Congress On OPEC, Spyware, and U.S. Attorney Appointment Bills

Fixing the US Attorney Appointment Process

May 22nd, 2007 by Jesse Lee  @ The Gavel

The House has just debated the Preserving United States Attorney Independence Act of 2007, which has already passed the Senate and would revoke the power of the President to appoint interim US Attorneys for extended periods, effectively bypassing Senate confirmation. On March 23, the House had passed a somewhat stronger bill (H.R. 580), which included the same repeal of the 2006 provision as the Senate bill, but also included a provision preventing the Administration from using the Vacancies Act to allow the Attorney General to make continuous interim appointments of U.S. Attorneys. The House passed H.R. 580 by a strong bipartisan vote of 329 to 78, but Republicans have blocked H.R. 580 in the Senate. Therefore, the House will pass S. 214 to get a bill to the President’s desk.

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Spyware bill gains momentum
Ruth Mantell, MarketWatch - May 2, 2007  The Gavel

Consumers may get federal protection from computer criminals who steal their personal information as Congress seeks to safeguard the growing Internet commerce market.

On Wednesday, members of the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary approved by voice vote to favorably report the “Internet Spyware Prevention Act of 2007″ — without any amendments — to the House floor, pushing it one step closer to becoming law. A day before, the House Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security approved the bill.

“Spyware is a serious and growing problem for American consumers and businesses. Thieves are using spyware to harvest personal information such as Social Security numbers and credit-card numbers for use in a variety of criminal enterprises,” said U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., at the subcommittee hearing.

Spyware is a program placed in a computer through the Internet used to gather information about the computer’s user — without the user’s knowledge. In 2006, consumers spent $2.6 billion trying to block or remove spyware from their computers, according to testimony at the hearing.

The act would impose a prison sentence of up to 5 years for using spyware in committing another federal crime, and up to a 2-year sentence for hacking into a computer and altering its security settings or obtaining personal information with the intent to defraud or injure the person or damage a computer.

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  This one falls in to my " dumbest bill " of the day category.

NOPEC

May 22nd, 2007 by Jesse Lee

The House has just debated the No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels (NOPEC) Act of 2007, H.R. 2264, which will enable the Department of Justice to take legal action against foreign nations for participating in oil cartels that drive up oil prices globally and in the United States. This legislation does so by exempting OPEC and other nations from the provisions of the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act when acting in a commercial capacity; by making clear that the so-called “Act of State” doctrine does not prevent courts from ruling on antitrust charges brought against foreign governments; and by authorizing the Department of Justice to bring lawsuits in U.S. courts against cartel members.

  Let me get this right. We are now going to make changes in a law so that we can sue OPEC? Think about this one folks. The government now wants to be able to sue the countries in the middle east for charging us to much for their oil! Maybe before the Bush administration does this, they should sue our United States oil companies for gouging the consumer at the pumps every time we buy their gasoline!

  Our government sues the OPEC members, who in turn cut back on oil production which in turn makes our gas prices go up even more and it also makes the oil companies a shitload of cash. Let us not forget that Bush and his clowns will also make a shitload of cash.

Tags: The House spyware OPEC U.S. Attorneys Bush

Democrats Offer Bush A Blank Check

   Party officials have said that the upcoming war spending bill will most likely be funding military operations in Iraq and the bill will not be demanding a timeline for bringing our men and women home.

   Once again, the Democrats have proven themselves to be nothing but a group of spineless, cowardly politicians who are concerned with nothing but their elections in 2008. Their fear of not looking week in regard to supporting our troops rings hollow.

"I'm frustrated" with the war, said Rep. Joe Baca, D-Calif., a member of the Blue Dog coalition, a group of conservative Democrats. "But we realize too we have a responsibility to fund our troops and make sure they have the right equipment."

  This line of bullshit does not hold water! Common sense, which Democrats lack, tells you that not giving Bush the money he wants can result only in him having to withdraw the troops. Case closed.

The bill also was expected to insist that U.S. troops meet certain standards before being sent into battle, out of concern from Democrats that some troops were going to Iraq without proper training. But the measure likely would give the President authority to waive this restriction.

  So what is the point in having the bill insist that the troops meet these standards of readiness if Bush can just waive them? wonder how much the taxpayers are shelling out for this waste of ink on this bill?

  The Democratic leaders are claiming a victory of Bush with this bill. How do they figure that they have won anything? For that matter, what have they won?  NOTHING! Absolutely nothing! That is what they have won.

   This bill is a weak bill and it has no business being okayed by the House or the Senate. Democrats need to get with the program and send Bush another bill that he can veto. Leave the consequences of his veto in his own damn lap.

   I think that I will move back to the independent group. the Dems and the GOP ain't shit.

 

Tags: Democrats Republicans Bush Iraq war funding bill