Holder Says Civil Rights ‘Under Renewed Threat’ From Conservatives
In an address to the National Council of La Raza convention in Las Vegas on Saturday, Attorney General Eric Holder told the Hispanic advocacy group that the gains of the Civil Rights era were coming “under renewed threat,” and touted the administration’s efforts in protecting the rights of minority groups and immigrants.
“Many of you know this firsthand – and have felt the impact of division, and even discrimination, in your own lives,” said Holder in his address, according to prepared remarks released by the Justice Department.”
The attorney general pledged that the civil rights advocacy group would “never have a more committed partner than the United States Department of Justice” and touted the administration’s record on those issues.
In particular, Holder highlighted the Supreme Court’s ruling last week striking down much of Arizona’s law targeting illegal immigration.
In a 5-3 ruling, the court rejected most provisions of the law, but let stand a key measure allowing police to check the legal status of those stopped on suspicion of committing unrelated offenses. –Vision To America/July 7, 2012
Google And Apple Use Planes That Can Film You Sunbathing In Your Back Garden
Spy planes able to photograph sunbathers in their back gardens are being deployed by Google and Apple.
The U.S. technology giants are racing to produce aerial maps so detailed they can show up objects just four inches wide.
But campaigners say the technology is a sinister development that brings the surveillance society a step closer.
Google admits it has already sent planes over cities while Apple has acquired a firm using spy-in-the-sky technology that has been tested on at least 20 locations, including London.
Apple’s military-grade cameras are understood to be so powerful they could potentially see into homes through skylights and windows. The technology is similar to that used by intelligence agencies in identifying terrorist targets in Afghanistan. –Vision To American/June 11, 2012
Ironic? NSA Won’t Reveal Number Of Americans Spied Upon Citing … Privacy Protection
Senators Ron Wyden and Mark Udall recently asked the National Security Administration how many American communications have been spied upon under the privileges of the 2008 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. They’ve received a response and for those with privacy concerns in mind, the answer may surprise you.
According to Wired, the NSA won’t reveal just how many American communications they’ve reviewed because it believes this would be a violation of privacy. The more specific question from Wyden and Udall was “how many people inside the United States have had their communications collected or reviewed under the authorities granted by section 702?” Here’s the response from the letter sent to Wyden and Udall from Inspector General of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence I. Charles McCullough:
The NSA IG provided a classified response on 6 June 2012. I defer to his conclusion that obtaining such an estimate was beyond the capacity of his office and dedicating sufficient additional resources would likely impede the NSA mission. He further stated that his office and NSA leadership agreed that an IG review of the sort suggested would itself violate the privacy of U.S. persons.
Wired has a follow-up from the Senators who are a little put off by this response:
“All that Senator Udall and I are asking for is a ballpark estimate of how many Americans have been monitored under this law, and it is disappointing that the Inspectors General cannot provide it,” Wyden told Danger Room on Monday. “If no one will even estimate how many Americans have had their communications collected under this law then it is all the more important that Congress act to close the ‘back door searches’ loophole, to keep the government from searching for Americans’ phone calls and emails without a warrant.”
Just last week Wyden blocked the FISA Amendments Act Reauthorization Act of 2012 from immediate approval by a Senate subcommittee, wanting it to go to a full floor vote, Wired reported. Tuesday afternoon, the House Judiciary Committee is set to address the re-authorization of the 2008 law, which will expire this year if no action is taken.
Update: On Tuesday afternoon the House committee approved reauthorization of FIFS Amendments Act, voting 23-11. –By Liz Klimas/The Blaze/June 19, 2012
Saudis Demand Punishment for McDonald's Toy They Say "Insults Muhammed"
According to the Saudis, the designs that appear all around the base, where the figure stomps its foot, is really the name "Muhammed" written several times in circles.
Saudi Arabians are angry at a McDonald's toy which they say mocks their prophet Muhammad. According to a report appearing today (5/27/12) on the Arabic news website, Kermalkom.com, the McDonald's fast food restaurant "abused the Prophet Muhammad by placing his name at the base of a toy that is being distributed as part of the Happy Meal, a toy which steps on the name 'Muhammad.'"
The toy consists of a blue superhero figurine (apparently a Power Ranger Samurai; click here for pictures). It stands on one leg, and, when the lever is pressed, it pounds on the base with the other leg. According to the Saudis, the designs that appear all around the base, where the figurine stomps its foot, is really the name "Muhammad" written several times in circles.
The toy had been distributed a few days before Saudi children and their parents began to take note of the name. Soon thereafter, Saudi Muslims launched several campaigns against McDonald's in "response to the savage attacks on the noble Prophet," under banners like "Help your Prophet!" and "Together in support of the Prophet."
Saudis, "demanding the strongest possible punishment for the restaurant" and insisting that "they will not be silent until this is realized," further complained how such an obvious insult could pass the supervision of the management at McDonalds.
In response, "Saudi McDonald's" has withdrawn the toy from all its restaurants, "in order to safeguard against any accusations or misunderstandings." -By Raymond Ibrahim/Gatestone Institute/May 28, 2012
‘Real News From The Blaze:’ Congress Heads for the Fiscal Cliff
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office released a new study Tuesday reporting that the economy will shrink 1.3 percent in the first half of next year if the government is allowed to fall off the so-called “fiscal cliff” on January 1: allowing Bush-era tax cuts to expire and sheduled round of automatic spending cuts. Republican House Speaker John Boehner has been vocal in recent weeks begging Democrats to come to the table to tackle the debt ceiling part of the problem now rather than after the election in November. Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has been cold on that idea though, reinforcing Tuesday that Senate Democrats will not even consider extending the tax cuts until after the fall elections. The Washington Examiner reports on Reid’s confusing response to Republicans interested in moving forward on dealing with the fiscal cliff:
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., wrote to Republicans Tuesday, accusing them of caring only about “tax breaks for multimillionaires.”
Reid didn’t directly address the need for the tax cuts, but ripped Republicans for refusing to consider a deficit-cutting plan that would increase taxes in addition to further slashing spending.
“Unfortunately, it appears the that the Republicans’ blind adherence to Tea Party extremism is making it impossible to reach this sort of balanced agreement before the election,” Reid wrote.
On “Real News” Wednesday, the panel was joined by James Otteson of Yeshiva University to discuss how dire the situation is regarding the fiscal cliff, and what can be done on Capitol Hill to deal with the situation. –By Christopher Santarelli/The Blaze/May 23, 2012
In an address to the National Council of La Raza convention in Las Vegas on Saturday, Attorney General Eric Holder told the Hispanic advocacy group that the gains of the Civil Rights era were coming “under renewed threat,” and touted the administration’s efforts in protecting the rights of minority groups and immigrants.
“Many of you know this firsthand – and have felt the impact of division, and even discrimination, in your own lives,” said Holder in his address, according to prepared remarks released by the Justice Department.”
The attorney general pledged that the civil rights advocacy group would “never have a more committed partner than the United States Department of Justice” and touted the administration’s record on those issues.
In particular, Holder highlighted the Supreme Court’s ruling last week striking down much of Arizona’s law targeting illegal immigration.
In a 5-3 ruling, the court rejected most provisions of the law, but let stand a key measure allowing police to check the legal status of those stopped on suspicion of committing unrelated offenses. –Vision To America/July 7, 2012
<><><>*<><><>
Google And Apple Use Planes That Can Film You Sunbathing In Your Back Garden
Spy planes able to photograph sunbathers in their back gardens are being deployed by Google and Apple.
The U.S. technology giants are racing to produce aerial maps so detailed they can show up objects just four inches wide.
But campaigners say the technology is a sinister development that brings the surveillance society a step closer.
Google admits it has already sent planes over cities while Apple has acquired a firm using spy-in-the-sky technology that has been tested on at least 20 locations, including London.
Apple’s military-grade cameras are understood to be so powerful they could potentially see into homes through skylights and windows. The technology is similar to that used by intelligence agencies in identifying terrorist targets in Afghanistan. –Vision To American/June 11, 2012
<><><>*<><><>
Ironic? NSA Won’t Reveal Number Of Americans Spied Upon Citing … Privacy Protection
Senators Ron Wyden and Mark Udall recently asked the National Security Administration how many American communications have been spied upon under the privileges of the 2008 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. They’ve received a response and for those with privacy concerns in mind, the answer may surprise you.
According to Wired, the NSA won’t reveal just how many American communications they’ve reviewed because it believes this would be a violation of privacy. The more specific question from Wyden and Udall was “how many people inside the United States have had their communications collected or reviewed under the authorities granted by section 702?” Here’s the response from the letter sent to Wyden and Udall from Inspector General of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence I. Charles McCullough:
The NSA IG provided a classified response on 6 June 2012. I defer to his conclusion that obtaining such an estimate was beyond the capacity of his office and dedicating sufficient additional resources would likely impede the NSA mission. He further stated that his office and NSA leadership agreed that an IG review of the sort suggested would itself violate the privacy of U.S. persons.
Wired has a follow-up from the Senators who are a little put off by this response:
“All that Senator Udall and I are asking for is a ballpark estimate of how many Americans have been monitored under this law, and it is disappointing that the Inspectors General cannot provide it,” Wyden told Danger Room on Monday. “If no one will even estimate how many Americans have had their communications collected under this law then it is all the more important that Congress act to close the ‘back door searches’ loophole, to keep the government from searching for Americans’ phone calls and emails without a warrant.”
Just last week Wyden blocked the FISA Amendments Act Reauthorization Act of 2012 from immediate approval by a Senate subcommittee, wanting it to go to a full floor vote, Wired reported. Tuesday afternoon, the House Judiciary Committee is set to address the re-authorization of the 2008 law, which will expire this year if no action is taken.
Update: On Tuesday afternoon the House committee approved reauthorization of FIFS Amendments Act, voting 23-11. –By Liz Klimas/The Blaze/June 19, 2012
<><><>*<><><>
Saudis Demand Punishment for McDonald's Toy They Say "Insults Muhammed"
According to the Saudis, the designs that appear all around the base, where the figure stomps its foot, is really the name "Muhammed" written several times in circles.
Saudi Arabians are angry at a McDonald's toy which they say mocks their prophet Muhammad. According to a report appearing today (5/27/12) on the Arabic news website, Kermalkom.com, the McDonald's fast food restaurant "abused the Prophet Muhammad by placing his name at the base of a toy that is being distributed as part of the Happy Meal, a toy which steps on the name 'Muhammad.'"
The toy consists of a blue superhero figurine (apparently a Power Ranger Samurai; click here for pictures). It stands on one leg, and, when the lever is pressed, it pounds on the base with the other leg. According to the Saudis, the designs that appear all around the base, where the figurine stomps its foot, is really the name "Muhammad" written several times in circles.
The toy had been distributed a few days before Saudi children and their parents began to take note of the name. Soon thereafter, Saudi Muslims launched several campaigns against McDonald's in "response to the savage attacks on the noble Prophet," under banners like "Help your Prophet!" and "Together in support of the Prophet."
Saudis, "demanding the strongest possible punishment for the restaurant" and insisting that "they will not be silent until this is realized," further complained how such an obvious insult could pass the supervision of the management at McDonalds.
In response, "Saudi McDonald's" has withdrawn the toy from all its restaurants, "in order to safeguard against any accusations or misunderstandings." -By Raymond Ibrahim/Gatestone Institute/May 28, 2012
<><><>*<><><>
‘Real News From The Blaze:’ Congress Heads for the Fiscal Cliff
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office released a new study Tuesday reporting that the economy will shrink 1.3 percent in the first half of next year if the government is allowed to fall off the so-called “fiscal cliff” on January 1: allowing Bush-era tax cuts to expire and sheduled round of automatic spending cuts. Republican House Speaker John Boehner has been vocal in recent weeks begging Democrats to come to the table to tackle the debt ceiling part of the problem now rather than after the election in November. Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has been cold on that idea though, reinforcing Tuesday that Senate Democrats will not even consider extending the tax cuts until after the fall elections. The Washington Examiner reports on Reid’s confusing response to Republicans interested in moving forward on dealing with the fiscal cliff:
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., wrote to Republicans Tuesday, accusing them of caring only about “tax breaks for multimillionaires.”
Reid didn’t directly address the need for the tax cuts, but ripped Republicans for refusing to consider a deficit-cutting plan that would increase taxes in addition to further slashing spending.
“Unfortunately, it appears the that the Republicans’ blind adherence to Tea Party extremism is making it impossible to reach this sort of balanced agreement before the election,” Reid wrote.
On “Real News” Wednesday, the panel was joined by James Otteson of Yeshiva University to discuss how dire the situation is regarding the fiscal cliff, and what can be done on Capitol Hill to deal with the situation. –By Christopher Santarelli/The Blaze/May 23, 2012
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