Senators: FBI rules could target innocent people

Source: Associated Press

Proposed rules to help the FBI catch terrorists could lead to innocent Americans being spied upon by government agents or informants "all without any basis for suspicion," a group of Democratic senators said Wednesday.

The rules, known as the attorney general guidelines, have not been approved or even publicly released yet, but four Democrats joined a growing chorus of lawmakers raising concerns after being briefed on what the guidelines say.

Among their fears: Americans could be targeted in part based on their race, ethnicity or religion — or free speech activities protected by the Constitution.

... The guidelines are expected to be finalized next week. They do not require congressional approval.

Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2008/08/senators_fbi_rules_could_targe.php

are these folks in Congress stupid or just playing stupid?

:P

Will. They were designed to do just that.

including Quakers, for heaven's sake, mostly for breaking the news of U.S. encursions into Cambodia, and the effects of "free-fire zone" bombing on Vietnamese villagers. Then under Nixon it only got worse. Some people started defiantly bragging about their large FBI files. Others were actually intimidated from signing petitions. This continued right through the protests of Reagan administration support of the Nicaraguan contras.

I'm old enough, thank you. My mother is still afraid of the state apparatus.

I remember my real political awakening too; the memo that predicted the Love Canal and Bloody Run Creek.

If Congress stood for anything, there would be a huge group of people being impeached and removed from office, including congress critters.

Aside from the few who are trying, they should be fucking ashamed of themselves.

There is more than one way of doing that... as for being an artist, I intend to use their faces on my "canvass", etc. They shall live in infamy....

from trampeling on our rights.

They talk a good game about the Bush crime team, but do very little to stop them.

It's time for Congress to shut up and do their job.

But it will be a factor according to a Mukasey spokesman. So you can be investigated in part for being black or muslim. It just can't be the sole basis of the investigation.

its their very intention, to target political opponents.