Muslim Student Discovers FBI Tracking Device on His Car
A California college student got an interesting surprise when he recently took his car into the shop for repairs: mounted to his car’s undercarriage was an FBI tracking device, monitoring his every move.
Photo: Reddit.com
According the International Business Times, Yasir Afifi posted pictures of the curious device on the Internet and the FBI arrived to reclaim their device without an explanation as to why they were tracking him. Zahra Billoo, an attorney with the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) said the group is contemplating legal action on Afifi’s behalf, noting two similar cases in Ohio.
The case raises new privacy issues related to modern technology. Afifi’s discovery comes in the wake of a recent ruling by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals declaring it’s legal for law enforcement to secretly use tracking devices on a suspect’s car without a warrant, even if the car is parked in a private driveway. In a similar case, however, the D.C. Circuit Court came to a different conclusions, meaning that a Supreme Court showdown over law enforcement’s use of GPS technologies may be coming in the near future.
Several news outlets have reported that Afifi has been on a federal “watchlist.”
He has two brothers in Egypt, and lived there for five years. His father, Aladdin Afifi, was head of the Muslim Community Association in California. Billoo noted that it runs one of the largest Mosques in the state and has done so foe many years. Aladdin Afifi died in 2009. There is no evidence that Afifi is connected to any radical groups.
According to Wired, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is also taking a serious interest in the case:
Brian Alseth from the American Civil Liberties Union in Washington state contacted Afifi after seeing pictures of the tracking device posted online and told him the ACLU had been waiting for a case like this to challenge the ruling.
“This is the kind of thing we like to throw lawyers at,” Afifi said Alseth told him.
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Comments (319)
Dddriver
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 6:54pmWas he an American citizen? If yes they were in the wrong , if no he does not have rights here so get over it.
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printdesignchicago.com
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 7:41pmexactly
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BrewerBill
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 7:55pmDDDriver,
Technically your right, but lets not get too comfortable with our government officials acting without due process just because we’re “scared”. I like the way Ben Franklin put it: “Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.”
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Gadsden Flyer
Posted on October 10, 2010 at 12:05amI agree as well…
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emertz8413
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 6:51pmOh dear, I bet it was left over from the Bush administration. Didn’t Cheney personally put that on his car?
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robtracy
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 7:13pmYer damn right he did! Him and Haliburton. Its a secret agenda to track the oil usage of Muslims in the us to prove they only buy their oil and gas from “middle eastern” Islamic sources which in turn funnel that money back into the terrorists pockets. It is not done for national security reasons though. Its just because Haliburton is pissed that they are losing out on the revenue! Even though Haliburton is not an oil producer or refiner….DENOTE TOTAL SARCASIM.
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overlumber
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 6:44pmOh, geez. I missed the whole point which is: what college student has the money to take his/her car in for repairs anyway? Come on, folks. That should be a big clue!
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PubliusPencilman
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 6:56pmHuh?
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Prospero
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 7:29pmPubliusPencildick blathers: “Clearly The Blaze has a history”
So Pencildick, considering this blatant example of the Obama administration trampling someone’s rights just for being a Muslim, aren’t you going to display some serious outrage?
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PubliusPencilman
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 8:49pmYou really did not understand the post of mine that you are quoting, but that never seems to stop you. Of course I’m outraged, as are organizations that you probably despise, like the ACLU. You see, I am consistant in my position regarding civil rights–for some, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights are not just partisan talking points.
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BetterDays
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 6:34pmWeird. I made an unforunite choice of enemies almost two decade ago. And I still get follwed and probably GPS tracked too, like I really care. I must be the most boring person in the world to follow. Gee he and his wife went too church, look they went home. Gee he went too an AA meeting then he went home, Gee now he went too the grocery store and mailed a book to his kid then he went home, gee he went too, gosh thats it? What a waste of tax payer monies. But really, I look at is this way, as a servant of the Most High God , perhaps in watching they shall see how a christian strives to live for Chriist, not perfectly, but alwas mindfull of GOD, others and then self.
Follow if you wish too, I forgive you to GOD. The rest of your salvation is up to you.
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The Giver
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 12:38pmObviously God is the answer. All this back and forth between the same people is good for them but doesn’t get us anywhere. We don’t know the details of this case and probably will never know. I don’t agree to tracking without a warrant and don’t wish it on anyone. Not all Muslims interpret their book the same way as we Christians don’t all interpret our book the same way. Violent and peaceful passages can be found side by side in their book. The Muslims that choose to follow the violent passages will kill any infidel they can and themselves if need be for their god. If this guy had connections that were dubious, then I hope they did track him but legally. Pro-Lifers, Returning Vets and Homeschoolers were on Napolitano’s list of possible terrorists. Where do we draw the line and stand together against tyranny with God as our shield. I would buy a new car if I were you.
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bullcrapbuster
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 6:31pmYep and they need to track all of those christians and budists etc that are flying planes into buildings and blowing things up. Hey Glenn how about adding a spelling checker.lol I need it.
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Red Blooded
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 6:28pmAbsolutely JB, because Islam is an ideology not a religion, just as much as communism or socialism, further still, it isn’t “radical” muslims that adhere to this crap philosophy, it’s all MAINSTREAM muslims. The only “radicals” within islam, are the ones who want peace (and since there is no way to know who is who, because they are liars, we must watch all of them in this country) ; since peace is not allowed unless the world is killed or converted to islam, all the others are regulars, and enemies. It’s terrible how the left chooses willful ignorance on this issue.
READ: A GOD WHO HATES
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Bob_R_OathKeeper
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 6:16pmI bet he really discovered it when he went to rig his own car with explosives. Semper Fi.
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overlumber
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 6:42pmI agree 100%. This is a set-up and it smells like rotten eggs, which means sulfur, which indicates satan’s presence right smack dab in the middle of it. Actually I’m tired of all the belly-aching and whining by the muslims in the USA. How much freedom do Christians and Jews have in the middle east (outside of Israel?) About zero….. so take your liberties and freedoms back home, folks and get out of our country that you seem to hate so much. Go on. I dare you. Go home. Now.
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JackBoot101
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 6:14pmIf I had my way we would put a locator on every Muslim in the country until they convince me that they are not planning to kill other Americans. This is not a trust worthy group of people. Even among their own. Ref the Paki mosque bombing, etc, etc, etc.
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Prospero
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 6:22pmThere needs to be a serious public conversation about continuing to extend Constitutional protections to religions whose fundamental scriptures demand the murder of apostates and non-believers.
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PubliusPencilman
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 8:42pmAnd who gets to decide which citizens no longer have rights?
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TwoMinuteMan
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 6:13pmThe story clearly states that the student was on a watch list due to his family and having lived in Egypt. How can the FBI keep tabs on someone without tracking their movement? Doesnt being on a “watch list” imply that they are being watched?
Frankly, I’m glad the FBI is doing something and checking out people of interest.
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CoFX
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 6:47pmAgreed. This wasn’t some random young muslim being tracked, he had some connections that put him on the watch list. I seriously doubt the FBI is going to go through the trouble of tracking him without good reason. My guess is if this young man is not directly involved in something that justifies tracking him, then he was probably in contact with someone the FBI really wants to find. Stay turned – I wouldn’t make any conclusions tht the FBI has overstepped its bounds until you know the whole story.
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akamaikamaaina
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 5:49pmgood for the fbi
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Lex et Libertas
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 11:38amBad for individual liberty.
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sWampy
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 5:41pmI bet this turns out to be BS, bet this guy bought this car used, the tracker was on it, he happened to be a Muslim, found it, and is now going to use our legal system against us. If the FBI were tracking him, they would have never bothered to come get the device, and would have damn sure never told him who they were, they would have had a good cover story about how it was an experimental new piece of lo-jack equipment that were installed on random cars that went through certain dealers without their knowledge or the like.
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smugsmiley
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 5:46pm“We have all the information we needed,” the FBI told Afifi when they came to retrieve their device. “You don’t need to call your lawyer. Don’t worry, you’re boring. “
This quite kinda disproves your hypothesis. They were gathering data about him but didn’t find anything incriminating.
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Freelancer
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 5:56pmQuite the detective there SMUG. You now nothing of law enforcement and how they conduct their business. You really think that they would say “we are following you because we suspect you of criminal behavior?” Try again plant….
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smugsmiley
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 6:11pmThe guy I responded to posited that the student bought the car with the tracking device attached so the FBI was afraid he’d go to court, followed by a nice story he made up. I posted a quote proving that the tracking device was, in fact, there to track the student. But don’t let that discourage you from flinging some nice ad homs my way, buddy.
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Prospero
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 6:12pmSo, Smug, shouldn’t you be getting a bit outraged at how this person’s rights were trampled by the Obama administration just for being a Muslim?
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Prospero
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 6:20pmSmug blathers: “don’t let that discourage you from flinging some nice ad homs my way”
Those are insults and names, Smug, not “ad homs”.
An ad hominem is a specific form of logical fallacy, the “attack to the man”, as below:
The most horrid member of a community arises, and declares, “The sky is blue!”
His opponent argues, “Since this man is a notorious thief and molester of farm animals, there’s no way he can be correct about the color of the sky!”
It would be preferable if people didn’t continually trash the language by misusing terms. You don’t sound smart by using latin words improperly, when there are perfectly proper English words.
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sWampy
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 6:34pmDamn liberals, as soon as someone on the left says something, it’s proven. This guy makes a statement the FBI told me I had nothing to worry about, and all of a sudden it’s proven they said it. All those people in “The Invention of Lying” must be liberals. Yet if it’s someone on the right with 200 witnesses, video tape, audio tape, film an digital camera shots, all the evidence is here say and must be thrown out.
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smugsmiley
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 6:45pmFreelancer attacked the validity of my argument by insinuating I’m a (leftist/liberal) plant. That’s the definition of an ad hominem. Using your own example:
“Since this individual is a plant, there is no way for him to know how law enforcement conducts its business”.
Also, I wouldn’t classify calling someone a plant as insulting. I would consider it a strategy to weaken my position in front of a reader, though.
By the way, I’d be most grateful if you started being a little less condescending in your posts. Coming off as arrogant or pompous doesn’t help your argument and it surely won’t bring anyone over to your way of thinking.
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PubliusPencilman
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 6:53pmHa Prospero! And people call me condescending! I should always stand next to you, and so I could always be the lesser of two schmucks!
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Prospero
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 7:14pmYou will always be the lesser, in any comparison to me, PubliusPencildick.
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BlueknightUSA
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 7:40pmIf you really believe that the FBI would say something like this…then got this bridge I’d like to sell ya. And how does your reciting what this student claims he was told prove anything?
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broker0101
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 8:37pm“SMUG” – (hah…smug…) you do realize that the liberal/progressives run the ENTIRE SHOW now, right? This means (try to follow me here) that IF this kid’s accusations are correct (which is a complete joke) it is the result of persecution by the liberal/progressive left, not of Conservatives, right? (ah, who am i kidding, you have no idea what I’m talking about)
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PubliusPencilman
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 9:01pmOh Prospero, such an angry little man.
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smugsmiley
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 9:03amBroker, would you be so kind as to point out where I said that it’s okay that there’s a tracking device on his car because the Democrats did it?
I believe placing this tracking device is wrong, no matter who did it. Party lines don’t really interest me. And now, get this: I even think that Obama is a bad president. Now isn’t that something? That doesn’t mean I’m a conservative. That doesn’t mean that I’m a liberal. That just means that I have opinions on certain things, no matter which party or group of people are involved with them.
You always say about yourself that you’re not a follower of men but of your own ideas and moral compass. If that’s true (I cannot tell from a few posts on a message board), that’s good. That’s something I respect in a person.
But please try to see that other people do that too.
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RobertCA
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 5:40pmUnprofessional for the FBI :(
They need to do a better job .
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RichardSaunders
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 5:38pmHmmm … Am I MORE disappointed in the FBI, or more surprised at the clumsiness of the attempt? The student “finds” the tracking device? Hey, GREAT Police Work!
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calebgs83
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 5:36pmIt’s good to know that we still track suspicious muslims…not just conservatives whom napolitano and the obama administration think are the real threat to national security!
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PubliusPencilman
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 6:49pmYes, poor victimized conservatives. I know you folks have had a hard time of it–do you need a hug?
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Prospero
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 7:12pmUh, Pencildick, Obama and the Democrats are in charge. This is an example of the Obama administration trampling someone’s rights just for being a Muslim. This has nothing to do with Conservatives.
Perhaps you should be calling your Senator to complain about this Obama authorized travesty of justice.
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banjo
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 3:08ampp whats with all the racist blather your points are valid your hatred obscene
those who are willing to give up their freedom for safety deserve neither Ben Franklin
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Chet Hempstead
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 5:38am@Prospero Actually, you can’t entirely blame the Obama Administration for trampling this guy’s rights. The FBI Director is appointed for a fixed ten-year term. This happened on the watch of a Bush appointee who Obama can’t replace until next year.
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bswanson
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 5:33pmWell if CAIR can get the Supreme Court to over turn this warrantless tracking and wire taping as unconstitutional they would do at least one good thing.
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5
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 5:33pmHow do you Lib/treds like this?
Just think if it was BUSH!
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MrChurch
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 5:32pmCheezwhiz…if he wasn’t a danger (as is apparent with the events above), why should he be tracked?
Would you prefer any young Muslim be tracked by the Federal Government?
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cheezwhiz
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 5:40pmIts not about ‘any young muslim’.
Do some research on the Santa Clara Mosque, the one Ayman AlZawahiri used to visit for fundraising, yeah THAT one. Checkout this guy’s father and his activities.
At one time , Mohammed Atta was a young muslim , so was Faisal Shahzaad. Until we found out otherwise but it was too late by then.
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Prospero
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 6:16pm“if he wasn’t a danger (as is apparent with the events above), why should he be tracked?”
Uh, how could they confirm he wasn’t a danger until after they tracked?
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PubliusPencilman
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 6:47pmProspero,
Great logic! That’s why the law of the land says “guilty until proven innocent, particularly if you are non-white and/or non-christian.”
Let’s hear it for the land of the free!
Prospero
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 7:08pmPubliuspencildick blathers mindlessly: “That’s why the law of the land says “guilty until proven innocent”
What a moron. There was no arrest, and no trial. Thus “presumption of innocence” is not relevant.
Surely not even someone with your sterling intellect is going to argue that covert investigations should be shut down based on “presumption”. You’re truly out of your league here, Pencildick. Perhaps you should look into a local high school blog…
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GOTT-EM-MAUSER
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 8:09pmWell young or old and inbetween, I’d vote to DEPORT all of them, in the morning.
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PubliusPencilman
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 8:56pmGott-Em-Mauser offered the perfect follow-up to your post Prospero! Do you think that Gott-Em-Mauser is willing to withhold judgement, pending investigation?
The article says that there is no evidence that Afifi is tied to any radical groups, and if the FBI ended up with no evidence, how much do you think they started with? Unless there is a bunch more evidence that we are not given (which is certainly plausible), the article implies that he was targetted without evidence and without and warrant. So that’s bad.
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ARIZONA VETERAN
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 5:32pmto bad it wasn’t a brick of C4
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smugsmiley
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 5:36pmYes, exactly. He was probably planning to blow up everyone near him anyway. Because he’s a Muslim. Amirite?
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DanB
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 6:24pmI shudder reading this. C4? Now, maybe they had a warrant and were tracking the vehicle for legitimate reasons. I have no idea. But when I read C4… I am just disgusted. I am surprised that all these conservatives here don’t rebuke this comment.
Here’s what I fear. The paranoid attitude that would just “C4″ someone for their religion is down the same path of thinking that includes warrantless wiretaps and tracking. The Patriot Act, I bought into the idea of national security when it was enacted and for some time after. But the more time goes on, I begin to wish I that we could see family and friends at the gates instead of passing through security checkpoints at the airport. Sure, I would be scared to travel by air, but I would rather do that then watch our freedoms disappear one by one by one. Warrantless?! Just this past year I read about the US government going in and collecting data from online service and they were legally required to TELL NO ONE even though it warrantless. And this was all legal!!! The only reason it apparently got leaked is that one of their customers found a clue that their data had been accessed…. So they ended up telling that customer why that was so, and to make a long story short, eventually it got out so that people like me who follow another IT “news” site got to read about it.
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Asher
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 5:31pmDude.
Is this guy an American Citizen?
If he is than I think there is more action he can take on this.
I think the FBI just wen gun-ho when there wasn’t any call for it.
They’re so gonna lose this case and Affif is gonna get some money out of it, I think.
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aeronut44
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 7:14pmI thought it was legal now for the FBI to place tracking devices without a warrant. If this is true, then the guy has no way of winning a lawsuit.
If it is legal, then no law was broken.
Now with that being said…What in the hell gives the govt a right to follow me without any reason??? None of their damn business where I am, where I am going or where I have been.
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poverty.sucks
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 5:31pmI feel a little better knowing someone (FBI) is working for the good of this country tracking those who fit the discription of the criminals. Now that the cat is out of the bag, sure would like to know where that cat’s been.
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Lex et Libertas
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 11:27amBet you’d feel even better if all those who ‘fit the description of the criminals’ were all just locked up or simply terminated. Then we’d all be safe and sound, huh? At least until that description included those who think poverty sucks…
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cheezwhiz
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 5:30pmSo now he is free to do do whatever without being tracked ?
I feel so safe.
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Contrarian51
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 6:09pmNah, the real one’s still in the upholstery. No worries.
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PubliusPencilman
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 6:50pmContrarian,
For someone who has to deal with so much anti-Mormon stupidity on these boards, you seem disturbingly willing to jump on the anti-Muslim bandwagon.
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Prospero
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 7:10pmUh, Pencildick, Obama and the Democrats are in charge. This is an example of the Obama administration trampling someone’s rights just for being a Muslim. This has nothing to do with The Blaze, or us.
Perhaps you should be calling your Senator to complain about this Obama authorized travesty of justice.
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SomeguyVT
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 7:13pmLOL! PubliusPencilman. Like you don’t know what site you’re on? Good to see you’re sticking it out with the rest of the sheep. Keep thinking all conservatives are anti-Muslim, anti-logic dummies. Then justify to yourself you’re the smartest in the room, while doing no research, while bashing conservatives and tea-partiers who just want to have their liberties left alone. Then mock those ideals at the same time… Take a few crazies and magnify them as the majority on the right. Sounds like good logic… Proceed with the liberal-troll train. Thanks. *oh- God bless btw.
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Contrarian51
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 8:21pmPP, you’re amazing. To be wrong on multiple levels in such a short post takes serious talent.
I’ve never dealt with “anti-Mormon stupidity” in my entire life, much less “on these boards” (Like most non-Mormons I’m a tough target for anti-Mormon sentiment) nor was my post in any way reflective of any anti-Muslim sentiment. I posted a quick little joke that came to mind when I read the comment by Cheezwhiz. Not only was it completely neutral as to race, color, creed, political leaning and whatever other category you want to throw in there, but to be totally honest with you, by the time I’d scrolled through all the prior comments I’d totally forgotten everything about the guy being tracked.
Is life that dull for a troll?
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PubliusPencilman
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 8:39pmHa! That was certainly my bad. I had you confused with another user, ContrarianThinker, who got in some nasty argument with a few anti-Mormon folks.
Fortunately, this mix up on my part did not stop Prospero from adding some pointless gobbledy-****. Let me just say that I doubt the Obama administration had much at all to do with this FBI matter, but it doesn’t surprise me that you would blame the president for anything and everything you don’t like. But let’s say, for the sake of argument, that this was the fault of the Obama administration: then it is wrong and should be condemned, and steps should be taken to ensure that our rights are protected when it comes to this kind of surveillance. Case closed.
You see Prospero–we need not follow leaders blindly, whether it’s Glenn Beck or Barack Obama.
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MrChurch
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 5:26pmSo basically….they thought it might be a good idea to tail him for awhile. Then they realized that he wasn’t a threat – yet didn’t remove the device upon that revelation. Amazing. Basically they were tracking him for no good reason for quite awhile. He was ‘boring’. Good job, Feds.
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N37BU6
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 5:26pmAll this warrantless (if it was in fact warrantless) tracking and tapping is alarming… but the FBI seems to be the only agency with any credibility these days.
CIA / NSA seem to be working against the people more than anything… more like the NWO gestapo than security agencies. And remember, it was the FBI that was on the 1963 communist radicals’ goal list, to be discredited and dismantled.
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BoilitDown
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 7:27pmIt wasn’t made clear if whether or not there was a warrant issued for this particular device. We are being asked to make some sort of judgement without this critical information. Tracking technology is not necessarily a bad thing in and of itself if used “judiciously”.
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N37BU6
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 7:41pm@BOILITDOWN
In this day and age it’s essential, if only for the financial angle; you can cut a 6 or 8 person job down to one person who is alerted by a computer.
As long as nobody loses any rights before being proven guilty…
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Dodsfall
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 10:07amIf there is a good cause to bug a vehicle, than it shouldn’t be too difficult to get a warrant for it.
I think there is a lot more to this story than the FBI is making public.
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lanky189
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 5:26pmYou’d think we’d have smaller devices that would hide better…oh well.
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Freelancer
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 5:51pmI’m not buying this at all. I rather think that this is an attempt to elicit some dramatic effect from the left to highlight the plight of Muslims….
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Prospero
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 6:10pmThat’s what I was thinking. Damn FBI needs to look into some better tracking devices, sheesh.
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NoName22
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 6:17pmRegardless, it just furthers the entrenchment of Sharia Law into the United States.
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squeaker
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 6:22pmEspecially if we have to hide one on a camel..:)
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PubliusPencilman
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 6:44pmYeah. Clearly The Blaze has a history of pro-Muslim propaganda, so feel free not to believe anything that conflicts with your prejudices.
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Carl McPherson
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 6:44pmThey do. They have trackers you can shoot with a rifle. Those are saved for the cases where being discovered is a big deal though.
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PunditPawn
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 6:53pmThere already is one in most modern cars. Nail someone in car accident and watch the opposing attorney subpoena the data. Recent driving indicators, braking data, sensor data. They’ve admitted to some of this already, which means there’s likely more under the hood than they care to tell.
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Prospero
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 7:25pmPubliusPencildick blathers: “Clearly The Blaze has a history”
Uh, Pencildick, as near as I can tell this story has nothing to do with the The Blaze. My understanding is that Obama and the Democrats are in charge. This is an example of the Obama administration trampling someone’s rights just for being a Muslim.
Why are you trying to suck The Blaze into this?
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shuggie
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 7:33pmI agree … that thing is huge …. It’s either a lot more than a “tracking device” or a hoax.
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Michigan Detective
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 7:49pmAfter looking at the photo of that device, I have to throw the BS flag. First of all, I have several tracking devices and use them regularly. Mine are much smaller and less obvious than that “thing”. Second, I have NEVER seen such a clean tracker. They must have washed and polished it before the photo was taken. Now I have never worked with a Fed agency but the local agencies don’t use such boxy units with the serial numbers so blatant.
Additionally, the FBI wouldn’t be so quick to say “Yea, that’s ours and we want it back” they would deny it and either get it back in some sort of covert raid or just write it off, which screams to question why are there serial numbers on it?
The trackers I use are virtually untraceable. So why would the FBI use something with serial numbers???
This thing stinks of a propaganda stunt to me.
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walkwithme1966
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 3:59amYes, that was an awful big device – I thought tracking devices were like tiny small!!! http://wp.me/pYLB7-cd
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iamhungry
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 5:28am@FreeLancer. “I’m not buying this at all. I rather think that this is an attempt to elicit some dramatic effect from the left to highlight the plight of Muslims….”
————
The FBI have admitted the tracking device is their piece of equipment.
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Dodsfall
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 10:13am“The FBI have admitted the tracking device is their piece of equipment.”- iamhungry
Well, according to Yasir Afifi they admitted it. I wouldn’t take that at face value without knowing the facts.
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mygirl1
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 12:43pmWarrants, anyone? The Patriot Act is scaremongering used to erode individual liberties. Wow, so who’s next? Tracking library books? Oh, yeah, doing that already. With Napolitano pointing out returning vets as possible terrorists you gotta wonder who’s minding the store and who’s policing the police? If Obama were sincere in his campaign promises the first thing he should have done was repeal the Unpatriotic Act rather than add to them…this is how police states work…scary
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Michigan Detective
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 3:17pmRecent legislation passed in the formerly great state of Michigan allows warrantless GPS tracking by Law Enforcement (state or fed) and licensed private investigators and makes it a crime for even the owner of a vehicle to install a covert tracking device. Michigan has ruled that there is no expectation of privacy for the location of one’s vehicle.
The Obama Administration went one further and has ruled that there is no expectation of privacy for the position of one’s electronic equipment (ie cell phones).
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tobywil2
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 5:25pmA student? What course was he taking? terrorism 101 http://commonsense21c.com/
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smugsmiley
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 5:32pmOh, I get it! Because he’s a Muslim! Ahaha. Jolly good, ol’ chap!
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grandmaof5
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 5:36pmThey could put one in our cars all day long – we would bore them to death. If you don’t have anything to hide – big deal! Process of elimination as far as I’m concerned and there was probably a good reason (at least I hope so). Be careful of the company you keep………
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EyeofthePatriot
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 6:09pmWrong and WRONG. We Tea Party members are considered “THREATS” too now aren’t we? Is it really out of the realm of this craziness going on right now for us to be considered “suspects”?
I plead that no it is not.
And Grandma I really think you should reconsider what you speak of. That kind of thinking is the exact thinking that put us where we are today. Left fighting for our country because of a loooooong laundry list of freedoms, rights, and liberties that have been encroached upon slowly but surely by the modern day progressives all “for the greater good”. What happens when they take the next step (they took the first and the next after that didn’t they? why not another? ) and because you drive too many miles to work, or you name the place.. you’re required to pay some extra tax because of the ‘harm its doing to our environment’? THINK Granny, THINK.
Cynic-clinic
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 6:39pmI had a GPS tracking device attached my truck by a sheriff’s deputy in Arizona when I lived there just because they suspected that I wanted to talk to a person under the age of 18. After 4 days it was removed at night by someone. Does anyone want to tell me that the police do everything legally and by the book???.
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PubliusPencilman
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 6:42pmHa! Eye, while I agree with your general ooint regarding individual freedoms, it seems really funny to me that Tea Partyers can take a story about Islamophobia (which the Tea Partyers themselves often promote!) and turn it around to make themselves look like the victim.
Really, I’ve never heard more “culture of victimhood” whining than on these boards. Tea Partyers are oppressed! White people are oppressed! Christians are oppressed! Boohoo!
grandmaof5
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 6:50pmEyeofthepatriot, it’s not that I think it is the right thing to do, and I understand the danger, but if there is an imminent threat I would rather know who the players are before my family is blown up rather than after. I am just sorry we have come to this – life used to be so simple – and safe.
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thepatriotdave
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 6:54pmPubliusPencilman,
And you have a screw loose!
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Prospero
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 7:00pmPubliuspencildick writes: “turn it around to make themselves look like the victim.”
Uh, Pencildick, as near as I can tell this story has nothing to do with the Tea Party. My understanding is that Obama and the Democrats are in charge. This is an example of the Obama administration trampling someone’s rights just for being a Muslim.
Why are trying to suck the Tea Party into this?
Independent Tess
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 7:51pmNext thing they will be tracking others who disagree with their policies (they think we are racist terrorists, right?).
With their interest in controlling the internet they may start checking blogs and forums to see what we are saying, then tracking us through ISP addresses.
Uh oh, I’m scaring myself…………..
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Miami
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 8:01pmPubliusPencilman
You ignorance is vast…!
Not all Tea Party members are white men. As a Cuban born naturalized citizen, I am a proud Tea Party member as are most of my neighbors. Which range in nationalities, both male and females even sexual orientation. The Tea Party is as vast as your opinions are narrow. How is that Soros money…?
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PubliusPencilman
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 8:26pmDear friend Prospero,
As I say in the post, I was responding to EyeofthePatriot, who said: “We Tea Party members are considered “THREATS” too now aren’t we?”
Please read the posts on the thread before responding. It can get a bit tiresome explaining things to you.
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Max jones
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 9:07pmDo you HAVE to be a mooslim to get one? I want one on my car. Both of my boys take off for hours and iI can’t find them and I think my ol’ lady is hitting the casino again.
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FreedomOfSpeech
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 9:22pmI’m guessing the guy was up to no good but what do I know? It does scare me that law enforcement does not need a warrant to do this kind of thing. Big potential for abuse. If CAIR is defending the kid, then he’s probably up to no good.
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CultureWarriors
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 9:23pmFrankly, based on the events of the last 10 years, it is prudent to follow any Muslim as they are not rational or peaceful. The FBI watching a Mulism is not a civil rights issue, it’s a smart thing to do. Anyone that is so PC that they can’t get it, is a moron and should move to the middle east with all the other idiots. I base this opion on the actions of the whole. If we had heard outrage from Muslims all along, many wouldn’t feel as I do.
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Progressivelyworse
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 9:34pmPubliusPencilman climbed down the discussion tree and.. split hairs and alienated.
You may not know this, but you wrote [sic]:
“Really, I’ve never heard more “culture of victimhood” whining than on these boards. Tea Partyers are oppressed! White people are oppressed! Christians are oppressed! Boohoo!”
You seem more of a irritant than a peacemaker. If I see a dog take a crap in my yard, I don’t run out and look at it, I know its crap. So when you see people writing emotionally, or claiming to be a part of some group, know that you should never take anything at face value and that some folks are for the other side. And certainly don’t join in.
I guess what I am trying to say is, make sure you define who you write to, and don’t lambaste the audience, it always fails.
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Kalait
Posted on October 8, 2010 at 10:26pmThis guy may well be a student, are all his papers in order for being in the U.S? What reason does the FBI have for placing a tracking device on a vehicle of any citizen or visitor without cause, just another example of an agency overstepping their bounds.
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Robert W
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 12:44amHow about a tracking device on Obama. Hes more of a threat.
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jzs
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 4:12amHe’s a Muslim. Muslim = terrorist. Simple, not a lot of gray there. All 1 billion Muslims in the world – that’s 25% of the world’s population if you’re keeping track – are terrorists intent on destroying the US and Christianity. Their places of worship are terrorist training camps. So the FBI, police and whomever else should be tracking all of them to prevent terrorist acts, AND to prevent our Constitution from being replaced with Sharia law.
SamFox
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 4:54amWhile illegal surveillance is, well, illegal, the govt goes on it’s merry Constitutional shredding way un hindered by the supreme law of the land. Even though Islam is as big a threat as the ‘progressive’ movement, due process should be observed.
Make no mistake, Islam is on the rise in the US. The NY Mosque thing is a small tip of a very large ice berg. One reason I say that is because Muslims are permitted to lie, deceive & do pretty much what they want IF it furthers the goal of world dominance. Why I say that…:
http://tinyurl.com/27sfb7b
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ib9rofXQl6w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a60A3mw2XgQ
http://tinyurl.com/3h1s
http://tinyurl.com/233mj6\
Feisal Abdul Rauf would establish sharia law. Slowly of course.
http://www.jihadwatch.org/
http://www.americanthinker.co…
Any thoughts on SLEEPER CELLS in some or all the Mosques in the USA?
Then there is the little published concept of stealth jihad in the USA.
http://tinyurl.com/2vu45n7
http://www.newswithviews.com/…
http://www.newswithviews.com/…
http://www.newswithviews.com/…
http://www.newswithviews.com/…
http://findarticles.com/p/art…
There is a lot more. Muslims are using our laws against us. That MUST STOP! I don’t think that every Muslim is a threat. But how do we know who is? This is an issue that needs a lot of prayerful consideration.
I suggest doing some home work then go viral with the danger Islam poses to the USA & the world.
SamFox
.
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iamhungry
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 5:27am“This guy may well be a student, are all his papers in order for being in the U.S?”
——-
He was born in America.
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Chet Hempstead
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 5:34amJZS there are two and a half million Muslims in America, the vast majority completely harmless. While the FBI is tracking all of them to satisfy your paranoia, who’s going to catch the bank robbers and kidnappers?
Sheepdog911
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 7:22amBased on some of the logic I’ve seen throughout the comments on this story, the FBI should not be allowed to investigate someone until they are proven guilty. Sorry, but a tracker is a tool used in the investigative process, and tracks where the vehicle goes, not what the owner of driver is doing.
Unless you are Janet from another Planet thinking christians with guns are a threat, I’d bet you that not even the FBI has the manpower, time or money to be tracking someone that there is no reason to believe has done nothing but be a student. This has nothing to do with Progressives or the TEA Party. It probably has something to do with this “student” and his activities or who he has suspicious contact with (and no, I can’t define suspicious in this case).
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HoaxNChains
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 8:05amHeavens to Betsy, stuart smiley is back. Aaaaa! Or is it really danglinbags or maybe even windmills of your mind. Get a life you troll.
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canuck44
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 8:47amFound tracker (not this sophisticated) on my car probably placed by private company hired by now ex-wife. Drove to nearest truck stop with it and put it on a transcontinental truck. Driver most helpful making sure it was placed where it couldn’t be removed.
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Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 8:56amFirst they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out —
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out —
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out —
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me — and there was no one left to speak for me.
Martin Niemöller
When the day comes that you speak out against the government and you are labeled as a “terrorist” and your civil liberties and freedom is stripped away to the support and cheering of all the statists around you…well…you’ll harken back to those days when you “trusted” the FBI and looked the other way on the police state.
LUDWIKA BRONISLAWA
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 9:06amThey should totally need a warrent for that! If it’s THAT important to them, they should go back to following people around with real live agents. Everyday surveillance is not an “emergency”.
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tobywil2
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 9:08amIslamophobia , huh! If the threat is real, it is not paranoia, it is self perservation! http://commonsense21c.com/
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Anarcho Capitalist
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 9:47ami do not like this at all. this is going in a very bad direction.
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moelarrycurly
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 9:50amIt’s Laughable at best. So he had a tracking device on his car. They have the ability to listen to your cell phone calls at any point. and they can track you using either cell tower triangulation or the already existing gps system in your phone. All cell phone have at least 2 channels. They can listen to you and your conversation-using the phone on your hip or in your pocket as a listening device. So he had a tracking device on his car. big deal-we are all carrying one with us daily. So they were tracking his car? Big deal-they can do much more than that-legally. that brilliant piece of technology in your pocket is just as valuable to them. LEGALLY!!!-Thank you Patriot Act…
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Promotefreedom
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 10:51amIt is very simple. Require law enforcement to GET A WARRANT first!
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bertr
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 11:12amA DHS officials website, splcenter.com posted this story “The Sick Farce of Glenn Beck’s ‘Restoring Honor’ Rally”
http://www.splcenter.org/blog/2010/08/24/the-sick-farce-of-glenn-becks-restoring-honor-rally/
under the catagory of anti-black and extremist propaganda.
Other articles on this DHS officials site also compare the tea party to nazi’s
http://www.splcenter.org/blog/2010/09/16/white-out-american-third-position/
The Third position is what nazism falls under by the way
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Position
Just keep your eyes wide open
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Mike_Dugas
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 11:14am@PubliusPencilman You couldn’t be more wrong on the victimization call. It’s only been the last couple of years that conservative citizens have started standing up and getting involved because they don’t like the direction the country is taking. The Left OWNS victimization for the last 50 yrs, whether its ethinic groups or feminists or the like who claim how they are victimized and need special treatment for justice and freebies from the government (our tax dollars) and heaven forbid they should have to work hard to achieve anything. You are only here to cause trouble, you make no effort to discuss anything in an intelligent manner. You just toss grenades and hope for a response. I pity your ignorance. Head back to DKos your friends miss you.
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VegasGuy
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 11:39amAt least now all of us Tea Party members know what the GPS tracking device looks like when we search our undercarriages. :)
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PubliusPencilman
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 12:00pmWow Mike, you sure cured my ignorance with your vague generalizations that address nothing I actually said. I would be happy to discuss things in an intelligent manner, but judging by your own post, that’s not really what you are after. You just want to lump everyone up in a few huge groups and then dismiss everyone who disagrees with you.
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RKade
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 1:02pmMaybe he will explode himself at a ACLU conference.
I am will to bet this in only a half truth story (a progressive special) we must remain PC. I found such a tracking devise on my 4 years old hot wheel.
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Jim AZ
Posted on October 9, 2010 at 5:51pm@ public pencil troll: You hooked a few today! Everyone knows what bait tastes like, but some need to work on their sense of smell.
@ general: Look up dope about trolling. Much is an organized effort. Various methods are used, and not all motives and methods are documented. Don’t be baited to say violent or hateful things.
@ general: Think of all the fun things you could do with a nifty toy like that from your big brother!
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ProudTeaPartyMember
Posted on October 10, 2010 at 10:28pmHahahahahaahahaha. Excellent point. Terrorism 101….probably paid for by a “Stimulus” Grant of the Federal Government.
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Armed Patriot
Posted on October 11, 2010 at 8:49amWithout any sympathies to this fella. what happened to the 4th Amendment???
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