Lieberman's "Kill" Switch and Obama's Response

[demwing]

As you no doubt have heard, Joe Lieberman, in an effort to show why no one cares that he left the Democratic Party, is at it again...

Sen. Joseph Lieberman on Sunday dismissed the idea that a recently introduced bill would give the president access to an Internet kill switch as "misinformation." He then said, however, that the government needs to be able to "disconnect parts of its Internet in a case of war."

Slow Joe then added:

"Right now, China, the government, can disconnect parts of its Internet in a case of war. We need to have that here, too," Lieberman concluded.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2365393,00.asp

LOL. Yes Joe, we need to model our Civil Liberties to be MORE like China's. And we really don't need an Internet "Kill" Switch, we just need a switch that can terminate the Internet, with extreme prejudice.

The best part though is a bit of breaking news. President Obama heard about the bill and responded:

Scroll down for response...

[Ter]

1. Let's say the government put the switch on

Would people come to the streets? Civil War II?

[demwing]

2. Not unless our Youtube and Porn was cut off

Those are the great opiates of our time

[vaberella]

3. Where is the link where Obama proposes his own kill switch?! n/t

[demwing]

4. Ahh... I was too lazy to Photoshop the faceplate down to one switch

so I tried to show that Obama left the Internet switch ON, and went straight for the STFU switch.

My lame attempt at humor...:shrug:

[vaberella]

16. It's not lame. It's hard for me to get jokes on the net. ~sigh~

I really have to get on top of that. :( I just thought your post implied that Obama left the option of a "kill switch" on...so I see that wasn't your intention though.

[Davis_X_Machina]

5. Is there less to Lieberman's proposal...

...than meets the eye?

A review of the 1934 Telecommunications Act (as amended in 1996) does indicate that the President has broad powers to simply shut off any and all regulated telecommunications if he deems it necessary for national security.

[demwing]

8. And the Internet is a regulated telecommunication?

[Davis_X_Machina]

13. The last bit, from your router to your wi-fi card certainly is.

Any satellite link is. Any cellular leg in the signal path is. Under existing law, all are subject to closure, or regulation, at the discretion of the president

the President, if he deems it necessary in the interest of national security or defense, may suspend or amend, for such time as he may see fit, the rules and regulations applicable to any or all stations or devices capable of emitting electromagnetic radiations within the jurisdiction of the United States as prescribed by the Commission.

(The bit in the old 1934 act limiting regulation to spectrum below 100 MHz is, of course, subject to amendment 'in the interest of national security and defense'.)

"The Internet" is free to run...but the telecommunications infrastructure it runs over is absolutely covered.

[demwing]

15. Yeah I know, I'm just poking ya in the ribs

Portions are regulated, but the whole weakest link in the chain bit applies. No one can "shut off" the Internet, but no one has to. Which makes you wonder what Lieberman REALLY wants to accomplish with this bill...regulation, or dominition?

[leftofcool]

6. I believe this post violates the rules

the "STFU" along with the name Lieberman? Thought we were no longer supposed to demean "democrats."

[demwing]

9. Well little did Lieberman know that "Independent" meant

"Independent of the rules that protect Democrats on DU"

It's his own damn fault you know. Complete lack of foresight...

[Political Tiger]

11. LIEberman is not a Democrat.

And he hasn't been for a long time. I thought by now everyone would know that.

[Uzybone]

18. willful ignorance

sometimes people don't mind looking uninformed when trying to make a petty point.

[Catherina]

7. Bookmarked for the day Obama incorporates Lieberman's idea n/t

[Tailormyst]

10. I think I love you!

[demwing]

12. HA! Yeah, maybe I'm a little too trusting

Obama has never even felt around in the dark for such a switch in the past. Does one already exist? We'll never know...

[Catherina]

14. Demwing, you're a great sport. Thank you. I hope you're right and I'm wrong n/t

[demwing]

17. We share that hope, but everything's eventual, and we shall see

still, the sight gag worked better this way

[Blue Owl]

19. Memo to Joe Lieberman

FUCK YOU

[demwing]

20. Blue Owl?

You don't say much, but when you do, it's direct and to the point.