March 13, 2008
This version of what was going to happen is supported by the following video capture of Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) raising an objection to the proceeding long enough to probe House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) on the need for the secrecy.
As can be heard, once he had put into the record his concerns, Kucinich withdrew his objection and stated that he would not attend the secret session; this, unfortunately, means he cannot attest to what actually happened in that meeting of the House on March 13, 2008, although he would have been prohibited by House rules from revealing the content of the proceedings, anyway, even if he had attended.
While the topic of the meeting was set forth in public record, the rumor mill has recently brought forth claims that the content of the secret session was considerably different from a debate about revising FISA. AfterDowningStreet.org, among other sites, asserts that insiders are saying the following matters were discussed:
• The United States economy is facing 'imminent collapse' late this year.
• The 'financing system' of U.S. government is facing 'imminent collapse' early next year.
• A 'civil war' resulting from the economic chaos is possible.
• Citizens likely to be involved in an uprising will be pre-emptively rounded up.
• Those detained will be incarcerated in REX 84 camps being built throughout the country.
• Members of Congress may become subject to 'retaliation' because of the severe problems that will ensue if the economy collapses.
• Provisions have been made for relocating Members of Congress and their families to safe locations should civil unrest threaten their safety.
• The collapse of the U.S. government's means of financing operations, along with the collapse of the United States economy, will compel, or perhaps propel, the binding of the United States with Canada and Mexico into the North American Union.
• This North American Union will then issue a new currency, called the "amero," which will function as a fiat currency similar to the euro of the European Union.
As can be seen from the progression of items in the list above, the rumor slides gracefully into full-blown, North American Union conspiracy theory by the end. Moreover, it is somewhat difficult, although not impossible, to see how a session of the House that was approved on the pretext of a debate about revising the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act could become a closed-door tell-all about the death of the United States as an independent republic. It is, of course, possible that some of those who supported the revision of FISA might use the occasion of a closed-door session to show a coming economic apocalypse that requires extraordinary measures be available to federal law enforcement authorities. This might explain why so many otherwise sane members of the federal legislature voted to pass the abomination of the revised FISA that is now the new law of the land with respect to spying on people.
As an alternative, it is also quite possible that many members of the federal legislature are simply too stupid to grasp the fact that law enforcement authorities now, thanks to the new FISA, have free rein to write and use computer code for routing wiretaps and aggregating the acquired data that is so complex that not one federal judge currently on the bench has even the slightest prayer of ever figuring out what the snoops are doing to comprehensively eliminate American citizens' right to privacy.
All of the back-and-forth about what really happened in the U.S. House of Representatives on March 13 aside, the cautionary tale from the conspiracy theory version is this: a government that conducts its business behind closed doors invites not just bad legislation, but also wild conjecture about what is really going on.
Imminent collapse of the U.S. economy and the federal government's ability to finance operations, FEMA concentration camps operationalized to hold malcontents by the hundreds of thousands, the end of the United States of America as a sovereign nation: these are all the stuff of rank conspiracy theories now given life by federal legislators who clearly believe the public's business is none of the public's business, at least when it comes to debating legislation to eviscerate the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution of any practical meaning whenever federal law enforcement deems necessary.
Instead of cracking down on the staggeringly common use of National Security Letters by the FBI to circumvent judicial control over searches and seizures, the Congress has handed law enforcement at the federal level carte blanche to spy at will; instead of condemning telecommunications companies for working with the Bush Administration to illegally spy on Americans, the Congress has handed those criminal conspirators immunity from civil actions by the citizens whose rights they violated; and instead of openly conducting what was apparently an important debate about further degrading the constitutional protections of the citizens of this country, the House of Representatives went into secret session.
Whether or not there is a grain of truth in what the conspiracy theorists say happened during that closed-door debate, the salient question is quite obvious. If our elected representatives do not trust us in their deliberations, why, then, should we ever trust what they say when they condescend to address us?
It seems that, whatever was said in that closed-door session of the United States House of Representative on March 13, 2008, it was all too important for us to hear.
The good news is this: eventually, we will find out.
Unfortunately, that's also the bad news.
The Dark Wraith will now accept applications for conspiracy theorists-in-training.
Comments
Wrote Moody Blue:
Wrote Peter of Lone Tree:
The Dark Wraith will now accept applications for conspiracy theorists-in-training.
May I presume some sort of "visiting lecturer" training is available for those of us standing guard on the ramparts?
Wrote Dark Wraith:
I shall be vidcasting the lectures to the ramparts, Peter.
The Dark Wraith is already rather concerned about his status as a big, blinking, blogging, blustering target.
Wrote Dark Wraith:
Good morning, Foiled Goil.
Right now, here at Conspiracy Theory University, we're offering free tuition, although we do have a required placement test covering topics like black helicopters, the Illuminati, ARVs, 9/11, FEMA concentration camps, RFID chips, Sun Myung Moon, the Brownstone Incident, the Federal Reserve, Bilderberg, Freemasonry, the AIPAC, etc.
It's not a long test: 500 questions; and all we use it for is to set up your course of study to best suit your personal and professional needs as a conspiracy theorist.
It's a booming field, thanks to our government and its operatives. We expect a big Freshman class, this year, so apply early.
The Dark Wraith heads over to the lecture hall for the introductory session on Area 51.
Wrote Phydeaux Speaks:
Good Morning, Dark Wraith.
Wow.
Looks like I applied for a passport just in time. I'll be in an undisclosed location.
Wrote Dark Wraith:
That's what you think, Phydeaux Speaks.
The Dark Wraith turns on the Blogger Aquisition Tracking Satellite Hovering Information Technology.
Wrote Cloud:
Ever since I first came across it I've suspected the North-American Union / Amero meme is pure Agency disinformation, because it makes no sense. The elite would gain nothing (they have NAFTA); and they would lose their biggest population of supporters, that is, the flag-waving set who depend on believing that national borders (ours, of course, not Somalia's) mean something to the elite.
As for the bit about wherein "Provisions have been made for relocating Members of Congress and their families to safe locations should civil unrest threaten their safety." ---- Well, shoot. I'd be surprised if such provisions weren't drawn up decades ago.
Governments, however incompetent they may be in governing, always take care of themselves. That's why they need replacing from time to time. For the best available example of progress, Jefferson's ghost would point to France, not the United States.
Wrote trog69:
Good morning, Professor. I'm afraid I don't have my homework with me right now, as I [insert excuse #23 here], but as soon as I get back from the funeral/hospital/car repair shop, I hope I can have a chance to do make-up work. Thank you for your time and/or prayers,
"Little Foulmouthed" Johnny
Wrote Moody Blue:
Dark Wraith: 7/27/08 at 10:20:28
Cripe, you have sure made it a lot more difficult now, Professor. Next, I suppose you will also require an extensive thesis explaining that the Neanderthals did not, in fact, really disappear, but instead evolved into our modern day incompetent politicians (electus erectus wreckedus?).
Wrote kelley b:
the Neanderthals did not, in fact, really disappear, but instead evolved into our modern day incompetent politicians
Don't worry. The planned limited nukular exchange will likely blossom into a conflagration big enough to leave all the NeoCons in Washington part of an ionized cloud blowing through the stratosphere.
The mission, should we decide to accept it, is to avoid the mass extinction.
I beg to differ about the term conspiracy theory. If Congress is meeting behind closed doors (as it was) to discuss approval of an Administration plan to watch everyone in a clearly un-Constitutional way, then the conspiracy is no theory.
It's a cold, hard fact.
Wrote Weaseldog:
The NAFTA super highway will keep illegals off of state property while they drive from Mexico to Canada and back.
The 29 percenters will be happy because of the walls that keep foreigners from coming in, will also safely keep Americans from accidentally venturing out.
Wrote trog69:
, “To save the democracy we thought we had, we must take democracy to where it’s never been.” ~Frances Moore Lappe
Wrote trog69:
Okay, now the MSM has gone too far:
Robert Novak In Hospital for A Brain Tumor~How much do they think we'll swallow, for pete's sake? This is medically impossible!
Oh all right; I do sincerely hope that he'll recover completely from this terrible affliction, and that's the truth.
But he's still a zombie.
Wrote Dark Wraith:
Good evening, trog.
Sometimes, these medical crises cause people to change their entire lives. Who knows? Mr. Novak might come out of this experience a raving Leftist.
That would be too weird for me.
The Dark Wraith likes the status quo just the way it is.
Wrote Peter of Lone Tree:
Mr. Novak might come out of this experience a raving Leftist.
A raving something; as evidence by THIS PHOTO from the Huffington Post.
(Caution: Put down any drinks before hitting the link.)
Wrote Moody Blue:
Peter of Lone Tree: 07/28/08 at 22:28:28
:o)
"Mein Fuhrer! I can walk!"
Wrote Dark Wraith:
Dear God.
Wrote trog69:
Hmm, a whole gang of brainless, leftist zombies...it just might work!
"Okay, um, Mildred, how ya doing?"
"Gaaaaa...Gore...."
"Yeah, that's great, Mildred, I'm gonna show you where to push to vote for our candidate, ok? Yes, right there is perfect. Yay, we helped push out another blue dog, Mildew, which is what you smell like right now."
"Bra-bra-bra-a-a-ins..."
"Yeah, you wish, Mildy. C'mon, let's go picket Dow Chemical; Whattaya say?"
"D-d-d-d..."
"Right; Down with the man! We'll practice on the way. And quit starin' at my head, wouldja?"
Wrote Weaseldog:
When Tony Snow was diagnosed with cancer, he said the had to quit the White House to earn more money.
I guess he checked with the Church and found that Saint Peter was going to need a big up front deposit for Tony's new condo in Heaven.
Who knows how much it will cost Novak to get into Heaven?
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I believe little, doubt much and trust few.
Will you accept my application?