Patriot Act II Resurrected?

wired news ^ | Aug. 21, 2003 | Ryan Singel

[freepatriot32]

Congress may consider a bill that not only expands the government's wiretapping and investigative powers but also would link low-level drug dealing to terrorism and ban a traditional form of Middle Eastern banking.

The draft legislation -- titled the Vital Interdiction of Criminal Terrorist Organizations Act of 2003, or Victory Act -- includes significant portions of the so-called Patriot Act II, which faced broad opposition from conservatives and liberals alike and embarrassed the Justice Department when it was leaked to the press in February.

[dirtboy]

The Victory Act also seems to be an attempt to merge the war on terrorism and the war on drugs into a single campaign

It was only a matter of time.

[freepatriot32]

PING

[jmc813]

WOD Ping

[jmc813]

I hate to say it, but I almost miss Janet Reno. :-(

[TBP]

You know how liberal activist types misuse RICO to shut down their political opponents? I'm waiting for them to use Patriot Acts I and II for the same purpose?

[freepatriot32]

PING

[jmc813]

You know how liberal activist types misuse RICO to shut down their political opponents? I'm waiting for them to use Patriot Acts I and II for the same purpose?

Therev are several FReepers who refuse to even consider this. Textbook example of clinical denial.

[ellery]

If a Gore administration had attempted to expand government powers in this way, even in a post-9/11 world, a lot more FReepers would be screaming.

[John Beresford Tipton]

"Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and co-sponsored by four fellow Republicans"

WTF.
Q. What is "Republicans are Conservative?"
A. A worse lie than "I'll pull out in time"

[joesnuffy]

This administration is the only one conservatives will allow to lead it
into the new world odor
It's conseratives fighting back that worried them the most -imo

[dirtboy]

If a Gore administration had attempted to expand government powers in this way, even in a post-9/11 world, a lot more FReepers would be screaming.

Yeppurs, although not that many support such legislation - and, IMO, this one is DOA, although if there is a section or two with merit, those should be considered - not every provision of PATRIOT I was a bad idea, such as the provision to wiretap all phones used by a suspect, in this day and age of cellular phones.

[Blood of Tyrants]

And alot more should be. No matter how many good intentions there are when ANY law is written, the government will ALWAYS find a way to abuse the law.

[Doctor Stochastic]

Could this be combined with the War on Poverty and the War on Cancer to save on bureaucratic expenses?

[Stew Padasso]

*The Victory Act also seems to be an attempt to merge the war on terrorism and the war on drugs into a single campaign.*

This is already happening. Several counties in the area are using the War on Terror language to go after and prosecute drug dealers. For example, they are making the connection that meth is a WMD and should be prosecuted as such.

[Stew Padasso]

DAs try antiterror laws for drug cases

WINSTON-SALEM - Following the lead of Watauga County, other district attorneys in North Carolina are considering using antiterrorism laws to prosecute accused methamphetamine producers.

Watauga County District Attorney Jerry Wilson last week charged a man accused of running a methamphetamine lab with violating state laws involving the manufacture of nuclear or chemical weapons.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/949782/posts

[ellery]

Totally agree -- there are some Patriot Act provisions that make sense. Unfortunately, the administration risks losing the good provisions (e.g., roving wiretaps, better cooperation amongst agencies) by fighting too hard for the flagrantly bad ones (e.g., indefinite warrant notification delays).

This one looks even worse, particularly the plan of shifting the burden of proof for illegal wiretaps to the defendant and self-issued FBI subpeonas. And DOJ and committee stonewalling doesn't help their cause. Their overreaching is going to lose them even the necessary and sensible tools to fight terror.

[ellery]

No matter how many good intentions there are when ANY law is written, the government will ALWAYS find a way to abuse the law.

Exactly -- for example, NYC's Sullivan gun control law in 1911 was passed in reaction to mayor William J. Gaynov being shot and seriously injured from a disgruntled former public employee, and popular novelist David Graham Philips being shot and killed on a New York City sidewalk.

Good intentions, terrible consequences.

[Orangedog]

Once again I have to ask, what will Hilliary do with this kind of power when she gets back in the White House? If the Ashcroft justice department can draft things like Patriot1 so it can be used for drug dealers, the liberals WILL use it to come after currently legal gun owners. And don't think for a second that another incarnation of a Reno justice department won't be scanning sites like FR for IP addresses so they can monitor the "trouble makers."