Government seeks poster's names.

[BigBagel]

http://www.lvrj.com/opinion/47141327.html

The above article concerns a Las Vegas newspaper being subpoenaed for the names of individuals who posted comments on a news story. The original story concerned a tax case that generated a discussion here on iTulip. An individual was making payment in US gold coins and using the legal tender value of the coin in reporting amounts. Seems like overreach by a federal prosecutor.

[Master Shake]

Re: Government seeks poster's names.

http://www.lvrj.com/opinion/47141327.html

The above article concerns a Las Vegas newspaper being subpoenaed for the names of individuals who posted comments on a news story. The original story concerned a tax case that generated a discussion here on iTulip. An individual was making payment in US gold coins and using the legal tender value of the coin in reporting amounts. Seems like overreach by a federal prosecutor.

That's pretty scary, although I'm sure that some of the defenders of big government and Obamaniacs here will tell you it's not a big deal, nothing to worry about.

[mcgurme]

Re: Government seeks poster's names.

That's pretty scary, although I'm sure that some of the defenders of big government and Obamaniacs here will tell you it's not a big deal, nothing to worry about.

Straw man.

Nobody in their right mind is going to think this is ok, regardless of whether they are Obama supporters or not.

As I said before and will say again: the problem here is not government per se. The problem here is a particular government that is in collusion with bankers and other corporate masters. Mussolini endearingly named that "fascism" (the corporate state). And no, it is not good.

It will be interesting to see who is next. Hopefully not the posters on iTulip:eek:

[Slimprofits]

Re: Government seeks poster's names.

This (bloggers being subpoenaed, newspapers and bloggers being subpoenaed for their comment section) is the latest big thing in prosecutor's offices across the land.

The judge in this case should quash the request.

[Raz]

Re: Government seeks poster's names.

To the New Left, any opposition to them is sedition, and at the very least will have you subjected to multiple IRS audits.

It's part of the tradition handed down by the Klintons.

[ViC78]

Re: Government seeks poster's names.

To the New Left, any opposition to them is sedition, and at the very least will have you subjected to multiple IRS audits.

It's part of the tradition handed down by the Klintons.

Kinda like - "You are either with us or are terrorist supporters" ?

[Slimprofits]

Re: Government seeks poster's names.

In 2006, a Republican state rep. in New Jersey introduced a bill that would have banned anonymous posting to the internet.

But I'm not sure this has anything more to do with the current political left or right in the U.S.A. However, that is not a comment on the obviously negative implications that it has for the first amendment.

I think there are two things going on here.

#1 Some politicians and public officials would love to curb the ability of people to comment on their actions anonymously.

#2 Federal and state prosecutors are trying to get around the shield laws.

another recent examples, Illinois vs the Alton Telegraph:

http://www.citmedialaw.org/threats/i...ph#description

In Illinois grand jury subpoenaed The Alton Telegraph newspaper in September 2008, seeking the names, addresses and IP addresses of readers who posted comments to TheTelegraph website under five pseudonyms. The subpoena required that the newspaper's keeper of records appear before the grand jury with the requested records on October 2, 2008.

According to one press account, the state's attorney seeks this information in connection with a murder investigation that does not involve The Alton Telegraph. The state believes that one of the anonymous commenters has information about past criminal activity on the part of the subject of the investigation.

The newspaper moved to quash the subpoena, arguing that the Illinois reporter's shield law protects the identities of the anonymous commenters as "sources." It also moved to postpone the return date of the subpoena, apparently successfully. As of October 17, 2008, the court had not ruled on the Alton Telegraph's challenge.

Update:

5/15/09 - According to Saint Louis Post-Dispatch, the court ruled that the Alton Telegraph must turn over the identities of two of the posters. As to the other three posters, the court ruled that the paper need not disclose their identities because what they had written was irrelevant to the investigation.

What needs to happen in Vegas is for the judge to toss the subpoena. If the newspaper doesn't fight this, than it should be boycotted.

[metalman]

Re: Government seeks poster's names.

According to one press account, the state's attorney seeks this information in connection with a murder investigation that does not involve The Alton Telegraph. The state believes that one of the anonymous commenters has information about past criminal activity on the part of the subject of the investigation.

this ain't about nothing.

[Slimprofits]

Re: Government seeks poster's names.

this ain't about nothing.

What isn't about nothing?

[metalman]

Re: Government seeks poster's names.

What isn't about nothing?

the cops aren't chasing down posters for information about a trivial thing... it's about a murder... trying to keep it in perspective.

[medved]

Re: Government seeks poster's names.

To the New Left, any opposition to them is sedition

How is it different from the Old Left?

It's part of the tradition handed down by the Klintons.

No, it's part of the tradition handed down by Lenin.

The Left is always about centralization and consolidation of power. First, the Party consolidates the government and then the dictator consolidates the party. This is just a variation of the same process they had in ancient Greece – a demagogue driven transition from democracy to tyranny.

The only difference between Russia and the West is, in Russia it happened abruptly, and in the West it happens as a historical process over the last 100 years. Of course, it is not quite the same, but similarities are fundamental and differences are not.

I always compare propagation of the leftist religion/ideology to the propagation of Christianity. Some countries established it early (Greece, Italy) and some late (Lithuania). But you cannot say, Lithuanian religion of the 15th century is not Christianity just because it is different from Greek Christianity of the 5th century.

By the same token, abrupt establishment of socialism in Russia has a lot of similarities to the creeping socialist evolution of the West/US.

[Raz]

Re: Government seeks poster's names.

Kinda like - "You are either with us or are terrorist supporters" ?

P-l-e-a-s-e don't put me in a position where I have to defend anything George W. Bush did!:eek:

When Dumbya made that statement he was addressing foreign governments who harbor terrorists (such as the Taliban government of Afghanistan). I don't believe he was addressing American citizens.
Nor am I aware of Democratic operatives or left-leaning journalists who suffered three or more tax audits during the eight years of the Dumbya's administration as did Bill "the mouth" O'Reilly. But this did in fact happen to many people during the Klinton years. I know one of them personally, so it's not a rumor.
Yet I am aware of the New York Slimes publishing documents which revealed to terrorists many or our methods for intercepting their communications and transfers of money. Personally, I believe that IS sedition.

I have been ostracized by Republican friends because I am a Paleoconservative who DETESTS the 'friggin NeoCons.
I was opposed to the invasion of Iraq at the very beginning, and other that the appointment of Justices Roberts and Allito, I am hard pressed to find one damn thing that George W. Dumbass did right.

Now that this stupid ass has ruined their party my friends are a lot friendlier - until I tell them that I'm no longer interested in the Republican Party and could care less what happens to it.

[cjppjc]

Re: Government seeks poster's names.

P-l-e-a-s-e don't put me in a position where I have to defend anything George W. Bush did!:eek:

When Dumbya made that statement he was addressing foreign governments who harbor terrorists (such as the Taliban government of Afghanistan). I don't believe he was addressing American citizens.
Nor am I aware of Democratic operatives or left-leaning journalists who suffered three or more tax audits during the eight years of the Dumbya's administration as did Bill "the mouth" O'Reilly. But this did in fact happen to many people during the Klinton years. I know one of them personally, so it's not a rumor.
Yet I am aware of the New York Slimes publishing documents which revealed to terrorists many or our methods for intercepting their communications and transfers of money. Personally, I believe that IS sedition.

I have been ostracized by Republican friends because I am a Paleoconservative who DETESTS the 'friggin NeoCons.
I was opposed to the invasion of Iraq at the very beginning, and other that the appointment of Justices Roberts and Allito, I am hard pressed to find one damn thing that George W. Dumbass did right.

Now that this stupid ass has ruined their party my friends are a lot friendlier - until I tell them that I'm no longer interested in the Republican Party and could care less what happens to it.

Raz:
I remember telling a friend back in 04 that Bush will kill the party. Much like McGovern did to the dems.

[Slimprofits]

Re: Government seeks poster's names.

the cops aren't chasing down posters for information about a trivial thing... it's about a murder... trying to keep it in perspective.

Not defending the subpoena here, but have you considered the possibility that the Federal prosecutor in the Kahre case thinks that one or more of the anonymous commenters on the Review-Journal website has information about criminal activity by Kahre?

[grapejelly]

Re: Government seeks poster's names.

what is a bit shocking is the periodical's statement that they can't effectively fight this subpoena. Why can't they? Why are they rolling over and playing dead, just working to "limit" what information they provide? Why not fight the whole thing?

The Supreme Court has in the past said anonymous speech if fully protected.