Home front – The “messiah”: Obama wants police to search smartphones
(News story (from NPR) via Godfather Politics)… Obama wanting to give police throughout the country the right to search someone’s smartphone without having a warrant.  … guest commentator on the subject, John Miller, former assistant Director of Public Affairs for the FBI, share his views on the subject.  He said that what the FBI does is seize the smartphone and hold it until they obtain a warrant allowing them to search through the phone.  He then explained that what Obama wants is to allow a police officer who believes he/she has probable cause to not only seize the person’s smartphone, but have the legal right to search through it on the spot without having to first obtain a warrant.

David: What was interesting is that neither Miller nor anyone else even brought up the Fourth Amendment which states: “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.” I believe that giving the police the right to seize and search someone’s smartphone is a direct violation of the Fourth Amendment.  As much as I’ve supported law enforcement over the years, I also know that there are some police officers that are less than honorable and probable cause to them could mean almost anything.  Probable cause can also be at the discretion of a judge if the matter goes to trial.

Nathan: Unlike David, I’ve NO reason (and haven’t for many years) to support law enforcement in MOST of their activities.  Yes, I will support peace officers, and like Paul, I will use them as necessary to defend myself and others, but that is NOT what passes for “community policing” these days.  The fact that the “messiah” wants to “grant” police these powers just proves things are getting worse.  You would think, given his claimed racial orientation, that the LAST thing he would do is want to give cops more power over people because the minorities always seem to get the worst of it. But no, not here and now!

He actually seems to be using this as a way of buying the cops’ support: he is going to bill himself as the “law and order” king – oops, chief executive, sooner or later.  His “stand” against medical marijuana is another example.  Public employee unions, including the police unions, are a more and more critical part of the Democratic base and fund source.  And trashing the Constitution seems to be a surefire way to get support from the Tranzis which inhabit these unions and similar organizations, and way too many law enforcement agencies.