Douments reveal FBI surveillance of Kerry in early 1970s [ Partisan Media Spin Alert ]

CNN ^ | 3/23/04 | Phil Hirschkorn

[dirtboy]

I wasn't saying in the context that the FBI knew at the time about the assasination conspiracy, but more in the context that subsequent events justified initial concerns about the group.

[antiRepublicrat]

I'd like to know why the Patriot Act is so evil from someone other than a leftist news anchor. Care to post or freepmail some links?

First, start with the ideal that new laws are inherently evil, and that current laws should be used and enforced before resorting to new laws (you see this in the gun rights issue -- we don't need new laws).

The government already had the ability to do what it needs to catch terrorists with the current laws and the FISA court, including sealed warrants and very lenient searches and procedures. FISA court is a rubber stamp on whatever the FBI wants to do in regards to terrorists or agents of foreign powers, but it at least conforms to the Bill of Rights.

Enter PATRIOT, which goes further to remove those minor constitutional inconveniences for law enforcement. Among other things, it expanded FISA to apply to ordinary Americans instead of terrorists even though Congress has determined that FISA's limitation of scope to terrorists did not impede the FBI's ability to catch terrorists (duh).

Basically, due to PATRIOT, the government doesn't have to show the constitutionally required probable cause before going on a fishing expedition on any citizen by broadly saying it's related to a terrorism investigation -- with no judicial oversight of such assertion. So far there have been convictions using PATRIOT, but none had anything to do with terrorism. That is evidence that the FBI is willing to make false assertions as to connections with terrorism in order to avoid certain constitutional protections that Americans have been used to for a long time.

True, a police force with absolute power and a citizenry with no rights would create a place very safe from terrorists and criminals, but I wouldn't want to live there.

[anonymous_user]

Interesting. Something the Left and Right seem to be against, yet it was written and passed with the assistance of both parties.

I suppose it would have been political suicide to vote against Patriot and "side with the terrorists," just as it was probably suicide to vote for McCain Feingold and "side with big money, the lobbyists and special interest groups."

You got me curious, and I did find these links that may be of interest:

The ACU's statement against Patriot II

ACLU efforts to pass the Security and Freedom Assured (SAFE) act repealing parts of Patriot Act ... Yeah, "them."

(What's with these ghey names "Patriot" and "SAFE"? Barf!!)

Bipartisan effort to reign in Patriot Act

[anonymous_user]

Oops! I mean, vote AGAINST McCain Feingold and "side with big money... etc. See tagline:

[antiRepublicrat]

I suppose it would have been political suicide to vote against Patriot and "side with the terrorists

That's about it. Normal ones are bad enough, but passing into law a prosecutorial wishlist (do you actually think it was drafted from scratch and passed in that short time?) amid such an emotional and political furor is practically guaranteed to bring a bad law. Many of those who voted for it never actually read it.