And that doesn’t mean good.

At the White House petition site:

We petition the Obama Administration to:

File charges against the 47 U.S. Senators in violation of The Logan Act in attempting to undermine a nuclear agreement.

On March 9th, 2015, forty-seven United States Senators committed a treasonous offense when they decided to violate the Logan Act, a 1799 law which forbids unauthorized citizens from negotiating with foreign governments. Violation of the Logan Act is a felony, punishable under federal law with imprisonment of up to three years.

At a time when the United States government is attempting to reach a potential nuclear agreement with the Iranian government, 47 Senators saw fit to instead issue a condescending letter to the Iranian government stating that any agreement brokered by our President would not be upheld once the president leaves office.

This is a clear violation of federal law. In attempting to undermine our own nation, these 47 senators have committed treason.

Published Date: Mar 09, 2015

Issues: Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement, Foreign Policy, Government Reform

Signatures needed by April 08, 2015 to reach goal of 100,000 25,529

Total signatures on this petition 74,471

[emphasis added]

Update:

That’s a lot of signatures in a few hours…

Signatures needed by April 08, 2015 to reach goal of 100,000 0

Total signatures on this petition 102,756

[emphasis added]

Update II (6:56 a.m. 03/11/15):

Signatures needed by April 08, 2015 to reach goal of 100,000 0

Total signatures on this petition 136,300

[emphasis added]

Update III (8:02 p.m. 03/11/15):

Signatures needed by April 08, 2015 to reach goal of 100,000 0

Total signatures on this petition 183,600

[emphasis added]

Update IV (7:27 a.m. 03/12/15):

Signatures needed by April 08, 2015 to reach goal of 100,000 0

Total signatures on this petition 209,731

[emphasis added]

But wait, there’s more:

We petition the Obama Administration to:

Senator Tom Cotton’s letter to Iran is a direct violation of the Logan Act and should be prosecuted.

Senator Tom Cotton and 46 others have written an Open Letter to the Iranian Government as an attempt to influence and interfere with our President’s current negotiations.

This is a violation of the Logan Act, a United States federal law that forbids unauthorized citizens from negotiating with foreign governments. It was passed in 1799 and last amended in 1994. Violation of the Logan Act is a felony, punishable under federal law with imprisonment of up to three years.

Published Date: Mar 09, 2015

Issues: Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement, Defense, Foreign Policy

Signatures needed by April 08, 2015 to reach goal of 100,000 92,400

Total signatures on this petition 7,600

[emphasis added]

We petition the Obama Administration to:

File charges of treason against the 47 Senators who sent letter to Iran.

Attorney General of the United States of America please file TREASON charges against the 47 Republican Senators who sent a letter to Iran. Too undermind the President’s dealing to eliminate Iran’s nuclear weapons program. They are risking the security of this nation by their underhandedness and should be charged accordingly. All 47 Senators including Arkansas Republican Senator Tom Cotton. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), and presidential hopefuls Ted Cruz (R-TX), Rand Paul (R-KY) and Marco Rubio (R-FL). Should be formally charged and prosecuted by the laws of this land and the United States of America’s Constitution.

Published Date: Mar 09, 2015

Issues: Defense, Foreign Policy

Signatures needed by April 08, 2015 to reach goal of 100,000 96,302

Total signatures on this petition 3,698

[emphasis added]

We petition the Obama Administration to:

Immediately file charges against the 47 Senators who have sent a “warning letter” to Iran, under the Logan Act.

A call for criminal charges to be filed for the 47 Senators who are undermining the President’s ability to conduct negotiations with Iran to PREVENT war.

Published Date: Mar 09, 2015

Issues: Defense, Foreign Policy, Government Reform

Signatures needed by April 08, 2015 to reach goal of 100,000 97,337

Total signatures on this petition 2,663

[emphasis added]

We petition the Obama Administration to:

Address and prosecute the clear violation of the Logan Act by the Republican senators’ March 9th open letter to Iran.

The open letter to Iran’s leaders by 47 senators of March 9th, warning them that any nuclear deal they sign with the Obama administration won’t last after Obama leaves office, is a clear and direct violation of the Logan Act and is treasonous. This action must not go unaddressed. We petition the White House and the Justice Dept. to take immediate and decisive action.

Published Date: Mar 09, 2015

Issues: Foreign Policy

Signatures needed by April 08, 2015 to reach goal of 100,000 98,439

Total signatures on this petition 1,561

We petition the Obama Administration to:

File charges against the Senators who sent a letter to Iran.

On March 9th 2015, members of the Senate of the United States sent a letter to the leaders of Iran urging them to go against the Obama administration over a nuclear deal. The letter was organized by Senator Tom Cotton and had the signatures of a total of 47 Senators. This was a clear violation of law and those Senators crossed a huge line when they tried to sabotage the negotiations of the Administration. Foreign policy should be dealt by the executive branch, not the legislative. Not only does the letter attempt to undermine negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, but it is written in a condescending tone that could do great harm to the United States’ security. That is why we urge the Administration and the Justice Department to file charges against those Senators who signed the letter.

Published Date: Mar 09, 2015

Issues: Defense, Foreign Policy, Homeland Security and Disaster Relief

Signatures needed by April 08, 2015 to reach goal of 100,000 99,372

Total signatures on this petition 628

[emphasis added]

It’s in the republican majority’s nature. Everybody else gets the grotesque overreach. They probably don’t.

Previously:

Sen. Roy Blunt (r): Next! (March 9, 2015)

Is Roy Blunt a “traitor,” “reckless and feckless,” or simply an embarrassment? (March 10, 2015)

There are several petitions on vaccinations at the White House site:

We petition the Obama Administration to:

Mandate childhood vaccinations for all children, with exemptions solely for legitimate medical reasons.

Medical exemptions should be the only childhood vaccination exemption allowed in the United States.

The medical profession has spoken, childhood vaccinations are safe and one of the greatest scientific innovations in human history.

Some parents fall victim to rumor and propaganda and decide to place other children’s lives at risk by refusing to vaccinate their children. These decisions are based on discredited research or biased opinions. This affects other children – not just the children of the parents making this decision. Given the recent Measles outbreak in California, a state with one of the highest % of unvaccinated children, along with outbreaks of other diseases in clusters of unvaccinated communities, the government must act now before this becomes a public health crisis.

Published Date: Jan 31, 2015

Issues: Health Care, Science and Space Policy

Signatures needed by March 02, 2015 to reach goal of 100,000 99,532

Total signatures on this petition 468

[emphasis added]

And another:

We petition the Obama Administration to:

Require all parents to vaccinate their children, or be charged with child endangerment.

Over the years, humans have been on this earth, we have developed a means to help us become immune to certain diseases, using one of our bodies most base functions of fighting off diseases our bodies have been exposed to previously. Vaccination is one of the most important things to keep us healthy and kill off deadly diseases.

Recently, however there have been many parents who are outright refusing to vaccinate their children, based on misinformation. These people have single-handedly managed to spread and bring back diseases such as whooping cough, polio, measles and mumps.

That is why we petition the Obama administration to make it illegal to not vaccinate your children. When parents refuse to vaccinate their children, they are endangering their children’s lives and the lives of others.

Published Date: Feb 03, 2015

Issues: Civil Rights and Liberties, Disabilities, Human Rights

Signatures needed by March 05, 2015 to reach goal of 100,000 98,480

Total signatures on this petition 1,520

[emphasis added]

And the anti-vaccine crowd has one, too:

We petition the Obama Administration to:

PROHIBIT ANY LAWS MANDATING THE FORCE AND REQUIREMENT OF VACCINATIONS OF ANY KIND.

No human being should be FORCED to be vaccinated against their will and/or personal/religious beliefs. I petition against making vaccinations of any kind mandatory. This includes forcing children to be vaccinated to attend public schools, activities, and daycare centers. This also includes adults working in the public or private sector.

Published Date: Feb 04, 2015

Issues: Civil Rights and Liberties, Health Care, Human Rights

Signatures needed by March 06, 2015 to reach goal of 100,000 81,437

Total signatures on this petition 18,563

[emphasis added, title capitalization in the original]

There appears to be slightly more enthusiasm for the spread of contagion.

Interestingly the last petition doesn’t provide a rationale for refusal. “Because” doesn’t cut it when it comes to public health issues. It never has.

U.S. Supreme Court cases:

JACOBSON v. COM. OF MASSACHUSETTS, 197 U.S. 11 (1905)

ZUCHT v. KING, 260 U.S. 174 (1922)

It has been long established legally and morally that public health and science trump “just because”.

Previously:

Hillary (D): get your shots (February 3, 2015)

A petition to the White House on gay marriage:

We petition the Obama Administration to:

Define Marriage as One Man and One Woman

We the People request that marriage is officially defined as the union between one man and one woman. The age old tradition must be preserved to ensure America keeps its values. Traditional marriage would in fact be the ideal scenario for a child to be raise and future Americans to be developed. We ask the Obama Administration to preserve the concept Traditional Marriage for future America.

Published Date: Jan 16, 2015

Issues: Family, Human Rights

Signatures needed by February 15, 2015 to reach goal of 100,000 99,749

Total signatures on this petition 251

[emphasis added]

How charming.

What their political overlords actually think:

Gay Marriage Case Offers G.O.P. Political Cover

By JEREMY W. PETERS and JONATHAN MARTINJAN. 18, 2015

….To have the question disposed of and dispensed with, many Republicans say, could make their opinions on the matter largely moot, providing a political escape hatch that gives them an excuse to essentially say: “It’s been settled. Let’s move on….”

For their base it’s another matter.

A White House petition:

We petition the Obama Administration to:

Declare Oct 21 National Back to the Future Day

Oct 21 2015 is, of course, the day that Marty and Doc time-traveled forward to in the Delorean. And what better way to commemorate this momentous and historic day (and one of America’s most beloved films of the last 30 years)? Here’s what happened: I was standing on the edge of my toilet hanging a clock, the porcelain was wet, I slipped, hit my head on the sink, and when I came to I had a revelation…a vision….that the President should proclaim October 21, 2015 – National Back to the Future Day. We don’t even need plutonium, 1.21 giggawatts or a flux capacitor, just the Presidential Proclamation power granted by 16 USC 431…and, of course, 100,000 signatures on this petition.

(Also, can you put NASA on hoverboards, please??)

Published Date: Jan 06, 2015

Issues: Arts and Humanities, Science and Space Policy, Technology and Telecommunications

Signatures needed by February 05, 2015 to reach goal of 100,000 97,311

Total signatures on this petition 2,689

Sadly, there’s no mention of John Bigbooté, the oscillation overthruster, Yoyodyne Propulsion Systems, or the World Crime League.

At the White House petition site:

We petition the Obama administration to:

Urge Sony pictures to release the film “The Interview” and protect our 1st Amendment.

We the people of the United States of America feel that our 1st amendment is under attack by a foreign government. Our right to produce comedy motion pictures that depict anyone or anything is greatly at stake. We want our government to defend our first amendment by urging Sony to release “The Interview” and offer protection to movie goers as well as those involved in the production of the movie.

Published Date: Dec 18, 2014

Issues: Foreign Policy, Homeland Security and Disaster Relief, Technology and Telecommunications

Signatures needed by January 17, 2015 to reach goal of 100,000 99,787

Total signatures on this petition 213

[emphasis added]

Uh, it’s a violation of the First Amendment if Congress makes a law restricting access to the film. That hasn’t happened, has it?

We petition the Obama Administration to:

Encourage Sony to Distribute “The Interview” to Those Americans Who Wish to See the Film.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” – Thomas Jefferson

If the people of the United States of America think seeing “The Interview” will make them happy, they should be allowed to do so from the safety of their own homes.

Sony should be protected and allowed to digitally release “The Interview” for purchase as a digital download immediately.

“America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.” – Abraham Lincoln

We cannot allow a foreign nation to terrorize our citizens out of seeing a harmless, satirical film.

Published Date: Dec 18, 2014

Issues: Arts and Humanities, Civil Rights and Liberties, Homeland Security and Disaster Relief

Signatures needed by January 17, 2015 to reach goal of 100,000 99,711

Total signatures on this petition 289

[emphasis added]

Right. It’s all about the principles (via Twitter):

Micah J. Murray ‏@micahjmurray

#TheInterview

Take off your shoes. Get patted down at airports. Militarize the police force. Arm school teachers. Torture people. Drone-kill children. Wiretap all the phone.

America: “Meh.”

Pull one stupid comedy movie from theaters.

America: “THIS IS WHERE WE DRAW THE LINE. WE ARE NOT A NATION RULED BY FEAR.”

7:42 AM – 19 Dec 2014

Wouldn’t it be interesting to find out how preview audiences reacted?  

At the White House petition site:

We petition the Obama Administration to:

Prosecute, to the full extent of the law, all of the parties responsible for the use of torture outlined in CIA report

Torture is a war crime. There is no statute of limitations on war crimes. Those that have committed this crime should be tried and punished to set us right with the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. We need justice before there can be redemption. The time is now to set our moral compass in the proper direction by holding those responsible for the horrific acts done in our countries name. There needs to be accountability – there needs to be justice – there needs to be a trial for war crimes now that we know just what was done in our name.

Published Date: Dec 09, 2014

Issues: Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement

Signatures needed by January 08, 2015 to reach goal of 100,000 99,404

Total signatures on this petition 596

[emphasis added]

A few good people.

We petition the Obama Administration to:

Arrest Dick Cheney and George W. Bush for crimes against Humanity

We The People demand the immediate arrest of war criminals Dick Cheney and George Bush for committing crimes against humanity. These 2 men are an affront to American morality and values. They have been deemed war criminals across the globe yet remain free at home. America is supposed to be a nation of freedom, truth and justice. However the CIA torture report demonstrates that these 2 leaders place no value on human life and as a result we call for their arrest, a fair trial, and justice to be meted out accordingly (a luxury their victims were not permitted to receive)

Published Date: Dec 09, 2014

Issues: Foreign Policy, Government Reform, Homeland Security and Disaster Relief

Signatures needed by January 08, 2015 to reach goal of 100,000 99,800

Total signatures on this petition 200

[emphasis added]

It’s possible their travel agents will have interesting challenges routing their international travel in the future.

Over the years turning on the holiday lights in a shopping district on Thanksgiving has become something of a sacred holiday tradition in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Think about that for a moment.

We can usually find live coverage on one of the local television stations. Depending on the weather upwards of 250,000 people crowd into the Plaza to wait for the appointed hour when the strings of lights outlining the buildings are turned on.

A quarter of a million people will probably be there. In a shopping district. Again, think about that for a minute.

Several Kansas City television news outlets have been running stories expressing concern that people protesting the Ferguson grand jury decision could protest at or disrupt this evening’s Plaza lighting event:

Worries of protests ahead of Plaza lighting

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Kansas City police prepared as fears grew that more protests might occur in Kansas City.

One, rumored to occur during the 85th Plaza Lighting Ceremony, has some families now wondering if they should attend the annual celebration….

[….]

….Some Plaza merchants are nervous too after people across the country watched protesters in Ferguson grow violent and burn down businesses….

[….]

….But the Kansas City Police Department said all protests in the metro have stayed mostly calm.

On Tuesday night, a demonstration worked its way around the Country Club Plaza and Westport and grew to nearly 200 people. Officers arrested only five who became unruly….

[….]

The possibility of five “unruly people”. In a crowd of 250,000? What are the odds?

Any number of people larger than five would be a significant logistical achievement. What do you think would be the impact? More or less than the number people who will be publicly drunk?

Meanwhile:

We petition the Obama Administration to:

Bring justice to Michael Brown by federally charging and prosecuting Darren Wilson for first-degree murder

[….]

Created: Nov 25, 2014

Issues: Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement

Signatures needed by December 25, 2014 to reach goal of 100,000 0

Total signatures on this petition 117,892

 [emphasis added]

If all those people showed up it would be quite a different crowd dynamic.

And another:

We petition the Obama Administration to:

It should be unconstitutional for officers of the law to kill unarmed citizens. Please amend the constitution.

I’m asking for a revision of our constitution. It does not protect the average American citizen from the use of excessive, lethal, or deadly force to resolve citizen/police conflicts. Police officers have an array of non-lethal weapons but choose to murder unarmed citizens as they deem necessary. This murder with no trial or conviction is unconstitutional and should be out-lawed. Without amending the constitution to provide protection to vulnerable citizens, our lives are in the hands of officers who are authorized to be the jury, prosecutor, and judge when facing confrontation on duty.

Created: Nov 25, 2014

Issues: Civil Rights and Liberties, Government Reform, Human Rights

Signatures needed by December 25, 2014 to reach goal of 100,000 98,024

Total signatures on this petition 1,976

[emphasis added]

Same country, different worlds.

Previously:

White House Petitions: Ferguson, Missouri (November 26, 2014)

The Unanswered Question (November 25, 2014)

The Ferguson Commission: Change agent or spinning wheels? (November 24, 2014)

White House Petition: and stuff (October 16, 2014)

Missouri is an interesting place with interesting people (October 21, 2014)

#NMOS14 Moment of Silence Kansas City Mike Brown Rally (August 16, 2014)

Kansas City moment of silence – August 14, 2014 – part 2 (August 15, 2014)

Kansas City moment of silence – August 14, 2014 (August 14, 2014)

WTF? (August 13, 2014)

And we wonder why (August 12, 2014)

There are a number of open petitions pertinent to Ferguson, Missouri at the White House petition site:

We petition the Obama Administration to:

Bring justice to Michael Brown by federally charging and prosecuting Darren Wilson for first-degree murder

On August 9th, Michael Brown, an unarmed 18 year old black male, was shot and killed by police officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson, Missouri. On November 24th, a grand jury failed to indict Darren Wilson on any charges. While Michael Brown, a college-bound teenage boy, no longer has a future, Darren Wilson has pocketed hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations & can live his life freely.

Bring justice to Michael Brown and the hundreds of other black boys killed for the color of their skin by federally charging & fully prosecuting Darren Wilson. The grand jury decided not to indict Darren Wilson because of “conflicting evidence”, which is why a trial is necessary to guarantee the legitimacy of our justice system. Darren Wilson must held accountable for the murder that he committed.

Created: Nov 25, 2014

Issues: Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement

Signatures needed by December 25, 2014 to reach goal of 100,000 36,089

Total signatures on this petition 63,911

[emphasis added]

That’s almost 64,000 signatures in one day.

We petition the Obama Administration to:

Force all law enforcement officers to wear body cameras.

All over the country, innocent men and women are being murdered by police, a predominant number of whom are black. And every time, police walk free, many without even a trial or even a punishment. This is because the police departments claim a different set of events than eyewitnesses and say that other evidence is false.

This petition is to force all law enforcement officers to wear body cameras. These cameras need to be on at all times while the officers are on duty, and the videos need to be publicly available when officers shoot or otherwise seriously harm someone. If no video is available, the officer needs to be charged with the appropriate crime, assault or murder.

This petition is to ensure the safety of all people and ensure that officers uphold the law as they are supposed to.

Created: Nov 24, 2014

Issues: Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement

Signatures needed by December 24, 2014 to reach goal of 100,000 92,552

Total signatures on this petition 7,448

We petition the Obama Administration to:

Open a Civil Rights Case Against Darren Wilson

Attorney General Eric Holder,

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has monitored proceedings after the murder of 18 year old Michael Brown, an unarmed black male in Missouri, by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson. You visited Ferguson, gave the American people assurances of a full, fair, and independent investigation.

We are concerned that the grand jury process was hampered by highly unconventional proceedings, including leaks. There is no confidence in state/local authorities to capably handle the results.

In light of the return of a non indictment, we implore the DOJ to act swiftly, stand for justice and file civil rights charges against Wilson for Michael’s murder. We contend that he deprived Michael of the most basic constitutional civil rights – the right to life.

Thank you

Created: Nov 24, 2014

Issues: Civil Rights and Liberties, Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement, Firearms

Signatures needed by December 24, 2014 to reach goal of 100,000 99,756

Total signatures on this petition 244

[emphasis added]

We petition the Obama Administration to:

NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE

“Darren Wilson Remains Free: Our demand for justice for Michael Brown continues. We must act now for justice to be served. A grand jury has decided not to indict Officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of Michael Brown.This does NOT mean a crime was not committed when Michael was shot – it means we must keep fighting for justice. Urge the Department of Justice to complete their federal, criminal civil rights investigation into Michael Brown’s slaying. Justice for Michael is still possible if we act today.”

Created: Nov 25, 2014

Issues: Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement, Defense, Environment

Signatures needed by December 25, 2014 to reach goal of 100,000 99,690

Total signatures on this petition 310

[emphasis added]

Something has to change.

Previously:

The Unanswered Question (November 25, 2014)

The Ferguson Commission: Change agent or spinning wheels? (November 24, 2014)

White House Petition: and stuff (October 16, 2014)

Missouri is an interesting place with interesting people (October 21, 2014)

#NMOS14 Moment of Silence Kansas City Mike Brown Rally (August 16, 2014)

Kansas City moment of silence – August 14, 2014 – part 2 (August 15, 2014)

Kansas City moment of silence – August 14, 2014 (August 14, 2014)

WTF? (August 13, 2014)

And we wonder why (August 12, 2014)

At the White House petition site:

We petition the Obama Administration to:

Cancel school in Kansas if the Royals win the World Series

Petition for no school for all Kansas students if the Royals win the world series (when the Royals won in 1985 they cancelled school, tradition)

Created: Oct 29, 2014

Issues: Education, Human Rights

Signatures needed by November 28, 2014 to reach goal of 100,000 99,011

Total signatures on this petition 989

And a right wingnut billionaire wants Missouri to be just like Kansas.

A petition at the White House site:

We petition the Obama Administration to:

Let police do their job in Ferguson MO!

We the people are sick and tired of the protestors, rioters, and looters! These people are criminals and need to be arrested and prosecuted! Police cannot work to their full potential and are getting harassed and assaulted! Trespassing and vandalizing are against the law! There have been threats to even kill cops and white people up there! There is a difference in peaceful protesting and the stuff that is happening there.

Created: Oct 13, 2014

Issues: Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement, Economy, Family

Signatures needed by November 12, 2014 to reach goal of 100,000 99,093

Total signatures on this petition 907

[emphasis added]

The creator of the petition is from Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

“We the people are sick and tired of the protestors…”

Well, there is that pesky First Amendment, which by they way, the petitioner exercised with this petition. We suppose the lesser known “until other people are sick and tired” clause could be invoked for petitions to the White House, too.

“…There is a difference in peaceful protesting…”

Wait, didn’t the petitioner write that they were sick and tired of protesters?

We give up.