AND NOW, ANOTHER APOLOGY

Director of National Intelligence James Clapper has apologized for telling Congress the National Security Agency doesn’t gather data on millions of Americans. 

Another of many lies told to us, many under oath, by our civil servants who refuse to stand up and take the blame for the errors of their ways.  I just wish one of them, any one of them, would have the guts and the courage to stand up and tell us why they did the things they did and who told them to do them. 

And they are puzzled as to why they all disgust us? 

A NEW BENGHAZI THEORY

DEMOCRACY NOW reports that a new book is suggesting that the killing of Ambassador Stevens and three others at Benghazi last year was the result of "blowback" over a secret assassination operation in North Africa run by the U.S. under Obama's direction.  Stevens was evidently unaware of the scheme.  It sounds plausible. 

Yes, it's going on a year... July 11th will be 10 months of successful stonewalling on the part of Obama and his goon squad. 

QUESTION OF THE YEAR

Will the Democratic controlled U.S. Senate ratify the signing by Obama of the U.N. Small Arms Weapons Treaty and throw the 2nd Amendment into chaos?  And, if so, what will our illustrious Supreme Court do about it? 

And, who will be to blame if it all comes to pass?