Posted on 05/20/2011 5:55:18 AM PDT by 1010RD
Top congressional leaders agreed Thursday to a four-year extension of the anti-terrorist Patriot Act, the controversial law passed after the Sept. 11 attacks that governs the search for terrorists on American soil.
The deal between Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Speaker John Boehner calls for a vote before May 27, when parts of the current act expire. The idea is to pass the extension with as little debate as possible to avoid a protracted and familiar argument over the expanded power the law gives to the government.
SNIP
"I still have some concerns, and at this point I'm leaning against (voting for) it," said one, Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md.
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The provisions at issue allow the government to use roving wiretaps on multiple electronic devices and across multiple carriers and get court-approved access to business records relevant to terrorist investigations. The third, a "lone wolf" provision that was part of a 2004 law, permits secret intelligence surveillance of non-U.S. individuals without having to show a connection between the target and a specific terrorist group.
From its inception, the law's increased surveillance powers have been criticized by liberals and conservatives alike as infringements on free speech rights and protections against unwarranted searches and seizures.
Some Patriot Act opponents suggest that Osama bin Laden's demise earlier this month should prompt Congress to reconsider the law, written when the terrorist leader was at the peak of his power. But the act's supporters warn that al-Qaida splinter groups, scattered from Pakistan to the United States and beyond, may try to retaliate.
"Now more than ever, we need access to the crucial authorities in the Patriot Act," Attorney General Eric Holder told the Senate Judiciary Committee.
(Excerpt) Read more at hosted.ap.org ...
"Now more than ever, we need access to the crucial authorities in the Patriot Act," Attorney General Eric Holder
This alone should frighten us, given that the Act has been used more for 'criminals' than terrorists.
Anyone who is surprised by this simply hasn't been paying attention. The WOT is the perfect war for the powers that be.
The real question is how far we can trust Uncle Sam (particularly when unscrupulous persons have their hands on the levers of power)? This question needs to be studied by our Senators and Representatives.
You mean the Forever War?
There’s a line of hungry mouths to feed at the government trough. Power or money are the only commodities to fill those cavernous bellies.
Our Constitution and Bill of Rights explain just how far we can trust government and we’re way past that point. When do we reign in?
We need less study and more action, excepting there is no coward like a politician. Every one of them sees the headline: Lawmakers’ changes to (fill in blank law) leads to deaths
Hence we get stuck with bad laws for life.
Mike
1984
Yes, the war on terror is pretty much a forever war. Here in Florida we have a war on mosquitos and the war on terror is the similar in that you'll never get rid of them completely, so all you can do is kill them down to a tolerable level.
How can you hate us? We’re doing it for you!
Fools voted for it then and Fools will vote for it now. This is how the American way of life ends and the Nazi experience begins. Look around and look at the heavy equipment that Homeland Security and local LE has and ask who are they going to use it on. They sure won’t protect the borders so it must be for...
Once the momentum is there it is nearly impossible to undo. There is too much money pressure coupled with the fear.
The 4th amendment has been gone for a while. It’s not coming back any time soon.
HA! Hypocrisy, thy name is DNC.
OBL is dead
pull back the forces and put them on the southern border.
pull back our forces from europe and asia too....let those free loaders and back stabbers defend themselves...
send back any non-citizen Muslims from wence they came..as they are a terror cult and not a religion to be protected by our Constitution.
end the Patriot Act NOW
Unfortunately, many (if not most) of our Senators and Representatives are among those who cannot be trusted. Remember, they passed the Patriot Act in the first place.
FOR WHAT?
When presented with prima facie video evidence of voter intimidation, Mr. Holders' DOJ has done absolutely nothing.
There is no possible benefit to expanding the evidence gathering capability of an Agency that refuses to prosecute when handed all the evidence they need.
I'd suggest to Mr. Holder: If you want to go fishing, rent a boat.
When they do put up the fence, it will be to keep us in, not the illegals out.
“The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”
Sort of. Big left turn in the early 19th Century - away from the republic to neo-empire.
As it turns out, it appears that we couldn’t keep it, could we.
There is an inherent conflict between the abuse by and of authority, and the protection of our rights and liberties. Sometimes we conservatives forget that liberty is more important than bending over to the demands of authority. I had many discussions that turned into arguments with my friends about this exact subject in the years subsequent to 9-11, as well as our very costly imperialistic forays such as Iraq.
My belief was the Patriot Act should sunset every year, and require specific renewal by Congress to force an eventual end to the war on terror.
Now that the 10th and 4th admendments are dead which one will be next and how many more of our liberties will we allow to be taken away before we revolt?
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