The State Department has fired two contract the passport file of Barack Obama’s passport file. The Department insists that it was a case of “imprudent curiosity,” but an investigation is planned by the inspector general.
It may indeed by such a case of poor judgment given recent reports that the files of Clinton and McCain may have been also compromised. Nevertheless, it is obviously worthy of investigation given the breach of former president Bill Clinton’s file during the first Bush administration.
It also shows the continuing danger to privacy of government records and the need for greater controls and penalties. The Bush Administration has radically increased the use of government data bases on citizens and has sought even greater access to such systems. Ironically, this happens to be one of the more monitored areas of government information. Most such records are held under far less active control or supervision. Today, reports surfaced that the Bush Administration has undermined past restrictions on passport records, click here.
For the latest story, click here
Dear msnbc bs,
Please explain why you believe a person who is a leftist is a lunatic. I want to know what you mean and I will answer you with no vituperation or unkindness.
I agree with you that the govt. is currently, and will be able in the future, to access our medical records. We must take agressive steps to end that. I don’t see why wanting and being willing to pay for universal health care is of necessity connected to a surveillance state. Certainly it can be connected, depending on the bad will of officials at the top. Interestingly our medical records are currently being accessed without any connection to universal health care.
Jill
Well, now that it’s after midnight my time (almost an hour past that actually), Good Friday has come and gone. However, I can wish you a Happy Easter, even though I’m not a believer in the religious sense, so a very Happy Easter to you. 🙂
After all, it is Good Friday. 🙂
Hi Susan,
It is my faith that no one is irredeemable, that all have a good heart that can be reached and brought forth to add their tithe of light to the refulgent radiance that gladdens our spirits…
🙂
DW
Deeply Worried wrote:
I can see him becoming a thoughtful and articulate critic of some of the ideas expressed here.
**********************************
DW, I think you are an eternal optimist. lol Not that it is a criticism, it is in fact a compliment. But in MSNBCbser’s case, eternal optimism may be too much to hope for. But I guess we shouldn’t give up on hope entirely, should we. 🙂
In which case, he will vote for Clinton, I suppose.
You know, I keep hoping MSNBC…er will evolve out of the identity he crafted for himself here and one that must be becoming more and more restrictive to him.
I can see him becoming a thoughtful and articulate critic of some of the ideas expressed here.
“Ah the gift the giftie give us, to see ourselves as others see us…”
Deeply Worried,
msnbc bs doesn’t worry about facts, so he may not be able to decide which one to vote for in your question. He will have to wait for Rush to tell him who to vote for.
Msnbc bs,
A couple of questions for you.
Are you of voting age?
If so, and you HAD to vote Democrat, who would you choose, Obama or Clinton?
Which one is worst for America? Why?
A blizzard of posts, some fairly crude. So let’s just shunt the worst off the active list.
WAIT WAIT! lAST NIGHT KEITH DOLBERMANN AND THE WHOLE MSNBC CROWD WERE CONVINCED IT WAS SOME GRAND CONSPIRACY AGAINST THE ORDAINED OBAMA THAT ALL OF MSNBC IS IN THE TANK FOR.
YOU MEAN IT WAS JUST SOME EMPLOYEES DOING A LITTLE SNOOPING? YOU MEAN GOOD OLD INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER DAVID SHUSTER GOT IT ALL WRONG AGAIN!
DOES SHUSTER STILL HAVE A JOB AT MSNBC? HOW MANY CHANCES DOES HE GET? MAYBE HIS WIFE IS COVERING FOR HIM……..
Wow, you lunatics are raving mad today!
There are probably 600,000 or more Federal workers/contractors that could access ANY of your records at any time, whether it is IRS, State Department, INS, SS, Medicare, you name it.
What I find hillarious is these are the SAME people you lunatic lefties want to put in charge of our health care!
GOD BLESS GW BUSH!
And the S.D. just found out they’d looked into McCain’s and Clinton’s files also! Those low level employees sure are busy lately!!! Science Friday had a short piece on computer security this afternoon. One of the guests pointed out that citizens don’t really have any way to negotiate their privacy with the govt. That’s for sure.
Rafflaw and Jill, I agree with both your posts. I don’t buy the state department’s line that this was a matter of “inappropriate curiosity” or whatever they’re saying to cover their….um….rears. As it has been mentioned more than once, on both the COUNTDOWN and VERDICT! programs last night, the fact that it happened THREE times, not just once, and that it has taken this long for Sen. Obama to have been notified has a very disturbing significance. The administration has NO credibility at this point, so why should anyone believe the absurd CYA lines they’ve been trying to dish out to the general public? I certainly don’t.
I agree, the state dept.’s explanation is inoperative (redneck translation–that dog don’t hunt!).
Many people have wondered if the surveillance state explains at least a part of congress’ silence in the face of the cheney-bush administration’s misdeeds. If that is true, I wish everyone would come clean about it. I think the outrage of people being blackmailed into silence would outweigh the effect of the revealed transgressions. A surrveillance state strikes at the heart of a free society.
If you believe what this administration is feeding us, then I want you to meet my friend, the Easter Bunny! Of course it was a political motive and the information is probably already in the hands of the Republican National Committee. Follow the employees who were fired. We must find out who they are and I wouldn’t be surprised if it leads directly to the White House and John McCain. The House and Senate need an immediate hearing to get some people under oath. The longer the delay, the colder the trail.