US Government seizure of privately owned internet sites

Attorney · Raleigh, NC · Member since 2008 · 4k+ posts · 1k+ votes

This is a bit disconcerting. I looked at a couple of these domains and they have been seized. I'm trying to find some background data on this story to make sure some dork didn't just make this up.

http://torrentfreak.com/u-s-government-seizes-bittorrent-search-engine-domain-and-more-101126/

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J ScottPro Member

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Investor · Sarasota, FL · Member since 2008 · 18k+ posts · 17k+ votes

15y

Originally posted by Tim Wieneke:

I'm sure now we're going to hear about the write in for the pre-withdrawn Republican candidate and how much of a difference it made.

So, now you're lecturing me on the personal decision I made in the voting booth because it didn't conform to one of the two parties in power or to your "standards"?

Seriously!?!? How friggin' arrogant are you? Time to stop drinking the Kool Aid and open your eyes to what's going on this country...

If you think it's ridiculous to vote for a candidate outside the major tickets, you're part of what's wrong with this country.

Btw,

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Mark UpdegraffBusiness Member
Real Estate Broker · Rochester, NY · Member since 2010 · 1k+ posts · 713 votes
15y
Scary!
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J ScottPro Member
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Investor · Sarasota, FL · Member since 2008 · 18k+ posts · 17k+ votes
15y
It amazes me that people didn't see this sort of thing coming 5 years ago when the government legally started wiretapping its own citizens (among the many first and fourth amendment infringements)...this is just a short leap from there and the slope is very very slippery...

Glad to see all those people who ignored our government stealing our liberties in the name of 9/11 finally starting to take notice. If we can get enough people to notice, maybe we can start taking our rights back!
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Jimmy C.
Flipper/Rehabber · Seminole, FL · Member since 2010 · 859 posts · 316 votes
15y
Dont count on the people standing up for their rights. Sure some people will be upset, but it dies down after a while. And then big brother will push a little further.
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J ScottPro Member
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Investor · Sarasota, FL · Member since 2008 · 18k+ posts · 17k+ votes
15y
Originally posted by Jimmy C.:
Dont count on the people standing up for their rights. Sure some people will be upset, but it dies down after a while. And then big brother will push a little further.

Unfortunately it's so true...

I think if people read the Patriot Act again now that some of the government-induced hysteria over 9/11 has subsided (does any know what color code we are these days?), they'd be horrified at the powers the government usurped 8 years ago...

And if our current administration would follow-through on their promise to get rid of it (which they don't seem to want to do) we'd all be much safer from our government.
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Timothy W.
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Attorney · Raleigh, NC · Member since 2008 · 4k+ posts · 1k+ votes
15y
Originally posted by J Scott:
It amazes me that people didn't see this sort of thing coming 5 years ago when the government legally started wiretapping its own citizens (among the many first and fourth amendment infringements)...this is just a short leap from there and the slope is very very slippery...
Glad to see all those people who ignored our government stealing our liberties in the name of 9/11 finally starting to take notice. If we can get enough people to notice, maybe we can start taking our rights back!

I don't disagree that there were problems with the Patriot Act but if this is no surprise to you then why were you not more vocal against the current administration during the campaign? This was no surprise to me either, but I'm pretty sure I can find a post or two of me voicing my opinions against the current administration when they were campaigning on hope and change and all that crap.
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Kimberly S.
Involved In Real Estate · Warwick, NY · Member since 2010 · 18 posts · 5 votes
15y
Looks like this appears to be true, but it also looks pretty mundane. Apparently this site was associated with an "illegal file-sharing links forum..... linking sites and several others which appear to be connected to physical counterfeit goods." Remember tat in the USA all criminal prosecution is done by government, else it is a civil suit. That is, if you steal from a private store, you are still only prosecuted by the government, who will call the store owner as a witness. Sounds like this site was corrupt and got caught.
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Timothy W.
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Attorney · Raleigh, NC · Member since 2008 · 4k+ posts · 1k+ votes
15y
Originally posted by John Starks:
Looks like this appears to be true, but it also looks pretty mundane. Apparently this site was associated with an "illegal file-sharing links forum..... linking sites and several others which appear to be connected to physical counterfeit goods." Remember tat in the USA all criminal prosecution is done by government, else it is a civil suit. That is, if you steal from a private store, you are still only prosecuted by the government, who will call the store owner as a witness. Sounds like this site was corrupt and got caught.

If it was a criminal prosecution, where was the due process?
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J ScottPro Member
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Investor · Sarasota, FL · Member since 2008 · 18k+ posts · 17k+ votes
15y
Originally posted by Tim Wieneke:

...but if this is no surprise to you then why were you not more vocal against the current administration during the campaign?

During the campaign, I had two choices:

1. Vote for the McCain, who I *KNEW* would keep pushing the Patriot Act and continue infringing on our rights in the name of "security"; or

2. Vote for Obama, who I thought might have a shot at keeping his campaign promise of repealing the Patriot Act (not surprisingly, he didn't).

In the end, I did what I thought was best -- I voted for Ron Paul.

And for those who think I'm a liberal, let me clarify that socially I'm very much a liberal, but when it comes to fiscal policy and Constitutional rights, I'm very much a conservative.

I see very little difference between the two parties when it comes to fiscal policy (sure, the rhetoric is different, but in the end, both parties are filled with crooks looking to steal as much as they can from the people), so my vote now comes down to whether I'm more concerned about certain specific social policies (in which case I vote for the candidate that most supports those policies) or whether I'm more concerned about Constitutional Rights (in which case I vote for the candidate that most supports those rights).

Up until 10 years ago, I was more concerned about social policies than I was about Constitutional Rights, so my vote reflected that. Since 9/11, by FAR my biggest concern is Constitutional Rights, so now my vote reflects that.

So, next time you assume I'm a liberal/Democrat, consider that my vote will be going to whichever candidate I believe will best support our Constitution and start taking power away from the two administrations that have been infringing these rights for 10 years.

And I really don't care what party that candidate is affiliated with...

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Jimmy C.
Flipper/Rehabber · Seminole, FL · Member since 2010 · 859 posts · 316 votes
15y
Same here J. Except I was dumb enough to actually vote for Obama and fall for the promises that were made. And I'm not liberal, I just knew that the NeoCons sucked big time.

I actually believed Obama would restore our rights, end the occupations of the middle east, and do something to clean up DC from all the Wall Street lobbyists. Boy was he slick at telling us what we wanted to hear.

Then he got in office and did the OPPOSITE of what he promised, and continues to do so on many occasions.

After 8 years of Bush, and being lied to by Obama, I realize that neither party will go against the corporations and banks that have corrupted the system.

Some Libertarians are now running under the Republican side to get votes. Aside from that its straight Libertarian from here on out for me and mine.

Sorry for hijacking the thread Tim. To speak to your original post though, they are cracking down on torrent big time. Limewire is under court injuction now. And with the Cyber Security Act rolling out soon enough, it will be bye bye for pirating sites in the near future.
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Timothy W.
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Attorney · Raleigh, NC · Member since 2008 · 4k+ posts · 1k+ votes
15y
Originally posted by J Scott:

In the end, I did what I thought was best -- I voted for Ron Paul.

That's a great story Jason. The only problem is Ron Paul ran as a Republican (clearly he sees a difference between the two parties) and withdrew himself from the election 5 months before election day.

I'm sure now we're going to hear about the write in for the pre-withdrawn Republican candidate and how much of a difference it made.
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Jimmy C.
Flipper/Rehabber · Seminole, FL · Member since 2010 · 859 posts · 316 votes
15y
I wish he (Ron Paul) would just run as a Libertarian and help the party get traction.

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Timothy W.
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Attorney · Raleigh, NC · Member since 2008 · 4k+ posts · 1k+ votes
15y
Jimmy,
I had this conversation with some other Libertarians. He did and it was a colossal flop. The thing is that when you really look at the Libertarian platform, it's not exactly stuff conservatives want: open borders, marijuana legalization, pro choice, lots of things that Conservatives don't care for. Liberals don't care for Libertarians because they can get all that with their candidates plus the increasing government intrusion they love.

Libertarianism is a general ideal of both parties, but expressed in different way, which is why it wins so few elections. Sorry to my libertarian friends on here but running as a Libertarian is a great way to make a lot of blog press and lose elections. Ron Paul figured this out 2 decades ago which is why he changed up and starting running as a Republican with some Libertarian philosophies. That's how you win elections.
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Jimmy C.
Flipper/Rehabber · Seminole, FL · Member since 2010 · 859 posts · 316 votes
15y
Originally posted by Tim Wieneke:
Ron Paul figured this out 2 decades ago which is why he changed up and starting running as a Republican with some Libertarian philosophies. That's how you win elections.

I think Ron Paul knows that he cant get on a televised debate if he runs under a 3rd party.

Snitker couldn't get into a debate here in Florida. Hell he couldn't even get on talk radio, much less a television screen.

The 2 party system has a vested interest in not having any new opponents. Without the majority of people knowing what a party or candidate stands for, they really cant compete.

Having hated the Republican party when they were running the show under Bush (thats what made me start caring about politics at all), and then being lied to by Obama and seeing more that I dont like from the Left (forced health care and other socialism); people like me are left with only 3rd party options or just apathy.
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J ScottPro Member
Moderator
Investor · Sarasota, FL · Member since 2008 · 18k+ posts · 17k+ votes
15y
Originally posted by Tim Wieneke:

I'm sure now we're going to hear about the write in for the pre-withdrawn Republican candidate and how much of a difference it made.

So, now you're lecturing me on the personal decision I made in the voting booth because it didn't conform to one of the two parties in power or to your "standards"?

Seriously!?!? How friggin' arrogant are you? Time to stop drinking the Kool Aid and open your eyes to what's going on this country...

If you think it's ridiculous to vote for a candidate outside the major tickets, you're part of what's wrong with this country.

Btw,
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Timothy W.
OP
Attorney · Raleigh, NC · Member since 2008 · 4k+ posts · 1k+ votes
15y
Originally posted by J Scott:

So, now you're lecturing me on the personal decision I made in the voting booth because it didn't conform to one of the two parties in power or to your "standards"?

Uh Jason - Ron Paul ran as a Republican. Unless you know something different, that is one of the two parties in power. (Which I guess I should say, welcome to the party fellow Republican Jason.)

I didn't lecture you on the decision based on my standards but on the rationality of writing in a candidate who withdrew from the election 5 months earlier. Do you go to a horse race and bet on the horse that was shot the night before? Both of which you are technically free to do but I don't know how you think of either as a winning strategy.
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Timothy W.
OP
Attorney · Raleigh, NC · Member since 2008 · 4k+ posts · 1k+ votes
15y
Originally posted by Jimmy C.:
Having hated the Republican party when they were running the show under Bush (thats what made me start caring about politics at all), and then being lied to by Obama and seeing more that I dont like from the Left (forced health care and other socialism); people like me are left with only 3rd party options or just apathy.

No. What you do is what the Tea Party has done - change the culture of the Republican Party. Tea Party Republicans are now at a stage of calling out and unseating RINOs and are bringing Libertarian ideology into the party. Good grief both Ron and Rand Paul won their elections. How does this not inspire Libertarians to join the effort to bring the Republican party back to where it is supposed to be?

Don't get caught in the very seductive trap of attacking someone on the basis of having an (R) or a (D) behind their name and then just vote for someone only because they have an (L) behind their name. It's a very seductive trap but to win elections you can't fall into it. A libertarian out of power is no improvement over an authoritarian in power.
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J ScottPro Member
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Investor · Sarasota, FL · Member since 2008 · 18k+ posts · 17k+ votes
15y
Unless you voted for Obama, your vote was just as wasted as mine was, Tim...

Congrats on your contribution...now feel free to jump back on your high horse...
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Timothy W.
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Attorney · Raleigh, NC · Member since 2008 · 4k+ posts · 1k+ votes
15y
Originally posted by J Scott:
Unless you voted for Obama, your vote was just as wasted as mine was, Tim...

No it wasn't. My party's nomination was wasted but my vote helped keep the margin of victory slim and others energized enough to keep the pressure on. That paid off a couple weeks ago.

It also kept Sarah at the forefront and watching how she makes liberals go into complete meltdown is worth voting for and paying money for.
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J ScottPro Member
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Investor · Sarasota, FL · Member since 2008 · 18k+ posts · 17k+ votes
15y
Originally posted by Tim Wieneke:

It also kept Sarah at the forefront and watching how she makes liberals go into complete meltdown is worth voting for and paying money for.

When she becomes President, we can all party with our North Korean allies. Maybe they'll do a reality show of her Presidency and we can hear more about how her daughter sleeps with porn stars and has kids out of wedlock.

It actually sounds like fun! At least until she quits to become a sitcom star...

Ya-betCHA!
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Timothy W.
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Attorney · Raleigh, NC · Member since 2008 · 4k+ posts · 1k+ votes
15y
Originally posted by Tom Cullen:
Libertarians are essentially classical liberals like the founding fathers but isolationist on foreign policy.

On many of their elements, you are correct Tom. However, as of late they have been affected by the progressive "open borders" agenda. I have a sneaking suspicion there's going to be more of a "libertarian of the world" pitch coming out of that political party.
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