RUn out of trraffic cops, use soldiers even if it is against constitution

Army probes domestic use of troops in Alabama
Rachel Oswald
Published: Wednesday March 18, 2009
Though the strained Samson Police Department was no doubt glad to have U.S. Army military police on hand to direct traffic during last week's tragic shooting spree, it appears that the troops were deployed without the proper authorization and in possible violation of federal law.

An inquiry by the U.S. Army has been opened to find out how and why 22 active duty troops from Fort Rucker, Ala. were placed on the streets of the town of Samson during the shooting spree, which took the lives of 11 people on March 10, reported CNSNews.com on Wednesday.
Harvey Perritt, spokesman for the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command at Fort Monroe, Va., told CNSNews.com on Monday that the military police soldiers, along with the provost marshal were sent to Samson.

“The purpose for sending the military police, the authority for doing so, and what duties they performed is the subject of an ongoing commander’s inquiry--directed by the commanding general of U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command," Perritt said. “In addition to determining the facts, this inquiry will also determine whether law, regulation and policy were followed.”

Jim Stromenger, a dispatcher at the Samson Police Depatrment, told CNSNews.com that the troops “came in to help with traffic control and to secure the crime scene” and that the department was glad for the help. “They weren’t here to police, let me make that clear. They were here to help with traffic and to control the crime scene--so people wouldn’t trample all over (it).”

As Samson only has a five-man police department, the assistance provided by the military police was badly needed during the shooting spree. Though calls for police assistance had gone out to surrounding areas, Stromenger said it wasn't the Samson Police Department that requested the soldiers' presence.

The Associated Press reports that state officials said the deployment of the soldiers "was requested neither by Republican Gov. Bob Riley nor the White House, which typically is required by law for soldiers to operate on U.S. soil."

Gov. Riley's press secretary Jeff Emerson told The AP that the governor wasn't concerned with the possibility that the military overstepped its bounds by deploying in a civilian setting without the proper legal authorization.

"From what I understand it was a few folks who came to direct traffic or help where they could," Emerson said. "If it had been more than what it was there might be a reason for concern, but these folks just came to see if they could help and left."

The White House press office has not yet responded to media requests for comment on the Army inquiry.

CNSNews.com reports that the wrongful use of federal troops inside U.S. borders "is a violation of several federal laws, including one known as the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878."

“Whoever, except in cases and under circumstances expressly authorized by the Constitution or Act of Congress, willfully uses any part of the Army or the Air Force as a posse comitatus or otherwise to execute the laws shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both,” the law states.Add to Technorati Favorites

Florida Lobbyists to be put under oath

Oh Lord, O.k. Lets all take bets. How long will James D. Reichenbach president, lobbyist and office manager of ABATE of Florida remain a lobbyist. The phrase, we represent all Florida bikers comes to mind. Hmmmmm.

And the telecommunications industry lobbyists? Ummm, how much money have you given to Florida Legislators?

House panel approves measure to put lobbyists under oath before testifying to legislative committees -by Jim Ash

The Florida Legislature is a step closer to truth in advertising.

A House panel on Tuesday approved a measure (HB 1499) that would put lobbyists, and all witnesses, under oath before testifying to legislative committees. Prevaricators would face second- and third-degree felony charges.

Ummm, prevaricators, is that the same as "liars"???

Rep. Greg Evers, R-Baker, said he was sponsoring the measure after years of hearing shifting stories from lobbyists. He claimed that such penalties would have saved him 34 votes. That's 17 original votes and 17 more to reverse them after he discovered lobbyists hadn't told him "the whole truth."

"Members, HB 1499 is a lifesaver, it's truth in government," Evers said.

The Civil Justice & Courts Policy Committee passed the measure unanimously. It would require lobbyists to swear to tell the "whole truth and nothing but the truth," before testifying before a committee.

Anyone who objects to swearing an oath could sign the standard appearance card required of everyone and be subject to the same penalties, a third-degree felony for regular appearances and a second-degree felony for witnesses appearing under a legislative subpoena.

Legislators and their staff members would be exempt.

"We already have disciplinary actions that can be taken against us," Evers said.

Evers was elated after the meeting, predicting that it will be hard for anyone to oppose a measure he equates with motherhood, baseball and apple pie.

"Anybody who would vote against this would kick his mother in the shins," he quipped.

Indeed, the measure appears to have legs. Senate Rules Chairman Alex Villalobos, a Republican from Miami, has the companion measure, (SB 1574.) It passed the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously last week.

Veteran lobbyist Guy Spearman said he had no problem with the measure.

However, he warned that it could get cumbersome, and more expensive. Besides the extra time it would take to administer the oaths, some clients might not be willing to testify without having their attorneys present, he said.

"It's fine with me," Spearman said. "But it will slow the process."

An honest man can feel no pleasure in the exercise of power over his fellow citizens.
--Thomas JeffersonAdd to Technorati Favorites

On April 15, be part of the Taxed Enough Already (TEA) party rally in your community

On the day you pay your taxes, Wednesday, April 15, join others across the country and in your hometown who will be participating in TEA party rallies in front of their city halls. The TEA party rally will begin at 12 noon. See this video - the momentum is growing!

Are you fed up with a Congress and a president who:Tea Party

* vote for a $500 billion tax bill without even reading it?
* are spending trillions of borrowed dollars, leaving a debt our great-grandchildren will be paying?
* consistently give special interest groups billions of dollars in earmarks to help get themselves re-elected?
* want to take your wealth and redistribute it to others?
* punish those who practice responsible financial behavior and reward those who do not?
* admit to using the financial hurt of millions as an opportunity to push their political agenda?
* run up trillions of dollars of debt and then sell that debt to countries such as China?
* want government controlled health care?
* want to take away the right to vote with a secret ballot in union elections?
* refuse to stop the flow of millions of illegal immigrants into our country?
* appoint a defender of child pornography to the Number 2 position in the Justice Department?
* want to force doctors and other medical workers to perform abortions against their will?
* want to impose a carbon tax on your electricity, gas and home heating fuels?
* want to reduce your tax deductibility for charitable gifts?
* take money from your family budget to pay for their federal budget?

If so, participate in the TEA party rally, the Taxed Enough Already (TEA) party.

Bring your cell phone and call Congress and the president while attending the TEA party rally (Representative and Senators, 202-224-3121; President, 202-456-1414). Tell Every American about this effort by forwarding this invitation to your friends. Together we can make a difference.

GO here to sign up or order your buttons!Add to Technorati Favorites

Mississippi Bans Red light Cameras

From slashdot via Cowgirl,
Mississippi Governer Haley Barbour signed a bill into law on Friday which instituted a ban on automated cameras that would snap pictures of motorists when they ran red lights. "The new law says the two cities that already have the cameras, Jackson and Columbus, must take them down by Oct. 1. Other cities and counties are banned from starting to use them." We've discussed situations in the past where cities looked at such cameras as "profit centers," and even tampered with their traffic light timing to catch more motorists. Now, in Mississippi, the contractors who installed the cameras are unhappy, since they received a cut of the ticket revenue generated by the cameras. However, lawmakers overwhelming voted to get rid of them (117-3 in the House, 42-9 in the Senate), because "the cameras were an invasion of privacy and their constituents thought they had been unfairly ticketed."

Go here to see more of our postings on cell phones.

“Relying on the government to protect your privacy is like asking a peeping tom to install your window blinds.”

 John Perry Barlow quotesAdd to Technorati Favorites