Rep. Peter King Wants Treasury Dept. To Put Wikileaks On Terrorist List

from the overreact-much? dept

Thu, Jan 13th 2011 10:31am — Mike Masnick

Apparently Rep. Peter King is in a competition with Senator Joe Lieberman to see who can overreact more to Wikileaks. It seems like a neck-and-neck competition, with Peter King's brand of craziness potentially taking the lead. King, of course, was the guy who insisted that Wikileaks should be declared a terrorist organization and claimed (with nothing whatsoever to back this up) that the cable leak was worse than a military attack. His latest move is to ask Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner to add Wikileaks to the Treasury Department's "Specially Designated National and Blocked Persons List," which is usually used to designate terrorist and organized crime operations.

So while Lieberman merely used political pressure to get companies to block or censor Wikileaks, King wants it to become official government policy that no US companies or individuals should be doing anything with Wikileaks. Overreact much?

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Filed Under: peter king, terrorist list, timothy geithner, treasury department, wikileaks
Companies: wikileaks

61 Comments

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Hephaestus (profile), 13 Jan 2011 @ 10:52am

What must the rest of the world think of our politicians?
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- crade (profile), 13 Jan 2011 @ 10:55am
  
  Re:
  What else? We think they represent the United States.
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- Dark Helmet (profile), 13 Jan 2011 @ 11:00am
  
  Re:
  "What must the rest of the world think of our politicians?"
  
  The same that every US city thinks of Detroit?
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  - Berenerd (profile), 13 Jan 2011 @ 11:23am
    
    Re: Re:
    You owe me a new keyboard....
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Gwiz (profile), 13 Jan 2011 @ 11:27am
    
    Re: Re:
    The same that every US city thinks of Detroit?
    
    Yeah Detroit's image sucks....but on the plus side - we do have the Red Wings.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Dark Helmet (profile), 13 Jan 2011 @ 11:37am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      "Yeah Detroit's image sucks....but on the plus side - we do have the Red Wings."
      
      Ahem, I'm a Blackhawks fan. Their Red Wings do not impress me....
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
      - imbrucy (profile), 13 Jan 2011 @ 11:52am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        And as a Blues fan I am repulsed by you both.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Dark Helmet (profile), 13 Jan 2011 @ 12:34pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        "And as a Blues fan I am repulsed by you both."
        
        I'm sorry I didn't hear that. Hold on, let me take this Stanley Cup out of my ear....
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        Gwiz (profile), 13 Jan 2011 @ 12:47pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        I'm sorry I didn't hear that. Hold on, let me take this Stanley Cup out of my ear....
        
        Lol. Props on that one.
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        DS, 13 Jan 2011 @ 12:57pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Oh Snap.
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        imbrucy (profile), 13 Jan 2011 @ 1:08pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        I knew that would be the response but I couldn't resist the urge to antagonize you.
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    - Marcus Carab (profile), 13 Jan 2011 @ 11:40am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      Detroit's poor image is caused by a bunch of very real problems - which of course are exacerbated by its image. It must be a very frustrating position to be in.
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      - Michael, 14 Jan 2011 @ 3:26am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        It must be especially frustrating to be in that position AND be in Detroit.
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- kyle clements (profile), 13 Jan 2011 @ 11:20am
  
  Re:
  "What must the rest of the world think of our politicians?"
  
  We think the reaction to the leaks is more harmful than the content of the leaks.
  
  The leaks themselves just confirmed what everyone already knew about the states.
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  - PaulT (profile), 14 Jan 2011 @ 12:07am
    
    Re: Re:
    This can't be repeated enough, unfortunately.
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Derek Bredensteiner (profile), 13 Jan 2011 @ 10:53am

Peter King's point of view
The only verifiable evidence that I can see in Peter King's open letter that he uses to back up his claims regarding the danger of WikiLeaks is half a sentence from a New York times article. Here's one larger quote from the same article:

"Administration officials said they were not aware of anyone who has been attacked or imprisoned as a direct result of information in the 2,700 cables that have been made public to date by WikiLeaks, The New York Times and several other publications, many with some names removed. But they caution that many dissidents are under constant harassment from their governments, so it is difficult to be certain of the cause of actions against them."
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Vic, 13 Jan 2011 @ 10:54am

I just googled him, from the news: he is pushing a new gun law now - "No gun carrying within 1000 feet of certain high-profile government officials". That's a brilliant one too. The guy is pure genius! No wonder people are getting tired of him fast.
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- The eejit (profile), 13 Jan 2011 @ 11:16am
  
  Re:
  He reminds me of Jack Thompson.
  
  That should tell you all you need to know.
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- DOlz (profile), 13 Jan 2011 @ 11:38am
  
  Re:
  That's because ONLY government officials were injured. These clowns (no offense meant to clowns) only care about themselves and their cronies, The rest of us they only care about at election time.
  
  An article about this is at:
  
  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/11/peter-king-strict-gun-control_n_807323.html
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  - Anonymous Coward, 13 Jan 2011 @ 11:45am
    
    Re: Re:
    It doesn't even make sense. It's already illegal to shoot politicians (it's also illegal to shoot people!), so anyone planning to really isn't going to care about some imaginary circular boundary around their target.
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    - Philip (profile), 13 Jan 2011 @ 11:59am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      Perfect Onion piece: "Peter King introduces new law making it illegal to shoot people." "Clearly, our existing laws aren't effective enough," King said during the introduction of the new bill. "We need to remind people shooting people is bad."
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Anonymous Coward, 13 Jan 2011 @ 11:59am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      it's also illegal to shoot people!
      
      No, it's not illegal when the cops shoot people.
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      - Michael, 14 Jan 2011 @ 3:30am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        "No, it's not illegal when the cops shoot people."
        
        Yes it is. They have the same defenses to it as we do - self defense, defense of others, etc., but if they walked up and shot someone, they would go to jail just as if you did it.
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        Anonymous Coward, 14 Jan 2011 @ 4:51am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        ... if [police] walked up and shot someone, they would go to jail...
        
        You are not describing reality.
        
        Read the news much? Recently, in Long Beach, CA police walked up to a man sitting on a porch and shot him without warning. In Seattle, WA, police walked up to a deaf guy, and shot him four seconds later for not listening. These are not isolated instances.
        
        It's not illegal when the cops shoot people. That's the real law: The law that gets enforced.
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    - Anonymous Coward, 13 Jan 2011 @ 1:52pm
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      it's also illegal to shoot people!
      
      Depends on who you are.
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- The Mighty Buzzard (profile), 13 Jan 2011 @ 1:55pm
  
  Re:
  Pffft, shots over 1000' are what scopes were made for.
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  - Anonymous Coward, 13 Jan 2011 @ 2:30pm
    
    Re: Re:
    Pffft, shots over 1000' are what scopes were made for.
    
    The guy with all the sociopath murderous buddies speaks again. Birds of a feather really do flock together.
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    - The Mighty Buzzard (profile), 13 Jan 2011 @ 3:14pm
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      Awe, isn't that cute. An AC trolling. Stick around. I think Darryl is taking a few days off, so you can fill in for him.
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      - Anonymous Coward, 13 Jan 2011 @ 4:40pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Awe, isn't that cute. An AC trolling. Stick around. I think Darryl is taking a few days off, so you can fill in for him.
        
        That's funny, one anonymous poster calling another one out for being anonymous. Pot, meet kettle.
        
        Still, no denying it though, huh? Thank goodness for anonymous posters, otherwise I imagine you and your buddies would like to track a few of them down and put bullets in their heads. Gee, now wouldn't that be "cute"?
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
      - Hephaestus (profile), 14 Jan 2011 @ 12:54pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        "think Darryl is taking a few days off, so you can fill in for him."
        
        Weird thing, when i tried to find Darryl here on techdirt it shows nothing. The last time I saw him post was on Thursday or Friday of last week. Kinda makes me wonder .... hmmmm
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        btrussell (profile), 14 Jan 2011 @ 3:42pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        He lives in Australia. His Mothers' basement probably got flooded.
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    - btrussell (profile), 13 Jan 2011 @ 5:40pm
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      You sound jealous.
      Use a rest if needed. Control your breathing. Squeeze on the exhale. Practice!
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      - Anonymous Coward, 13 Jan 2011 @ 10:15pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        You sound jealous.
        
        Really? It certainly doesn't look like that to me. Maybe you're just projecting your own jealously onto it.
        
        Use a rest if needed. Control your breathing. Squeeze on the exhale. Practice!
        
        Yet another one. Sigh.
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        btrussell (profile), 14 Jan 2011 @ 4:28am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Yes, I am jealous that you can't make a 1,000 foot shot.
        
        I take it you are a vegetarian? That would explain the weak whine.
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MrWilson, 13 Jan 2011 @ 10:55am

I'd say we should get rid of the Constitution also since it gives potential terrorists too many freedoms, but just ignoring it seems to work well enough already.

/sarcasm
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Jeremy7600 (profile), 13 Jan 2011 @ 11:09am

Mike,

There's 4 R's in your title word Terrorist.

:)
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- Mike Masnick (profile), 13 Jan 2011 @ 11:11am
  
  Re:
  There's 4 R's in your title word Terrorist.
  
  That's just a sign of how terrrible this is. :)
  
  Fixed. Thanks for pointing it out.
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  - Dark Helmet (profile), 13 Jan 2011 @ 11:14am
    
    Re: Re:
    "That's just a sign of how terrrible this is. :)"
    
    Ah, that explains why Tony always told me how grrrreat Frosted Flakes are....
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    - Gwiz (profile), 13 Jan 2011 @ 11:18am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      Lol. Made me think of Frosted Flakes too.
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    - PaulT (profile), 14 Jan 2011 @ 12:11am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      Well I never...
      
      Usually, it's the States that dumb things down, but I thought "Frosted Flakes?" and checked. While Tony was still the mascot over here in Europe, that cereal was just called Frosties, but it is the same cereal!
      
      You learn something new every day, etc...
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      - Michael, 14 Jan 2011 @ 3:32am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        Leave it to us Americans to add the "flakes".
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        Gwiz (profile), 14 Jan 2011 @ 7:22am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        America - home of Captain Obvious.
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Anonymous Coward, 13 Jan 2011 @ 11:15am

The best thing about putting them on the terrorist watch list is that we will no longer have to hear about how much it sucks that their staff and simps are getting hassled at the border.

Sleep with dogs, you get fleas. Sleep with Assange, you might want to get checked by a doctor.
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- Anonymous Coward, 13 Jan 2011 @ 12:03pm
  
  Re:
  And those of us who live in the country exposed to be doing dirty deals left and right?
  
  Where can we be checked for the corruption we implicitly support? And is there treatment for that soil upon our souls?
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- Anonymous Coward, 13 Jan 2011 @ 1:57pm
  
  Re:
  The best thing about putting them on the terrorist watch list is that we will no longer have to hear about how much it sucks that their staff and simps are getting hassled at the border.
  
  I feel much more terrorized by certain gov't officials, agencies and politicians (such as Peter King) than just about anyone else. I we start by putting THEM on the TERRORIST list.
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Anonymous Coward, 13 Jan 2011 @ 11:28am

Once again waterdown another list...
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arrgster (profile), 13 Jan 2011 @ 11:45am

ggaaawddd
Seriously, I love techdirt but I'm really starting to get depressed! Do any of our politicians believe in the basic idea of what the founding fathers were trying to accomplish. The government is FOR THE PEOPLE.
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- Anonymous Coward, 13 Jan 2011 @ 2:01pm
  
  Re: ggaaawddd
  The government is FOR THE PEOPLE.
  
  Not any more. The US is now a corpocracy.
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- The Mighty Buzzard (profile), 13 Jan 2011 @ 2:04pm
  
  Re: ggaaawddd
  I'm pretty sure my town councilman does. It's an unpaid position and if he were gaming the system I'm pretty sure the potholes in his/my street would get fixed a lot more often.
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J Bauer, 13 Jan 2011 @ 12:26pm

He's a terrorist...
Any threat to the established, cover-up, deals in the dark administration seems to be a terrorist.

It's a far cry from our founding fathers, who wanted to make sure states and local militias would exist to overthrow the federal government if they overreached the authority granted by the Constitution.

Sadly, I think our founders would reech if they saw what their United States had become.
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Michial Thompson, 13 Jan 2011 @ 12:37pm

Maybe the Watch list NEEDS this
As useless as the Terrorist Watch List is, maybe it needs this type of watering down to finaly stop them from trying to waste time and harrass honest citizens with it.

Never could figure out how a list of names was remotely useful in a world where fake IDs are so readily available, and any terrorist worth being scared of probably has a stock pile of them sitting in his closet.
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Dementia (profile), 13 Jan 2011 @ 12:47pm

Can we put the congress on the terrorist list?? What about RIAA and the MPAA??
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Anonymous Coward, 13 Jan 2011 @ 12:56pm

Re:
Well, well, well. Whatever's in those cables about him, he's so terrified of it that he thinks people at large are going to be out for his blood when they find out about it. I'm pretty sure he was thinking of saving his own hide when he wrote a law to keep everyone with a gun 1000' away from "certain high-profile government officials".

Like Lieberman before him, I've got to ask: Just what are these particular politicos so rabid over everyone potentially finding out about? Did they bring some of those "tribal dance" kids home for a private showing or something?
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- Gwiz (profile), 13 Jan 2011 @ 1:06pm
  
  Re: Re:
  Like Lieberman before him, I've got to ask: Just what are these particular politicos so rabid over everyone potentially finding out about?
  
  This has me curious too. Probably a lot of others also. And I normally wouldn't care, because politicians are, well, politicians.
  
  It's akin to the Streisand Effect, but not quite the same. We might need a new name for this type of thing.
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  - The eejit (profile), 13 Jan 2011 @ 2:39pm
    
    Re: Re: Re:
    The Mass Effect? :p
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  - btrussell (profile), 13 Jan 2011 @ 5:46pm
    
    Re: Re: Re:
    Terrorfec, just terrorfec.
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Anonymous Coward, 13 Jan 2011 @ 1:35pm

Someone should make a law to put Rep. Peter King and Senator Joe Lieberman and a terrorist list for trying to break Freedom, also someone should make a public announcement to call all nutjobs out there to target Mr. Lieberman, make sure he understands what he said before calling for the assassination of a public figure really means.
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Anonymous Coward, 13 Jan 2011 @ 2:03pm

Of course they see Wikileaks as a "terrorist" organization,...
Rep. Peter King and Senator Joe Lieberman are terrified of what might be revealed about themselves. Cockroaches hate the light.
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Anonymous Coward, 13 Jan 2011 @ 10:38pm

The govt can't catch any real terrorists so the best they can do to pretend and look useful is to mislabel non - terrorists as terrorists and go after them.
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- Anonymous Coward, 13 Jan 2011 @ 10:39pm
  
  Re:
  (it's much easier, requires less effort, and is less dangerous than going after a real terrorist).
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A Real American, 15 Jan 2011 @ 1:22pm

Get Real
Republicans love to stand before the cameras reading the US Constitution, but when it comes to actually following it, FORGET ABOUT IT!
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