Senators Joseph Lieberman and Susan Collins are reportedly preparing a bill to be introduced to Congress that would give Obama power to shut down the internet. Its being called the ‘Internet Kill Switch’. There is a video about this below.
Former Democrat and now Independent Lieberman and left-leaning Republican Susan Collins are marketing their ‘Internet Kill Switch’ bill as something that is necessary for national security. Lieberman has dismissed concerns that this bill raises the specter of a dictatorial ability to impose censorship on what is available on the internet – effectively stopping free speech. He says that this bill is necessary for our nation’s security.
We have heard stories of how China uses internet censorship to control what news her people have access to. Lieberman doesn’t make any issue of the similarities between his proposed bill and what the Chinese do. In fact, he embraces it. He has said that ‘Right now, China, the government, can disconnect parts of its Internet in a case of war. We need to have that here, too.’
Say its not so, Joe!
The proposed bill is, Bill S.3480, or the Protecting Cyberspace as a National Asset Act (PCNAA). It authorizes President Obama to have the power to shut down the internet, presumably in cases of national emergencies and/or cyber attacks.
The power to shut down the internet, or rather parts of the internet, with the ‘Internet Kill Switch’ would rest in the hands of the President. One man. One person can make the decision that parts of the internet need to be shut down and can decide which parts need to be shut down.
That pretty much gives that one person omnipotent control over what kind of communication We The People can engage in over the internet. This whole plan plays right into the theories that the government is attempting to find ways to take more control over the people and impose its massive will on the people. In other words, its a move towards communism, socialism, marxism and whatever other ism you want to throw in there.
These concerns aren’t laid to rest by Lieberman’s comparison with the RED Chinese methods of suppressing freedom of speech.
Lieberman has continued to dig a hole for his bill by saying that the President would never, the government should never take over the internet. Its those ‘woulds’ and ‘shoulds’ that are bothersome. Who knows what some person with that kind of power and no checks and balances might do.
Its a pretty frightening prospect actually. Not only will Big Brother be watching, he’ll also be controlling our internet capability.
I have a hard time seeing Americans taking something like this lying down. As Glenn Reynolds noted, ‘If they shut down the Internet, I’m getting out my gun. And I think everyone should take it as a signal to do the same — because one way or the other, it means the country’s under attack.’
What do you think of Obama having unprecedented power to shut down the internet? You can watch a video report about the ‘Internet Kill Switch’ below.
I just feel the goverment is trying to take over. It makes no sense they print trillions of dollars and they want us to pay it back. That makes no sense. Now the internet. What next? I feel the goverment uses fear to get there way. Listen people our freedom is getting taking over. I feel we are heading to be like north korea.
Are you kidding me? This cannot be for real! Obama should not be at the ready to push the button. Come up with someone directly involved with national security and made the guidelines rigid, with no room for error. This seems to violate freedom of speech and sounds so wrong.
WE THE PEOPLE FOR THE PEOPLE BY THE PEOPLE
We better get ready I have a bad feeling that the gov. is taking little bites at a time and that my friends is how you eat the elephant one bite at a time. I don’t think that the goverment will ever get full. I think that are forefathers who created the constitutional rights for us and are freedoms and all the vets who gave there lives are rolling over in there graves. I hate to see the time we have to take up arms but their are people in congress I feel who are traders and I think we all know what we are told to do if are goverment starts taking are rights. It’s going to get worse before it gets better. first thing we need to do is vote. Vote and get Obama out and Senators like Lieberman out.
God bless the USA and are Troops for keeping us free, Lets not have the blood that has been spilt be in vain. S. Anderson
It is not a good idea for government to take over the internet, in america there is no privacy everyone is exposed, and scrutinize we are going public, if government should take over everyone else would want to do the same shutting down everyone internet. It is a dirty game don’t let them take over the internet.
It’s a safety reason, not for world domination as the United Nations, citizens, military officials, policemen, ect. would simply destroy Obama if things get out of hand as we do have the right to overthrow the government in Trumbull’s Declaration of Independence.
Another example of this president and his “czars” positioning themselves to put some real hurt on what we have fought and died for. People, if it is not clear to you what these next moves will be, you need to get a grip, wake up or kiss your butts goodbye. First, putting us in debt. (making us dependent on gov’t) Second, getting his judges lined up in the Supreme Court to make laws or make our Constitution invalid (not just Elena Kagan, but also Goodwin Lieu on the West Coast)Third,anyone who bows down to any other countries powers as he did when he took office shows that he wants to align himself with countries that want to invade and take us over. Far fetched you say? Look at the number of growing incidences of terrorism in comparison to when G. Bush was at the helm. If Obama wanted to instill real security for this country against any other forces he would do something about Border Security. Close them so tight you would have to fart to be able to see across them. This would cut off financing for all the terrorists who are making billions off our young people and disadvantaged that are becoming addicted while we become weaker on our own territory. The armed forces are spread out all over the world for no other reason than to keep them away. The same as ‘healthcare’ was the distraction to keep everyones mind off of what is really happening. Folks, as a veteran I have never seen an administration that will go to the lengths that are happening right now except in other countriesa before sh== hits the fan.As long as we are too busy trying to take care of our families and their needs and wants,then it will leave holes for this administration to drive through. It is treason people and we need to recognize it for what is truly happening. There were many other ways to take care of our faltering economy. Obama is finishing what the 9/11 terrorists started. They hit us in the symbolic capatalist center-He is hitting us in the true capatalist center by bankrupting us so the gov’t can come in and “take care of our needs in these trying times”. Just remember this: If we as a nation pray for deliverance, the Lord our God(who we aren’t supposed to be founded on??) will deliver us. Call out for a National Prayer Day and see what happens. What have we to lose??
u ppl r h8trs. Obama iz jist proteting us.
This is what we get for voting a MARXIST into office. Maybe people will pay attention to who they are voting for next time.
Remember in November!
[...] Internet Kill Switch: Bill Would Give Obama Power to Shut Down … [...]
we got by fine without the internet before algore invented it. we can just go back to town criers.
My Sister sent this to me and i fell it fits right in with this bill…
What if he’s right?
It’s interesting. Please read it with the open mind rather than immediately breaking it down into left or right, but rather look at it from the neutral viewpoint of right or wrong.
David Kaiser is a respected historian whose published works have covered a broad range of topics, from European Warfare to American League Baseball. Born in 1947, the son of a diplomat, Kaiser spent his childhood in three capital cities: Washington D.C. , Albany , New York , and Dakar , Senegal .. He attended Harvard University , graduating there in 1969 with a B.A. in history. He then spent several years more at Harvard, gaining a PhD in history, which he obtained in 1976. He served in the Army Reserve from 1970 to 1976.
He is a professor in the Strategy and Policy Department of the United States Naval War College . He has previously taught at Carnegie Mellon, Williams College and Harvard University . Kaiser’s latest book, The Road to Dallas, about the Kennedy assassination, was just published by Harvard University Press.
Dr. David Kaiser
History Unfolding
I am a student of history. Professionally, I have written 15 books on history that have been published in six languages, and I have studied history all my life. I have come to think there is something monumentally large afoot, and I do not believe it is simply a banking crisis, or a mortgage crisis, or a credit crisis. Yes these exist, but they are merely single facets on a very large gemstone that is only now coming into a sharper focus..
Something of historic proportions is happening. I can sense it because I know how it feels, smells, what it looks like, and how people react to it. Yes, a perfect storm may be brewing, but there is something happening within our country that has been evolving for about ten to fifteen years. The pace has dramatically quickened in the past two.
We demand and then codify into law the requirement that our banks make massive loans to people we know they can never pay back? Why?
We learned just days ago that the Federal Reserve, which has little or no real oversight by anyone, has “loaned” two trillion dollars (that is $2,000,000,000,000) over the past few months, but will not tell us to whom or why or disclose the terms. That is our money. Yours and mine. And that is three times the $700 billion we all argued about so strenuously just this past September. Who has this money? Why do they have it? Why are the terms unavailable to us? Who asked for it? Who authorized it? I thought this was a government of “we the people,” who loaned our powers to our elected leaders. Apparently not.
We have spent two or more decades intentionally de-industrializing our economy… Why?
We have intentionally dumbed down our schools, ignored our history, and no longer teach our founding documents, why we are exceptional, and why we are worth preserving. Students by and large cannot write, think critically, read, or articulate. Parents are not revolting, teachers are not picketing, school boards continue to back mediocrity. Why?
We have now established the precedent of protesting every close election (violently in California over a proposition that is so controversial that it simply wants marriage to remain defined as between one man and one woman. Did you ever think such a thing possible just a decade ago?) We have corrupted our sacred political process by allowing unelected judges to write laws that radically change our way of life, and then mainstream Marxist groups like ACORN and others to turn our voting system into a banana republic. To what purpose?
Now our mortgage industry is collapsing, housing prices are in free fall, major industries are failing, our banking system is on the verge of collapse, social security is nearly bankrupt, as is Medicare and our entire government. Our education system is worse than a joke (I teach college and I know precisely what I am talking about) – the list is staggering in its length, breadth, and depth.. It is potentially 1929 x ten…And we are at war with an enemy we cannot even name for fear of offending people of the same religion, who, in turn, cannot wait to slit the throats of your children if they have the opportunity to do so.
And finally, we have elected a man that no one really knows anything about, who has never run so much as a Dairy Queen, let alone a town as big as Wasilla , Alaska .. All of his associations and alliances are with real radicals in their chosen fields of employment, and everything we learn about him, drip by drip, is unsettling if not downright scary (Surely you have heard him speak about his idea to create and fund a mandatory civilian defense force stronger than our military for use inside our borders? No? Oh, of course. The media would never play that for you over and over and then demand he answer it. Sarah Palin’s pregnant daughter and $150,000 wardrobe are more important.)
Mr. Obama’s winning platform can be boiled down to one word: Change. Why?
I have never been so afraid for my country and for my children as I am now.
This man campaigned on bringing people together, something he has never, ever done in his professional life. In my assessment, Obama will divide us along philosophical lines, push us apart, and then try to realign the pieces into a new and different power structure. Change is indeed coming. And when it comes, you will never see the same nation again.
And that is only the beginning..
As a serious student of history, I thought I would never come to experience what the ordinary, moral German must have felt in the mid-1930s In those times, the “savior” was a former smooth-talking rabble-rouser from the streets, about whom the average German knew next to nothing. What they should have known was that he was associated with groups that shouted, shoved, and pushed around people with whom they disagreed; he edged his way onto the political stage through great oratory. Conservative “losers” read it right now.
And there were the promises. Economic times were tough, people were losing jobs, and he was a great speaker. And he smiled and frowned and waved a lot. And people, even newspapers, were afraid to speak out for fear that his “brown shirts” would bully and beat them into submission. Which they did – regularly. And then, he was duly elected to office, while a full-throttled economic crisis bloomed at hand – the Great Depression. Slowly, but surely he seized the controls of government power, person by person, department by department, bureaucracy by bureaucracy. The children of German citizens were at first, encouraged to join a Youth Movement in his name where they were taught exactly what to think. Later, they were required to do so. No Jews of course,
How did he get people on his side? He did it by promising jobs to the jobless, money to the money-less, and rewards for the military-industrial complex. He did it by indoctrinating the children, advocating gun control, health care for all, better wages, better jobs, and promising to re-instill pride once again in the country, across Europe , and across the world. He did it with a compliant media – did you know that? And he did this all in the name of justice and …. . … change. And the people surely got what they voted for.
If you think I am exaggerating, look it up. It’s all there in the history books.
So read your history books. Many people of conscience objected in 1933 and were shouted down, called names, laughed at, and ridiculed. When Winston Churchill pointed out the obvious in the late 1930s while seated in the House of Lords in England (he was not yet Prime Minister), he was booed into his seat and called a crazy troublemaker. He was right, though. And the world came to regret that he was not listened to.
Do not forget that Germany was the most educated, the most cultured country in Europe . It was full of music, art, museums, hospitals, laboratories, and universities. And yet, in less than six years (a shorter time span than just two terms of the U. S. presidency) it was rounding up its own citizens, killing others, abrogating its laws, turning children against parents, and neighbors against neighbors.. All with the best of intentions, of course.. The road to Hell is paved with them.
As a practical thinker, one not overly prone to emotional decisions, I have a choice: I can either believe what the objective pieces of evidence tell me (even if they make me cringe with disgust); I can believe what history is shouting to me from across the chasm of seven decades; or I can hope I am wrong by closing my eyes, having another latte, and ignoring what is transpiring around me..
I choose to believe the evidence. No doubt some people will scoff at me, others laugh, or think I am foolish, naive, or both. To some degree, perhaps I am. But I have never been afraid to look people in the eye and tell them exactly what I believe-and why I believe it.
I pray I am wrong. I do not think I am. Perhaps the only hope is our vote in the next elections.
David Kaiser
Jamestown, Rhode Island
United States
This makes absolutely no sense at all to me.
They want to protect the internet from “attacks” by turning it off? Really?
What if the attacks were meant to turn the internet off in the first place? I mean, isn’t that pretty much how it goes anyways?
So really, it’s the same freaking thing.
And what sensitive infrastructure does the government put on the internet? Are these retards completely incompetent that they can’t keep their data on internet networks that do not have access to the interweb?
These scumbags are all crooks. They want to control information, same as they have done by burning and removing books before the internet made info free. Every last one of them should be replaced.
I think we have an oxymoron here. Where is the ACLU? They are not out stomping “violation of freedom of speech”. Everyone who knows anything about our Constitution and our Bill of Rights “knows” what is “REALLY” happening here. Just look at the definitions of Socialism, Totalitairianism, and Communism and you might get a sniff of a drift of what this internet kill switch nonsense is really about. Don’t believe me; then do the research yourself.
What the crap? The internet does not belong to Obama. It doesn’t belong to the damn US – it’s INTERNATIONAL. An American president does not have the right to control it or shut it down. If anyone were to be given an Internet kill switch, it should be the UN – and I don’t think they should have one either. The internet is all about FREE information.
Good luck with that! hahahaha What’s next? “Joe Lieberman introduces bill to give Obama power to turn off the sun for a day or two if “global warming” continues…” Again, GOOD FREAKIN LUCK. Joe Lieberman, you sir, are what we call in the biz, a retard.
F!@# You Uncle Sam,
Don’t step on our grass man!
This is just a blatant attempt to take away another constitutional right!
I totally agree with Glenn Reynolds. We cannot stand by and allow this to happen!
I do too jo. If this happens, then either way we are under attack.
GERALD CELENTE, leading authority in trends, and owner of The Trends Research Institute, was asked in an interview if he thought 2012 would see a true 3 party race, and if the “Tea Party” would be the third party. Gerald believes there will be a third party however, it would not be the Tea Party. In his words, “For lack of a better name to give it, I’ll call it the Internet Party.” This was in an interview about 4 months ago.
In my opinion, part of the story behind this new bill, and the expedition we are seeing on getting this done, besides the billions in tax dollars unknowingly spent already to build major government owned internet hubs that the whole internet would be required to go through, the kill switch would allow our 2 headed dragon to shut down the Internet Party in the name of national security. This action would fall right in line with all the other bills, HR5175 for example, that limit free speech, especially if you are going to speak out about the government, to include bloggers.
Big brother has been preparing for civil unrest for many years. Over the last 8 years we have seen many changes in our “freedoms in exchange for security.” Big brother has done well to convince most of us that we need protection. When all the while they have been building a fortress before our very eyes. In my opinion, this is not about protection from “cyber-terrorists” at least not from outside our borders. We the people will be the “cyber-terrorists,” and that is the Big brother is is preparing to protect us from, us who have woken up, anyone who provides information, and Big brother is about to achieve the ultimate control of information, control of the internet.
They already can at will completely take over all radio and TV stations, in fact it is law that the stations have to yield to this authority. I have researched the capabilities of the internet hubs Big brother has built. They have the capability to monitor absolutely everything every person on the internet does, although they claim it won’t be used for those purposes. Use the wrong words in a blog, and you too can become a “cyber-terrorist.” Big brother will also have the authority to tell search engines and other big internet properties what information they can and can’t share. Not only that, but what they “will” share.
Okay everyone, listen up. Too much is at stake to look the other way this time. If we ignore this ‘bill’ these bureaucrats in Washington will take away the one place left where there is true free of expression. Register at http://protect-the-net.proboards.com and let’s figure out a way to stop this bill.
Exercise you right to free speech will you still can and sign the Petition against the Kill-Switch bill. – http://www.petitiononline.com/stopKS/petition.html
Voters should put a kill-switch on Collins’and Lieberman’s congressional careers and other congressmen who try to facilitate the state’s seizure of the “powers reserved to the people.”
I can’t believe the American people voted for “Barack Hussein Obama”? Really? What were (more than) half of you thinking? Hopefully those who voted FOR him will vote AGAINST him next time,that is, if we’re still allowed to vote next time around.
im so tired of this bull the goverment has took control of our schools and they r worse off than ever the goverment is controling our medical and every thing else its going to get to the point that they tell us what jobs we can have and what to eat when to sleep were did home of the brave and free go to we r no longer free in this country people need to wake up and stand up for there rights if they dont were all in big trouble they all ready control the tv and raido what r people going to do when they tell them they make to much money and spend to much and the goverment takes it away i dont know how the greatis country in the world got to be so dumb when did goverment become out parents and tell us what were can look at or talk about wait next will be travle we wont beable to go where we want because its not safe we will have to have a pasport to go to the store this is nutz please every one needs to wake up and see where this country is going we have had our rights taken away little by little over the years if u stop and look u will see it to
what is going on in this country people better wake up . the goverment has tacken control over our schools and health and we sat back and let them . they contrl our tv news and the fuel we use and where we go . were did the home of the brave and free go . soon they will tell us what jobs we can have how much money we can make were to spend it this it crazy how much control are we going to give them . they scare ppl in to letting them control us please people of the unite states stop letting them take our rights away thats what they r doing little by little soon we will be like russia and china . they r using scare tactics to take over our lives . why r so many people afraid of what might happen they can stop it now matter how much control we give them look at 9/11 they knew it was going to happen and couldnt stop it just like alot of things that have happen over the many years of my life . so if the people let them do this they might as well let them take over every thing and see what that gets them because there not doing to well at the things they have taken over there r more importain thing our goverment needs to be doing than worring about what is being said on the internet they already whatch every thing on it any ways why would they need a kill switch for it . just more control and in my opinion they have to much .
Obama has messed up enough already. Don’t let him mess with the Internet. No president before him had that kind of power and we should not let this idiot have it. Lieberman, get your head out of your backside
Don’t forget Bush’s Patriot Act started this slippery slide fomented in the fear of 9-11.
Also keep in mind it isn’t Obama causing this it is two congressional leaders that supported McCain in 2008. As if evident here they are all out to crush our spirit and destroy our freedoms Obama with various “economic improvements” and now the “right” with this BS throw them all out and let a new generation of idiots have the chance to save or screw us, no more incumbents we need a true multi-party system, not 2 or 3 but many.
@People saying “he’s just protecting us, stop hatin’” WHAT IS HE PROTECTING US FROM HERE!? It’s called, hiding the truth so that people won’t be disturbed and they can continue living what they THINK is a happy life… while people (relatives, friends, people in the army) are being killed in a war that NO ONE knows about because Obama isn’t allowing us to know. It’s JUST like having a loved one die and not being told because whoever knows doesn’t want to ruin a potentially happy moment.
While some may say, “Oh, but we have the news on TV.” However… compared to things that involve media, crime, or the like… how much do you hear about stuff that’s going on with the nation other than “Oh, it’s almost time to vote” or “[name] was just elected”. How much detail is put into the REAL news compared to a celebrity’s HOT relationship? You can only find the details of the important stuff on the internet.
So what IS he protecting us against? Nothing! He’s taking away FREEDOM.
Dude msn shutdown the comments on a video I was typing and i went swimming within an hour it was gone. The very subject we were talking about happened or the just changed it but I can’t find it on google or msn. What happened?
This fellow that claims to be our president has got to be insane! Him and his czars…and Pelosi’s…Reed’s…will in time make us slaves in our own country. Most people I don’t think even listens to radio, watch t.v. or read papers as what is going on with this regime! Hitler has nothing on these dude’s plans for America. What makes me sick that there are actually people that still belive in Obama! Are they the ones that want something for nothing?….tell me please God bless the USA
Well the American people have no one to blame but them selves,,,They vote in these “Neo-Cons” to run this sorry country,,,, Then when these people of power get in to office and suspend the constitution,,,and our bill of rights,,where both of those documents mean nothing,,,then its time for another revolution,,Shoot and kill these bastards before we end up in conentration camps and be killed like Hitler killed the Jews
What happened to the checks and balances between the legislative, judical and the President? If you liked Obamacare forcing citizens to buy insurance, you’re gonna love the President having a “kill” switch for the internet. The “YES WE CAN” is turning in to a dictatorship.
@Protect_the_net: Are you as dumb as Lieberman? No need for a petition dude. GIVE YOUR HEAD A SHAKE AND THINK ABOUT IT!!!! NOBODY CAN JUST TURN OFF THE INTERNET!!! That would be like orchestrating a 911 cover-up. Imagine the logistics! That being said however, they DID do a pretty good job with orchestrating a 911 cover-up, so I guess anything’s possible…OK, go on then with your little petition…
Sure, why not, Comrade? We might as well include the ability to shut down newspapers and the broadcast media, too. I’m sure there are those in the Obama administration who would be glad to set up something like Pravda to be sure we’re all kept “well informed.”
WAKE UP, AMERICA!!! We’re in deep trouble because of the government WE elected. November’s coming. Time to clean house.
Spitze Design hat dieser Blog. Woher hast du die Vorlage ? War bestimmt sehr teuer.
It just makes us like any othr Communist country. Get the idea here? We need to impeach this Marxist!
obama crazy and evil! He is trying to stop all communication before we can get him out of the country! Well, without internet, we might as well meet in the streets and fight the old fashioned way. Liberty or Death! Don’t Tread on Me!
The government is trying to take over like “COOL” says on page 1 posted at June 21st, 2010 at 9:39 pm. If you are reading this spread the word. They are taking over. BP oil spill was planned. They just want us to pay carbon taxes. They are putting GMO in our food to sterilize us. Barrack Obama isn’t even his real name, it’s Barry Soetoro. Look it up yourself.
We are no more a free county, We are like all the other countrys in the world, what our country was built on is no being taken away! Its a awful thing!!! It makes me sad to see this country stood and fought for being taken away…. Im disturbe by the government period
[...] ideas and threatens the control of the powers that be (no wonder Obama wants an “internet kill switch“!) Does this not remind you of the British Regulars closing down the roads around Boston in [...]