Monday, June 13, 2011

Better Be Careful What You Throw Away *Open Thread*

These days, since FBI agents now have broader leeway to go through your garbage. Yes, in lieu of having to get one of those pesky warrants, now they can just dig through your trash.

Don't you feel safer now? I'm sure I do - not.

Of course, that is not all these expanded powers allow them to do:
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is giving significant new powers to its roughly 14,000 agents, allowing them more leeway to search databases, go through household trash or use surveillance teams to scrutinize the lives of people who have attracted their attention.

The F.B.I. soon plans to issue a new edition of its manual, called the Domestic Investigations and Operations Guide, according to an official who has worked on the draft document and several others who have been briefed on its contents. The new rules add to several measures taken over the past decade to give agents more latitude as they search for signs of criminal or terrorist activity.

[...]

Under current rules, agents must open such an inquiry before they can search for information about a person in a commercial or law enforcement database. Under the new rules, agents will be allowed to search such databases without making a record about their decision.

Mr. German said the change would make it harder to detect and deter inappropriate use of databases for personal purposes. But Ms. Caproni said it was too cumbersome to require agents to open formal inquiries before running quick checks. She also said agents could not put information uncovered from such searches into F.B.I. files unless they later opened an assessment.

The new rules will also relax a restriction on administering lie-detector tests and searching people’s trash. Under current rules, agents cannot use such techniques until they open a “preliminary investigation,” which — unlike an assessment — requires a factual basis for suspecting someone of wrongdoing. But soon agents will be allowed to use those techniques for one kind of assessment, too: when they are evaluating a target as a potential informant. [snip] (Click here to read the rest.)

I'm all for fighting crime, and stopping terrorism in its tracks, but to not even have to open a "preliminary investigation" first before searching people's trash or lie detector tests is a bit disconcerting, don't you think?

And speaking of terrorists, Janet Napolitano has an interesting take on "profiling" a certain group:



Good grief. She is incredibly painful to listen to, isn't she? And THIS is the head of Homeland Security? No wonder the FBI needs expanded powers. Ahem.

In other news, Obama plays golf again on Sunday for the ELEVENTH week in a row. So glad he has his priorities in order...

Feel free to add your own "news we do not want to lose"!! Copyright © 2011 by Rabble Rouser Reverend Amy

4 comments:

Mary Ellen said...

Crap---does that mean I have to quit drawing horns, mustache and pointy beards on Obama with the word "ANTICHRIST!!!" written across his face? That's the best part of my morning! Damned FBI sucks all the fun out of my life.

Maybe if I see any FBI types hanging around the house doing their surveillance act, I'll invite them over to cut my lawn or clean out my pool. They might as well make themselves useful while spying on me, eh? ;-)

Oh, and that Janet, she's a pip ain't she? What a dimwit! From the top down, this administration is the worst ever...and that's saying a lot considering Jimmy Carter. Obama makes George Bush Jr. look like a genius. Not kidding!

Rabble Rouser Reverend Amy said...

ROTFLMAO - I love the image of these FBI guys in their dark suits and sunglasses cleaning out your pool or mowing your yard - that is HILARIOUS!!! But heck ya - they might as well make themselves useful...

Janet Napolitano is an idiot, isn't she? The BS she has come out with since taking this job would be laughable if her position wasn't so damned important. So, to recap - according to her, out borders are as strong as they ever were (which ain't saying much), and we should not be particularly concerned abt checking some folks out...

Wowie zowie...

I love the image of the drawings. I reckon you should keep it up until you see creatures larger than raccoons going through your trash. :-D

Mary Ellen said...

Started my day off with a kamikaze robin that hit my window and died...so sad.

Was reminded by Quipster that today is Flag Day. Flag is a flyin' now!

And, I did watch the GOP debate last night and it was pretty good. Bachman did a great job but Cain is still a little shaky. It's obvious he's not a seasoned politician, which is good, but that will unfortunately play against him. I think it would be better if he start out in a position in the next GOP administration...somewhere in the economic area where he can use his expertise to get us back on track again.

I was a little disappointed in Pawlenty, I thought he'd do much better.

I don't think I can ever support Newt, I just don't trust anything he says.

What did you think of the debate, did you get a chance to watch it?

Rabble Rouser Reverend Amy said...

Yes, Happy Flag Day!

I did get to watch the debate. John King made me INSANE. He claimed there were no rules, then he interrupted the candidates CONSTANTLY with his gutteral mutterings. WTH was that?? He was just terrible - terrible. Reminded me again why I don't watch CNN.

I could never vote for Newt, either. Nope.

I was surprised Pawlenty didn't do better, either. I really expected that he would take this opportunity to shine, and he surely did not.

Cain's stance on gays bothers me a lot - he is out for me. Bachmann did do a good job, when they actually asked her questions. I noticed the same men got questions a LOT more than she did.

Romney seems to be the most socially liberal of the group, so there's that.

I dunno - I am still watching to see what happens. I know that I cannot expect to agree with a candidate on EVERYTHING - hell, I didn't agree with Clinton on everything - but for me personally, there are issues that matter a lot, like the marriage question (I thought Ron Paul's answer on that was the best), and LGB people in the military.

Mainly, though, I want Obama to be defeated. I thought Bush was bad for the country. Obama is worse...