Republicans Blocking Freedom of Information Act Bill

Filed by Michael Roston

By Larry @7:13 PM MST

Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) issued a Friday afternoon statement criticizing Republican colleagues for holding up an open government bill that seeks to reform the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and end delays in government compliance with requests for information.

“The Republican obstructionism continues in the Senate and the latest casualty is Americans’ access to their government,” Senator Leahy said. “I am deeply disappointed that Republicans continue to block attempts to pass the Openness Promotes Effectiveness in our National Government Act” (“OPEN Government Act”).

In Senate floor action on July 26, Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS) held up passage of Leahy’s legislation.

“It is my understanding that there are ongoing discussions with both sides of the aisle as well as the administration to come up with bipartisan consensual language on this issue and that we are unable to get clear the agreement at this time,” Cochran said in his floor statement.

He then objected to the bill on behalf of himself and ‘several Republican Senators,’ preventing the legislation from being adopted by ‘unanimous consent.

Senator Leahy defended the bill in his statement.

“The OPEN Government Act promotes and enhances public disclosure of government information under FOIA, by helping Americans to obtain timely responses to their FOIA requests and improving transparency in the federal government’s FOIA process,” the Vermont Democrat, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, stated Friday. “Today, Americans who seek information under FOIA remain less likely to obtain it than during any other time in FOIA’s four decades of service. This bill would help to reverse this trend and to restore the public’s trust in their government.”

He concluded, “I hope the few Republican opponents who are standing in the way will stop obstructing and work in a cooperative way with us toward a resolution.”

www.rawstory.com

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The Godzilla False Flag, A depiction of the WH next move!

by GEF @ 6:22 PM EDT

Here is a fictional depiction of what Bush and the Pentagon might do next to install their American Federal Empire(AFE)!

Call it the Economy Tanking, or call it a Nuke 9/11, or call it the next big Climate Change Event. The Bush Administration is ready to make the next move towards his 4th Reich. The Federal Fascist Nation is upon us all!

LISTEN HERE

Get your kids ready, because after Bush/Cheney calls martial(no, not martian) Law, he’s going to draft all your kids and send them off toward new butcheries so that they can get cut to pieces for his new money schemes and fresh legacy.

All in the Name of National Security(oil$$$) and Terrorism(weapons$$$)!

The gigantic lie that’s upon you!

AND I KEEP ASKING THE QUESTION:

“WHY DO WE NEED TO DEFEND THE NATION FROM TERRORIST ? DON’T WE HAVE ENOUGH NUKES TO STERILIZE WHOLE SECTIONS OF THE PLANET MANY TIMES OVER ?! IF IRAN ATTACKS US, WE CAN NUKE THEM. IF NORTH KOREA ATTACKS US WE CAN NUKE THEM MANY TIMES OVER UNTIL EVEN THE ROACHES DIE!

…AND BY THE WAY, ISRAEL HAS THAT ABILITY TOO! ”

Our Nation is not powerless Justice peeps and this is not about Terrorism. This is about Dictatorship and subversion of our Constitution and way of life!

The terrorist are not responsible for taking away your Constitution, Civil Rights and turning you into mindless chipped cattle. Your own Govt is doing that.

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Accustomed to Their Own Atrocities in Iraq, U.S. Soldiers Have Become Murderers

Sudhan@21:25 CET

By Chris Hedges, Adbusters. Posted July 27, 2007

After four years of war, American Marines and soldiers have become socialized to atrocity. The war in Iraq is now primarily about murder. There is very little killing.

All troops, when they occupy and battle insurgent forces, as in Iraq, or Gaza or Vietnam, are placed in “atrocity producing situations.”

In this environment, surrounded by a hostile population, simple acts such as going to a store to buy a can of Coke means you can be killed. This constant fear and stress pushes troops to view everyone around them as the enemy. This hostility is compounded when the enemy, as in Iraq, is elusive, shadowy and hard to find.

The rage soldiers feel after a roadside bomb explodes, killing or maiming their comrades, is one that is easily directed over time to innocent civilians who are seen to support the insurgents. It is a short psychological leap, but a massive moral leap. It is a leap from killing — the shooting of someone who has the capacity to do you harm — to murder — the deadly assault against someone who cannot harm you. The war in Iraq is now primarily about murder. There is very little killing.

Full article

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The Democrats and their Co-Conspiracy to Betray the Constitution!

by GEF @ 10:33 AM EDT

Congressman John Conyers Betrays the American People

by Medea Benjamin

July 25, 2007

I remember before the 2006 election being at a fundraiser in Los Angeles for the Democratic Party when one of the featured guests was Rep. John Conyers. The issue of impeachment came up and the crowed roared in approval when Conyers said that if the Democrats took control of Congress, he would become head of the powerful House Judiciary Committee and would initiate impeachment proceedings. That, he said, was one of the reasons why it was so important to go all out to get Democrats elected. Fast forward to July 23, 2007. About 300 of us gathered at Arlington Cemetery, convened by peace mom Cindy Sheehan, to march to Cong. Conyers office to demand that seven months after coming to power, he fulfill his promise about initiating impeachment proceedings. Shouting “Conyers, Conyers need a reason? Torture, lies, war and treason,” the angry crowd packed the halls outside the Congressman’s office while Cindy, former CIA analyst Ray McGovern and former Conyers’ protégé Reverend Yearwood met with the Congressman inside.

Read More–>

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The NSA has become an Extension of the Bush Administration!

by GEF @ 9:22 AM EDT

This is not about National Security or Terrorism, this is about Partisan GOP Politics and Corporate Control! – GEF

Which NSA Program Was It? And What Else Are/Were They Doing ?
……

By Scarecrow on Fri Jul 27, 2007 at 05:15 am

We’ve now had two senior members of the Bush Administration — one-time Acting AG James Comey and FBI Director Robert Mueller — give testimony that appears to contradict Alberto Gonzales’ sworn testimony about illegal NSA spying. But all three men have tap danced around what is meant by the terms “terrorist surveillance program” that was “acknowledged by the President.” Instead of watching Tony Snow imitate Ron Ziegler, it’s time for these men to tell the truth — the whole truth, because their word games are in reality covering up what are likely to be multiple felonies.

Firedoglake Read More—>

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