Obama Signs Global Internet Treaty Worse Than SOPA

Under the provisions of ACTA, copyright holders will be granted sweeping direct powers to demand ISPs remove material from the Internet on a whim. Whereas ISPs normally are only forced to remove content after a court order, all legal oversight will be abolished, a precedent that will apply globally, rendering the treaty worse in its potential scope for abuse than SOPA or PIPA.
http://www.infowars.com/obama-signs-global-internet-treaty-worse-than-sopa/

Who needs SOPA when you have ACTA...

I guess Obama signing this is one of those hourly "mistakes" Obama makes...

Michale....

Glad yer back safe.... :D

David, dsws....

Speaking of Iran...

Iran arrests journalists, to execute bloggers
http://campaign2012.washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltway-confidential/iran-arrests-journalists-execute-bloggers/341821

Are ya'all SURE that you would be OK with allowing THIS dictatorship to possess nuclear weapons??

REALLY!???

Michale

Trust me, these phrases will cover just about any situation.

Oh, you have no idea ... let's just say that it was a wild and crazy conference, in more ways than one. And, I trust we'll be back in Cancun next year, too!

Which part?? :D Have fun in Mexico.. PLEASE stay safe!!

Just all of it. :)

Well, as you can see, I made it back ... safe and sound. On the plane down, I listened to a report of a Canadian woman who was "injured" in Cancun. Apparently, I now have found out that she was beaten up while she went for ice at her hotel and was found in the elevator. Scary stuff ...

With reference to {20}..

I thought you would get a kick out of this.... :D

'Frak' is a fictional version of "fuck," "shit" or "damn" first used (with the spelling "frack") in the original Battlestar Galactica series. In the "re-imagined" version, and subsequently in Caprica, it appears with greater frequency and with the revised spelling "frak", as the producers wanted to make it a four-letter word.[1] In that framework it seems to function as a substitute for "fuck" in several different forms, as an interjection ("Frak!"), inquisitive idiom ("What the frak?"), verb ("You're not still frakking Dualla, are you?"), adjective ("Get your motherfrakking hands off me!"), adverb ("You frakking crazy idiot!"), a noun ("You miserable frak"), ("A good frak"), (to Starbuck "I guess a pity frak is out of the question") or in compound words ("What a clusterfrak."), ("Motherfrakker!"), or as almost every word in a sentence ("frak the frakking frakkers.").
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frak_%28expletive%29

:D

Michale

Romney gave 15% of his income to charity...

Obama???? 1%....

I'm just saying... :D

Michale

http://www.infowars.com/red-spotlights-to-mark-precrime-suspects/

Michale

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/01/24/president-obama-please-use-option-c-to-defeat-iran/

Michale

Unless, of course, government interference....er.. I mean regulation REQUIRES you do inspect deep packets to insure your not transmitting something you shouldn't..

It's like that frak'in issue with the cops checking immigration status...

Obama's DHS says that cops can't inquire about immigration status so as not to hurt the feelings of illegal immigrants who are breaking the law.....

Obama's State Dept says that cops MUST inquire about immigration status immediately so that scumbag criminals who ARE illegal immigrants can get their embassies and consulates to help them get off the hook..

You see the pattern???

Michale.....

:)

"This game's confusing!!"
-Danny Bateman, THE REPLACEMENTS

:D

Michale

i think you meant EN-sure.

http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/assure-ensure-insure.aspx

:)

~joshua

The problem is that, in reality, sometimes the lobbyists CAN be right...

"The trick is not knowing what is right or wrong. The trick is knowing which wrong is more right. Oh don't listen to me, I'm shit-faced."
-Annette Benning, UNDER SIEGE

:D

On another note, I think I had a Freudian Slip there...

We simply have to insure that the government interference into the Internet is as minimal and non-evasive as possible, while accomplishing worthwhile goals.

That SHOULD read.....

We simply have to insure that the government interference into the Internet is as minimal and non-INvasive as possible, while accomplishing worthwhile goals.

Woooopss :D

Michale

Fair enough, Michale. Believe it or not, I'd largely agree with that statement.

As I've always said, I believe you and I could write better legislation than Congress.

The thing you always have to differentiate with lobbyists is, what do they want and what are they going to try to say to get it. And how are they influencing our politicians and how do we fight against it.

-David

They're not...

Michale.....

Don't get me wrong.. I am firmly on record as being against SOPA... My reasons are personal rather than altruistic, much to my chagrin, but I am definitely on your side when it comes to SOPA..

It just had occurred to me that the arguments against SOPA are pretty much the same arguments that are against Net Neutrality..

And the arguments DO have merit..

We simply have to insure that the government interference into the Internet is as minimal and non-evasive as possible, while accomplishing worthwhile goals...

Case in point, my submission for MDDOTW:

http://www.salon.com/2012/01/23/dodd_accused_of_bribery_over_sopa_remarks/

The problem as I see it is that Dodd is the quintessential Democrat...

He's the rule, rather than the exception...

It's the sad, sad truth...

Michale

We have net neutrality now. Looks like the SPs are doing ok to me.

Compliance is pretty simple. You don't deep packet inspect on your network.

-David

Fair enough. I misunderstood. I wasn't quite sure what you were getting it.

But yes, it is pretty much the same argument I am making in both cases.

The argument is that regulation should be written to strike an appropriate balance between consumer interests and business interests.

I would want to see the same from piracy legislation as from net neutrality legislation. Both sides should be represented and they should come to a compromise.

The problem with SOPA was that it was very lopsided and written by lobbyists. It did not take into consideration the impact on start-up businesses and free speech concerns.

But I'd want to see the same thing w/ net neutrality. Are there cases where tiered levels of service make sense? Sure. VoIP is perhaps the simplest example.

Let's get some experts in there who understand this stuff and create reasonable rules. What I object to is creating rules because someone shovels a truckful of lobbyist money at Congress.

Case in point, my submission for MDDOTW:

http://www.salon.com/2012/01/23/dodd_accused_of_bribery_over_sopa_remarks/

-David

Do you HONESTLY believe that Net Providers will have to do LESS to be in compliance with Net Neutrality while still trying to run a viable business??

They'll have to create a whole new Compliance Department, just to make sure they are within the reg while attempting to make a profit...

In that regard, SOPA and Net Neutrality are exactly the same...

It's government intervention/interference in the operation of the Internet..

Plain and simple...

Michale

I say it would put "undue burden" on service providers and innovators.

the basis for undue burden rests in forcing something to be non-uniform, which was the rationale for its creation in morgan v. virginia. the burden part of undue burden means that you're making people do extra stuff as in SOPA, not making them do less as would be the case with net neutrality. verizon, who came up with this H.A.H., are essentially saying,

"how dare you take away our freedom to take away other people's freedom. we're much too busy to not do that."

~joshua

That's my point..

I can make the same argument against Net Neutrality that you can make against SOPA...

You say that Net Neutrality is a law to prevent price gouging.

I say it would put "undue burden" on service providers and innovators.

The exact same argument you make against SOPA can be made against Net Neutrality..

When you get down to basics, BOTH laws are government interference in the operation of the Internet...

If I'm missing something, let me know but it looks to me like net neutrality would be a good thing.

And, to the Hollywood Moguls and Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, SOPA looks like a "good thing"...

Michale

How is net neutrality price gouging?

My understanding of net neutrality is that it would actually prevent price gouging. What service providers would like to do is charge you by the type of content you use.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_neutrality

So no, I'm not sure how it works both ways. Not to be flip, but seriously. If I'm missing something, let me know but it looks to me like net neutrality would be a good thing.

-David

http://rt.com/news/iran-close-strait-hormuz-embargo-455/

About time the world grew a pair with regards to Iran...

"We've made too many compromises already; too many retreats. They invade our space and we fall back. They assimilate entire worlds and we fall back. Not again. The line must be drawn here! This far, no further!"
-Captain Jean Luc Picard, STAR TREK 8 First Contact

Michale

There are reports that the Canadians have just said, "Screw it" and are making arrangements to sell their oil to China..

Good call, Obama... :^/

Michale

*AND* from the Right...

Michale

No offense, Joshua, but I think you are placing too much emphasis on "competence"...

This probably came out wrong.

Of course, it's important to have competence in our national leaders...

But, more often than not, it's not competence that impacts our leaders but rather testicular fortitude to do what's right, even if it's not popular.

Bush showed a LOT of that, but not enough of it..

Obama hasn't had to show that much because of his popularity..

Obama could get away with so much more than Bush could because A> he had a lock on the government and 2> Democrats (who may grumble privately) will let him get away with anything, no matter how badly it violates their principles..

In essence, it's Party over principles...

David,

This is silly. Your argument is basically that anything the government does is bad. Anything.

Well, these last 3 years has come close to convincing me that this is the case... :D

The issue with SOPA/PIPA was that the rules were written by lobbyists and written very poorly.

And Net Neutrality ain't!???

I believe we do need some regulations to prevent piracy, but these should be written so that they don't put an undue burden on service providers and website owners.

I believe we do need some regulations to prevent price gouging, but these should be written so that they don't put an undue burden on service providers and innovators.

See how well it works both ways!! :D

Liz,

That doesn't make any sense, Michale.

Which part?? :D

Have fun in Mexico.. PLEASE stay safe!!

tyschev,

"Welcome to the party, pal!!!"
-John McClane, DIE HARD

Don't worry.. You get used to it.. :D

What is each state stance on the issue?

That's a very good question...

What's really ironic is that Democrats won't tell you that there are already thousands of these pipelines already criss-crossing the US...

So, despite the hysterical apocalypse rants of the Left, the XL pipeline is nothing new..

Apparently, Obama chose to side with hysterical no-nothing hysterical environmentalists....

"Is there another kind?"
-Colonel Nathan R. Jessup, Marine Forces Commander, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
-A FEW GOOD MEN
:D

.... over getting this country some badly needed jobs...

Over 20K jobs lost...

Reminds of the Spotted Owl fiasco in Oregon..

Thousands of jobs lost because a frak'in owl needs a 23 mile mating radius...

Hell, when I was young all we needed was the backseat of a Chevy!! :D

CW,

And "frack" fits in better with the site's commenting guidelines than the non-euphemistic term, that I'm actually glad you use it

I'se aim to please!! :D

Ask any true Lefty, Obama's had the same problem Bush had -- fighting (Blue Dog) Democrats. Remember, Dems only had a 60-vote majority for a month or two in there...

And it's interesting that they didn't accomplish a damn thing with it..

But my point was that Bush had to fight Democrats a lot harder than he had to fight Bin Laden and Al Qaeda..

If Bush had the support of Democrats that Obama enjoys, the war on terror would be long over and Bin Laden's corpse would have been a reality a LOT sooner..

That's all I am saying..

Michale

Ukaraiah, "Halloween is Grinch Night". At least, from IMDb. From amazon.com it's Eukariah, and on tvtropes it's Ukariah. Then there's Wikipedia, which says Euchariah.

First off, welcome to the site. Your first comment was held for moderation, but from now on you should be able to post comments and have them appear instantly. The only restriction is that you only post one link per comment, as multi-link comments are also held for moderation to cut down on comment spam. Just to let you know.

As for your comment, well, Fridays I kind of cut loose and go all Democrat in my writings. The rest of the week, I tend to stay more neutral and offer up what I consider non-biased opinion pieces. I have to admit I favor Democrats, but try to write M-Th for everyone to read. I call it "reality-based political commentary."

As for the pipeline, the individual sections which go through each state are kind of a state issue and kind of a federal issue. The states are free to set certain standards within their borders, but the feds set certain standards which must be universally obeyed -- under their power to regulate interstate trade.

But the US-Canadian section (and the pipeline permit as a whole, since it is really one giant project) is reviewed by the State Department, because it is essentially a treaty with a foreign nation.

Nebraska and surrounding states are the ones that are balking. The NE governor is Republican, but he knows how valuable the Ogallala Aquifer is to the economic health of his state, so he's one of the main guys pushing to re-route the project.

Obama turned down the route the Canadians proposed. This is not going to kill KeystoneXL, it will merely force them to re-route around a crucial aquifer. When they do so, next year, the pipeline will indeed be approved.

Hope this helps clear some of it up.

-CW

Where to begin? Sigh.

Uxorious -- actually, I've come across this word in period novels and such, and always wondered what it meant, without the curiousity to look it up, so thanks.

My favorite word I've been coming across a lot from 1765-1840 research:

animadvert (or animadversion): to remark critically upon something. Akin to modern-day "snarkiness," but much more widely used back then. I mean, I don't even think Lewis Carroll (Dodson) was ever born at the time...

And "frack" fits in better with the site's commenting guidelines than the non-euphemistic term, that I'm actually glad you use it.

"I have to use the euphemism."
-Cindy Lou Who, "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas", at least, from memory...

nypoet22 [10] -

OK, at least two lines in your comment made me laugh, but due to the euphemistic nature of tonight's comment, that's all I have to say on the matter. Ahem.

Michale [11] -

Ask any true Lefty, Obama's had the same problem Bush had -- fighting (Blue Dog) Democrats. Remember, Dems only had a 60-vote majority for a month or two in there...

Liz -

From my extensive study of the Spanish language... well, OK, from my reading of "The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers" comix at a young and impressionable age, I have learned the two phrases which will see you through any situation in Mexico:

(1) "Otre cervesa."

(2) "Cervesa mas fria, por favor!"

Trust me, these phrases will cover just about any situation.

Heh.

-CW

But I just HAD to share this with everyone...

WHY SOPA IS BAD
http://sjfm.us/temp/sadbuttrue.jpg

To paraphrase Homer Simpson....

"It's {sad} because it's true"

See ya'all in the AM...

Michale

I'm only going to be there for a few days with most of the time taken up with meetings and such, but I'll let y'all know what I hear about this and that ...

That sounds like a wonderful way to pass away some of the winter. I am indeed jealous. Have a great time, Liz!

You'll have to let us know what the word on the street in Mexico is when it comes to American politics

It's off to Mexico for some work-related "fun" for a few days. So don't have too much real fun around here while I'm gone!

And, that goes especially for you, Michale. :)

P.S. I'll raise a few Coronas in honour of all of my fellow Weigantians!

This is silly. Your argument is basically that anything the government does is bad. Anything.

Using this definition, government rules against contaminated food are bad. Government rules against monopolies would be bad. Government rules to protect people from unscrupulous lenders are bad.

I believe there are good rules and there are bad rules.

The issue with SOPA/PIPA was that the rules were written by lobbyists and written very poorly. I believe we do need some regulations to prevent piracy, but these should be written so that they don't put an undue burden on service providers and website owners.

-David

No offense, Joshua, but I think you are placing too much emphasis on "competence"...

I mean, if Obama had personally did all the things that led to the killing of Bin Laden or the decimation of Al Qaeda then I would agree that competence played a part..

But Obama didn't... Neither did Bush...

The point is, Obama has the political cover from Democrats to do what Bush could not do.

THAT, to me, is the decisive factor...

That's why Obama was able to give the orders that Bush could not...

If Bush could have had the political cover from Democrats that Obama enjoys, then you can bet that BinLaden would have been wiped from the earth a LONG time ago and Al Qaeda would have been crushed completely and unequivocally..

Michale

Hokay....

We'll just have to agree to disagree...

The POTUS is not a one-man show by ANY stretch of the imagination..

While having the people behind you is a definite plus, having the people NOT actively working AGAINST you (as Democrats did during the Bush years) makes all the difference..

Democrats did everything they could (and THEN some) to obstruct Bush's CT policies.. Bush was so busy fighting Democrats, he could not concentrate fully on fighting Al Qaeda and pursuing Bin Laden..

Obama has no such problem, as Democrats did a complete 180..

In other words, torture, Gitmo and surveillance were the signs of the Apocalypse and signs of a police state under Bush. At least, according to Democrats.

Under Obama??

Not a peep from the Democrats, relatively speaking..

Yea, I think that has had MUCH more of an influence on Obama's success than ya'all would want to admit. :D

Michale

Isn't it possible that the ONLY reason that Obama is a better Bush than Bush was, is because Bush not only had to fight the terrorists, he also had to fight the Democrats..

in a word, no. but that's mainly because of the way you phrased the question. it's perfectly plausible that being a purported lefty and taking a right wing position contributed in some way to making the job easier, but that and a dollar will still not buy you a latté. in order for two people to enact essentially the same policy and one to be that much more successful than the other, differences in competence must at least play a part.

dan,

I always thought the emphasis was on "submissive".

i don't know if mitt wears the assless chaps at home, but he sure got spanked in south carolina :)

I always thought the emphasis was on "submissive".

If I may be allowed to go off on a tangent here..

It IS Friday after all... :D

You have claimed in the past that, while you are not gung ho about Obama being more Bush than Bush, you acknowledge that at least Obama has been a lot more successful than Bush was..

If that doesn't accurately describe your position, please correct me..

Now, consider this..

Isn't it possible that the ONLY reason that Obama is a better Bush than Bush was, is because Bush not only had to fight the terrorists, he also had to fight the Democrats..

Obama has the luxury of fighting just ONE enemy...

So, of course Obama would be better at it...

Just a thought for you to condemn....er I mean consider.. :D

Michale

One has to wonder why ANYONE would want to become a Democrat...

I know, I know... Because Republicans are just as bad... :D

As far as all the slaps against Romney???

Speaking of Romney...

Who knew that there was actually a word to describe someone who is overly attentive to their wife..

uxorious
Having or showing an excessive or submissive fondness for one's wife.

Even more astounding that pundits on the Left think that this is a BAD thing... A flaw!!!

It frak'in boggles the mind!!!

Michale

NOTE: Apropos of absolutely nothing. :D

I have been using the word "frak" a lot recently. This can be attributed to watching the entire series of BattleStar Galactica from the beginning in the last week or so.. :D As much as I despise Ronald Moore, I have to admit that he did a pretty good job with the BSG reboot... :D

Dang, I knew I forgot something big. It's been a busy week in the political world, but you're right the Wisconsinites deserved mention, at the very least.

I thank you, and i'm sure so does United Wisconsin. :)

http://www.unitedwisconsin.com/jan17

Sadly, it's one of the biggest qualities that Democrats are known for...

that's just the incentive structure for congressional democrats, not something more inherent in their character than anyone else's. be a hypocrite, get rich and re-elected. stick to your principles, get relentlessly smeared. corporate conservatives profess principles which, however misguided they may be, are much more in line with their major sources of campaign funding.

Sadly, it's one of the biggest qualities that Democrats are known for...

David mentioned before in a previous commentary that all religious first commandment should be "Do As I Say, Not As I Do"

I submit that the phrase describes most Democrats very well..

Michale

It's funny how those who fight against SOPA and PIPA fight just as seriously FOR Net Neutrality..

It's funny, because both issues are basically the same. Government intervention in the operability of the Internet...

As far as all the slaps against Romney???

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/01/20/from-gingrich-to-romney-to-tebow-why-is-media-so-out-touch-with-america/

Peek says it a lot better than I can...

Michale

Dang, I knew I forgot something big. It's been a busy week in the political world, but you're right the Wisconsinites deserved mention, at the very least.

Mea culpa, and a belated Honorable Mention.

-CW

you're right, romney really is completely out of touch. great talking points. also, i want to reiterate my support of United Wisconsin for general impressiveness in getting a million recall petitions signed. that said, your case for the president is quite compelling. he had a strong week.