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Thom's blog
Government spying ruled "likely" unconstitutional
On Monday, a Bush-appointed Federal District Court judge ruled that the N.S.A. is likely violating our Fourth Amendment rights. In a 68-page ruling, Judge Richard J. Leon called the government's collection of so-called meta data "almost Orwellian," and he was unconvinced by the government's argument that these massive spying programs serve the public interest. He wrote that our government failed to illustrate "a single instance in which analysis of the N.S.A.'s bulk metadata collection actually stopped an imminent attack, or otherwise aided the government in achieving any objective that was time-sensitive."
Judge Leon made clear that he believes the plaintiffs can prove that government spying violates our Fourth Amendment rights, and issued an injunction to halt the programs. However, he stayed - or put on hold - his own ruling, pending the outcome of the inevitable appeal, "in light of the significant national security interests at stake in this case the the novelty of the constitutional issues." So for now, the government can keep on spying, while privacy advocates and civil rights groups continue their fight to stop government surveillance.
Although this ruling does not yet prevent the N.S.A. from snooping on our communication data, it is the first successful legal challenge against that spying agency. And, it's a sign that our court system could put an end to these massive surveillance programs. Judge Leon wrote that James Madison himself - the author of our Constitution - would be "aghast" to learn of these invasive spying programs. But, it's possible that he would also be proud of the activists, advocates, citizens, and judges who are using that very same document to protect Americans' Fourth Amendment rights.
-Thom
(What do you think? Tell us here.) |
Tonight on The Big Picture on RT TV at 7pm and 9pm... Tim Carpenter, Progressive Democrats of America (check your local listings for stations or stream at RT, and catch past shows on Youtube)
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Need to Know: Goodies for the Rich, Pennies for the Poor
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Monday's Daily Stack 
Hour One: ARE Obama haters worse than Bush haters?
Quote: " This country does a great job of creating wealth, but not a great [job] of distributing it." Lloyd Blankfein.
Hour Two: Is Medicare conspiring to register guns?- Neil McCabe, Guns and Patriots Newsletter
Hour Three: When happiness died in America... Speech: " Acceptance of the New York Liberal Party Nomination" by John F. Kennedy, September 14, 1960. " ... someone who cares about the welfare of the people -- their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, and their civil liberties... if that is what they mean by a "Liberal," then I'm proud to say that I'm a "Liberal."". |
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Tuesday on The Thom Hartmann Program, 3-6pm ET
Hour One: Is another GOP hostage crisis on the way?- C. Edmund Wright, WTF? How Karl Rove and the Establishment Lost...Again
Hour Two: Do progressives have a new secret weapon against Wall Street?- Mike Papantonio, Ring of Fire Radio
Hour Three: The right wing war on Christmas...here we go again- Malcolm Out Loud
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Thom's Poll
Will SCOTUS rule that the NSA is violating the 4th Amendment?
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Watch & Listen to Thom
When Happiness Died in America...
The Rise & Fall of the Occupy Movement?
Does Creationism Belong in any Classroom?
Crazy Alert! Santa Fist Fight
NSA Program UnConstitutional?
Why is the 1% Hogging our Economy?
Chileans have Rejected Reaganomics - How About Us?
Conversation with Great Minds p1 - James C. Goodale - Pentagon Papers
"Conversation with Great Minds p2 - James C. Goodale - Media Shield Law
Or watch the Full "Big Picture" Show...
Full Show 12/16/13: Walmart Cashing in on Occupy Wall Street Movement
Thom discusses the significance of Chile's new president Michele Bachelet with Economist Richard Wolff, debates wealth inequality with GOP Strategist Jack Burkman and talks the Occupy Wall Street movement with participants Priscilla Grim & Nicole Carty. In tonight's "Daily Take" Thom discusses why Americans stopped being happy.
Thom Hartmann on the News: December 16, 2013
Did the Saudis Fund the 9-11 Attacks?
When Happiness Died in America
Could the U.S. Step Into Another World War?
ARE Obama Haters Worse Than Bush Haters?
Is Medicare Conspiring to Register Guns? |
 Would you like to help give a child with a very troubled background this feeling of peace? Thom and Louise Hartmann founded the New England Salem Children's Village (NESCV) in New Hampshire in 1979. With states delaying payment for the children they entrust to the village, they need help with cash flow. Can you help? Now on Facebook. |
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