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U.S. Senator Questions Attorney General about Aaron Swartz

cornyn.senate.gov

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Re: U.S. Senator Questions Attorney General about Aaron Swartz

#51

Post by jacoblyles »

tptacek wrote: post #3

This is the same hyperpartisan Senator who was at the forefront of the effort to deny habeas rights to Guantanamo inmates; he was also involved in the Bush wiretapping scandal. Expect to see lots of superficial genuflection from Republicans towards the Swartz case; the GOP is in a constant low-grade conflict with the Democratic DoJ. Here, let me put it this way: what do you honestly think Aaron Swartz would think abo…

Thomas, could you be any more hateful? The guy is doing something right. Who cares if he's a Republican?

Re: U.S. Senator Questions Attorney General about Aaron Swartz

#52

Post by waterlesscloud »

tptacek wrote: post #3

This is the same hyperpartisan Senator who was at the forefront of the effort to deny habeas rights to Guantanamo inmates; he was also involved in the Bush wiretapping scandal. Expect to see lots of superficial genuflection from Republicans towards the Swartz case; the GOP is in a constant low-grade conflict with the Democratic DoJ. Here, let me put it this way: what do you honestly think Aaron Swartz would think abo…

If we're going to play that game, let's play it all the way.

Ortiz has been talked about as a candidate for senator. With Kerry moving to Sec of State, there's a senate seat in Mass. opening up. Scott Brown just lost the seat for the Republicans and will probably be running for the new opening to gain it back. By taking on Ortiz, Cornyn is removing a potentially strong competitor to Brown.

But really, who cares what games are going on in the background?

Ortiz shouldn't have a career in politics, and it's not going to be people in her own party that stop her.

Re: U.S. Senator Questions Attorney General about Aaron Swartz

#53

Post by MartinCron »

dos1 wrote: post #50
tptacek wrote: post #3

This is the same hyperpartisan Senator who was at the forefront of the effort to deny habeas rights to Guantanamo inmates; he was also involved in the Bush wiretapping scandal. Expect to see lots of superficial genuflection from Republicans towards the Swartz case; the GOP is in a constant low-grade conflict with the Democratic DoJ. Here, let me put it this way: what do you honestly think Aaron Swartz would think abo…

> what do you honestly think Aaron Swartz would think about this clown using his name to score political points? I'm not sure I understand why the "clown" scoring political points is so bad. Where in the rulebook does it state that doing the right thing must be completely devoid of agenda or beneficial byproducts? Take, for example, volunteering. There are many who "volunteer" because they have to - whether it be for…

It sounds like you're saying that the means justify the means.

Re: U.S. Senator Questions Attorney General about Aaron Swartz

#54

Post by tptacek »

waterlesscloud wrote: post #52
tptacek wrote: post #3

This is the same hyperpartisan Senator who was at the forefront of the effort to deny habeas rights to Guantanamo inmates; he was also involved in the Bush wiretapping scandal. Expect to see lots of superficial genuflection from Republicans towards the Swartz case; the GOP is in a constant low-grade conflict with the Democratic DoJ. Here, let me put it this way: what do you honestly think Aaron Swartz would think abo…

If we're going to play that game, let's play it all the way. Ortiz has been talked about as a candidate for senator. With Kerry moving to Sec of State, there's a senate seat in Mass. opening up. Scott Brown just lost the seat for the Republicans and will probably be running for the new opening to gain it back. By taking on Ortiz, Cornyn is removing a potentially strong competitor to Brown. But really, who cares what…

Huh? Ortiz isn't a contender for MA-Senate. That seat is going to Ed Markey.

I am 100% with you on the need to stay on top of Ortiz and limit her career. I have the same problem in my home state with Anita Alvarez, who is also being groomed for bigger things.

I have no problem with the questions Cornyn is asking. Let's just keep him from being adopted as an Internet Superhero. He's not one of those.

Re: U.S. Senator Questions Attorney General about Aaron Swartz

#55

Post by tptacek »

MartinCron wrote: post #53
dos1 wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> what do you honestly think Aaron Swartz would think about this clown using his name to score political points? I'm not sure I understand why the "clown" scoring political points is so bad. Where in the rulebook does it state that doing the right thing must be completely devoid of agenda or beneficial byproducts? Take, for example, volunteering. There are many who "volunteer" because they have to - whether it be for…

It sounds like you're saying that the means justify the means.

There's nothing wrong with appreciating Cornyn's questions. I just think you should appreciate them ruefully.

Re: U.S. Senator Questions Attorney General about Aaron Swartz

#56

Post by spinchange »

tptacek wrote: post #3

This is the same hyperpartisan Senator who was at the forefront of the effort to deny habeas rights to Guantanamo inmates; he was also involved in the Bush wiretapping scandal. Expect to see lots of superficial genuflection from Republicans towards the Swartz case; the GOP is in a constant low-grade conflict with the Democratic DoJ. Here, let me put it this way: what do you honestly think Aaron Swartz would think abo…

I am loath to politicize this any further, but since you're highlighting the context, I feel compelled to note it is the Democratic DoJ who is staffed at the highest levels with former IP-industry trade representatives. It is the Democratic executive branch that made these appointments and has made IP enforcement a top priority for said Democratic DoJ, including the Joint DoJ Task Force[1], IPEC [2], and across the Government generally [3]

Also, worth pointing out is how SOPA didn't really "die" until Paul Ryan and congressional Republicans abandoned it en masse. (and surprisingly, neither he nor they made scant, if any use of this fact for political purposes during the election)

As a self-identified center-left progressive, you can imagine this creates some strong cognitive dissonance for me, but the pragmatist in me can accept the strange bedfellows and opportunism for what it is. Superficial or not, is Mr. Cornyn acting in your interests or against them?

[1] http://www.justice.gov/dag/iptaskforce/ [2] http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/intellectualproperty [3] http://www.iprcenter.gov/

Re: U.S. Senator Questions Attorney General about Aaron Swartz

#57

Post by dos1 »

MartinCron wrote: post #53
dos1 wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> what do you honestly think Aaron Swartz would think about this clown using his name to score political points? I'm not sure I understand why the "clown" scoring political points is so bad. Where in the rulebook does it state that doing the right thing must be completely devoid of agenda or beneficial byproducts? Take, for example, volunteering. There are many who "volunteer" because they have to - whether it be for…

It sounds like you're saying that the means justify the means.

Yep. It sure seems like no one in Washington plays the game fairly, so you might as well score what points you can in any way that you can.

I know there are many who disagree with that.

Re: U.S. Senator Questions Attorney General about Aaron Swartz

#58

Post by dos1 »

tptacek wrote: post #55
MartinCron wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It sounds like you're saying that the means justify the means.

There's nothing wrong with appreciating Cornyn's questions. I just think you should appreciate them ruefully.

> I just think you should appreciate them ruefully.

This is a perfect description. I agree completely with the "ruefully" portion. I will still support his quest to raise trouble at the DoJ, but I do not support many of the other things for which he stands.

Re: U.S. Senator Questions Attorney General about Aaron Swartz

#59

Post by OGinparadise »

tptacek wrote: post #3

This is the same hyperpartisan Senator who was at the forefront of the effort to deny habeas rights to Guantanamo inmates; he was also involved in the Bush wiretapping scandal. Expect to see lots of superficial genuflection from Republicans towards the Swartz case; the GOP is in a constant low-grade conflict with the Democratic DoJ. Here, let me put it this way: what do you honestly think Aaron Swartz would think abo…

"This is the same hyperpartisan Senator who was at the forefront of the effort to deny habeas rights to Guantanamo inmates; he was also involved in the Bush wiretapping scandal."

So what? Does it mean that he is "wrong" about everything else?

Re: U.S. Senator Questions Attorney General about Aaron Swartz

#60

Post by tptacek »

jacoblyles wrote: post #51
tptacek wrote: post #3

This is the same hyperpartisan Senator who was at the forefront of the effort to deny habeas rights to Guantanamo inmates; he was also involved in the Bush wiretapping scandal. Expect to see lots of superficial genuflection from Republicans towards the Swartz case; the GOP is in a constant low-grade conflict with the Democratic DoJ. Here, let me put it this way: what do you honestly think Aaron Swartz would think abo…

Thomas, could you be any more hateful? The guy is doing something right. Who cares if he's a Republican?

I could be a lot more hateful about John Cornyn, who is repugnant to me and an all-around force for evil. For now, I'll just stick to the bare facts.

If Dick Cheney wrote this letter, a big chunk of HN would have no trouble identifying the problem. But very few HN'ers pay enough attention to national politics to understand that John Cornyn is one of the Senate's answers to Dick Cheney.

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