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White House Refuses To Comment On Petition To Investigate Chris Dodd

Posted by Soulskill on from the jurisprudence-ruins-another-party dept.

malraid writes "The White House has issued a statement in which they refuse to comment on the petition to investigate Chris Dodd for bribery from the MPAA to pass legislation. The reason given: 'because it requests a specific law enforcement action.'"

41 of 765 comments (clear)

  1. Dying from lack of surprise... by killfixx · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Good to know that greed and corruption still rule. I was worried that we may be entering some weird, "by and for the people" period in American history.

    Seriously though, what's it gonna take? How bad does it have to get before Joe Sixpack wakes up and takes notice? How much more before we finally have that revolution?

    I've been fighting with my votes, my dollar, and by educating everyone who will listen. I'm ready to lock and load to get MY America back.

    --
    "Helping to keep you two steps ahead of the Thought Police!"
    1. Re:Dying from lack of surprise... by icebike · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Exactly as I predicted when everybody here on Slashdot was insisting the would HAVE TO act.

      This is Obama, he need only make the promise. He doesn't have to DO anything.

      --
      Sig Battery depleted. Reverting to safe mode.
    2. Re:Dying from lack of surprise... by dbet · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Well, any one of us can only stop voting for 3 of them. And to be honest, there's a lot of people out there who are totally okay with corruption.

    3. Re:Dying from lack of surprise... by epiphani · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I'm ready to lock and load to get MY America back.

      So as someone from outside (I'm Canadian), I've come to the conclusion that the US will only solve it's issues that way. I'm truly saddened by it, and I hope it's quick and mostly bloodless, but I doubt it will be.

      I know it's not a popular idea, but you have to admit: the level of vitriol in the USA has hit unbelievable levels. It makes my head hurt - for both of the major parties. You don't have political options any more - the only one that is an ACTUAL choice away from more of the same is Ron Paul. Too bad he's so far out to lunch. You're headed towards civil war. And right now all the religions folks have all the guns. Oh the irony.

      I wish you the best of luck. Please, keep your military out of it, and protect your nukes while you sort this shiat out.

      --
      .
    4. Re:Dying from lack of surprise... by TheCouchPotatoFamine · · Score: 4, Insightful

      So why don't we do ask this again - and better people then me should phrase it - but this time asking if they think "that type of corruption has is occuring" and "if Chriss Dodd 's actions are aligned with the morals of the administration"? Is this "a cockroach you see", among the thousands we don't? What is the white house's stance on money in politics, and have they investigated others, during the this administration? Who is analyzing finances and trends to spot inconsistencies? Are there any active investigations of this at present?

      it's wrong to just not answer, when they could have made a statement, avoiding the issue of guilt. That's a cop out, and i expect more.

      --
      CS majors know the time/space tradeoff, but they never get taught the 3rd, crucial, tradeoff of the set: comprehension!
    5. Re:Dying from lack of surprise... by letherial · · Score: 5, Insightful

      and what happens if everyone votes and they are still there? is the minority going to bring arms against majority to have it your way? is that a democracy? Im just challenging your thinking there, that's quite a jump.

    6. Re:Dying from lack of surprise... by evanism · · Score: 4, Insightful

      It's interesting that outsiders can see the inevitability of civil war isn't it?

      The level of hate, spite, vitriol and absolute us/them divide is obvious for all to see.

      Tiny issues, of no importance, or consequence, are raised to absolute exreme/hate issues. Devicive language, militarized police, extreme violence, ethnic hatred, extreme paranoia, social chaos, endless multiple wars, extremes in poverty/wealth and perverse legal and ethical injustice. There is no middle ground, its all one side or the other.

      It has ticked every single box for catastrophic upheaval.

      Frankly, I will be glad. The USA as an idea has failed its people and I'm tired of the US's enforced exported culture. It is vile.

      --
      Just bought a new quantum computer, but I'm uncertain how it works.
    7. Re:Dying from lack of surprise... by ArcherB · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Well, nothing is better than whatever the Repub's do.

      Your comment is the typical Democrat response. Here we have a story about a Democrat who is refusing to investigate another Democrat. Your response? You bad mouth Republicans. Of course, like Obama and all other Democrats, you are incapable of criticizing them, no matter how wrong they are.

      If Dodd were a Republican, the investigation would have been complete long ago, no petitions needed, and you would get first post saying that this is proof positive that Republicans are corrupt.

      --
      There is no "I disagree" mod for a reason. Flamebait, Troll, and Overrated are not substitutes.
    8. Re:Dying from lack of surprise... by AngryDeuce · · Score: 4, Insightful

      But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

      Revolution is our birthright as American citizens. Bloodless if possible, bloody if necessary. It is obvious that our government has been twisted against the people it is supposed to be representative of.

      I don't want to hurt anyone, but I will not be a victim. This isn't Iraq, and we're not terrified villagers living in stone age conditions. The people have been asleep for a long time, lulled into a false sense of security by greed and manipulation, but they're finally beginning to wake up, and it's about fucking time...

      It seems clear to me now that the last shred of what made this country great died on 9/11. The terrorists attacked us, but we finished the job all on our own.

    9. Re:Dying from lack of surprise... by evilRhino · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Let's not pretend that this is a partisan issue. Obama wouldn't investigate illegal activities of the former Republican administration. In fact, he retained many of Bush's people despite running on a platform of "change". Republicans and Democrats are different sides to the same coin. They have no interest in stopping corruption.

    10. Re:Dying from lack of surprise... by Baloroth · · Score: 4, Insightful

      The system is composed of individuals. If you can drag the corruption of individuals out into the public and hold them responsible, you can make others think twice (or more) about their own actions. If reform is to come, it must come one step at a time. It is simply wishful thinking to believe the entire system can be fixed all at once. The starting point is to take individuals to task for their actions. Once that starts happening, you can think about working on the system as a whole. You drag out enough of the corrupt individuals, you will already have a good start on fixing the system.

      If you only work on fixing the system, the still-corrupt individuals will find ways around, somehow. They always do (they always have).

      --
      "None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license." --John Milton
    11. Re:Dying from lack of surprise... by bky1701 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      This "bullet box" rhetoric needs to end. The people who mod it up should be ashamed of themselves, and the people who post it ought to be on government watch lists.

      So, people saying what you don't like needs to put people on secret lists so they can be abused by the government while going about their legal business. Gotcha. I think I can see why you're not OK with the original idea.

      How about this: you don't deserve the freedom to post what you just did, and I think you need to be put on a list for conspiring to commit treason (by advocating violation of the constitution). If you can start deciding what is allowed, so can I. See how it works? Grow a brain.

      --
      Great Intellect...
    12. Re:Dying from lack of surprise... by artor3 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      You think the Iraqis were "terrified villagers living in stone age conditions" prior to our showing up? How fucking clueless can you be?

      You're being melodramatic and angsty because it's fun to imagine yourself as a freedom fighter up against some great evil. Let's introduce some perspective. We're talking about some asshole senator who was bribed to help a few companies make more money off of us. Do you have any idea how often that has happened throughout our history? Can you name a single fucking decade in which that has not happened?

      But no, rather than accept that the country will always be messy and that we should do the best we can, you want to burn it all down. You want to kill because Hollywood has taught you that violence can solve all your problems. The scrappy rebels always win and ride off into the sunset.

      Grow up.

    13. Re:Dying from lack of surprise... by gd2shoe · · Score: 5, Insightful

      If Dodd were a Republican, the investigation would have been complete long ago...

      I was with you till this point. It would have been more likely, but only very slightly. Nobody wants to start chucking the corruption grenade around. It might bounce back and bite them.

      --
      I won't join Slashcott. OTOH, If Beta goes live, I just won't be back until it's fixed. Sorry Dice.
    14. Re:Dying from lack of surprise... by Albanach · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Exactly as I predicted when everybody here on Slashdot was insisting the would HAVE TO act.

      This is Obama, he need only make the promise. He doesn't have to DO anything.

      Are you seriously suggesting there should be a criminal investigation against anyone where 25,000 people call for it?

      This has nothing to do with Obama. it has everything to do with Federal prosecutors. Write a letter to both the FBI and the US Attorney's Office stating that you believe a crime has been committed that is within their jurisdiction and requesting they investigate. 25,000 letters like that might achieve something.

    15. Re:Dying from lack of surprise... by Firehed · · Score: 5, Insightful

      It's what Thomas Jefferson said to do.

      what country can preserve it's liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? let them take arms. the remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon & pacify them. what signify a few lives lost in a century or two? the tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots & tyrants. it is it's natural manure.

      http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/jefferson/105.html

      --
      How are sites slashdotted when nobody reads TFAs?
    16. Re:Dying from lack of surprise... by anagama · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Obama is a fucking Republican you retard. What the fuck does the mainstream Democratic party call someone who is pro-war, pro-surveillance, pro-dronebombing, pro-due-process-free-detention, pro-due-process-free-execution, pro-goldman-sachs, pro-protecting-torturers, pro-persecuting-whistleblowers, pro-PATRIOT-Act ... if Obama is the lesser evil, then lets just get it done with now by getting the greater evil in -- that we can have a revolution sooner and get back to being America. Obama's brand of lesser evil is so fucking evil it makes me want to spit.

      --
      What changed under Obama? Nothing Good
    17. Re:Dying from lack of surprise... by Grishnakh · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Who do you think is in charge of the FBI and the US Attorney's Office? That's right, the President. Stop being an apologist.

    18. Re:Dying from lack of surprise... by Mashiki · · Score: 4, Insightful

      This "bullet box" rhetoric needs to end. The people who mod it up should be ashamed of themselves, and the people who post it ought to be on government watch lists.

      As a Canadian, it saddens me that there are Americans who don't even understand why the second amendment is enshrined in the constitution.

      --
      Om, nomnomnom...
    19. Re:Dying from lack of surprise... by CelticWhisper · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I've usually seen it written as "Democracy is two wolves and a sheep voting on what to eat for dinner. Liberty is a well-armed sheep contesting the vote."

      --
      Help protect civil rights from abuse by the TSA - visit TSA News Blog.
      http://www.tsanewsblog.com
    20. Re:Dying from lack of surprise... by artor3 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Sorry, but have you ever hear the little song behind the word "jingoism"?

      We don't want to go to war but by Jingo if we do
      We've got the ships, we've got the men, we've got the money too

      That's how you're coming across. "I don't want to kill people to get my way, but..."

      Things in this country aren't bad enough to warrant the sort of massive, decades long bloodshed you're talking about. Not even close. We can turn things around through peaceful means. You're looking at one tiny slice of history and declaring that this is the worst things have ever been. It's not. Not even close.

      Not long ago, a huge portion of the country was treated as subhuman while our leaders were playing with the idea of wiping out human civilization. We got through that, and we can sure as hell get through this. The only thing we need is the will to try. If all the people who have given up on politics were to get off their asses and vote in the general election AND THE PRIMARIES then we could fix this all in short order. But instead they figure that their one vote won't make a difference and so they don't bother. And then when their non-vote doesn't elicit change, they decide that the whole system is FUBAR'ed and start talking about mass murder to solve their problems. Can you really not see how stupid and self-defeating that is?

    21. Re:Dying from lack of surprise... by evanism · · Score: 5, Insightful

      As so they did to Rome. As an idea it worked. But only for those it worked for. The rest were slaves, conquered and crucified.

      Cruelty and injustice were exported. Wars were endless.

      Tyranny or empire might look just, even effective, but it eventually gets on everyone's goat. If you are within the system and benefiting, one cannot see the problems until viewed from the outside.

      --
      Just bought a new quantum computer, but I'm uncertain how it works.
    22. Re:Dying from lack of surprise... by artor3 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Obama is a Republican circa 1990. Modern Republicans add pro-corporate-personhood, anti-Medicare, anti-Social-Security, anti-taxes-of-any-kind (except sales taxes since they target the working class), anti-regulation, anti-intellectual, pro-occupation (very different from the Libya war), and so on to the list.

      The entire country has moved to the right. Democrats are where the Republicans used to be, and Republicans are out in Crazy Town (pop. Way Too Many).

    23. Re:Dying from lack of surprise... by Rakarra · · Score: 5, Insightful

      It's interesting that outsiders can see the inevitability of civil war isn't it?

      Maybe they're young.
      Or they have short memories.

      But what we have today is nothing, nothing compared to the 60s and 70s.

    24. Re:Dying from lack of surprise... by artor3 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      If a 270 year old dead guy told you to jump off a bridge, would you?

      Stop prostrating yourself at the feet of the founding fathers. They were men, not gods. They did a pretty decent job, all things considered, but they don't have all the answers. And if you find you must follow the teachings of some old dead guy instead of analyzing situations for yourself, then why Jefferson? Why not Gandhi, or Jesus? They might tell you to do something very different.

    25. Re:Dying from lack of surprise... by gmhowell · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I'm sure he also envisioned a bunch of intellectuals debating theory, but who did he propose would lead this said 'revolt'?

      "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State..."

      --
      Jesus was all right but his disciples were thick and ordinary. -John Lennon
    26. Re:Dying from lack of surprise... by Nikker · · Score: 5, Insightful

      It is topical and relevant to the conversation. The American Founding Fathers were inundated by intrests other than what they though was right. They wrote down their experiences and came up with the best way they knew how to make sure divide and conquer tactics would not work. The people could decide amongst themselves their destinations in their own lives and with whom they wished to travel with. This is shown by the First Amendment.

      While not being from the US but close by I can understand why people would refrence the American Founding Fathers in a time where the same issues they face are being encountered today.

      No loaves, no wine, no song, just politics.

      --
      A loop, by its nature, continues. If that didn't make sense, start reading this sentence again.
    27. Re:Dying from lack of surprise... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I was listening up to "teabagger". Anyone that would smear an entire group of people with a crude sexual slur just because they disagree with them can't be too bright.

    28. Re:Dying from lack of surprise... by TapeCutter · · Score: 4, Insightful

      ...[people who vote] are brainwashed [into thinking] the government will make everything better despite them always making it worse right in front of them

      Caution; answering "no" to any of the following questions may reveal that it's you who has been brainwashed into denying what is right in front of you...

      Do you really think a public sewerage system is worse than emptying your bedpan on the street?
      Do you really think chlorinated water is worse than cholera and dysentery?
      Do you really think crossing a public bridge is worse than travelling 200miles out of your way to ford a river?

      Disclaimer: I have been homeless but I've never been so mindless as to take government mandated 'luxuries' for granted.

      --
      And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage? - Pink Floyd.
    29. Re:Dying from lack of surprise... by AmiMoJo · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Or, you know, he could just be choosing a quote that matches his personal views because it happens to put them over well, and of course suggests that famous and generally respected people share his ideas.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    30. Re:Dying from lack of surprise... by dkleinsc · · Score: 5, Insightful

      The entire country has moved to the right. Democrats are where the Republicans used to be, and Republicans are out in Crazy Town (pop. Way Too Many).

      Actually, there's a massive disconnect between the politicians and the people of the United States. If the country were majority rule, which it isn't, marijuana would be legalized, gay marriage would be legal in more places, we would be completely out of Afghanistan and Iraq (not the "we're out, but there are drones and 15,000 soldiers / mercenaries to ... uh ... protect our embassy" version), many congresspersons would be indicted for bribery, many many banking executives (as well as some other corporate executives) would be indicted for multi-billion dollar fraud, the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau would be operating with full force, thousands of foreclosures would be ruled invalid and the people's homes restored, Bradley Manning and Julian Assange would be free, and there'd quite possibly be a massive public works program to keep people employed.

      And that's why both the Tea Party and the Occupiers exist - the system is failing to respond to what the people want.

      --
      I am officially gone from /. Long live http://www.soylentnews.com/
    31. Re:Dying from lack of surprise... by silentcoder · · Score: 5, Insightful

      And THAT my friends is another example of a fallacy. In this case the false dichotomy.

      The poster is attempting to imply that to reject the fallacy of call-to-authority one must reject anything learned from another person, implying that all knowledge is either brand new or a call to authority.

      That is of course, a false dichotomy as those are NOT the only types of knowledge that exists. There is also knowledge backed up by empirical evidence. There are arguments founded on solid logical principles and valid conclusions - and that's just two other kinds.

      The point of the call to authority fallacy is to teach us, when evaluating an idea that:
      It's not about who said it, it's about whether what was said is a good argument.
      To judge the merit of the claim not the merit of the speaker. Why ? Because wise people still say stupid shit sometimes.

      --
      Unicode killed the ASCII-art *
  2. Alright by Jethro · · Score: 4, Insightful

    So lets go ask specific law enforcement agencies.

    --


    In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is kinky.
  3. What? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    You can't petition to have someone arrested/investigated/incarcerated. Can you?

    If there's a suspicion of illegality, the law enforcement agency is the place to go, not the president. pffft

  4. So let me get this straight... by kenh · · Score: 4, Insightful

    We can petiition the White House to answer, on the record, any question as long as it is neither too specific NOR leads to a law enforcement action?

    And the point of this 'service' is what, exactly? To provoke the administration to opine about non-specific social issues?

    --
    Ken
    1. Re:So let me get this straight... by ktappe · · Score: 5, Insightful

      And the point of this 'service' is what, exactly? To provoke the administration to opine about non-specific social issues?

      Apparently the point of the service is to make it look like the White House is listening to the people. Look like. Not actually are.

      --
      "We can categorically state we have not released man-eating badgers into the area." - UK military spokesman, July 2007
  5. Re:Executive branch by l0ungeb0y · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The Executive Branch delegates that to the Attorney General/US DOJ. Also, I see the lack of comment as a good thing, because if they didn't take this matter seriously, they'd have simply stated it had been dismissed out of hand. In this case though, it seems they do take it seriously.

    Keep in mind that no Police Investigation aside from those run by the Keystone Cops starts with a public announcement saying they will investigate.
    They say they are investigating *after* news outlets like CNN and FOX have reported that a bunch of FBI Agents raided offices and took away records and computers from those offices. Why give Dodd any more opportunity to hide, destroy evidence?

  6. That's how it works. by Sturm · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Obama is the President. Obama HAS been the President for several years.

    That's how it works.

    Blame Bush all you want for taxes or the economy or high gas prices or even pimples on your ass if it makes you feel better.

    Obama is the current President and his administration is in charge. He should be held accountable for NOT holding people account for things that happen on his watch.

  7. the plutocracy sucks by circletimessquare · · Score: 4, Insightful

    the bloodshed you endorse is far, far worse

    little boys like you who have never known real revolution are historically illiterate fools. we will not have a revolution in this country until we are pushed much, much further. and that is a good thing

    you don't have the slightest fucking clue of the misery of what a real revolution really is like. i hate the very concept of intellectual property and i hate the plutocracy infecting the country i love. but i am no friend of yours, and the likes of you disgust me far more than chris dodd ever will. at least chris dodd won't lock and load and embrace borderline schizophrenic hollywood addled visions of "glorious" revolutionary bloodshed

    fuck you, you gunhappy tool. if we are ever to actually have real fascism in this country, people who think like you, all to ready and happy to grab a gun, will be at the vanguard of this country's collapse into it, guided by demagogues who know all too well how to pull the strings in your ignorant bloodlust drunk mind

    revolution means failure you asshole. you are supposed to fix the system, not start shooting people you

    have i made my disgust of your ignorant bloodlust clear? then grow the fuck up

    --
    intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
    1. Re:the plutocracy sucks by circletimessquare · · Score: 5, Insightful

      no we have assholes who have no clue what real fascism is and water down the real horror of the term by applying it to every minor quibble they have with the idea of authority. see: teenagers calling their parents fascists. see also how the term terrorism is abused and watered down by ignorants and demagogues

      --
      intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
  8. Re:More Republican Poutrage by rednip · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Chris Dodd is hardly the only politician who has done such a thing, and there is currently no law against it unless there is an actual promised payment (even Delay/Gingrich have been smart enough to avoid that). Some might argue that there should be laws against such 'retirement plans' for politicians, but it would be hard to enforce, and likely unconstitutional. There are however laws against money laundering and using foreign bank accounts for tax evasion, perhaps Mitt has been completely honest, perhaps not. As 'we' all know, online polls are easy to game, it wouldn't be hard to ask them to investigate using a couple of thousand email addresses.

    Whenever the GOP is in power they seem to spend more time grandstanding for political advantage than doing the work of the people (for example, 'where's that jobs bill?').

    --
    The force that blew the Big Bang continues to accelerate.