Conservative Backlash: Provisions of ‘Patriot II’ Draft Worry Those on Right

ABC NEWS ^ | March 12, 2003 | Dean Schabner

[eshu]

Welcome to the USSA!

[eshu]

Funniest line in the whole article:

"We're going to make our case why basically suspending the Constitution could have an adverse effect on conservatives, either under this administration or under a future administration," he said.

[TLBSHOW]

The only group that needs their rights raked over is the bloody islam cult! Get them out of America! Don't spy on Americans don't take Americans rights away but ban Islam the enemy!

[Libertarianize the GOP]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[asformeandformyhouse]

1...2...3...4...5

Just counting the seconds until someone from the 'if you've got nothing to hide, you've go nothing to fear' crowd makes an entrance.

[asformeandformyhouse]

Oops.

'if you've got nothing to hide, you've got nothing to fear'

[Jim Robinson]

"We need a requiem mass for the Fourth Amendment, because it's gone."

No, what we need is a good old fashioned revival.

[eshu]

The only group that needs their rights raked over is the bloody islam cult! Get them out of America! Don't spy on Americans don't take Americans rights away but ban Islam the enemy!

Good idea, except for this: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..." etc.

[TLBSHOW]

bttt

[Ancesthntr]

Liberal critics have directed much of their worry at what they saw as an attack on immigrants' rights in the Patriot Act, the massive measure that was passed as the country was reeling from the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.

Now, right-leaning groups such as the American Conservative Union, the Eagle Forum and Gun Owners of America say they are concerned that American citizens could also be victimized by what they say are unconstitutional law enforcement powers allowed by the Patriot and the potential enhancement act.

Ah, I see, the Lieberals are primarily concerned with the rights of immigrants, whereas "right-leaning groups" are concerned that this monstrosity could be used in an unconstitutional way against Americans. Lets guess why the Dems lost the Senate a few months back.

Michael Hammond, a consultant with Gun Owners of America, which has more than 200,000 members, echoed those concerns, and said that the vague definition given to the term "terrorist" is extremely troubling.

"We have some serious concerns and part of our concerns spring from the fact that some of our members are part of the so-called militia movement," Hammond said. "We're looking into whether some of these groups or even the NRA [National Rifle Association] could be designated terrorists by this or a future administration."

This is the crux of the matter - the unfettered power that a future administration will have. No matter how people feel about Bush, I don't think that any rational person believes that he will be a party to the rounding up of whole groups of people. But how about Hillary and gun owners, or Hillary and most Freepers? This makes the skin crawl.

[shostang]

I believe this is Bill # S22. I could be wrong, but I have seen this bill called the Patriot Act II bill before. Here is a link to the bill. It is not being sponsored by conservatives.

http://capwiz.com/acu/webreturn/?url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:s.22:

[eshu]

Yeah, the "Domestic Security Enchancement Act" is what the press is calling "PATRIOT ACT II," as far as I can tell.

[eshu]

Oops, other way 'round: "PATRIOT ACT II" is what the press is calling the "Domestic Security Enchancement Act"

[dirtboy]

I believe this is Bill # S22. I could be wrong, but I have seen this bill called the Patriot Act II bill before. Here is a link to the bill. It is not being sponsored by conservatives.

It's not S22. S22 is a bill by Tommy Daschle that promotes the notion that the best way to security and safety is more gun laws. The so-called Patriot II is draft legislation being passed around the Justice Department and has not been introduced. I'll worry about it once it finally shows up on Capitol Hill and I can read specifics instead of proposals.

[Edit35]

This claim that the Patriot Act is standing the constitution on its head is pure crap.

Why?
Two points: As a newspaper reporter, I talk to hundreds of people every week and I have yet to come across anyone (either American or immigrant Muslim) who is aghast at having their rights invaded, either overtly or covertly (and I hear some doozies, believe me)

Point Two: If this Patriot bill passes, there will STILL be a check valve with oversight by a Judge and others in the Judicial system. I have confidence there will not be rampant dead of the night information invasions by some off-the-deep end brown shirts, as is claimed by some.

To wrap it up, this tirade against the patriot act is pure folly. This country, in a time of threats and war, needs to check for subersives. As long as we do it in a judicious mannor, it is OK with me.

[eshu]

Two points: As a newspaper reporter, I talk to hundreds of people every week and I have yet to come across anyone (either American or immigrant Muslim) who is aghast at having their rights invaded, either overtly or covertly (and I hear some doozies, believe me)

Good point - if freedom and privacy are not important to most citizens, then of course there will be no outcry when these are removed. Perhaps we will move more towards a European-socialist model of society in the fuiture anyway - that is what TV, public schools, etc., seem to be pushing. I certainly meet a lot of people too who really don't care about the 1st, 4th, 6th, etc., as long as they are safe.

[A Navy Vet]

I guess the word "incrementalism" doesn't register. Our rights have been slipping away for years. Much of the Patriotic Act is beneficial and Constitutional; the suspension of rights guaranteed by the 4th Amendment are unacceptable, as are the usurption of the 1st Amendment by the Campaign Finance Reform law. The slippery slope is getting steeper all the time.

[eshu]

Think of how many basic freedoms we lost as a nation between 1776 and 2003.

We are about to make a similar "Great Leap Forward," IMHO.

Only this time it won't take 200 years. 50 years from now the USA will be a unrecognizable to us today as the USA of 2002 would be to the Foundung Dads.

[Hail Caesar]

"Those who are willing to trade freedom for security deserve neither freedom nor security."
- BENJAMIN FRANKLIN