Rockefeller to seize internet

[genlock]

nternet companies and civil liberties groups were alarmed this spring when a U.S. Senate bill proposed handing the White House the power to disconnect private-sector computers from the Internet.

They're not much happier about a revised version that aides to Sen. Jay Rockefeller, a West Virginia Democrat, have spent months drafting behind closed doors. CNET News has obtained a copy of the 55-page draft of S.773 (excerpt), which still appears to permit the president to seize temporary control of private-sector networks during a so-called cybersecurity emergency.

The new version would allow the president to "declare a cybersecurity emergency" relating to "non-governmental" computer networks and do what's necessary to respond to the threat. Other sections of the proposal include a federal certification program for "cybersecurity professionals," and a requirement that certain computer systems and networks in the private sector be managed by people who have been awarded that license.

[fearpeddler]

[Hoosier Daddy]

Depending on how this is used, it isn't a bad idea. Computer networks may very well be our next 9-11. Cyberterrorism may disrupt our telephone systems, banking networks, stock markets, medical records, classified military information, and be able to effectively transfer every penny of money you have from checking, savings, house payments, car payments, private retirement accounts, et al, leaving you flat-broke busted forever. They may be able to activate nuclear warheads or release toxic biohazads into the atmosphere if given the right access to the right system. They could make trains and subway systems collide or hijack the air traffic control system, causing airplanes to crash in midair and killing hundreds or thousands of unsuspecting and totally defenseless citizens. Someone who knows what they are doing could ruin every business owner in America, and the attack could come without warning because someone (or, more likely, a techno-geek terrorist organization with a gaggle of multi-talented people) this good could disable or spoof any security system now in existance. The amount of information and control system logic accessible by computer is beyond frightening. Up til now, it's all been a game of trojans, viruses, and spybots, with major players happy to deal with the threats at hand and keep everything open and totally unregulated. It's just a matter of time before someone uses our open playground to cripple or destroy something very, very, very important.

[genlock]

Planes don't crash in midair.

Why hijack the internet when you already own the president.

[fearpeddler]

umm, i'm broke, so i have nothing to steal, umm mass transit is a joke here so darn, dont have to worry about that train

[Jet Black]

Mein Gott, the rush to Marxism in incredible! What next, shall we let the New Messiah suspend habeaus corpus? Force radio licenses into the hands of waiting "diversity" groups, suspend the internet in case of "emergency," find out who's promoting "disinformation" about health care, make the UAW the owner of GM by government fiat!?!? What's it going to take for this country to wake up? Not a bad idea, my ass!

[Lester]

If only the bad guys worked for private sector companies.

This will do exactly what it is meant to do: silence the free flow of information when the masses need, and just like gun control, it won't be able to stop the bad guys, just the law abiding citizens. (And HD, our very, very important computers aren't on the Internet.)

I wonder if this sprung from Hillary's comment about American's having access to too much information?

[Lee]

Don't worry, Jet...it'll all be over with soon...2012 is just around the corner.

[Bob Campbell]

Didn't the gov't already have the ability to do this under the Patriot Act?

And I got 50 bucks says Obama's re-elected in 2012 and the Dems retain majority of both houses.

[genlock]

Obama and his followers are nervous that there is some way of
information transfer that they are not in control of.

[Hoosier Daddy]

Wow. Me thinks you guys saw "President" and thought " Obama The Anti-Christ " and saw "Jay Rockefeller" and thought "I Hate All Democrats". I'd bet if you replaced President with George Bush and made the Senator someone like John McCain, youse guys would be tripping all over yourselves, talking about how we need to be ready for a disruptive cyberinvasion... the War on Terror ... can't be too careful, you know ...

I mean, eight years of Bush and Cheney gave you people permanent wood. This is mild compared to waterboarding someone six or seven times a day, detaining people in a prison camp for years with no charges against them, wiretapping phone calls and internet messages and God knows what else.

Back to Limbaugh, Beck, Coulter, O'Reilly, and your beloved FOX News. Don't let an opposing point of view cloud the preprogrammed talking points.

[fearpeddler]

umm, i'm broke, so i have nothing to steal, umm mass transit is a joke here so darn, dont have to worry about that train

still resting on my previous statement, all politicians are evil in my eyes....

[Jet Black]

So Hoosier, do I read you as being in favor of absolute government control of internet information? China style? Do you and Jay Gotrocks believe the 1st Ammendment does not apply to the internet?

[Lester]

I mean, eight years of Bush and Cheney gave you people permanent wood. This is mild compared to waterboarding someone six or seven times a day, detaining people in a prison camp for years with no charges against them, wiretapping phone calls and internet messages and God knows what else.

Dear Hoosier,
Please refer to the recent actions of your new patron Saint Kennedy. Just because your beloved and all holy Democrats turn this feature of the Internet on (as Ted did to protect the senate seat of Kerry), doesn't mean they'll be able to turn it OFF when the evil and vile Republicans return to power... be it 3, 7, or 11 years. I don't care WHO is in power, I care that someone is trying to do this. Your ability to instantly defend the action shows exactly how lock-step you're willing to throw away freedoms that are much more heinous than we supposedly lost under the Patriot Act.

Enjoy the future you're creating.

[Jet Black]

You tell 'em, Lester!

[AmpedNow]

Jay has a long history of having serious issues with the free flow of information to the masses.

He was one of the biggest crusaders of the Great FCC Witchhunt of 2004, which, ironically, many conservatives on this board also supported at the time.

I wrote him as a constituent expressing my outrage about his support of government censorship of media. He eventually responded, basically telling me to go fly a kite.

He also targeted network TV shows and their sex and violence, suggesting that not only should TV stations be held liable to fines, but even the production companies and crew of such shows.

He has had problems with the internet for quite some time, targeting pornography and sites that promote violence and illegal activities -- basically, wanting to extend the regulation of the public airwaves to the internet, in the name of "protecting children and families".

He also supports the Fairness Doctrine and this "minority ownership" garbage.

Therefore, it's no surprise to me that he's still pushing to filter the entire internet. Only this time, he's changed his reason from morality to national security.

This is why I never have, and never will vote for him.

This is also why I have argued against government censorship and regulation of content in any form, because stuff like this is always the real end game of the power hungry....

[rfhertz]

Right on Lester and Amped!

[fearpeddler]

what amazes me about 'ol rockefucker is the fact he's never "in state" but a couple times a year, isnt even a native, and somehow the people of this state are stupid enough to keep re-electing him...

[Jay Nunley]

I'm confused.

I thought you guys liked it when the government dictated what could and could not be said in or on a public forum.

If this is an anti-terrorsim measure, how come you guys all of a sudden don't like it?

For once I'm not being a smart ass. Seriously. I'm asking what the difference is this time. I'm not one who believes you guys are against this simply because it comes from Democrats.

[Greg Goodfellow]

If the ones in power administer the Internet like they've administered "Cash for Clunkers," we've got nothing to worry about.