In the bill the Senate sent over to the house to end the shutdown, Republican Senators put in a line item that allowed at least 8 republican senators to sue the US and receive (at least) $500,000 each because their phone records were accessed in the J6 investigation.

These are the same guys that have allowed big tech to set up a surveillance state allowing individual tracking of location down to a few inches. Allows use of cookies and other tracking systems to see what apps you use, where you visit, what you buy and even write on the internet all with no expectation of privacy.

But their panties are in a wad over this violation of their privacy?

The stupid part how could any sane person think that this would look good or appropriate? One more bit of ammo to be used in the midterms.

How about they do their jobs and actually provide oversight?

Sorry about the source (NYT). But seems to allow your through the paywall.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/10/us/politics/senators-shutdown-smith-phone-searches.html?unlocked_article_code=1.0U8.9vCS.6QKKQB8WHKnT&smid=tw-share

You can choose not to use those devices. Are you saying the government should tell private businesses they can't use cookies? Is that your argument?

I'm not saying they should sue but if there was no good reason for their data to be accessed or they lied to get a warrant I would sure as **** sue. Even if it was "accidental" like some libs claim in the Russia hoax. If they did that I would want jail and sue.

As Dennis Prager famously said, "There are two parties: the dumb and the dangerous." Pretty easy to pick which is which.

LOYAL AG said:

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You've got this all wrong. You see this as Democrats vs Republicans and that's not it. It's the people versus the government. Those senators has their First Amendment rights violated by the government. That they're Senators makes it more alarming. We've seen this government abuse a sitting president, multiple senators and fabricate stories to influence our elections. If you would have a right to sue they do as well. This government is completely out of control. That Big Tech surveillance state was almost certainly funded by our government for its own benefit to control us.

---

I may have a bad take here, but I don't think so.

Do you remember like 6th grade government? The whole rigmarole of checks and balances? When I took it, it seemed like the check against excessive executive power was the legislative branch. Like oversight?

So, when Biden/FBI went crazy, it was the Republicans' job in the Senate to reign that crap in. They had absolutely zero effect. Now you are telling me that because they didn't do their jobs they should be able to each hit up my tax dollars for $500K or more?

And no laws to stop this stuff from happening again, but in the emergency order we're going to ensure we are getting our $$$?

Timing, priorities, the underlying concept. I have problems with all 3.

But again, it could just be that I am cleaning up a zillion itty bitty spheres of dehydrator gel, for my 3d printer that the cat knocked over very early this morning. Those little things bounce like supercharged superballs on the tile. And , most definitely, a bad take on my part.

Uniparty that says what you want to hear during elections, but....

I suspect this would be more appropriately addressed by dismantling the Patriot Act.

backintexas2013 said:

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You can choose not to use those devices. Are you saying the government should tell private businesses they can't use cookies? Is that your argument?

I'm not saying they should sue but if there was no good reason for their data to be accessed or they lied to get a warrant I would sure as **** sue. Even if it was "accidental" like some libs claim in the Russia hoax. If they did that I would want jail and sue.

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not really. It's pretty much impossible to function in society today with out a smartphone.

Less than 1/3rd of American's have a landline home phone vs 90% in 2004.

You don't have to have a smartphone. If you want one you have to live with the bad.

ts5641 said:

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As Dennis Prager famously said, "There are two parties: the dumb and the dangerous." Pretty easy to pick which is which.

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Or as sometimes put it more sternly, there is the stupid party and the evil party"

agracer said:

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backintexas2013 said:

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You can choose not to use those devices. Are you saying the government should tell private businesses they can't use cookies? Is that your argument?

I'm not saying they should sue but if there was no good reason for their data to be accessed or they lied to get a warrant I would sure as **** sue. Even if it was "accidental" like some libs claim in the Russia hoax. If they did that I would want jail and sue.

---

not really. It's pretty much impossible to function in society today with out a smartphone.

Less than 1/3rd of American's have a landline home phone vs 90% in 2004.

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Yep. The only computer in our house is a laptop I use for my wildlife photography hobby. Otherwise everything we do is on our phones.

I even use my phone to run my small business payroll and pay my payroll taxes. It's as essential to our lives as anything we own.

Over_ed said:

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LOYAL AG said:

---

You've got this all wrong. You see this as Democrats vs Republicans and that's not it. It's the people versus the government. Those senators has their First Amendment rights violated by the government. That they're Senators makes it more alarming. We've seen this government abuse a sitting president, multiple senators and fabricate stories to influence our elections. If you would have a right to sue they do as well. This government is completely out of control. That Big Tech surveillance state was almost certainly funded by our government for its own benefit to control us.

---

I may have a bad take here, but I don't think so.

Do you remember like 6th grade government? The whole rigmarole of checks and balances? When I took it, it seemed like the check against excessive executive power was the legislative branch. Like oversight?

So, when Biden/FBI went crazy, it was the Republicans' job in the Senate to reign that crap in. They had absolutely zero effect. Now you are telling me that because they didn't do their jobs they should be able to each hit up my tax dollars for $500K or more?

And no laws to stop this stuff from happening again, but in the emergency order we're going to ensure we are getting our $$$?

Timing, priorities, the underlying concept. I have problems with all 3.

But again, it could just be that I am cleaning up a zillion itty bitty spheres of dehydrator gel, for my 3d printer that the cat knocked over very early this morning. Those little things bounce like supercharged superballs on the tile. And , most definitely, a bad take on my part.

---

I don't think you have a bad take as much as I think you're looking in the wrong place both for who to blame and who to look to for relief. What I'm saying is that the parties are largely on the same team. Look at this century and tell me where we've seen anything legislatively that has reduced the power of government. It doesn't matter who holds the White House or Congress. Trump has done a lot via executive action but that's temporary. We have no checks and balances because the politicians are only there for theatre. The federal bureaucracy has taken control of the country. They don't answer to us because we don't elect them and the politicians know that once they win they're set for life. Even the president has little to no control over the bureaucracy despite the fact it technically reports to him. Remember it was W that said he was surprised at just how little power the president has.

All of history is a battle between liberty and tyranny and today is no different. What is different is we aren't battling against a tyrant in the traditional sense but rather a nameless, faceless bureaucracy that we can't vote out of office.

My $.02.

**** this. They should have to go through all the exact same avenues and processes as everyone else.

LOYAL AG said:

---

Over_ed said:

---

LOYAL AG said:

---

You've got this all wrong. You see this as Democrats vs Republicans and that's not it. It's the people versus the government. Those senators has their First Amendment rights violated by the government. That they're Senators makes it more alarming. We've seen this government abuse a sitting president, multiple senators and fabricate stories to influence our elections. If you would have a right to sue they do as well. This government is completely out of control. That Big Tech surveillance state was almost certainly funded by our government for its own benefit to control us.

---

I may have a bad take here, but I don't think so.

Do you remember like 6th grade government? The whole rigmarole of checks and balances? When I took it, it seemed like the check against excessive executive power was the legislative branch. Like oversight?

So, when Biden/FBI went crazy, it was the Republicans' job in the Senate to reign that crap in. They had absolutely zero effect. Now you are telling me that because they didn't do their jobs they should be able to each hit up my tax dollars for $500K or more?

And no laws to stop this stuff from happening again, but in the emergency order we're going to ensure we are getting our $$$?

Timing, priorities, the underlying concept. I have problems with all 3.

But again, it could just be that I am cleaning up a zillion itty bitty spheres of dehydrator gel, for my 3d printer that the cat knocked over very early this morning. Those little things bounce like supercharged superballs on the tile. And , most definitely, a bad take on my part.

---

I don't think you have a bad take as much as I think you're looking in the wrong place both for who to blame and who to look to for relief. What I'm saying is that the parties are largely on the same team. Look at this century and tell me where we've seen anything legislatively that has reduced the power of government. It doesn't matter who holds the White House or Congress. Trump has done a lot via executive action but that's temporary. We have no checks and balances because the politicians are only there for theatre. The federal bureaucracy has taken control of the country. They don't answer to us because we don't elect them and the politicians know that once they win they're set for life. Even the president has little to no control over the bureaucracy despite the fact it technically reports to him. Remember it was W that said he was surprised at just how little power the president has.

All of history is a battle between liberty and tyranny and today is no different. What is different is we aren't battling against a tyrant in the traditional sense but rather a nameless, faceless bureaucracy that we can't vote out of office.

My $.02.

---

THIS.

On the bold: W said that? How early in his term? That's damn interesting coming from him.

We might even do better with a more empowered President; monarchy fears aside.

Is that a backdoor to a juicy discovery?

Fire Judge James Boasberg, that should recoup at least $500K for use in the payments.
Next fire all FBI agents and administrators involved in operation Artic Frost. That should recoup the rest.

https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/press/rep/releases/biden-fbi-spied-on-eight-republican-senators-as-part-of-arctic-frost-investigation-grassley-oversight-reveals