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Bill Could Restrict Freedom of the Press

WerewolfOfVulcan writes "The Washington Post is carrying an article about a disturbing Senate bill that could make it illegal to publicly disclose even the existence of US domestic spying programs (i.e. NSA wiretaps)." An aide to the bill's author assures us it's not aimed at reporters, but the language is ambiguous at best. From the article: "Kate Martin, director of the Center for National Security Studies, said the measure is broader than any existing laws. She said, for example, the language does not specify that the information has to be harmful to national security or classified. 'The bill would make it a crime to tell the American people that the president is breaking the law, and the bill could make it a crime for the newspapers to publish that fact,' said Martin, a civil liberties advocate."

6 of 747 comments (clear)

  1. i.e. vs. e.g. by ljw1004 · · Score: 5, Informative

    "i.e." stands for "id est" and means "that is [to say]".

    "e.g." stands for "exempli gratia" and means "for example".

    The article summary should have used e.g. instead of i.e. I see this mistake all the time and it irritates me.

  2. Re:It's OK If You Are A Republican by cpt+kangarooski · · Score: 4, Informative

    No, the bar against ex post facto laws is in Article I, Section 9. The 9th Amendment is the one that says that the enumeration of rights shall not be construed to mean that unenumerated rights don't exist.

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    -- This and all my posts are in the public domain. I am a lawyer. I am not your lawyer, and this is not legal advice.
  3. Re:Typical by killjoe · · Score: 4, Informative

    I think it's someplace north of the border, or perhaps in europe someplace.

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    evil is as evil does
  4. Re:Typical by rammer · · Score: 5, Informative

    > So what is all this "Land of the free" I keep hearing about?

    Not true anymore. If it ever was. See McCarthyism or other examples from the history of civil rights in the US.

    I think that the verse continues as "Home of the Brave".

    Not true either. See how squeamish the US people get when soldiers die in wars and occupations that their elected government chose to enter.

    Here's a hit from the big clue stick:
    If you don't like the government that you have then don't re-elect it!
    And I'm not just talking about the president that you have over there.
    I'm talking about all of the elected officials.

    I must say things are not any better here in Finland.
    Our former Prime Minister resigned because she leaked confidential information during her election campaign.
    She was elected anyway to the European parliament after her resignation.

    People should realise the power that they have and make responsible decisions when voting.

  5. Re:Why you let the citizens arm by RalphSleigh · · Score: 4, Informative

    Theres a whole bunch of numbers just waiting to be looked up that says a whole lot more innocent Americans get shot than in similar countries that have much tighter firearm laws. Start here http://www-medlib.med.utah.edu/WebPath/TUTORIAL/GU NS/GUNSTAT.html I meanwhile will continue enjoying the tight firearm legislation around here. /me kisses kama goodbye

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    Come as you are, do what you must, be who you will.
  6. Re:Why you let the citizens arm by Theaetetus · · Score: 4, Informative
    If by domestic disputes, you mean an altercation in the United States, you're probably right. Other than that, I think you're misusing the phrase.

    No, parent was right. Domestic disputes - a term for 'fights within the home between relations', including spouses, signifigant others, parents/children, etc. - cause more gun violence than armed robbery does in the US.