Conservatives, liberals align against Patriot Act

The Washington Times ^ | June 14, 2005 | James G. Lakely

[neverdem]

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The Washington Timeswww.washingtontimes.com

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Conservatives, liberals align against Patriot Act

By James G. Lakely
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Published June 14, 2005

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Conservative groups have found common ground with the liberal American Civil Liberties Union in their opposition to the USA Patriot Act and pledge to wage a high-profile fight against it, claiming even its renewal is shrouded in secrecy.

    Former Rep. Bob Barr, who led conservative efforts to impeach President Clinton, is leading a group called "Patriots to Restore Checks and Balances" that is focused exclusively on opposing the renewal of the Patriot Act.

    The effort also has the enthusiastic support of three of the most influential conservatives in Washington, Grover Norquist of Americans for Tax Reform, David Keene of the American Conservative Union and Phyllis Schlafly of the Eagle Forum.

    "They support this effort because the true conservatives understand the Constitution and understand when it is threatened," Mr. Barr said. "They are not your neo-cons and typical Washington insiders. This is a broad array of conservative groups."

    Brad Jansen, an adjunct scholar at the conservative Competitive Enterprise Institute, has also joined Mr. Barr's effort, and said he will prove today that opposition to the Patriot Act is a political winner.

    Mr. Jansen is working for the congressional campaign of Tom Brinkman Jr., a state senator in Ohio who is among 11 candidates running in a Republican primary to fill the seat of former Rep. Rob Portman, who was tapped by President Bush as the U.S. trade representative.

[neverdem]

all are pro-life, and all support the president, the war on terror, gun ownership and tax cuts at every turn.

[frogjerk]

The Patriot act will be renewed.

[ActionNewsBill]

The Patriot act will be renewed.

Renewed and expanded.

We will all be labeled "terrorists" in one way or another.

[kesg]

The Patriot act will be renewed.

Hopefully by a very wide margin.

[conserv13]

Why? Is there any part of the Patriot Act that has been used to stop a terror attack? Or have they just used it on drug dealers and mafia types?

If the Patriot Act was in effect prior to 9/11, would that have enabled the authorities to stop the attacks?

[frogjerk]

Why? Is there any part of the Patriot Act that has been used to stop a terror attack? Or have they just used it on drug dealers and mafia types?

Wasn't the Patriot Act key in capturing those terrorist sympathizers in Lodi CA just recently?

[Don_Juan_64]

and who told you it was "key" in their capture?

[followerofchrist]

Good. Terrorists aren't taking away my freedom, the government is.

[conserv13]

I am not sure, maybe it was.

[Saberwielder]

Those conservatives who support the unnecessary and dangerous erosions of our individual rights, which is what the Patriot act does - may rue their decision when a liberal government down the line uses it to threaten our first and second amendment rights, among other things. We don't need big brotherism to stop terrorists.

[candeee]

And based on the current poll, it looks like many Freepers are happy to have our government taking away more of our rights.

[Shermy]

We will all be labeled "terrorists" in one way or another.

Shhh! don't upset the sheeple.

Anti-constitutionalism among Conservatives is a growing and disturbing trend. Just throw out the word "terrorism" and we hear baa baa baa.

In truth, they don't have to name you a terrorist. They can merely "suspect" you of "money laundering" which has been explained could be theoretically applied to any supposed "crime" involving money. Patriot act was sold on terrorism but the "money laundering" accusation need not be related in any way to terrorism. So, basically they have carte blanche now.

A nifty provision, IIRC, is that if one is the target of a PA search, you can't talk about it. So, the Bush Admin can show up in Congress, give 10 or 20 examples of the PA use in terrorism cases, Congress is left in the dark otherwise.

Some libs gave Sensenbrenner an "out" for his aborting the recent congress hearings on the PA. INstead of pertinent questions they fronted a guy from Amnesty International talking about Guantanamo, which isn't related to the PA. The loyal (ahem) opposition is also out of touch and stupid.

[kesg]

If the Patriot Act was in effect prior to 9/11, would that have enabled the authorities to stop the attacks?

Maybe.

[Don_Juan_64]

The government told us it was "key" in the capture, therefore we KNOW it must be true.

Patriot act, RealID, CAFTA.. next crisis will probably be a homegrown nut inspired by a website, then we will have sedition laws reinstituted. The good side is that with the dissolution of the borders, we will have all that room in northern Canada for building new Gulags for anyone who then questions govt policy.

[Rammer]

Has anyone here, for or against the Patriot Act, actually read the thing?

Just curious.

[Blue Screen of Death]

Do not grant to the Federal Government any powers today that you do not want Hillary to have tomorrow.

[Shermy]

And based on the current poll, it looks like many Freepers are happy to have our government taking away more of our rights.

Scary isn't it?

I suggest they, and anyone else, contact their congressmen and ask why the PA is not limited to terrorism. If they support the PA for terrorists, why not lobby one's congressman to limit the PA to terrorism? I think they'll find a surprising resistance.

[MeSpikeLibs]

Unfortunately we are losing more of our rights everyday in the name of our own safety. As long as it protects me from myself people will gladly give it away.

[kesg]

Why? Is there any part of the Patriot Act that has been used to stop a terror attack? Or have they just used it on drug dealers and mafia types?

Are you telling me that the government has also used the Patriot Act against drug dealers and mafia types? Oh, the horrors! Next thing you know, they will be using it against kidnappers, murderers, rapists, and child molesters.

[m1-lightning]

We will all be labeled "terrorists" in one way or another.

The Patriot Act should be limited to immigrants, legal and illegal, and for examples such as citizens who are taking vacations to Afghanistan or sending donations to some "charity" in the middle east. There's much more to it than that but it definitely needs more provisions and conditions in order for it to be used appropriately.