![Big Brother is Watching..New Bill to Give Obama Control over Internet]()
by
Just when you thought it wouldn't get worse, it does. A pair of bills (Sen 773 & 778) have been introduced by Sen. Jay Rockefeller (W-WV) that would be a part what's being called the "Cybersecurity Act of 2009". These bills would grant the White House sweeping new powers to access private data online, regulate the cybersecurity industry, and shut down portions of internet traffic if it deems there is an "emergency". A new office called the Office of the National Cybersecurity Advisor would be created and would report directly to the President. Hmmm....wonder how I apply for that position. Do I have to pay taxes to be considered?
For your enjoyment, here is a working draft of the bill:
http://cdt.org/security/CYBERSEC4.pdf
This new Act raises privacy concerns on many fronts, not the least of which is it grants the White House the authority to disconnect "critical infrastructure" networks from the internet. These would include banking, utilities, health/medical, etc.
Sounds all well and good right? If there were a massive cyberwarfare attack on our infrastructure, this is just another way to protect critical elements. However, we know that this power can [...]
![Big Brother is Watching..New Bill to Give Obama Control over Internet]()
by Art Smith
For many of us, any number of things were expected as part of the new President's first month in office, including the first five Executive Orders, some of which impacted protections of the unborn and the public at large. And Democrats increased control of Congress will doubtfully lead to more and more spending that will help maintain the poverty status quo.
But many would never have expected to see a new effort on the part of Democrats to work their way around the First Amendment, which states:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
But here it comes already, hidden in the dress surrounding an already ridiculous "stimulus" package. In a section to provide new money for renovation and repair of public schools, there is a clause that restricts the use of the money where "sectarian instruction, religious worship or a school or department of divinity" exist.
While I would understand that any private school should [...]
by Art Smith
I watched Friday’s John and Cindy McCain interview on The View. Below is part 1; parts 2 and 3 should be accessible from the video. [wp_youtube]3Mnj1njG4ww[/wp_youtube] I see several posts refering to this interview as “McCain Grilled On The View”,...
by Linda Morgan
About BitHead BitHead runs BitsBlog and is an occasional guest writer for The Conservative Reader. You can email BitHead at [email protected]. This special Swamp Stomper Article is cross-posted from BitsBlog. From the Business and Media institute: There’s a huge...
by Art Smith
Des Moines Register columnist Rekha Basu wrote an interesting piece for today’s paper on the foibles of unrestrained and anonymous commenting on newspaper web sites, such as that hosted by the Des Moines Register. It was a very informative piece and I think can...
by Art Smith
About four months ago (I know, I’m a little behind catching up with some general topics), DavidL at BitsBlog shared an item from Edward Wasserman at the Miami Herald. Wasserman’s thought was that there is a need for rules to constrain course, offensive,...
