Reviewing, Revising, Renewing - The Patriot Act

Senator Craig's Website ^ | December 16, 2005 | Senator Larry Craig (R - ID)

[JesseJane]

After all the railing against the four Republicans about this issue, I thought it might be helpful to understand why they chose to hold out. I haven't seen anything posted thus far, perhaps comments are buried deep in discussion threads.

As quoted in an AP release in today's paper (The Idaho Statesman..bears your attention IMO.

Quoting:

"My disagreement with the president's statement at his press conference is that the ability to connect the dots is still in place, " Craig said. "The firewalls are not in that area of the law that's expiring."

Craig said he he and most members of Congress believe a majority of the provisions in the Patriot Act are appropriate, but there were iimportant civil liberty safeguards left out of the final reauthorization bill that give the federal government powers "that have a real opportunity for misuse."

// If there is ANYONE that should get a handle on the objections stated in Sen. Craig's press release is it Rush Limbaugh. If there are dittoheads reading this now, and have been following Rush's situation with his own medical records, you can CLEARLY SEE how the government can and have abused their power. Considering the back room deals this 109th have shamefully struck, Judges, Aliens, First Ammendment, and the USSC decisions on Eminent Domain, I see absolutely NO REASON to accept 'trust me' as an adequate assurance that our constitutional rights, even during a time of war, would be ensured.

Therefore, I believe Sen. Craig's concerns ought to be considered by President Bush....

[Carry_Okie]

The conference report would allow the government to obtain library, medical and gun records and other sensitive personal information under Section 215 of the Patriot Act, without demonstrating specific reasons to believe that person is connected to a suspected terrorist or spy. Currently, federal agents can simply say those records are relevant to an authorized intelligence investigation.

Gun records they probably shouldn't even have.

Thank you Senator Craig. I want the names of the monsters who slipped this POS into the bill.

[Txsleuth]

I am so glad you posted this...

I have asked for days, on several threads...if anyone knew why Craig, Murkowski, Hagel, and Sununu were "filibustering" the Patriot Act...

I understand Craig's reluctance to sign if medical and gun records are left "open"...but, I wonder how, then, the Republicans in the HOUSE let that get through...

[Raycpa]

Is it the authors belief that we should be able to access the library cards of terrorists but not their gun records?

[JesseJane]

I called his office to offer my support of further discussion. Perhaps he should try to get on FoxNews to explain.

[JesseJane]

The letter posted in his site is signed by all 4 Senators. They should be given an opportunity to respond. I don't know if their reasons coincide with the Democrats, (I doubt it), but still... they should be given an opportunity to explain their position to the American people.

[JesseJane]

I didn't read it that way. I read the whole statement in the context of : "without demonstrating specific reasons to believe that person is connected to a suspected terrorist or spy.

[Raycpa]

The ability to get library records doesn't require demonstrating anything if a terrorist is involved. It seems a bit silly to exempt guns

[babygene]

Library books are not covered by the 2nd amendment, guns are... Plus there is not a focused group of anti library book people trying to make books illegal.

[Cboldt]

I have asked for days, on several threads...if anyone knew why Craig, Murkowski, Hagel, and Sununu were "filibustering" the Patriot Act...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1513207/posts?page=1216#1216

[Carry_Okie]

I called to thank the Senator as well.

The lady said I'd made her day. They were especially happy to know that I was calling from California.

[Raycpa]

Library books are not covered by the 2nd amendment,

Only The first. Why is the second more important than the first?

[Salvation]

I think we need to email barrage all the Senators and tell them we want the Patriot Act!!!!

U. S. Senate

[vrwc0915]

Thank god some will stand up to the new socialist republican

[Txsleuth]

Okay, okay, consider my knuckles rapped.

BUT, in my defense, I have had two granddaughters and so I haven't been able to be on FR much...and when I have, it isn't really very long...so I hope you will go easy on me today...okay? LOL

BTW..I read the SAFE ACT provisions...and it is VERY coincidental (sarc) that the NYTimes report came out last Friday isn't it??? LOL

[babygene]

"Only The first. Why is the second more important than the first?"

Actually, library books are not even mentioned in the first amendment, and from where our society has advanced to, provide no real function. Almost everything is on line or available at Barns and Nobel. If they were not publicly financed, they would all shut down.

The 2nd amendment however does speak specifically to firearms, and many of us believe that this was included to assure that our republic stayed together.

Think of it as "checks and balances" on government...

[Cboldt]

Okay, okay, consider my knuckles rapped.

LOL. I was just pointing you to a place that would facilite finding the substance of their objections.

I'm weaning myself from making comments on FR -- it's painful ;-)

[Carry_Okie]

BANG!

[Wuli]

My problem is with the lapsing many provisions on December 31, even those that Senator Craig did not feel needed revising. While revising others, if needed, can continue to be debated, letting them lapse on December 31 is a far greater danger in the short term.

The filibustering Senators should have agreed to a simple alternate bill, extending the Patriot Act provisions "as is" for three months, or whatever, for Congress to come back and work it out. Letting it all lapse on December 31 produces real dangers over concern for "potential" problems that can be fixed later. Craig and the other three were wrong, no matter what their concerns were. There were solutions to their concerns without the lapse on Decemebr 31 endangering us all.

There is a point at which a stand on principle becomes an unprincipled stand.

[Txsleuth]

The problem is...if YOU quit making comments to relieve yourself of pain..

You are denying Free Republic the knowledge, and considered opinions that are formed by that knowledge.

I KNOW you get frustrated..and I am sure that I am one of the ones that frustrate you...but, I hope you reconsider posting.

The links you provide are, of course, very much appreciated, but there NEEDS to be a variety of voices and opinions on Free Republic, or it will cease to be the informative, entertaining forum that it was and still is, IMHO.