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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

#91

Post by temphn »

tptacek wrote: post #34
miked wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is the same hyperpartisan Senator who was at the forefront of the effort to deny habeas rights to Guantanamo inmates. The Entitled Party had complete control of the House and a 60 senator supermajority in the Senate for the first year of Obama's presidency, not to mention near complete control of the "news" media, Hollywood, television, the arts, the unions, etc, etc. If they wanted to introduce habeas rights fo…

I can't tell if this is a markov generator trolling me or not. All I can tell you is: I'm glad the questions are being asked, but don't go assuming John Cornyn is a friend to hackers.

Who defines what a hacker is? The definition certainly does not include fealty to state power, let alone respect for Obama or any political party. You seem to believe that HN is a Democrat Party auxiliary.

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

#92

Post by snogglethorpe »

AnIrishDuck wrote: post #24
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. This is poisoning the well. There are some good questions in the posted letter. Unfortunately, we are unlikely to get good answers. Whatever their political stripes or past failings, at least someone is willing to press the issue instead of…

> This is poisoning the well. There are some good questions in the posted letter. Whatever their political stripes or past failings, at least someone is willing to press the issue instead of dropping it.

Note that if the questioner is generally viewed as someone who would ask such questions merely as an attack strategy (something which is depressingly common in the GOP these days), that's going to make it easier for the administration to avoid giving a meaningful answer; his reputation gives them some cover.

For the same reason, somebody who's viewed as a friend of the administration asking the same questions would be much more painful.

So for better or for worse, it does matter somewhat who's doing the asking...

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

#93

Post by tlear »

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…

Do you see democrats lining up to ask even 1/10th of this? Anyone? Anywhere?.. Why would that be?

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

#94

Post by zevyoura »

newbie12 wrote: post #81
michael_nielsen wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Cornyn has for many years been a leader on open access to science. Together with Joe Lieberman he introduced the Federal Research Public Access Act (FRPAA) into Congress in 2006. This Act would, if passed, make almost all scientific publications funded by the US Govt openly accessible within 6 months of publication: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Research_Public_Access_... The act has not yet passed. It was re-…

Sen. Cornyn is also the former Attorney General for Texas and a former judge. He's a serious guy on these issues and one of the top thinkers on judiciary issues for the GOP.

You guys are forgetting the most notable thing about John Cornyn: this unbelievable (real) ad that he ran for his campaign a couple years back. I give you... Big Bad John: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vcB7uCqdFk

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

#95

Post by TWAndrews »

Regardless of eventual outcome, I think it's probably safe to say that Ortiz's post-Justice department political career is probably done.

I don't see how she could win a democratic primary in Massachusetts anymore--too many other ambitious Dems who'd have field day with this, and Republican opposition will keep her from being appointed to anything requiring confirmation.

It's a lot less than she deserves, but there's some gratification in the thought that the over-aggressive prosecution which was most likely designed to advance her political career will prevent it.

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

#96

Post by TWAndrews »

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…

Our political system was built such that the venal interests of politicians would motivate them to check a) over-reaches of the other branches of government and b) the excesses of the other party.

It would be nice if progressives were up-in-arms about overreach in the Justice Department of a Democratic president, but it's not to be expected. Even if it's just republican point scoring, it's still someone holding the Justice department to account.

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

#97

Post by jessaustin »

justin66 wrote: post #75
rayiner wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Oh sure, people like the DOJ conceptually. But nobody ever likes the actual DOJ that exists at any given time. To a liberal, the DOJ is in the abstract the agency that enforces anti-trust laws or the like against big companies. But the actual DOJ is the one going after people growing weed. To a conservative, the DOJ in the abstract is the agency that goes after drug traffickers. But the actual DOJ is the one meddling…

It seems like you're just assuming that everyone has a very simple, AM radio view of their government. Things like disliking the political appointees of an institution rather than the institution itself, or disliking parts of an institution rather than the whole, are not difficult distinctions to make. Similarly, I can judge the work output of any institution and my opinion is not likely to be 100% positive or 100% n…

It seems like you're just assuming that everyone has a very simple, AM radio view of their government.

Which of the ancestors to that comment could have led anyone to believe that?

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

#98

Post by dmix »

TWAndrews wrote: post #95

Regardless of eventual outcome, I think it's probably safe to say that Ortiz's post-Justice department political career is probably done. I don't see how she could win a democratic primary in Massachusetts anymore--too many other ambitious Dems who'd have field day with this, and Republican opposition will keep her from being appointed to anything requiring confirmation. It's a lot less than she deserves, but there's…

> too many other ambitious Dems who'd have field day with this

If they don't at first, the internet will make sure they do.

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

#99

Post by tptacek »

temphn wrote: post #91
tptacek wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can't tell if this is a markov generator trolling me or not. All I can tell you is: I'm glad the questions are being asked, but don't go assuming John Cornyn is a friend to hackers.

Who defines what a hacker is? The definition certainly does not include fealty to state power, let alone respect for Obama or any political party. You seem to believe that HN is a Democrat Party auxiliary.

It is refreshing, at least, for people on HN to assume I'm a partisan of the Democratic party instead of the other one. :)

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

#100

Post by dmix »

detst wrote: post #84
tptacek wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm happy the questions are being asked, but Cornyn's no friend of civil liberties and I suggest you keep that in mind.

But you've completely derailed this post. I think you could have raised awareness about this man while also keeping the discussion on the positive aspect of these questions being asked at all.

This is what happens when defending or attacking people based on allegiance to political parties. All rational arguments in place get lost in favor of ad hominem platitudes.
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