rushmc 23 #1 August 7, 2009 I can only imagine the shit storm that would have happened had Bush suggested something like this http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/08/07/white-house-collect-fishy-info-health-reform-illegal-critics-say/ Quote The White House has been under fire since posting a blog on Tuesday that asks supporters to e-mail any "fishy" information seen on the Web or received electronically. The White House strategy of turning supporters into snitches when they see "fishy" information about the health care debate may run afoul of the law, legal experts say. "The White House is in bit of a conundrum because of this privacy statute that prohibits the White House from collecting data and storing it on people who disagree with it," Judge Andrew Napolitano, a FOX News analyst, said Friday. "There's also a statute that requires the White House to retain all communications that it receives. It can't try to rewrite history by pretending it didn't receive anything," he said. "If the White House deletes anything, it violates one statute. If the White House collects data on the free speech, it violates another statute." Napolitano was referring to the Privacy Act of 1974, which was passed after the Nixon administration used federal agencies to illegally investigate individuals for political purposes. Enacted after Richard Nixon's resignation in the Watergate scandal, the statute generally prohibits any federal agency from maintaining records on individuals exercising their right to free speech. The White House has been under fire since it posted a blog on Tuesday that asked supporters to e-mail any "fishy" information seen on the Web or received electronically to flag@whitehouse.gov. "There is a lot of disinformation about health insurance reform out there," the blog said, adding that "since we can't keep track of all of them here at the White House, we're asking for your help." The blog was posted partly in response to a video posted on the Web that claimed to show Obama explaining how his health care reform plans eventually will eliminate private insurance. The video, featured on the Drudge Report, strung together selected Obama statements that the White House said were taken out of context. The White House said it wanted to be made aware of "fishy" comments about its health care plan because it wants to set the record straight. But critics called White House move an Orwellian tactic designed to control the health care debate. "This is a very troubling attempt to stifle the free speech of Americans who have the constitutional right to express their opinion and concerns about health care," said Jay Sekulow, chief counsel of the American Center for Law and Justice. He called on Obama to repudiate his blog. "This move is an attempt to intimidate those who have legitimate concerns about the health care plan," Sekulow said. "And, worse, it turns the White House into some sort of self-appointed 'speech police.' This new White House reporting program strikes at the heart of the First Amendment and has no place in this important debate about health care." Sekulow said he imagines that opponents of mandatory abortion coverage are engaging in what the White House considers "fishy" speech and should be reported. "What the White House is touting is absurd," he said. But Napolitano said the White House probably cannot be sued because of sovereign immunity, unless someone was harmed by what the government did with the records. But that's unlikely, he said, because the person would probably be unaware of the harm. "That's a silent violation of your right to privacy," he said. The White House Thursday denied that it was playing "Big Brother." "Nobody is collecting names," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said. "We have seen, and as I've discussed from this podium, a lot of misinformation around health care reform, a lot of it spread, I think, purposefully." Texas Sen. John Cornyn, who has called on Obama to end the program, rejected the White House explanation. "Of course the White House is collecting names," he said, arguing that anyone with access to the e-mail account has access to private information. "The question is not what the White House is doing, but how and why," he said. "How are they purging names and e-mail addresses from this account to protect privacy? Why do they need the forwarded e-mails, names, and 'casual conversations' sent to them instead of just the arguments that they want to rebut? Asked by FOX News whether the White House was using the blog post as a way to expand the e-mail list for the administration and Obama's political arm, Organizing for America, Gibbs said the two are "not in any way connected" and repeated that the White House is not collecting names. Pressed about the program's goal, Gibbs said it was to clarify for everybody what the misinformation is, adding that's not a new tactic. "When you make a mistake in your report, sometimes I e-mail you," Gibbs said to FOX News' Major Garrett. "Occasionally, I call. Sometimes I just throw something against the wall. Occasionally, it's all three." Garrett asked why it's necessary to ask so many people to e-mail the White House. "All we're asking people to do is, if they're confused about what health care reform is going to mean to them, we're happy to help clear that up for them. Nobody's keeping anybody's names. I do have your e-mail. ...Maybe that's because I assume future mistakes. But I'm not going to say that," Gibbs said, drawing laughter. "But nobody's collecting information," he added. "Everybody is trying to give people only the facts around what we all understand is a very complicated issue." "America will never be destroyed from the outside, if we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves." Abraham Lincoln Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dreamdancer 0 #2 August 7, 2009 get your tin hat on stay away from moving propellers - they bite blue skies from thai sky adventures good solid response-provoking keyboarding Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rushmc 23 #3 August 7, 2009 Quote get your tin hat on kallend (and I suspect you as well) bought them all none left anywhere to be had And of course, I am not smart enough to make one myself"America will never be destroyed from the outside, if we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves." Abraham Lincoln Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rookie120 0 #4 August 7, 2009 Quote get your tin hat on All the paranoid shit this guy posts from Altenet.org and he's tellin someone else to get a tin hat. Pot, say hello to kettle.If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dreamdancer 0 #5 August 7, 2009 Quote Quote get your tin hat on kallend (and I suspect you as well) bought them all none left anywhere to be had And of course, I am not smart enough to make one myself don't sell yourself short, you're doing just fine - a little bigger and it'll fit you nicely stay away from moving propellers - they bite blue skies from thai sky adventures good solid response-provoking keyboarding Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
turtlespeed 226 #6 August 7, 2009 Quote Quote get your tin hat on All the paranoid shit this guy posts from Altenet.org and he's tellin someone else to get a tin hat. Pot, say hello to kettle. The funniest part of this is that the above mentioned posteds would have been the FIRST to post this had it been done in the Bush Whitehouse.But By all means - Please - lets break out the tinfoil hat comment again please!I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
turtlespeed 226 #7 August 7, 2009 Quote Quote Quote get your tin hat on kallend (and I suspect you as well) bought them all none left anywhere to be had And of course, I am not smart enough to make one myself don't sell yourself short, you're doing just fine - a little bigger and it'll fit you nicely How's that, given that the head size of Democrats keeps increasing relative to the deficit?I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ion01 2 #8 August 7, 2009 Sure....trust the government not to keep track of where this stuff is coming from and who is sending it in....the government has been so trustworthy in the past and lately. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rushmc 23 #9 August 7, 2009 Quote Sure....trust the government not to keep track of where this stuff is coming from and who is sending it in....the government has been so trustworthy in the past and lately. No shit And as stated before on this site. It is not just the Dems"America will never be destroyed from the outside, if we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves." Abraham Lincoln Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lawrocket 3 #10 August 7, 2009 Tin foil talk. They don't defend it. They just say that anyone who mentions the dubious constitutionality of the thing is paranoid. A dignitary protection the law professor and his Ivy League inteeligentia find obstructive. Sure, the additional statute was created because of presidential abuse. But it would never happen. My wife is hotter than your wife. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TrophyHusband 0 #11 August 8, 2009 i heard a great idea yesterday. send them an email (flag@whitehouse.gov) with a fish recipe. i sent them a wonderful teryaki tuna recipe. "Your scrotum is quite nice" - Skymama www.kjandmegan.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
1969912 0 #12 August 8, 2009 Quotei heard a great idea yesterday. send them an email (flag@whitehouse.gov) with a fish recipe. i sent them a wonderful teryaki tuna recipe. I sent them this a couple seconds ago: "SALMON WITH PECAN AND HONEY GLAZE INGREDIENTS * 1 cup pecan halves or pieces * 1 cup honey * 3/4 cup butter * 1/4 cup vegetable oil * 4 (4 ounce) fillets salmon * salt and pepper to taste DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spread pecans in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake 8 to 10 minutes, or until slightly browned. Stir 2 or 3 times to toast uniformly. 2. In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, combine honey with half of the butter. Stir in the toasted pecans, and cook for 8 to 10 minutes to infuse the flavors. Remove from heat, and keep warm. 3. Melt remaining butter with oil in a large skillet over high heat. Season fish with salt and pepper. Arrange fillets in skillet, and cook until firm to the touch, about 4 to 5 minutes per side. Salmon is done when it flakes easily with a fork. Transfer to serving plate, and spoon glaze over top." EDIT: Also sent them this link: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=fishy%20pussy "Once we got to the point where twenty/something's needed a place on the corner that changed the oil in their cars we were doomed . . ." -NickDG Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rushmc 23 #13 August 8, 2009 Quote i heard a great idea yesterday. send them an email (flag@whitehouse.gov) with a fish recipe. i sent them a wonderful teryaki tuna recipe. Great idea"America will never be destroyed from the outside, if we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves." Abraham Lincoln Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Airgump 1 #14 August 8, 2009 I took your awesome advice and sent them this wonderful recipe for poached carp .............................................................................. Poached Carp Recipe Ingredients • 2 lbs/1 kg carp • 1 onion • 1 carrot • 1 parsley root • 2-3 pepper berries • 1 bay leaf • 2 tablespoons lemon juice • 2 tablespoons oil • 2-3 potatoes • salt Clean, wash, salt the carp and let it sit for 10-15 minutes. In the meantime, set the vegetables to boil with 1 qt. of water, some salt, pepper and bay leaf. Let boil until the vegetables are tender. Then remove from heat, add the quartered potatoes and let boil for a few minutes. Then add the pieces of carp. Let everything simmer, covered, until the carp and potatoes are done. After the carp has cooled off, remove from the pot and place in the middle of a platter, surrounded by vegetables and potatoes. Mix the oil with the lemon juice and 2-3 tablespoons of the poaching liquid and pour over the fish and vegetables. Then spread some chopped parsley on the top. This recipe has been generously contributed by www.fishingworks.com.forrest, forrest gump Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rushmc 23 #15 August 8, 2009 Quote I took your awesome advice and sent them this wonderful recipe for poached carp .............................................................................. Poached Carp Recipe Ingredients • 2 lbs/1 kg carp • 1 onion • 1 carrot • 1 parsley root • 2-3 pepper berries • 1 bay leaf • 2 tablespoons lemon juice • 2 tablespoons oil • 2-3 potatoes • salt Clean, wash, salt the carp and let it sit for 10-15 minutes. In the meantime, set the vegetables to boil with 1 qt. of water, some salt, pepper and bay leaf. Let boil until the vegetables are tender. Then remove from heat, add the quartered potatoes and let boil for a few minutes. Then add the pieces of carp. Let everything simmer, covered, until the carp and potatoes are done. After the carp has cooled off, remove from the pot and place in the middle of a platter, surrounded by vegetables and potatoes. Mix the oil with the lemon juice and 2-3 tablespoons of the poaching liquid and pour over the fish and vegetables. Then spread some chopped parsley on the top. This recipe has been generously contributed by www.fishingworks.com. CARP!!???!???!!!!! Now that is fishy"America will never be destroyed from the outside, if we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves." Abraham Lincoln Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
warpedskydiver 0 #16 August 8, 2009 A natural choice for the POTUS posse Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rushmc 23 #17 August 8, 2009 Quote A natural choice for the POTUS posse "America will never be destroyed from the outside, if we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves." Abraham Lincoln Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vortexring 0 #18 August 8, 2009 Carp's lovely - a bit boney, but nice - the Eastern Europeans poach them out of the ponds in the UK pissing the Carp fisherman off no end. Haven't ever been able to figure that one out though - why fish for them if you're not going to eat them. . . edit: If you're ever over in the Czech Republic close to Christmas, have a look at what's being sold from the big tank on the town squares - live Carp. 'for it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "chuck 'im out, the brute!" But it's "saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot.' Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
warpedskydiver 0 #19 August 8, 2009 Isareli's love them, that is what Gefilte fish is made from. here we don't sse a lot of people wanting to eat them, unless you are in the North and they are smoked, or if you are ethnic. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rushmc 23 #20 August 9, 2009 Quote Carp's lovely - a bit boney, but nice - the Eastern Europeans poach them out of the ponds in the UK pissing the Carp fisherman off no end. Haven't ever been able to figure that one out though - why fish for them if you're not going to eat them. . . edit: If you're ever over in the Czech Republic close to Christmas, have a look at what's being sold from the big tank on the town squares - live Carp. A gold fish is a carp. But, anyway, smoked is the only way I have liked them. And smoking Carp is legal!"America will never be destroyed from the outside, if we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves." Abraham Lincoln Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
