Invincible Killer Scorpions And Other DRM Hijinks

Senator Harry Reid Moves To Approve PROTECT IP And Begin Censoring The Internet

from the people-vs.-hollywood dept

Mon, Dec 19th 2011 7:30am — Mike Masnick

Apparently ignoring the widespread protests about both SOPA and PROTECT IP (PIPA) from the last few months (and the momentum growing against both bills), it was announced over the weekend that Harry Reid is seeking to override the hold on PIPA put forth by Senator Ron Wyden (along with Senators Jerry Moran, Maria Cantwell and Rand Paul) by seeking cloture. This isn't a huge surprise. Last week Senator Reid had informed other Democratic Senators that he intended PROTECT IP to be the first bill he brought to the floor when the Senate returns for business in January. So, now the cloture vote will happen January 24th, 2012 just as the Senate comes back into session. That means there's a little over a month where Hollywood is going to make every effort it can to get Senators over to its side. They need 60 Senators to betray the Constitution and to undermine a decade and a half's work on online security for a plan that won't actually help Hollywood at all. But, with Hollywood flinging money around DC like they're making record revenues at the box office (which... um... they are), they've already got 40 Senators signed on. That means there's a month to make sure 20 other Senators don't betray their country, their economy and the internet.

The really disappointing part in all of this is that these Senators appear to remain totally out of touch to the public opinion on these bills. They simply look at Hollywood, the US Chamber of Commerce and the AFL-CIO and see dollar signs. These groups fund campaigns, and 2012 is an election season. So, might as well try to make them happy. Public will be damned. Of course, the one way to defeat dollars is with voters. The more constituents who reach out and call their Senators, or (better yet) go and visit them and explain how this bill is a disaster that undermines everything America stands for, the better. So, start calling...

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Filed Under: copyright, free speech, harry reid, pipa, protect ip, senate, sopa

102 Comments

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gorehound (profile), 19 Dec 2011 @ 7:39am

I will once again call my Reps.
I want to see a Revolution at this point.Whast else can we do to regain our Freedom ? I do not care any longer about Washington except to feel bad thoughts every time I hear that word mentioned.Corruption Rules Our Government.
FRAK YOU WASHINGTON !
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Dec 2011 @ 7:48am

Of course Hollywood and the RIAA need more money, they've been spending almost all their profit buying our politicians!
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The eejit (profile), 19 Dec 2011 @ 7:48am

Re:
Make a hidden blade, coat it with Yellow Toad poison and watch the hilarity ensue.
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Dec 2011 @ 7:50am

Et tu, senators?
Fsck Harry Reid with a morning star. I don't just want these people out of Washington anymore--I want them executed. That's how we should be dealing with traitors to our country and defilers of our constitutional rights.
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Glaze (profile), 19 Dec 2011 @ 7:50am

So...
If the US DoD is approved to legally detain US citizens without cause or merit based on a potential terroristic threat... Can it be safely assumed that these asshats in washington can be arrested for treason?
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Justin (profile), 19 Dec 2011 @ 7:51am

letter to Reps
To my Representatives,

If you vote yes on either one of these bills the backlash will be huge. You can follow the money and have a huge payday for your campaign funds or reaffirm the thought of corruption and take a job with one of these groups. but none of it will matter because you will not get votes. The American People will not take lightly to being censored, and you will feel it come November.
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Rikuo (profile), 19 Dec 2011 @ 7:57am

I'm a guy with spare change in my pocket and a lust for wandering. I want to travel and see the world. I look at far away places and wonder. Hmm, perhaps I'll visit Thailand...sorry, I'm a rather sarcastic kind of guy and I just know I would insult the king, landing me in jail.
How about Saudi Arabia...no no no, terrible idea. If I mention my Christian background, let's just say it wouldn't be the best thing for me. Turkey sounds better...nah, they've blocked Youtube before because of a single video...wait a minute...that sounds familiar.
Block a whole website because of one video? Hang on, that's SOPA! In Turkey, it was because of a video that "insulted Turkishness". In America, its because "someone didn't buy the DVD". Stupid reasons both, end result the same.
Other reasons for me not to visit the "land of the free" are the TSA. I want to have a nice plane ride, not be sweating in fear of being sexually assaulted when I get off it. Or of getting on a bus or train and having the same experience. Or if the NDAA passes, of being detained by the US military without charge and without a trial, indefinitely.
Yes, that's right folks. I hereby officially state that the United States of America is now firmly in the same category as Turkey, Saudia Arabia and China. It has become an authoritarian nation, where the populace lives in fear, where crazy laws are used to justify censorship and unjust imprisonment by the state. I will not be visiting the US while this is true.
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jupiterkansas (profile), 19 Dec 2011 @ 7:57am

I told my senators if they voted for this, I will not be voting for them.

Roy Blunt sent me back a form letter with BS about 19 million jobs and $135 billion in lost revenue.

But I wouldn't be voting for him regardless.
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Dec 2011 @ 8:10am

I want to see their faces when the results are not what they expected LoL
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Ninja (profile), 19 Dec 2011 @ 8:11am

Re:
Ask him for evidence on these numbers provided by a neutral entity with a clear and public (as in widely available for scrutiny) methodology.

Include in your reply that most of the top 10 companies in the US that account for over 1 trillion dollars in market value are against this shit. Also point out that it has been deemed unconstitutional by scholars and experts (don't forget to cite the sources, TD has them on a brilliant opinion piece).

I'd note how hypocrite would be to approve that when the majority is against but it'd probably hurt his feelings.
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Dec 2011 @ 8:17am

Re: letter to Reps
i would further this by stating that they would individually be responsible for the revolution that follows, the loss of life that ensues, and the loss of property. All of which is detrimental to the profit making of the corporations they represent.

In fact, they will be luck to live through the upheavals that follow since they will be individually targeted for the betrayal
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Dec 2011 @ 8:21am

""Representative Lamar Smith, the creator of the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), has been consistently receiving donations averaging $50 000 from the TV/Film/Music industry for each of his re-election campaigns for the past ten years. Smith has received roughly half a million dollars from the TV/Film/Music lobby over the past ten years according to opensecrets.org."

http://politics.slashdot.org/story/11/12/18/1836249/sopa-creator-in-tvfilmmusic -industrys-pocket
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A Guy (profile), 19 Dec 2011 @ 8:25am

I called my Congressmen. I don't know if it will do any good, but I tried.
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Dec 2011 @ 8:28am

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2011/12/judge-gives-umg-24-hours-to-explain-takedown-spree.a rs

Just send the case of Megaupload and how UMG censored a news outlet just because it could even without legal power to do so, which highlights the problems with the DMCA that everybody already knows about it and which will be amplified by something like SOPA that is a censor bill.
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Loki, 19 Dec 2011 @ 8:44am

Re: Re:
And add the fact the GAO itself has already discredited those numbers.
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anon, 19 Dec 2011 @ 8:47am

Who are the 40?
Who are the 40 that have already signed on?
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"", 19 Dec 2011 @ 8:48am

...
I don't get it they have this bill and SOPA then whatever that other one is PIPA, correct me if I'm wrong but aren't they all basically the same how can they have so many bills that basically do the same thing??? This is getting out of hand already just stop these fucking bills and get with the times! I guess we're doomed one of these will likely pass for sure I don't think Obama will veto all.
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Jay (profile), 19 Dec 2011 @ 8:57am

Re: ...
It was a political ploy. Make SOPA look horrible by comparison, then have PIPA as a reasonable alternative. The problem is, both are still bad.
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Jay (profile), 19 Dec 2011 @ 9:06am

Re:
Look at Maplight for minute spending.
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Dec 2011 @ 9:17am

Re: Et tu, senators?
Fsck Harry Reid with a morning star. I don't just want these people out of Washington anymore--I want them executed. That's how we should be dealing with traitors to our country and defilers of our constitutional rights.

This is why no one takes the freeloading zealots seriously. You really want to execute people for passing legislation that may inhibit your ability to get something of value for free? What a bunch of truly sick fucks you are.
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Dec 2011 @ 9:21am

Re: Re: letter to Reps
i would further this by stating that they would individually be responsible for the revolution that follows, the loss of life that ensues, and the loss of property. All of which is detrimental to the profit making of the corporations they represent.

THe fact that you suggest violent insurrection and death over a law that simply makes stealing digital content harder is absolutely amazing. Your addiction to free content and the zealotry surrounding it borders on bizarre. Do you ever think about what you write before you hit "submit"?
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Machin Shin, 19 Dec 2011 @ 9:23am

Re:
It really is sad isn't it? I live in the US and I'm more afraid of the damn government than I am of any terrorist. This government is out of control and spiraling downhill fast. It disgusts me so much to see what this nation has become. Growing up I was raised to have pride in this nation, I was ready to die for it. Now I look around and I am still ready to die for this nation but sadly think if I do it will be in a fight to save it from its own government.
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E. Zachary Knight (profile), 19 Dec 2011 @ 9:23am

Re: Re: Et tu, senators?
I agree with your sentiment. These kinds of statements add no value whatsoever to the overall discussion here.

However, I do take issue with your characterization of the intent behind our opposition. We no more want to block SOPA so that we can "get something of value for free" than we want to execute supporters of SOPA.

Rather, we want to protect the integrity of the internet and our Constitutional rights to free speech. SOPA is one of the Biggest threats to that in the last 50 years.
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E. Zachary Knight (profile), 19 Dec 2011 @ 9:25am

Re: Re: Re: letter to Reps
That particular AC probably thinks about his/her/its comments as much as you do.
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The eejit (profile), 19 Dec 2011 @ 9:28am

Re: Re: Et tu, senators?
I would prefer that they were all lied up and shot, but mostly because they betray principles that the US was actually founded upon: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. These sick fucks want to curtail the secondary of these for the sake of a few imaginry people's latter.

I think that this may be the wrong way to do it, but when your political system is so easily subverted, then perhaps it is time to nuke it and start again.
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E. Zachary Knight (profile), 19 Dec 2011 @ 9:30am

Re: ...
There three main bills at issue here.

On the Senate Side we have Protect IP Act (PIPA) and the Felony Streaming Bill.

On the House Side we have the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) which is a bastardization of the two bills in the Senate.

While all three bills are bad in their own rights, SOPA is the worst of them all.
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The eejit (profile), 19 Dec 2011 @ 9:31am

Re: Re: Re: letter to Reps
It's not just this, though: this is a culmination of many years of assault on the public's fundamental rights, for the sake of imaginary people and their imaginary property.

There is little trust that the US won't play political football with their debts; there is little trust that the US won't treat people they don't like (internally AND externally) as enemy combatants; there is little trust in the politicking that goes on in the Capitol; and finally, there is little trust that these bills actually benefit anyone real.
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The eejit (profile), 19 Dec 2011 @ 9:35am

Re: Re: Re: letter to Reps
Also, if I'm a zealot, what does that make you? Mom's Imaginary Shit Pie?
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el_segfaulto (profile), 19 Dec 2011 @ 9:36am

Re: Re:
By their own extremely broad interpretation of "terrorism", I believe the U.S. government does qualify as a terrorist organization. They are the legitimate government (like Hamas) but rule through fear (TSA and power abusing police), divisiveness (partisan bickering), and have zero concept of representing their constituents.

My government has the ability to destroy my life through any number of hazily defined laws, they'll soon have the ability to detain me indefinitely through hazily defined acts of "terrorism", and they'll soon be able to monitor my web usage through an overly broad act to fight the bogeyman of piracy.

"..voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country."

Hermann G�ring
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Austin Dave, 19 Dec 2011 @ 9:37am

money trail
here is a link to show the bribes recieved from these crooks.

http://reporting.sunlightfoundation.com/2011/legacy-media-bankrolling-campaigns-of-SOPA-c onsponsors/
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Dec 2011 @ 9:38am

This is a little off topic but, considering that Mike brought up that 2012 is an election year in the US, could you fund your own candidate for election using Kickstarter? Or some other crowdsourced means?

For full disclosure, I am not American, so I have (almost) no knowledge of the US electoral system.
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Dementia (profile), 19 Dec 2011 @ 9:39am

List of the 40
Mike, could you please post a list of the 40 who have already signed on, or a link to where we can find this information.

Thanks.
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Dec 2011 @ 9:41am

Re: ...
Given that Obama picked Mr Corp "Biden" as his VP, I don't see him vetoing ANY of these bills.
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Engy, 19 Dec 2011 @ 9:43am

Re: Re: Et tu, senators?
Have fun with the wreckage of the Internet, then.

Oh wait, you can't. The DNS system is broken and average people/idiot congressmen don't know what an IP address is for.
I'd fix it for you, but you'll just pass more BS legislation and break it again, so figure it out yourself; you obviously know everything if you think SOPA/PIPA are good ideas.
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Keroberos (profile), 19 Dec 2011 @ 9:44am

Of course they're unaware of the public opinion and the opposition to these bills. Haven't you heard, politicians have evolved into a new subspecies of humanity that is totally incapable of hearing unless large amounts of high denomination currency is rustled in their ears.
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Dec 2011 @ 9:59am

Re:
Its rather sad that:
1. We tend to think of our Government as corrupt and can be bought.
2. That our Government doesn't care that we think that of them.
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Dec 2011 @ 10:03am

Re: Re: Re: letter to Reps
"THe fact that you suggest violent insurrection and death over a law that simply makes stealing digital content harder is absolutely amazing."

Do you know how to read, boy?

SOPA will basically do what China, Turkey, and other repressive regimes do to their citizens' access to the Internet, except that the control will be in the hands of a few corporations, not the government itself, at least until the corporations overtly take over that,as well.
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Dec 2011 @ 10:06am

Re: Re: Re: letter to Reps
Yes, violent insurrection against unjust laws sponsored by puppets and written by coporations is entirely appropriate. Your lack of backbone is part of the reason this country is in the position it is in. FOOLS like you are the reason our "elected" congress has passed laws like the National Defense Authorization Act. Coupled with SOPA/Protect IP, has there ever been a more blatant power grab and destruction of the principles of our inborn HUMAN RIGHTS? Rights, I might remind you, that are guaranteed to be protected by the Bill of Rights? These encroachments on our freedoms should not be allowed to stand, and if it takes violent insurrection to cast down such unmitigated corruption then count me as a partisan, because Fools like you are more interested in your comforts than you are in EVERYONE's freedom. You can sit at home and be a willing participant in the problem while PATRIOTS like myself stand up for the RIGHTS you should expect to be protected by the government.
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Dec 2011 @ 10:11am

If things keep going as they are and this and other bills like it get passed, state secession may not be as far off as many of us might think. Movements toward this end are already underway in many states. All it'll take is some kind of match to light the fuse on the powder keg this country has become.
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Kevin H (profile), 19 Dec 2011 @ 10:19am

Re: So...
Im sure (like the Health Care package) that they put in there somewhere that that are excluded from those actions.
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E. Zachary Knight (profile), 19 Dec 2011 @ 10:25am

Re:
I think election campaigns are a bit out of Kickstarter's scope. However, a site dedicated to political campaigns for those who support internet freedom and the US Constitution might be a sweet idea.

However, you might end up going against some obscure election law on either the Federal or state level or possibly both. So the overall legality of it could be questionable.

However, running such a fund raiser yourself might not be such a bad idea.
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Dec 2011 @ 10:28am

Re: Re: Re: Et tu, senators?
Why don't you worry about the sorry state of affairs in your own country and butt the hell out?
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Dec 2011 @ 10:30am

Re: Re: Re: Re: letter to Reps
That particular AC probably thinks about his/her/its comments as much as you do.

You won't see me suggesting violence or murder if the bills fail.
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Dec 2011 @ 10:31am

Re: Re: Re: Re: letter to Reps
You're not just a zealot, but a foreigner who has no voice in American politics. Bugger off.
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Logan2057 (profile), 19 Dec 2011 @ 10:32am

Re: Who are the 40?
Here's the answer on ZDNET Government. All forty of the wing nuts who support this bill are named in the story.
Logan
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/government/sopa-so-how-much-does-it-cost-to-buy-off-america s-internet-freedom
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Logan2057 (profile), 19 Dec 2011 @ 10:34am

Re: Who are the 40?
Sorry about that I removed the link to the story.
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/government/sopa-so-how-much-does-it-cost-to-buy-off-americas-inter net-freedom/11050?tag=nl.e539
Logan
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Dec 2011 @ 10:35am

Re: List of the 40
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s112-968

Click on the "Show Cosponsors (40)" link.
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Dec 2011 @ 10:38am

Re: Re: Re: letter to Reps
" a law that simply makes stealing digital content harder"

if only it was simple and if only that was all it did.

Maybe he has a problem with the obvious political corruption and not so much with his torrentz. Do you ever not lie shortly before you hit submit?
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Dec 2011 @ 10:40am

Looks like 39 now
Senator Jerry Moran is listed as having withdrawn his sponsorship of the bill.
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Aaron *Head* Moss (profile), 19 Dec 2011 @ 10:41am

Re: List of the 40
Here's a list I found ( at http://messageboards.aol.com/aol/en_us/articles.php?boardId=551411&articleId=957379&func=6&a mp;filterHidden=true&filterUnhidden=&filterRead=true ):

* Rep. Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee

* Rep. Mary Bono Mack, California

* Rep. John Carter, Texas

* Rep. Steven Chabot, Ohio

* Rep. Elton Gallegly, California

* Rep. Robert Goodlatte, Virginia

* Rep. Tim Griffin, Arkansas

* Rep. Peter King, New York

* Rep. Thomas Marino, Pennsylvania

* Rep. Alan Nunnelee, Mississippi

* Rep. Dennis Ross, Florida

* Rep. Steve Scalise, Louisiana

* Rep. Lee Terry, Nebraska

* Sen. Lamar Alexander, Tennessee

* Sen. Kelly Ayotte, New Hampshire

* Sen. Roy Blunt, Missouri

* Sen. John Boozman, Arkansas

* Sen. Saxby Chambliss, Georgia

* Sen. Thad Cochran, Mississippi

* Sen. Bob Corker, Tennessee

* Sen. Michael Enzi, Wyoming

* Sen. Lindsey Graham, South Carolina

* Sen. Charles Grassley, Iowa

* Sen. Orrin Hatch, Utah

* Sen. John Isakson, Georgia

* Sen. James Risch, Idaho

* Sen. Marco Rubio, Florida

* Sen. David Vitter, Louisiana
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Dec 2011 @ 10:42am

Re: Looks like 39 now - wrong
Sorry I can't count. 39 cosponsors + the bill sponsor (leahy) makes 40.
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Hephaestus (profile), 19 Dec 2011 @ 10:44am

Re: Re: Re: Re: letter to Reps
I get the feeling that these politicians feel the end coming. They seem to be out to grab as much as they can before this 25 year free for all ends. The federal and state government on the edge insolvency, blatant pandering to corporate interests, passing laws that violate the constitution and erode our rights, old school businesses making all the wrong decisions, all leading to a lack of support and belief in the federal government. It seems like we are living in a twisted version of the book Atlas Shrugged ...
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Aaron *Head* Moss (profile), 19 Dec 2011 @ 10:47am

Re: Re: List of the 40
And to make it easy, here's from the link posted by AC:

Cosponsors:
Lamar Alexander [R-TN]
Kelly Ayotte [R-NH]
Michael Bennet [D-CO]
Jeff Bingaman [D-NM]
Richard Blumenthal [D-CT]
Roy Blunt [R-MO]

John Boozman [R-AR]
Barbara Boxer [D-CA]
Sherrod Brown [D-OH]
Benjamin Cardin [D-MD]
Robert Casey [D-PA]
Saxby Chambliss [R-GA]

Thad Cochran [R-MS]
Chris Coons [D-DE]
Bob Corker [R-TN]
Richard Durbin [D-IL]
Michael Enzi [R-WY]
Dianne Feinstein [D-CA]

Al Franken [D-MN]
Kirsten Gillibrand [D-NY]
Lindsey Graham [R-SC]
Charles Grassley [R-IA]
Kay Hagan [D-NC]
Orrin Hatch [R-UT]

John Isakson [R-GA]
Tim Johnson [D-SD]
Amy Klobuchar [D-MN]
Herbert Kohl [D-WI]
Mary Landrieu [D-LA]
Joseph Lieberman [I-CT]

John McCain [R-AZ]
Robert Men�ndez [D-NJ]
Bill Nelson [D-FL]
James Risch [R-ID]
Marco Rubio [R-FL]
Charles Schumer [D-NY]

Jeanne Shaheen [D-NH]
Tom Udall [D-NM]
David Vitter [R-LA]
Sheldon Whitehouse [D-RI]
Jerry Moran [R-KS] (wi
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Erik (profile), 19 Dec 2011 @ 10:54am

Educational Video for Harry Reid
Senator Reid, I've been watching you as you continue to support PIPA, and I don't get the impression that you understand how computers work.

But don't worry, I have found an educational video that should explain it to you at an introductory level. Perhaps one of your staffers could let you borrow their laptop* long enough for you to watch it:

"The Magic School Bus Gets Programmed" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_skkHGWN7dk

*Laptop: A computer that is small enough to be portable; indeed, a laptop computer is small enough to rest upon one's lap, hence the name.
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IwjwI, 19 Dec 2011 @ 10:55am

Re: ... So many bills doing same thing
The bill s. 1867 that gives BHO authority to disappear us into FEMA camps forever without legal representation has the same kind of language in it that gives BHO authority to flip a kill switch of the Internet any time he wants to do it.

The reason why there are so many bills is to make certain that all the bad things that take away our freedom is covered.
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btrussell (profile), 19 Dec 2011 @ 11:02am

Re: Re: Re: letter to Reps
It isn't this.

This is just another straw.
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The eejit (profile), 19 Dec 2011 @ 11:03am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Et tu, senators?
Because I'm owrking on World Domination, of course.
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The eejit (profile), 19 Dec 2011 @ 11:05am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: letter to Reps
But American politics seems to be butting in its nose everywehre else. I'd like it to leave me the fuck alone, but if wishes were petrol we'd never have to worry again.
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The eejit (profile), 19 Dec 2011 @ 11:07am

Re: Re:
"IF you're steaqling lots of money, you're either the government or a hero."

-Sir Terry Pratchett, Going Postal
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Skeptical Cynic (profile), 19 Dec 2011 @ 11:15am

Mike, When has Harry Reid cared about anything...
but his own self? He is and always will be a take from those that actually work and give to those that will vote for me Democrat.
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Skeptical Cynic (profile), 19 Dec 2011 @ 11:19am

Re: Re: Re: List of the 40
17 Republicans, to 27 Democrats. Guess it's easy to follow the money from here.

Blast them in anyway you can.

I am so mad at the GA dumb-asses that I am going to start a recall movement. Saxby and Isakson will hear from me and WSB tomorrow.
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Philip, 19 Dec 2011 @ 11:19am

Harry Reid
Even if you don't live in Reid's district, donate money and lobby for whoever opposes him, lets get him and all the jerks like him out of office and see that they stay out.
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E. Zachary Knight (profile), 19 Dec 2011 @ 11:34am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: letter to Reps
Yeah, but you have no problem classifying every person who opposes SOPA as a pirate or a "freetard".
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Skeptical Cynic (profile), 19 Dec 2011 @ 11:43am

Re: Harry Reid
Please do. Also send thanks to Barney Frank for helping America by leaving.
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Skeptical Cynic (profile), 19 Dec 2011 @ 11:46am

Re: Et tu, senators?
They don't need to be killed. They need to be brought to justice for selling our children's future to the people that believe that it is best to take then it is to earn.
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kirillian (profile), 19 Dec 2011 @ 11:49am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: letter to Reps
I don't know who the heck you are, but I am familiar with the eejit. Whether I agree with all of his stances or not, he's not offensive. You are. Please leave or provide value to this conversation rather than trying to derail it with diatribes.
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Dec 2011 @ 11:50am

Re: Re: Re: letter to Reps
THe fact that you suggest violent insurrection and death over a law that simply makes stealing digital content harder is absolutely amazing.

If all the law did was to make copyright infringement more difficult, there would be no real opposition, violent or otherwise.

This law is not that. It won't make copyright infringement that much more difficult, but it does shred a number of fundamental, Constitutionally-protected right. That's why there's so much opposition and it's so vehement.
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Skeptical Cynic (profile), 19 Dec 2011 @ 11:57am

Harry Reid. IP Protect.
Sounds like a fiction story of the last person in the world that could possibly understand the solution. Or what they are proposing as a solution.
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Dec 2011 @ 12:19pm

Re: So...
only if we the people arrest them.

ya its getting to that point
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Gus Jenkins, 19 Dec 2011 @ 12:21pm

Re: Re: Re: letter to Reps
This is from another long forgotten Document: The Declaration Of independence:

"...We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Dec 2011 @ 12:22pm

Re: Re: Looks like 39 now - wrong
Barbara boxer of California has signed on as well so that's 41 (I believe).
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Dec 2011 @ 12:25pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Et tu, senators?
Hahaha, was this meant to be funny - you know a play on how the US interferes with every other country in the world?
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Wildo, 19 Dec 2011 @ 12:31pm

Re:
They really are hurting for money. It is expensive to pump out garbage electronic music and remakes of movies that came out 15 years ago.
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Nick Taylor, 19 Dec 2011 @ 12:34pm

How about a 99% campaign to replace the entire senate?
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Anonymous, 19 Dec 2011 @ 12:34pm

It's not that these people are so out of touch. They hear us. They just don't care.
It all boils down to control. When they can control what information gets in and gets out, they control everything. What the people will see and hear, what they should and shouldn't think, do and should not do. It's about complete control. And why not? They already control so much already. Why not control it all now?
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Dec 2011 @ 12:40pm

Re: Re: ...
Who do you people think you're fooling? You and Masnick would oppose any anti-piracy law. lol
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FM Hilton, 19 Dec 2011 @ 1:08pm

Going underground
When the Internet finally dies from over-zealous stupidity, and everyone who wants a free internet goes under the radar, then RIAA, MPAA and all those idiots will finally get what they wanted.
Nothing.
There will be nothing left for them to control, because from what I understand, there's already a movement to delist sites that are being done right now-by the time this totalitarian government full of pea brains finally figures out that they weren't smart to do it, it will be too late to bring it back.
All advertising outlets gone. They like money? It's done..game over.
All profitable websites, gone. Bye, bye Amazon.
Youtube, gone.
FB gone. Can't talk to anyone.
When all is said and done, it will just magically disappear.

As for me, I'm willing to pull the plug-totally. I'd rather live without the damned thing than to put up with some sneaky sob telling me that I'm a pirate by virtue of clicking on a link.

Then they can all go to hell when RIAA and all those fools finally get the message.
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techflaws.org (profile), 19 Dec 2011 @ 1:13pm

Re: Re: Re: letter to Reps
THe fact that you suggest violent insurrection and death over a law that simply makes stealing digital content harder is absolutely amazin

No it's not cause as you perfectly well know this law if far from simply making stealing harder. BTW, how do you steal digital content?
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The eejit (profile), 19 Dec 2011 @ 1:22pm

Re: Re: Re: ...
And I would find you and mock you mercilessly, were you not too cowardly to have a name.
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Dec 2011 @ 2:52pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: letter to Reps
Yeah, but you have no problem classifying every person who opposes SOPA as a pirate or a "freetard".

No I think some are simply dupes who have partaken of the FUD kool-aid. That hardly puts me in the same league as those suggesting violence, murder or insurrection.
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Dec 2011 @ 2:57pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: letter to Reps
I don't know who the heck you are, but I am familiar with the eejit. Whether I agree with all of his stances or not, he's not offensive. You are. Please leave or provide value to this conversation rather than trying to derail it with diatribes.

Well your man-crush eejit said this:

"I would prefer that they were all lied up and shot, but mostly because they betray principles that the US was actually founded upon: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. These sick fucks want to curtail the secondary of these for the sake of a few imaginry people's latter."

If you don't find that offensive (and a diatribe), perhaps you need to take another look at that.
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Dec 2011 @ 3:02pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: letter to Reps
"THe fact that you suggest violent insurrection and death over a law that simply makes stealing digital content harder is absolutely amazing."

If all the law did was to make copyright infringement more difficult, there would be no real opposition, violent or otherwise.

This law is not that. It won't make copyright infringement that much more difficult, but it does shred a number of fundamental, Constitutionally-protected right. That's why there's so much opposition and it's so vehement.

You need to follow the discussion along. Opponents have long conceded the First Amendment issue. They know it was thin to start with and every passing day it get weaker. Today's argument is that DNS blocking will break the internet. But that lie is being debunked before the Judiciary as we speak:

http://www.hightechforum.org/my-dns-filtering-research-before-house-sopa
-panel/
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Dec 2011 @ 3:02pm

Re: Going underground
they will exist, just not in the US.
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Dec 2011 @ 3:05pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: List of the 40
hahahaha... you won't do shit. Make sure you post your recall petition here so we can all laugh at you.
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The eejit (profile), 19 Dec 2011 @ 4:01pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: letter to Reps
The fact that you do find it offensive is telling. Not, I assure you, of your intelligence, but of your inability to stand up to evil.

I'll leave you with a quote from Sir Winston Churchill:

"All it takes for evil to win is for good men to do nothing."
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Joe dirt, 19 Dec 2011 @ 4:14pm

Enforcing SOPA-style
https://rt.com/usa/news/us-court-sopa-morris-203/
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Dec 2011 @ 5:42pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Et tu, senators?
Why don't you respond with something substantive to this person's concerns, which are being mirrored by US citizens like myself?
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Dec 2011 @ 5:44pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: letter to Reps
Insurrection is a valid response to government holding secret courts, detaining citizens without recourse to trial, and stripping rights guaranteed in the constitution.
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Skeptical Cynic (profile), 19 Dec 2011 @ 5:58pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: List of the 40
Make sure you post your real name so that we can respond to you. Anyone that posts to a forum that allows you to use a pseudonym as Anonymous is just simply not worth reading.

Here is the Saxby petition.

Hey,

I just signed the petition "Saxby Chambliss: Vote against PROTECT IP " and wanted to see if you could help by adding your name.

Our goal is to reach 100 signatures and we need more support. You can read more and sign the petition here:

http://www.change.org/petitions/saxby-chambliss-vote-against-protect-ip
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Joe, 19 Dec 2011 @ 7:40pm

MPAA bitches
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/x-men-wolverine-pirate-sentenced-hugh-jackman-275453
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Dec 2011 @ 8:46pm

Re: Re: Et tu, senators?
>This is why no one takes the freeloading zealots seriously. You really want to execute people for passing legislation that may inhibit your ability to get something of value for free? What a bunch of truly sick fucks you are.

Stick it up your ass. They already have the power to remove copyrighted material and SOPA/PROTECT can be easily evaded by pirates, this is censorship in the guise of copyright protection, and corruption.

They deserve imprisonment for their corruption.
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Jay (profile), 19 Dec 2011 @ 9:18pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: letter to Reps
Hmmm... Believe the MPAA or the one who helped to create the internet (Paul Vixie)...

Decisions, decisions...
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Jay (profile), 19 Dec 2011 @ 9:27pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: letter to Reps
Small note, George Ou is heavy on rhetorical writing. Less so on details. He doesn't explain how this is not fracturing the internet, mainly that he disagrees with the 83 other engineers who say this will break the internet.
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jupiterkansas (profile), 20 Dec 2011 @ 6:23am

Re: Re:
Feelings? I doubt he has any feelings.
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Anonymous Coward, 20 Dec 2011 @ 8:57am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: letter to Reps
Funny, I seem to recall Rep. Berman reading a Vixie statement into the record at the hearing. Don't remember it being helpful either
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PT, 20 Dec 2011 @ 10:50am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: letter to Reps
Yes, but post-SOPA we'll never hear about them, so there will be no public unrest.
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Anonymous Coward, 20 Dec 2011 @ 8:23pm

Re: Re: Re: letter to Reps
You do realize the issues with this bill aren't related to Piracy. This Bill will hardly do anything to curb piracy. It's reach is so large that Large Corporation's can avoid due process to pretty much censor anything they feel is even slightly "copyright" infringement. They will be able to get items and sites pulled that aren't actually infringement, just sites that they do not like because THEY CAN.

A Perfect example is the song about MegaUpload that Universal Media Group immediately tried to have removed from Youtube. They were citing Copyright Infringement, when none had actually taken place. Universal Media group didn't want people viewing the video. Youtube has put the video back up, but if SOPA or Protect IP were in effect, Universal Media Group could have the video pulled for "copyright" infringement" when they don't even have the rights too.
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Anonymous Coward, 21 Dec 2011 @ 8:45am

those greedy rich jews
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Concerned, 21 Dec 2011 @ 10:21am

NDAA, SOPA, PIPA, Patriot Act (& its Secret Interpretation)
To me this all amounts to one simple, painfully obvious realization: it's time for...

...A NEW PARTY SYSTEM!

If it takes 25 years of lost elections, we will not be at a loss if we all start voting for Greens on the Left and Libertarians on the Right. Wall Street's 2 parties are thoroughly infiltrated and thoroughly corrupt.
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mostly because..., 4 Jan 2012 @ 9:31am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: letter to Reps
your a coward.
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hmmm, 4 Jan 2012 @ 9:33am

Re: Re: List of the 40
lindsey g.....how did i know that little rat#### was part of this?
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really ac?, 4 Jan 2012 @ 9:38am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: List of the 40
well i do love to suprise people....
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