Category Archives: Civil Liberties
Surveillance Programs Hinder Journalists, Lawyers, Report Says
Wall Street Journal | July 28, 2014
By Felicia Schwartz
Large-scale U.S. surveillance programs hinder the ability of journalists to communicate confidentially with sources and restrain lawyers from adequately representing clients, according to a report issued Monday by two advocacy groups.
Lois Lerner’s Hard Drive Was ‘Scratched’ Then ‘Shredded’
The Daily Caller | July 22, 2014
By
Ex-IRS official Lois Lerner’s computer hard drive was “scratched” and the data on it was still recoverable. But the IRS did not try to recover the data from Lerner’s hard drive, despite recommendations from in-house IRS IT experts to outsource the recovery project.
The hard drive was then “shredded,” according to a court filing the IRS made to House Ways and Means Committee investigators.
Obama’s Newest Executive Orders Bans Eight Russian Arms Manufacturers
President Obama last week announced new, wide-reaching economic sanctions on Russia in reaction to the situation in Ukraine, including bans that effect direct importations of Russian made Rifles and Handguns.
The restrictions cover certain major financial institutions, energy companies, Russian government leaders and eight arms manufacturers, including the Kalashnikov Concern.
Government agents ‘directly involved’ in most high-profile US terror plots
Spencer Ackerman
“In one such incident, the initial basis for a material-support case alleging a man provided “military gear” to al-Qaida turned out to be waterproof socks in his luggage.”
Nearly all of the highest-profile domestic terrorism plots in the United States since 9/11 featured the “direct involvement” of government agents or informants, a new report says.
Armed Homeland Security Agents in ‘Community Outreach’ to “Let People Know They’re in the Area”
By Paul Joseph Watson
Armed Homeland Security agents are now conducting “community outreach” programs based around maintaining a visible presence in order to “let people know they’re in the area.”
News channel WNCT 9 received calls from alarmed residents in response to reports of numerous DHS vehicles parked outside a bankruptcy court in Greenville, North Carolina. However, the “heavy presence” was not because of any specific threat associated with the building.
No-Fly List Ruled Unconstitutional
By Brandi M. Fleeks
Last week, a federal judge ruled the government’s no-fly list unconstitutional because it fails to allow a way for people on it to challenge their inclusion. The American Civil Liberties Union filed the lawsuit in June 2010 on behalf of 13 U.S. citizens, most of whom are Muslim-Americans, including four ex-military members, who discovered they were on the list with no notification or explanation and no effective means to remove themselves from it.
Miggy: 
ARIZONA: 
Pitstop: 
Common Sense: 
Obama Decrees Faith Groups must choose: God or Guv’ment?
Steve Deace | July 21, 2014
By Rebekah Maxwell
Obama forces religious groups to choose between God and Guv’ment: For any believers still on the fence about our current commander’s convictions, let him be clear…he doesn’t believe in the “separation of church and state” either. He will tell you what to believe and how to behave, or else.