The Washington Post’s Glenn Kessler reports:
Government workers repeatedly snooped without authorization inside the electronic passport records of entertainers, athletes and other high-profile Americans, a State Department audit has found. One celebrity’s records were breached 356 times by more than six dozen people.
The audit, by State’s inspector general, was prompted by the discovery in March that three of the department’s contract workers had peeked at the private passport files of Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain and that a State Department trainee had examined the file of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.
The report documented a widespread lack of controls on the personal data of the 127 million Americans who hold passports, finding numerous “weaknesses, including a general lack of policies, procedures, guidance and training.” The State Department had maintained that its system worked when the candidates’ passport breaches were discovered.
Hardcore FISA fanatics will likely read such a story and fret again over the impending amendments to — and preservation of — the terrorist surveillance program.  The technical aspects of that system are such that unreasonable breaches of privacy are far less likely than those suffered by our celebritariat at the hands of star-struck State staffers. Yet none of the fearless defenders of our civil liberties will call for a shutdown of the US passport machinery, will they?
I did not notice a mention of who the perpetrators of this dastardly invastion of Baracky and Hillary’s privacy was, nor what party and organziations they may be affiliated with.
These are electronic records, right? Is it too much to ask that audit reports are reviewed periodically, say once a week? This is what happens when coverage of Christie Brinkley’s divorce is the lead story on the news.
No, Karl, they want the governemnt to be in charge of all of your MEDICAL RECORDS too.
What could possibly go wrong?
When I worked at the state of Oregon revenue department, I knew many people who would look up local celebrities/rich people (what little Oregon has) and check their records just out of curiosity. It was illegal and we’d all signed an agreement that we would not, but people did it anyway. If you have access curious people are likely going to look.
“Yet none of the fearless defenders of our civil liberties will call for a shutdown of the US passport machinery, will they?”
Posted by Karl @ 9:30 am
Not sure what the relevance that comment has in conjunction with the story itself.
Human nature is what it is. Karl seems to wish to submerge the expectation that info legally, or illegally obtained can be abused.
But if the conscience of Creepy Peepers is seared by a series of illegal activities, it is not a big jump to prurient curiosity.
But if someone, somewhere doesn’t have the intestinal fortitude to give McCain (the Statuesque National Security Icon) another talking point to his helium-filled campaign, then they must not really be serious about ceasing such ribald, unconstitutional behaviors.
Karl; I think you consult a little too much with the two biggest cowards of the Blogosphere, Reynolds and Maguire.
No doubt. But we already knew what a fool you are.
But if the conscience of Creepy Peepers is seared by a series of illegal activities, it is not a big jump to prurient curiosity.
But if someone, somewhere doesn’t have the intestinal fortitude to give McCain (the Statuesque National Security Icon) another talking point to his helium-filled campaign, then they must not really be serious about ceasing such ribald, unconstitutional behaviors.
Is that word salad?
Not so much. The point is that personal information is personal information — whether it’s sifted by an agency assigned to defend the nation against attack, or collected by an agency assigned to provide equal lack of access to adequate health care.
That’s the relevance you’re not sure about. See how I point it out instead of insulting you? Don’t say I haven’t been trying.
“we already knew what a fool you are.”
Unresponsive, except to demonstrate your mentor’s pusillaniminity.
Well, shoot, Cleo found a thesaurus.
He’s got the higher ground!
A voluminous vocabulary is no substitute for perspicacity.
Mr. Reynolds and Mr. Maguire aren’t cowards. They blog with their for real names. I think that’s pretty studly really.
Well, shoot, Cleo found a thesaurus.
Remember the Turin words? That comment read like a Turn paragraph. Ribald unconstitutional behaviors?
McG;
You assume I did not understand Karl’s point, but his ‘point’ is expressed without revealing the ‘thoughts’ hidden behind the cojecture:
“The technical aspects of that system are such that unreasonable breaches of privacy are far less likely than those suffered by our celebritariat at the hands of star-struck State staffers.”
“Far less likely” is reached by what methodology? By this?:
from the article
“The audit also suggests that some workers were motivated by fascination with the private lives of celebrities, none of whom were identified. One employee told investigators he simply liked looking up the records of professional basketball players.”
I maintain that human nature exists at human levels of government.
Any cites to contradict, McG?
No need for you to arrive late, Karl. Your predisposition is all too transparent as your spiritual parents, Insty and Maguire.
Sorry about the derogation, McG. They leave far too many holes and my human nature is, well, it is what it is.
See, I thought cleo was being its usual level of stupid.
When one reads what FISA fanatics write, it’s pretty clear their objections go beyond the question of legality.
Also, pretty clear cleo comes to the issue with no idea how the NSA works, let alone the TSP.
Other commenters here, like BBH have dealt with that topic on many occasions. Or you could e-mail AJ Strata, who also has personal experience with such things. The short, simplified version would be that keyword collection does not target any persons, and that surveillance taken from direct aquisition of phone numbers in captured AQ laptops is targeted, but not at US persons.
“it’s pretty clear their objections go beyond the question of legality.”
More Mentor-based moral stupidity.
Just because you CAN do something, doesn’t necessarily mean you SHOULD
do it.
Laws change. Ethics and morality often are at odds with LAW.
So, yes Karl. By your definition of stupid, I concur.
As long as I’m at it, I’ll note that the latest FISA case got dismissed in no small part because the NSA does not retain info the way that State (or the IRS) does.
I prefer pusillanimousness.
“keyword collection does not target any persons, and that surveillance taken from direct aquisition of phone numbers in captured AQ laptops is targeted, but not at US persons.”
I have heard Dana Perino speak, and Bush semi-speak.
Cleo you sure are winning alot of converts aren’t you?
Wow. Really scraping the bottom now. First accusing me of not differentiating between legal and illegal, then — when it’s pointed out that FISA fanatics are doing the same — jumps merrily on as though it never happened. If cleo believes we should not have a terrorist surveillance program, it should say so. Then it should explain why preventing a terror attack is less important and related to the functions of a national government than the wholesale invasions of privacy that go on as a matter of routine at the IRS (and apparently State also). Then explain why we should not junk the IRS superstructure.
Beyonce is from Texas, Semanticleo, and she’s worked very very hard for her success. Me I applaud that and you’re just a big racist stupidhead. Yeah well we’ll see how you feel when people start violating white people’s passport records.
“If cleo believes we should not have a terrorist surveillance program”
More McCain helium.
I believe we need a TSP, but with a little more oversight than has been demonstrated. Also I think you guys should have a little more conservative concern about the information you get from your feeding tubes.
Let’s get to the bottom of this TELCOM immunity bullshit. They don’t need immunity. The PEEPERs are the only ones wbo need it. If you have nothing to fear because you believe only non-curious peepers are working in government, then call your Senator and support the–
Dodd/Feingold/Leahy measure
– Knowing the sort of personal info you have to include in passport applications, I’d be willing to bet ‘ole Lurch is worried. Unless of course Jhimmi helped him get his passport records “cleansed” too. *snort*
then call your Senator and support the Dodd/Feingold/Leahy measure
Oh yeah let’s all support whatever the white people want to do. Jeez this is just getting ugly.
cleo of course has zero evidence of insufficient oversight, because it gets its information from the world of pure imagination. OTOH, I get my info from those with experience dealing with the NSA, who can tell you how sphincter-tight the security is.
cleo then jumps to telco immunity in attempt to change the subject because it knows it just got its ass handed to it on the legal/illegal argument.
“cleo then jumps to telco immunity in attempt to change the subject because it knows it just got its ass handed to it on the legal/illegal argument.”
‘declare victory…..then depart the Field’.
Comment by Semanticleo on 7/5 @ 12:26 pm #
“cleo then jumps to telco immunity in attempt to change the subject because it knows it just got its ass handed to it on the legal/illegal argument.â€Â
‘declare victory…..then depart the Field’.
Too bad we can’t do the same with Iraq.
‘declare victory…..then depart the Field’.
Yep, that’s your standard procedure, Semen.
“OTOH, I get my info from those with experience dealing with the NSA, who can tell you how sphincter-tight the security is.”
Choosing what fantasies to accept is human nature.
And when it comes to hands and asses, I would be a little more concerned that Maguire doesn’t have his on yours.
Note cleo didn’t deny trying to change the subject — or offer a substantive rebuttal.
cleo admits defeat and clears the field.
“or offer a substantive rebuttal.”
Did you throw up in your mouth a little when you typed that?
Comment by Karl on 7/5 @ 12:30 pm #
Note cleo didn’t deny trying to change the subject  or offer a substantive rebuttal.
cleo admits defeat and clears the field.
Again something we should do in Iraq.
Here Cleo I will show you how to change the subject. Here is a quote from a diary on Kos.
What Republicans MUST believe…
It is very tough to be a Republican in 2007, because somehow, (through all the distortion) you have to believe concurrently that:
1. Jesus loves you, but shares your deep hatred of homosexuals, liberals, Muslims, Bill and Hillary Clinton.
2. The United States should get out of the United Nations, but our highest national priority is enforcing U. N. resolutions against Iraq. (No WMD’s)?
3. “Standing Tall for America” means firing your workers and in-search of stock options and cheap labor moving their jobs to India, China and South America.
4. A woman can’t be trusted with decisions about her own body, but the men running multi-national corporations can make decisions affecting all humankind without regulation.
5. Being a drug addict is a moral failing and a crime, unless you’re an Ambassadors son, conservative radio host, or connected to the Religious Right. Then it’s an illness and you need our prayers for your recovery.
6. The best way to improve military morale is to praise the troops in speeches, while sending soldiers into battle ill equipped, slashing veterans’ benefits and combat pay.
7. Group sex and drug use are degenerate sins, unless you someday run for governor of Texas or California as a Republican.
8. If condoms are kept out of schools, adolescents won’t have sex. (The Twins wore the patch).
9. A good way to fight terrorism is to belittle our long-time allies, but then demand their cooperation and money.
10. HMOs and insurance companies make profits and have the interest of the public at heart… Providing health care to all Iraqis is sound policy. Providing health care to all Americans is socialism.
11. Global warming and tobacco’s link to cancer are junk science, but creationism should be taught in schools.
12. It is okay that the Bush family’s “Carlisle Group” has done Billions of dollars of business with the Bin Laden family.
13. Saddam was a good guy when Reagan armed him and Rumsfeld reassured him he was our buddy, a bad guy when Bush’s daddy made war on him, a good guy when Cheney did business with him, but then a bad guy again when Bush junior needed a prop for his re-election campaign as the “war president.”
14. A president lying about an extramarital affair is an impeachable offense. A president lying about WMD existence, to enlist support for an unprovoked, undeclared war and occupation, in which thousands of soldiers and civilians die, is, somehow, solid “defense” policy in a “War against Terrorism”. The search for Chemical, Biological, and Nuccccccccccclear weapons ran its course {NONE FOUND}!
15. Government should limit itself to the powers named in the Constitution, which should include “banning gay marriages and censoring the Internet”.
16. The public has a right to know about Hillary’s cattle trades, but George Bush’s Harken Oil stock trade should be sealed in his Daddy’s library, and is none of our business.
17. What Bill Clinton or John Kerry did in the 1960s was of vital national interest but what Bush did in the 60’s, 70’s & ’80s is irrelevant.
18. Trade with Cuba is wrong because the country is communist, but trade with China and Vietnam is vital to a “spirit of international harmony”. MORE OUTSOURCING PLEASE!
19. Affirmative Action is wrong, but it is OK for your Daddy and his friends (here and in Saudi Arabia) to get you to graduate from Yale without studying much, to dodge the draft in the Texas Air National Guard, Donate $1 million to Harvard Business School to gain your son’s admittance, to bail out your company Harken Oil and the Texas Rangers, to get the Governorship of Texas and then to have the Supreme Court appoint you President of the USA.
20. You are a conservative, but it is OK to spend like there is no tomorrow and run up deficits that your grandchildren will have to pay, while at the same refunding as much tax money as possible to your campaign supporters. This illogical behavior can take a toll on a healthy mind. So if a friend of yours has been acting a bit dazed and confused lately, be nice: he or she may be a Republican!
Whatever happened to the Pottery Barn thing? Hey there’s a sale on patio funiture! I wish I had a bigger balcony.
I know what you mean, ProggHero person. I bought some frozen tilapia but then I saw that it came from China so I gave it to the turtles. I was gonna share it with them anyway.
– cleo should rename too SemanticClown. It knows going in it has no facts, having zero access to NSA, so it simply argues with irrelevant hominies and nonsensical rhetoric.
– It can’t know what NSA does, and it hates that, so its just an angry illiterate, hoping to draw information out to feed its paranoia.
– Breaking the transaction is the answer. It seems to stupid to learn the shovel principle. Meh.
“Dodd/Feingold/Leahy measure”
What could possibly go wrong with that?
“It can’t know what NSA does, and it hates that, so its just an angry illiterate, hoping to draw information out to feed its paranoia.”
Is this the BBH who has reassured the PW crew of NSA’s Pristine Procedures? I am umimpressed. He must be a very low-level disinformationist.
You people could use a little Paranoia.
Is this the BBH who has reassured the PW crew of NSA’s Pristine Procedures? I am umimpressed.
Congress isn’t known for their stellar oversight capabilities, unless you call seeing national security secrets on the front page of the New York Times stellar oversight.
Cleo, I’ll repeat what I said to PH the other day:
All of the bitching and paranoia is coming from people who, by definition, do not and cannot know any of the details.
In every case where people have been (plausibly assumed to be) informed of the details, including all the wonderfully Progressive Democrats in the Congress, the resulting actions of those people imply that there isn’t a problem.
You and Greenwald are just pissed off that you aren’t “in” enough to be told the details. You aren’t anywhere near important enough to be fully briefed, and that’s a canker in your heart, ain’t it?
Regards,
Ric
Wow, Proggie learned to copypasta.
#34
Wont work. If modern history has taught us anything it takes about as long for the military to leave an area as it took to get there. Oftentimes longer. A logistical nightmare at the best of times.
and finally,
the amount of distortion and outright fabrication in Proggie’s list makes me weep for the electorate.
Jesus loves you, but shares your deep hatred of homosexuals, liberals, Muslims, Bill and Hillary Clinton.
Stopped reading at the first lie.
Sorry.
Comment by Techie on 7/5 @ 1:05 pm #
Wow, Proggie learned to copypasta.
Why bother with your own words when reciting propoganda is cooler. Too bad it doesn’t fit well on a t-shirt.
perhaps they could add a few things to the list to get a month’s worth of t-shirts. but then it takes longer for them to get really smelly. hmmmmm.
PH, heres the Kod list with afew corrections, just gor accuracy you understaand.
#1 – As far as I know, Jesus doesn’t “hate” anybody. But maybe the Left thinks that because they hate him so much.
#2. Maybe you should ask Kerry, Dean, Kennedy, and Hillery why they made all those speeches warning us about WMD’s and insisting Hussein was an “eminent threat that needed to be removed”. I can’t speak to their motives, but if you say they were lying just to take us to war, I suppose you could be right.
3. Other countries learn about job effectiveness and retraining for competitiveness. Maybe if our students were taught more practical skills in our “Liberal education” schools, and less about hating religion and fights betwen Darwinists and Creationists, our students could compete too.
5. The root causes of any sort of addiction is unknown. What ever seems to be the best solution for the problem should be available to everyone. Making it a political football or personalizing/moralizing it doesn’t seem to be an effective remedy.
6. Nothing is perfect, and its “teh easy” to sit on the sidelines where its safe and carp. FDR sent troops into battle with far less than are present armies have. I guess he was a bad guy too. The enemy doesn’t always wait for you to catch up. The reality based community needs to get in touch with the real world. Benefits can be a complex mix, with a loss in one instance offset by a gain in another. The Left isn’t interested in critical fact based checking.
7. Or apparently when your name is on the Democratic ticket. See. Anybody can take simplistic pot-shots. It doesn’t advance the dialog very much though.
9. Is adolescents were taught the practical results of under-age sex and self-responsibility instead of “free love”, an oxymoron if ever there was one, and how to put on condems, they might be educated and mature enough to make better decisions. Liberal thought is fine when you’re an adult. When you’re not it can be a life changing/ruining minefield.
10. The Left somehow believes that government can’t be trusted to fight a war right, or manage the economy, or ebergy sources, or the public school system, or the Postal service, or border control and immigration, or the environment without destroying the entire planet, but they’ll magically become experts at managing our health care system.
11. Global warming and tobacco health hazards. One of these things is not the same. Maybe you can spot the difference. Everything should be taught in schools. Mo one should ever be afraid of learning, and no point of view would be dangerous unkess you have an agenda. More than anything kids should be taught the art of critical thinking.
12. Most probably Bill Clinton shouldn’t have to rely on the Saudis to build his library. Apparently the Left believes we should pass laws restricting certain freedoms, depending on which party you belong to. You’d have to ask them.
13. I guess we didn’t feel that way about Cuba, so being his friend was alright. If its a Democratic President, FDR, Kennedy, then wars, and propping up dictators is ok. Stalin was appreciative, and a true friend, and so was Fidel.
14. A stable Democracy in the ME is going to be a really huge embarrassment to some people.
15. the Left seems to be terribly confused about the Constitution, often times discovering brand new rights like abortion, and affirmative action, but are strongly against combining church and state, except when they need it to overthrow a church sacrament like marriage. Then combining, mix and match, is fine.
16. Must be something like the list of Hillerys abd Bills contributors. Obama seems to have a view of those as well. We should be outraged.
17. I don’t recall Clinton or Bush ever meeting with the enemy, and neither got a dishonorable discharge, but maybe there were some other things they were guilty of.
18. Cuba doesn’t have anything to trade except Socialism/Marism, and we’ve got too much of that already.
19. when you have advantages in life if you don’t use them they go to waste. AA causes qualified people to be denied opportunities and teaches people to stop working hard. The DNC tried to appoint a president, but they found out they’re not a branch of the US government.
20. The Republicans have been spending too much time with Democrats, so they are acting a lot like them. Maybe we can change that.
– There. Fixed all that for you.
You could use a little medication.
Seriously; your blather makes no sense. I think you tried a couple of weeks ago to be coherent, but you’ve slipped again. Do you have a point? Beyond your hatred of Glenn Reynolds?
Comment by Semanticleo on 7/5 @ 11:28 am #
Do you speak English?
I believe we need a TSP, but with a little more oversight than has been demonstrated.
Translation: I just hate Bush. I hate, hate, hate him and so I am contrary to all things Bush, because I hate him. Cheney too. Hate Cheney. That’s why.
You seem to be the only one even pretending not to have understood it, nevertheless.
I don’t see what you gain by pretending to be denser than those of us you claim to want to educate.
You’ve dismissed the relevant points in favor of alleging that we don’t believe this?
Are you just not comfortable with not being insulted? Is that what it is?
What gets me is there is over sight, from Congress, and Congress seemed perfectly fine with the program, until its existence was leaked. Then the Donks panicked, because they knew their constituents would freak.
So the Donks were OK with the program while no one knew it was going on, but objected once it became public. In contrast, the administration believed it was doing the correct thing whether the program was public or not. Which set of actions are those of people doing something wrong? Which are the actions of people with principles? Which are the actions of people who believe in something more important than themselves?
It’s not pretending. The pretend part is that it’s at all interested in educating people. It’s all about insults and striking moralistic poses.
“It’s all about insults and striking moralistic poses.
– Wait. I thought the Left hates morality based arguments.
– Maybe they’re not the morals we knew…..
SevenEleventy,
“This is what happens when coverage of Christie Brinkley’s divorce is the lead story on the news.”
Yeah, but where else could you find out that for a mere $300,000 you can buy a “burn-your-eyes-out-of-their-sockets” 18 year old girl?
If I was eighteen, I’d do Truman Capote for $300,000 (plus perks).
TLD, you obviously spent too much time in upstate NY.
“Sorry about the derogation, McG. They leave far too many holes and my human nature is, well, it is what it is.”
Don’t make me laugh, (c)leo.
If you had any understanding at all of human nature, you would not trust the fascist dolts that you ideologically “hang” with.
But with the complete lack of belief in history that you have, no one here is surprised that you think you are smarter than any human being who has ever lived before you. And especially smarter and better informed and more moral than any of the morons at PW!
You are just intrinsically smarter, eh? Evolved genes, and all that.
People like you are gonna be crying if you get what you want, and realize the mind numbing reality of what you have created. Especially when a few sadistic little punks can throw you in prison because you said the wrong thing. And it will happen. You will become expendable detrius when they are through using you.
Good luck with that!
You are so blind that it makes my teeth hurt.
SeventyEleven,
TLD, you obviously spent too much time in upstate NY.
That’s for sure!
But Ithaca was the place that I discovered that Tequila was the magic elixir. It was after a long day of playing on Buttermilk Falls (Or was it Taghaneck[sp?] falls?).
Those were the days. Immortal and completely out of my mind…
Nothin’ goin’ on here…..
Unresponsive, barely intelligible sour grapes without a hint of objective
deduction. But plenty of huffing and puffing. You have the energy without the wherewhithal.
TLD, I’m only kidding. I’d give anything to be there right now. Most people think of NYC when they speak of New York. Upstate is absolutely beautiful, especially in the fall. I usually visit in October. There’s no place on earth I’d rather be during autumn. I feel fortunate to have grown up where I did, when I did.
You have the energy
E!
“Unresponsive, barely intelligible sour grapes without a hint of objective
deduction. But plenty of huffing and puffing. You have the energy without the wherewhithal”
Yup. And I notice the preponderance of FACTS in every single one of your posts!
The funniest thing, is that you progg fascists have NO facts to deal in this “game”. I just can’t get around that reality, (c)leo.
“Huffing and puffing” is from “The Three Little Pigs”, and it appears that that book was the last book of substance you ever read. And didn’t get, because you apparently thought it was literal.
And neither could you get around your reality if you ever took a good look in the mirror.
meh.
SeventyEleven,
I have to admit, I love upstate New York too, and have spent much time there in the course of my life.
I love the Adirondacks, Ice Cave Mountain, Rte. 17, Whiteface (where I used to ski), Ithaca, Olean (great memories there), Syracuse (well maybe not so much in the winter), Geneva, Buffalo (does it still stink?), Oneanta, the Hudson River Valley, Albany – weeeeelllll…maybe not Albany.
I have been one of the luckiest people you have ever known to have been able to see this whole, AWESOME country in detail. I travelled this country for almost thirty years with my bands.
There are only two states I haven’t been to (in the Contiguous US), and I feel like Lee Greenberg or John Wayne when I say: “GOD BLESS THE USA!”
What an unbelieveable place this country is!
Need I go on?
You’re right. Upstate New York, like downstate New Jersey, is a beautiful place.
Thanks for the memories…
TLD
Oh. And SeventyEleven.
I even liked Niagara Falls, except that the tourist area was exceptionally dirty. But that was back in 1968, so it might have changed.
Good rest of the weekend to you…
If you had an argument, we’d rebut it. Snark and delusions aren’t worth substantive response.
I even liked Niagara Falls
If you never saw Wonderfalls it’s really worth your time.
That’s the problem: it offered an argument, and the argument was rebutted, and now all it has left is snark and delusions.
Meh. Ignore it.