Saturday, February 2, 2008

Blogwatches and Real ID guide for voters

I'd like to bring special attention to a couple of blogs to watch
Villiage Voice's Runnin' Scared column and Wired Magazine's Threat Watch. There is also a Real ID Watch blogspot in addition to Beat The Chip. GOOD Magazine will also has eyes for the verichip.

KEEP AN EYE ON DEMOCRAT JANE HARMAN

Jane Harman introduced the VERY hostile sentate bill 1959, which choked in the senate, for good reasons-maybe among them that it was considered by progressives which could be the most horrendous thought crime bill ever. California consitituents have a big responsibilitty to not let Jane move on this.

Feinstein recently wrote a letter to constituents letting them know there are designs for a "special place" for thought-crime police on college campuses.

"Thank you for writing to me about the "Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007" (H.R. 1955). I appreciate hearing from you and welcome the opportunity to respond.

As you may know, this bill directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish a grant program to prevent domestic terrorism, to establish a university-based center for the study of these issues, and to conduct a survey of methodologies implemented by foreign nations to prevent radicalization and homegrown terrorism.

I agree with you that we need to protect the constitutional rights of Americans. I have been a strong advocate of civil liberties. At the same time, and in light of the September 11 tragedy, I believe we need to give our law enforcement and intelligence agencies the tools they need to prevent and respond to future terrorist attacks. I continue to work hard to maintain this delicate balance.

As you may know, H.R. 1955 has been referred to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. I do not serve on this Committee, but should the bill come before the full Senate for consideration, I will keep your thoughts in mind.

Once again, thank you for writing.

Best regards.

Sincerely yours,

Dianne Feinstein
United States Senator


Super Tuesday is almost here I thought it would be important to bring you a Primary Election guide to Beating The Chip. *info brought to you by your local ACLU

This primary season, Americans have heard from the Presidential candidates on a wide range of issues. But where do the candidates stand on Real ID? Many of the front-runners have weighed in on the issue. This page provides their statements on the Real ID Act, and will be updated as the campaign progresses.

NO NEWS YET ON MITT ROMNEY

Against Real ID

Rep. Ron Paul (Republican)

"I do not support any Real ID program, and I would seek the repeal of all federal laws mandating a Real ID program. The Real ID Act imposes tremendous costs on state governments, yet any state that opts out will automatically make nonpersons out of its citizens.

The citizens of that state will be unable to have any dealings with the federal government because their ID will not be accepted. They will not be able to fly or to take a train. In essence, in the eyes of the federal government, they will cease to exist.

However, the most objectionable feature of the Real ID Act is that it turns state driver's licenses into de facto national ID cards, thus facilitating the massive invasion of an American's privacy, facilitating the growth of the surveillance state, and turning America into the type of country where citizens must always have their 'papers in order. -- News.com Technology Voters Guide, January 2, 2008.

Mike Huckabee (Republican)

"...Real ID, that's a huge mistake. It's putting a burden on a state that should not be the state's function, which is to provide the frontline of national security defense at the hands of a DMV worker at a state office. That's absurd. And then not funding it. That's a real problem. If you're going to have federal program then the feds ought to pay for it." -- Real Clear Politics, September 27, 2007.

Sen. Barak Obama (Democrat)

"I do not support the Real ID program because it is an unfunded mandate, and not enough work has been done with the states to help them implement the program."-- News.com Technology Voters Guide, January 2, 2008.

Sen. Hillary Clinton (Democrat)

"I believe we need to seriously re-examine Real ID and make changes that take into account legitimate concerns raised by states. I have long expressed concern with the Real ID Act, dating back to its initial consideration in the Senate in the spring of 2005.

Had there been an opportunity to properly consider this legislation, it would have been revealed that the Real ID Act imposes dramatic new burdens on our states and substantially changes our immigration and asylum laws in ways that deserve critical examination.

Among other things, Real ID's driver's license provisions impose a massive unfunded mandate on states, while ignoring our broken immigration system.

But there never was an opportunity to consider it properly. Senate Republicans brought this legislation up for a vote without holding hearings or engaging in serious debate, and by tacking it on to an emergency spending bill for our troops. By employing these tactics, Republicans revealed that they were determined to bulldoze this law through without serious discussion.
I support a comprehensive review of Real ID to determine whether its various ID provisions make sense in light of our very real security needs and the challenges facing our states." -- News.com Technology Voters Guide, January 2, 2008.

John Edwards (Democrat)

"Real ID is a big step toward a national ID card, and it will open the door to government invasions of privacy and to identity theft. I support setting rigorous state standards for ID cards to keep terrorists and criminals from getting false identification. However, we need a system that protects the privacy of regular Americans and doesn't cost states $11 billion." -- News.com Technology Voters Guide, January 2, 2008.


For Real ID

Sen. John McCain (Republican)

"The 9/11 Commission recommended that the federal government set standards for the issuance of birth certificates and sources of identification, such as driver's licenses. Consistent with these recommendations, the Real ID act established federal guidelines to prevent fraud in the issuance and acquisition of identity documents. I support full implementation of Real ID but understand that states need to be given enough time and funding to implement the requirements."-- News.com Technology Voters Guide, January 2, 2008.

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