WITH A WHISPER, NOT A BANG (Patriot Act II signed by President on December 13, 2003)

San Antonio Current ^ | 12/24/03 | David Martin

[Marianne]

FYI

[Bella]

Everyone happy?

[WackyKat]

To get the records, the FBI doesn't have to appear before a judge, nor demonstrate "probable cause" - reason to believe that the targeted client is involved in criminal or terrorist activity. Moreover, the National Security Letters are attached with a gag order, preventing any financial institution from informing its clients that their records have been surrendered to the FBI. If a financial institution breaches the gag order, it faces criminal penalties. And finally, the FBI will no longer be required to report to Congress how often they have used the National Security Letters.

Bye-Bye 4th Amendment

[HiTech RedNeck]

Merry fishbowl, everybody. 1984 was only 20 years late in coming.

[LibertyAndJusticeForAll]

And to add salt to our wound, they refer to these losses of an American citizen's privacy as the 'Patriot' Act - I and II (one can assume there will be more).

[FreeReign]

Anybody have a link to the actual legislation?

[Lower55]

Try actually reading the act.

[Pikamax]

what the san antonio current and how come I haven't heard of this signing by any other news source?

[LibertyAndJusticeForAll]

"...the FBI had just obtained the power to probe their financial records, even if the feds don't suspect their involvement in crime or terrorism. "

Are you claiming that this sentence in the article posted above is false?

[MissAmericanPie]

So far under the Bush administration we have lost the first, fouth, and tenth amendments. This voice vote is how the Senate will pass the FTA treaty that does away with the Constitution all together in favor of international law.

[Az Joe]

http://washingtontimes.com/national/20031204-111437-5659r.htm

"National Security Letters..."

"The measure redefines "financial institutions" that was previously limited to banks, credit unions, and savings and loan organizations.

Now the definition also includes brokers and dealers registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, investment bankers, operators of credit-card systems, insurance companies, dealers in precious metals, stones, or jewels, licensed senders of money, telegraph companies, airplane and boat dealers, Realtors and estate closings, and the U.S. Post Office.

Financial institution also means "any other business designated by the secretary [of the Treasury] whose cash transactions have a high degree of usefulness in criminal, tax, or regulatory matters.

Administration officials support the bill because it allows law enforcement to pursue investigations with greater speed and flexibility.

Senate committee staffers said the investigative tool is not new and was used in the past for money-laundering investigations.

Those same tools should be available to investigate terrorism, they said, and were requested by the administration."

[sinkspur]

Why do you believe a rag from San Antonio? I haven't seen nor heard of this from any other source.

[Lower55]

Not necessarily, just out of context.

[sinkspur]

IOW, no big deal.

[oceanview]

who do you want to trust, the courts? are you kidding me, do you realize who sits on the bench in this country? the ultra left dominates the bench, many with lifetime appointments. the judiciary cannot be trusted to protect us from terrorism, to the contrary, if given the chance, the judiciary would extend full access to the US court system to terrorists and block any effective domestic enforcement in the name of "civil rights".

its the whole "enemy within" thing to steal a live from Michael Savage.

At least I can vote out the executive branch if it runs amuck with these laws. We can't do anything to combat the corruption of the judiciary, we are powerless against judges with lifetime appointment, and the bench is packed with the left.

[MissAmericanPie]

LOL, you guys always say something like that when you can't face the truth about some other outrage Bush has committed. Let me give you a little helpful hint. Google is your friend, read them all and weep.

[Lower55]

Us guys don't make insane comments on things we don't read and don't understand. You should try it sometime.

[LPM1888]

If this is true Bush just lost my vote. This is sleazy behavior.

[LPM1888]

Everyone happy?

No! I'm mad as hell!!

[LibertyAndJusticeForAll]

Too bad "The Patriot Act" doesn't include protecting our borders and escorting all illegals back across the border.
Now THAT would do a lot toward greater homeland security. Probing my financial records when I am not a suspect really doesn't sound worthwhile or the way to treat a patriot.
Instead, it seems, we are to make all illegals suddenly legal and hand them border crossing passes (or something) and with the other hand, snoop into our citizens records even when they have done nothing to deserve such an invasion of privacy.
Or, is this "just out of context" too.