Why Big Media Is Better Than Mere Bloggers
They have the guts and judgment necessary to interrupt a Congresswoman discussing the NSA’s phone data program, so that the network can cover Real Breaking News about Justin Bieber:
Thanks to Ken White on Facebook.
As far as Justin Bieber goes, my opinion is that I’m going to interrupt this discussion about Justin Bieber to discuss the NSA’s phone data program. So it was recently news that an independent board recommends scrapping the program entirely:
An independent executive branch board has concluded that the National Security Agency’s long-running program to collect billions of Americans’ phone records is illegal and should end.
In a strongly worded report to be issued Thursday, the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB) said that the statute upon which the program was based, Section 215 of the USA Patriot Act, “does not provide an adequate basis to support this program.”
But does the Constitution prohibit it? So far, lower courts have come to differing conclusions about the matter. It seems headed for the Supreme Court at some point, as President Obama seems unlikely to scrap the program (much less “end the NSA,” as MSNBC’s moronic lower third states).
As always, I come at this issue torn. I see on a regular basis how access to phone records and cell site data can be used as tools in criminal investigations. As a rule, prosecutors and police are interested in solving crimes, and not in abusing their access to information. That said, any database is subject to abuse. It does not generally mean that we should scrap databases as a result.
On the other hand, I don’t trust this government and this administration. Maetenloch at Ace’s collects some suspicious coincidences (via Instapundit):
Coincidence: Hollywood’s only conservative group is getting close IRS nonprofit scrutiny
Another Coincidence: James O’Keefe Group Being Audited by NY. Again.
Yet Another Coincidence: Dinesh D’Souza Indicted For Election Fraud
Conservatives are not immune to abuse of power; lefties in a land ruled by a President Nixon would have reason not to trust their government and administration. There is a lot of potential for abuse here.
It will be interesting to see how this plays out. You can count on the professionals in the media to be right there, providing informative analysis and perspective . . . unless, of course, Justin Bieber gets arrested for egging his neighbor’s house.
Resign yourselves, we all live in Chicago now. And we voted for it.
Glenn (647d76) — 1/24/2014 @ 7:44 amThe stupidity of MSM is beyond belief.
SPQR (768505) — 1/24/2014 @ 7:47 amDon’t worry, the GOP has our back and are risking their livelihood, careers and families’ well-being on our behalf.
Now let’s get out there and vote for incremental apoptosis. Go team!
gary gulrud (05efc5) — 1/24/2014 @ 7:50 amAs an aside, with the technology currently in use, the data, if not the databases, exists and is searchable, is it not? And the possibility of abuse exists, even if done by someone paying off a telecom tech to do an unofficial search, correct?
So if one really wants privacy, you would have to supervise the “destruction” of the data.
My son the detective solved a missing persons case by using cell phone records or some such, so yeah, in the right hands in the right circumstances using the data is a great tool.
In some ways it is just another scenario of the old problem of the proper use of technology, which has existed ever since it was discovered that a large stick could do more damage than a fist, and a large stick with a stone attached more then the stick itself.
MD in Philly (f9371b) — 1/24/2014 @ 7:53 amPeople under 30 should not be allowed to drive Lamborghinis.
MD in Philly (f9371b) — 1/24/2014 @ 7:54 amAndrea Mitchell, trophy wife.
gary gulrud (05efc5) — 1/24/2014 @ 7:58 amIn other minutiae, today is a 2014 watershed in the Markets:
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-01-24/bank-america-head-technician-our-bullish-view-invalidated-going-neutral-below-1806-s
The yen and loonie crashed last night, people are cashing in their emerging market holdings. It could get ugly today.
gary gulrud (05efc5) — 1/24/2014 @ 8:39 amWinning!!!
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2014/01/24/friday-funny-mann-overboard/#more-102082
Steyn has moved to have Mann’s case dismissed.
Hide the decline, Warmeners.
gary gulrud (05efc5) — 1/24/2014 @ 8:49 amMr. bieber isn’t particularly fascist I don’t think though he’s something of a lifeydoodle
whereas the NSA is an extremely fascist organization, almost cartoonishly so
you almost have to say the NSA has done the world a favor
through its (typically American) incompetence it’s exposed the United States and its pliable neo-fascist technoslut Eric Schmidt Marissa Meyers Steve Ballmer Mark Zuckerberg coterie
now the world can see America for the cowardly fascist inept whorestate it is
and the can see Google Yahoo Microsoft Facebook as clearly amounting to nothing more than whore minions of a fascist state
this is probably a bad thing for those of us who live and work here
whereas Justin Bieber probably pays more than enough taxes and creates more than enough jobs to compensate us for the cost of his youthful hijinks many many times over
but it’s a lot to sort through
happyfeet (8ce051) — 1/24/2014 @ 8:53 amand *they* can see Google… I mean
happyfeet (8ce051) — 1/24/2014 @ 8:54 am4. Comment by MD in Philly (f9371b) — 1/24/2014 @ 7:53 am
4.As an aside, with the technology currently in use, the data, if not the databases, exists
Actually, in fact, I think this data did not necessarily exist. That’s how this started.
Telephone companies used to bill people for each long distance call, so these records existed. That was the situation in 1979. Now, almost all people are on monthly plans. Telephone companies (which maybe needed to keep them for a little time for technical or service reasons) were not neessarily keeping them very long.
I think this is the least problematical of all the NSA programs. They looked at the datrabase, it is sid, something like 300 times in a year. As long as a careful audit trail is kept of whio looks at it, it’s not bad.
In fact the real problem may be that it is not used in serious criminal investigations.
Not most other things.
I don’t think this is abused. If so, some trace of it would have shown up, like it did with the IRS. They were spying on Romney, and eve3n secrfetly recording him, but not through the NSA.
And having the telephone companies keep hese records provides more possibility of abuse, not less.
and is searchable, is it not? And the possibility of abuse exists, even if done by someone paying off a telecom tech to do an unofficial search, correct?
Of course, of course, of course. Anthony Pellicano, I think used to do that. And others.
Sammy Finkelman (1892a7) — 1/24/2014 @ 9:54 amAs long as MSNBC has Justin Bieber to report on, they don’t have to address those pesky issues like Obamacare, Benghazi, NSA surveillance, the deficit, the debt ceiling, inflation, deflation, unemployment–I could go on. In fact, I think the next contest should be listing all of the scandals that they won’t address, while talking about Justin Bieber.
rochf (f3fbb0) — 1/24/2014 @ 10:06 amWell, to be fair to MSNBC, it was only Janice Hahn that they were interrupting. It’s not as if it was a member of Congress who knew the first thing about anything.
JVW (709bc7) — 1/24/2014 @ 10:21 amAnything that interrupts Jane Harmon while on TV is a good thing.
Lambo’s, like coke, are for people who have more money than brains.
askeptic (b8ab92) — 1/24/2014 @ 10:22 amIf this happened on MSNBC, how does anyone even know about it?
The questioning Dana (3e4784) — 1/24/2014 @ 10:33 am“Telephone companies used to bill people for each long distance call, so these records existed. That was the situation in 1979. Now, almost all people are on monthly plans.”
Sammy – There has been no change in the way I see long distance call on my monthly bills since transitioning to monthly unlimited long distance years ago. They were itemized individually before and they are itemized individually now.
daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 1/24/2014 @ 10:38 amAnything that interrupts Jane Harmon while on TV is a good thing.
It’s funny, askeptic, but I actually thought that was the current Congresswoman, Janice Hahn. I thought Andrea Mitchell had said “Congressman Hahn” when she in fact did say “Congressman Harmon.” I had the misfortune of having both of those dim-witted ladies as my member of congress. I am surprise that anyone still cares what Jane Harmon thinks, seeing as how she left Congress three years ago once the Dems lost their House majority. She is really an awful politician.
So my earlier comment is even more amplified: I can totally see why the latest on Justin Beiber is way more important than anything that Jane Harmon would have to say.
JVW (709bc7) — 1/24/2014 @ 11:18 am16. I do admire your dogged persistence in the face of undaunted incapacity, daley. You will have your reward in Heaven, indubitably.
gary gulrud (e2cef3) — 1/24/2014 @ 11:35 amIt is past time for the Friday melt up to the closing bell in the Market, wait for it..
gary gulrud (e2cef3) — 1/24/2014 @ 11:39 amgary – Thanks
daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 1/24/2014 @ 11:42 amCourage.
No? Then compound the dismay of child porn charges by ending it all on your parent’s basement floor.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/01/24/former-sen-alexander-aide-arrested-on-child-porn-charges-found-dead/
gary gulrud (e2cef3) — 1/24/2014 @ 11:50 amKeep watching the Market and don’t you dare look over here.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-01-24/second-subprime-bubble-bursting-gundlach-warns
If you currently receive a per diem for you bank deposits, you might want to stuff a mattress or two. They will come for your money soon.
gary gulrud (e2cef3) — 1/24/2014 @ 12:06 pmRaaaaacists!
daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 1/24/2014 @ 12:07 pmTsk, tsk, no melt up for the Market today.
The good news is the gold bugs were thwarted and Gold held beneath the squeeze play end point of $1270 per, oh, and they didn’t have to stop trading on a loss of 450 in the Dow.
gary gulrud (e2cef3) — 1/24/2014 @ 12:13 pmDJIA down 318 at close.
askeptic (b8ab92) — 1/24/2014 @ 3:15 pmOops!
i’m never going to effing retire I’m going to die in this dead-end job thank you obama
happyfeet (c60db2) — 1/24/2014 @ 3:52 pmI don’t know which is finer. Employee loyalty or job security. Good on you and your boss too, happyfeet.
nk (dbc370) — 1/24/2014 @ 4:03 pmBTW, I also think that anybody who wastes even one second on National Felons League football should just not say nothing about Justin Bieber’s antics.
nk (dbc370) — 1/24/2014 @ 4:08 pmUp next we’ll find out about the coincidental relationship between voting for a democrat and having ID, or taking advantage of early voting.
d.wilds (ae20f1) — 1/24/2014 @ 4:18 pmWell I’m sure they’ll get right on this;
http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Robert-Menendez-Senator-US-Attorney-Paul-Fishman-NewJersey-241876851.html
narciso (3fec35) — 1/24/2014 @ 4:44 pmi’d kill for a dead end j*b, you lucky bastage… because at least then i’d have a j*b.
who knows, with luck, and even a tiny pay check, i might even be able to afford a tasty, tasty carnitas taco now & then, or splurge at the dollar store for some snack crackers & candy.
after all, anything is possible in here Obamaerica during Recovery Summer 2014!
redc1c4 (abd49e) — 1/24/2014 @ 5:27 pmi’m very lucky for sure but in the back of my head I’m pretty sure whatever happens this will for sure be my last job *in los angeles* my whole life
so the sooner we stick a fork in this the sooner I can move back to america
happyfeet (c60db2) — 1/24/2014 @ 5:53 pmWell, pikachu, it’s like that terribly adapted Stephen King miniseries ‘the Langoliers’ with Bronson Pinchot, and David Morse, you can’t get back,
narciso (3fec35) — 1/24/2014 @ 5:58 pmanyone check if there are two suns in the sky;
http://weaselzippers.us/dsouza-pleads-not-guilty-to-charges-required-to-post-crazy-500000-bond/
narciso (3fec35) — 1/24/2014 @ 6:41 pmthat was the one where pac man got out of the machine and started eating tarmac
i still wake up screaming sometimes
happyfeet (8ce051) — 1/24/2014 @ 7:42 pm34. The pace of change(mostly for the worse) has ratcheted up some notches this month. No doubt some consequences are more obvious than others(e.g., DOJ indictments catch abogado’s attention) for every individual in their unique circumstances.
Yet the FX changes of recent days are more widespread in effect. Argentina is going under and will take some very sick Spanish banks, and Rajoy’s government, with her.
Turkey is rapidly sinking and will wipe out a number of Greek banks and no doubt lead to unrest there, as if any additional cause were needed.
Ukraine and Thailand are burning.
China’s shadow banking sector, farmer’s co-op banks among them, officially make up 30% of the banking sector, 50% is a more credible fraction. These banks are in a liquidity crisis and a run has begun. HBSC is asking for a run on its deposits as well.
You live in interesting times.
gary gulrud (e2cef3) — 1/24/2014 @ 7:49 pmI’m kind of with you, except I usually finish the thought by refusing to acknowledge the existence of a particular post adolescent who can’t keep her tongue in her mouth.
Steve57 (663093) — 1/24/2014 @ 7:52 pmThe scariest part of that film, was Bronson Pinchot’s feigned anguish,
narciso (3fec35) — 1/24/2014 @ 7:52 pmsometimes though his anguish is for reals
happyfeet (8ce051) — 1/24/2014 @ 8:04 pmbrb
happyfeet (8ce051) — 1/24/2014 @ 8:04 pm(2009, on making Courage Under Fire) That was a low point, because Denzel Washington was behind the incredibly cowardly bullshit of “This is my character, not me.” He was really abusive to me and everybody on that movie, and his official explanation was that his character didn’t like me, but it was a dreadful experience. I spent my salary on time with my shrink just for helping me get through it…Denzel Washington cured me forever of thinking that there is any amount of money or anything that could ever, ever make it okay to be abused. The script supervisor on that movie said it’s like watching somebody kick a puppy. He was so vile. And after that, I just would never endure it again.
happyfeet (8ce051) — 1/24/2014 @ 8:04 pmI don’t know about the rest of you, but I don’t pay for feigned anquish!
Steve57 (663093) — 1/24/2014 @ 8:05 pmI just caught the end of 20/20 on ABC. It looks as if Diane Sawyer is going full retard next week.
Here’s a hint: The segment is called “Young Guns.” It’s not about the movie. Anybody want to guess what it is about?
Ag80 (eb6ffa) — 1/24/2014 @ 8:06 pm“Dammit all, Smithers! Bring me some real anguish. Like what I pay you for.”
Or some such.
Steve57 (663093) — 1/24/2014 @ 8:08 pmyou know it just depends
happyfeet (8ce051) — 1/24/2014 @ 8:08 pmBlack Hole of
CalcuttaNew York City.http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/01/24/NYC-Worst-Rat-Infestation-in%20-he-World
gary gulrud (e2cef3) — 1/24/2014 @ 8:10 pmwell that’s kind of true;
http://www.mediaite.com/online/jake-tapper-to-hugh-hewitt-not-my-job-to-automatically-believe-what-the-u-s-government-says/
narciso (3fec35) — 1/24/2014 @ 8:10 pm“At long last, the anguish was real. Just like in the old days, 1917. Like an old lover, she coldly worked her magic. If only. If only. Just ten more seconds.”
Yeah, I think I can work with this.
Steve57 (663093) — 1/24/2014 @ 8:17 pmWas the double entendre intentional?
Steve57 (663093) — 1/24/2014 @ 8:21 pmonly my hairdresser knows for sure
happyfeet (8ce051) — 1/24/2014 @ 8:29 pmThat depends.
http://www.northshorecare.com/depend-poise.html
The incontinence and supply experts, I might add.
Speaking about how many ways you can s*** your pants, I bring you the carrier landing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-TORbFipdE
Enjoy.
Steve57 (663093) — 1/24/2014 @ 8:34 pm“the national security interests of the united states” lol
we’re talking about a whore what spends her entire paycheck every week on interest and chinese handjobs and then begs janet yellen for more round back by the alley
national security interests is it
from the people what brought you benghazi and the boston marathon
happyfeet (8ce051) — 1/24/2014 @ 8:43 pmundergarments are very, very key for ANYBODY who was born in a post-boomer generational cohort what aspires to live long enough to get more out of social security than they paid in
happyfeet (8ce051) — 1/24/2014 @ 8:45 pmYes, they saw it on CNN first, I thought that was just a line in ‘Goldeneye’
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/01/24/olympic-black-widow-warning-caught-u-s-off-guard.html
narciso (3fec35) — 1/24/2014 @ 8:48 pmI disagree with your suggestion that Nixon was a conservative. Wage and price controls? The Shanghai Communique? Of course he was to the right of Humphrey and McGovern, but he was no conservative.
norcal (606a8b) — 1/24/2014 @ 8:56 pmNixon didn’t add value
he’s like the Steve Ballmer of the US presidency
happyfeet (8ce051) — 1/24/2014 @ 8:59 pmwell he was one of a Bismarckian kind, not a follower of Austrian philosophies,
narciso (3fec35) — 1/24/2014 @ 9:04 pmEven the new media has it’s blind spots.
Breitbart on SOTU:
Not even close.
gary gulrud (e2cef3) — 1/26/2014 @ 9:11 am58. Ibid.
We cut discretionary authorization of spending while significantly increasing short-term revenues in a one-off moving forward of profit taking.
The appearance of progress in deficit reduction relies entirely on government stats, of, by and for the benefit of government.
gary gulrud (e2cef3) — 1/26/2014 @ 9:20 am58. Cont.
Remember, dear Reader, the Treasury had our National Debt holding steady for more than four months. Overnight, following slowdown terminus, the Debt jumped $380 Billion.
The Debt Authorization is set to be overrun B4 the end of February roughly a month ahead of forecast.
Believing anything our government, and its sub-contractors, e.g., the Federal Reserve, has to say, is schtoopid.
gary gulrud (e2cef3) — 1/26/2014 @ 9:32 amI know you’re shocked as I was;
http://hotair.com/archives/2014/01/26/dawn-zimmers-story-unravels-hoboken-received-aid-on-par-with-other-cities/
narciso (3fec35) — 1/26/2014 @ 10:14 amWe well knew all this Cetus h8red was misplaced.
They’re endangered don’tcha know?
gary gulrud (e2cef3) — 1/26/2014 @ 10:28 amIn this case, ‘they are turning Japanese, I really think so’
http://therightscoop.com/greg-gutfeld-huckabee-was-intentionally-misconstrued-by-vile-weirdos/
narciso (3fec35) — 1/26/2014 @ 10:30 am63. Red-eye compassionate conservatism.
gary gulrud (e2cef3) — 1/26/2014 @ 10:38 amIt’s the right thing to do, as Wilfred Brimley would put it;
http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2014/01/ted-cruz-obama-should-apologize-to-nation-for-lying-in-sotu-address-video/
narciso (3fec35) — 1/26/2014 @ 10:47 amEven when they’re smart journos are blithering idiots:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/stephen-hawking-there-are-no-black-holes-9085016.html
Here’s a stupe that proposed virtual particles could tunnel out of black holes resulting in black-body dissolution of singularities.
Seriously, why did this theory ever make sense to anyone? Why would tunneling not be omni-directional? Baldly the result of virtual-particle creation must be stasis.
Now this fraud concludes the lack of evidentiary support for his theory means the object of his hallucinations does not exist. QED.
gary gulrud (e2cef3) — 1/26/2014 @ 10:47 am‘show your work’ would be the most charitable explanation, the event horizon and singularity naturally follow,
narciso (3fec35) — 1/26/2014 @ 10:57 amFirst, some background.
http://minx.cc/?post=346728
Now the irony.
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/01/22/nuclear-option-Republic-to-lose-true-public-servant
Full-blown, supercharged retard.
If your mother is known for her bipartisan war wounds, she’s not in your corner.
gary gulrud (e2cef3) — 1/26/2014 @ 3:38 pmComment by norcal (606a8b) — 1/24/2014 @ 8:56 pm
Nixon, with the upbringing/education he had, was firmly in the mainstream of the Progressives that dominated the CA GOP in the Early 20th-Century – think Gov/Sen Hiram Johnson.
askeptic (b8ab92) — 1/28/2014 @ 1:37 pm