"If the ACLU is against this legislation that is good enough reason for me to be for it. The ACLU, and liberals in general, are perfect reverse barometers of what is good and bad for our society."
Are they? You're aware that they're working with Rush Limbaugh about his medical record? On the raw edge of civil rights, the ACLU is non-partisan. They do a lot of stuff that's questionable, but not on that subject.
Please read the legislation. Don't form your decision based solely on who's against it. Down that road is an ugly, ugly place....one you don't want to live in.
So you think any restriction of any right during a time of war is a bad thing?
If you lived in a coastal town in California during WWII would you have defiantly lit your house up at night with Christmas lights just to show "The Law" they can't take away your constitutional rights? You probably would have called the authorites who came to extinguish your lights Jack-Booted Thugs too.
There are some "rights" honest, free people can refrain from exercising--not surrendering--during a time of war. Only bank robbers complain about laws against bank robbery.
I too would oppose overly broad laws that could be misconstrued by overzealous or evil (read Demos) bureaucrats to ensnare innocent behavior. If the statute is strictly written to leave no room for regulatory abuse or misinterpretation I would not object, if that law enabled us to defeat our enemies. I do not know if these additions to the Patriot Act would pass that muster, but I would not help the ACLU so much as to cross the street.