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The Daily Muck
The FBI is looking to clean up its act after repeated allegations that the agency abused its newfound Patriot Act powers. Instead of the agency illegally holding information about American citizens, the FBI wants to pay private firms to hold it for them. Additionally, the FBI is now using its data-mining software to sort through records on identity theft, real estate transactions, car accidents, etc. to profile Americans as potential terrorists. Sen. Leahy has already expressed that such a database is “ripe for abuse”. (ABC’s The Blotter, USA TODAY)
Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA) is keeping his options open. A spokesman for Calvert said the lawmaker will not rule out selling his illegally procured land back to the company that originally sold him the land. A grand jury concluded that water and sewer company Jurupa Community Services District violated California law when it sold four acres of public land to Calvert and investment partners before offering it first to public agencies. (The Hill)
Louisiana senator and marriage advocate David Vitter (R) has been keeping a low profile since yesterday’s announcement that he was once a patron of the D.C. Madam. But now the “Canal Street Madam” is rising to defend him, claiming that the Senator occasioned her New Orleans brothel and was nothing but a gentleman. (The Hill, Times-Picayune)
Two senior officials at the Justice Department confirmed yesterday that they personally kept the Attorney General informed about all allegations of FBI abuse regarding privacy safeguards and civil liberties. (Washington Post)
The good old days. Congressional members and staff can now nostalgically look back at glamorous trips paid by private companies in a convenient searchable database created by internet company LegiStorm. The database details $57 million worth of travel paid by private interest groups for lawmakers and their staff since 2000. Destinations included the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, London, Amsterdam, golf resorts and casino hot spots.
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales’ upcoming testimony in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee has been pushed back from July 18th to July 24th. (The Hill)
A Congressional Research Service report released this week concluded that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will continue to cost taxpayers billions of dollars in the future, no matter how quickly troops are withdrawn from the area. The report noted that the cost of the Iraq war is increasing rapidly, but making estimates was difficult as the Department of Defense did not give specific details as to how war funding was spent. (Washington Post)
Comments (9)
Jake wrote on July 11, 2007 10:07 AM:"State GOP official Vincent Bruno told The Hill yesterday that Vitter should follow Livingston’s lead and resign for the good of the state party, adding that he thinks more details or more affairs could come to light."
Has the good Senator been Bobbittized yet?
dee illuminati wrote on July 11, 2007 10:33 AM:Even the bureau's own top lawyer said she found the unit's behavior "disturbing," noting that when requesting access to phone company records, it repeatedly referenced "emergency" situations that did not exist, falsely claimed grand juries had subpoenaed information and failed to keep records on much of its own activity.
From the link on the eavesdropping, NSL's and violations with FISA and the Patriot Act.
And the story does not go into the issue of abuses where a political operative say in Jisa or Aipac could speak informally of a 'troubling' invidvidual in confidence, whom could share that story with an embassy official, whom then could relay that infrmation in a foreign case report at a non-US embassy, whom could initiate a call to an individual from a brothel in Karachi who could then use the FBI to derail and harras a investigator working for the US.
But that is NOT the half of it... lets take the Surgeon General, Treasury Secretary, and Former Commander of the Chief of Staff of the armed services committee at their word.. ommitting the more 'politicized' and yet evident example of Brewster Jennings..
That plain old political retribution, divorce cases, and any crass human motivation shielded under the umbrella of national security and NOT subject to Fisa review occured.
This program was as helpful as it was destructive, it was as if RICHARD BREMMER or somebody like him was running it!!!!
It was as if Donald Rumsfeld was in charge..
It was as if National Security experienced great losses at the accrual of now spent political capital and the GWOT was diverted for a sound-bite.
That is the legacy and the REAL history of this programme.
Salmo wrote on July 11, 2007 10:48 AM:The big question that comes out of this should be: Who paid? Who paid the DC Madam's fees, who paid for the "fish rodeo" and who paid for the services at the "Canal Street Madam's"? It is true that sexual impropriety is common as dirt in our political rulers, but so is cheapness. These men and women don't expect to pay for their lunch, they don't pay for tickets whether to a sporting event or the theater, and they surely do not pay out of their own pocket for their indescretions. A "fish rodeo" where politicians mix descretely with whores has got to cost a lot of money - charter boats, whores, and suitable venues are not cheap. Habitual use of the services of various madams, whether at the DC or Canal Street establishments is also not cheap. But think of the leverage a prospective lobbyist (or other potential beneficiary) gets in return; they line up for the privledge of paying. So, who paid and who got what?
gonzone wrote on July 11, 2007 11:10 AM:Legistorm is a very good thing.
jeffgee wrote on July 11, 2007 11:15 AM:I'd like see them expand coverage to the federal judiciary on travel.
Google adword: FBI Surveillance
Anonymous wrote on July 11, 2007 2:31 PM:Be careful what you search for, grasshopper.
What's a fishing rodeo?
Sure its a fishing tournament. But, there's one fishing tournament in Louisiana with strippers involved. The "Grand Isle Tarpin Rodeo", which is a fishing tournament either hosted or co-hosted by a strip club owner or owners. I bet this one or one like it if it exist is where Vitter ended up with more than a fish on his pole.
I'm not sure, but I think the Grand Isle Tournament is by invitation only and or requires big fees...which invites speculation as to the goings on and high profile attendees. I guess its like Mardi Gras on the Water with men and Strippers without the floats or beeds and without the presence of their children, wives, or any police presence. You know, a good place for a morally superior Republican Senator to kick back and catch some fish as opposed to fishing the 500 miles of coastline or thousands of fresh water bodies in Louisiana.
fish wrote on July 11, 2007 2:33 PM:What's a fishing rodeo?
Sure its a fishing tournament. But, there's one fishing tournament in Louisiana with strippers involved. The "Grand Isle Tarpin Rodeo", which is a fishing tournament either hosted or co-hosted by a strip club owner or owners. I bet this one or one like it if it exist is where Vitter ended up with more than a fish on his pole.
I'm not sure, but I think the Grand Isle Tournament is by invitation only and or requires big fees...which invites speculation as to the goings on and high profile attendees. I guess its like Mardi Gras on the Water with men and Strippers without the floats or beeds and without the presence of their children, wives, or any police presence. You know, a good place for a morally superior Republican Senator to kick back and catch some fish as opposed to fishing the 500 miles of coastline or thousands of fresh water bodies in Louisiana.
Fester wrote on July 11, 2007 2:38 PM:Ever committed to traditional values, Senator David Vitter (R-Hypocristan) will introduce the Defense of Prostitution Act, stipulating that prostitution is a business agreement between one man and one woman. Or maybe more than one woman...
Anonymous wrote on July 11, 2007 3:29 PM:I'll bet Vitter is just thanking his lucky stars that another Madam has stepped up to defend him from potential charges of being into kinky stuff.
BTW,heard on Stephanie Miller this morning with no proof offered: supposedly some of the phone numbers have been traced to "Aides" of Dick Cheney during his tenure a Chairman of Halliburton. Anyone else know about this?
-Dave Adams