[wagglebee]

letting the FBI subpoena records without permission from a judge or grand jury.

IMHO, this is clearly unconstitutional.

[Numbers Guy]

IMHO, this is clearly unconstitutional.

Agreed. If they need the subpoena in a hurry, they can call the judge at night and get him out of bed and make their case.

[crazyhorse691]

I don't think extending IRS powers to the FBI is a good idea, unless they are sunsetted.

[Shermy]

"or other evidence in terrorism investigations"

Oh. Are they going to rewrite the law to actually be limited to terrorism investigations, or are they just going to pretend it is so limited like they did the first time?

"Recipients could challenge the subpoenas in court and the Bush administration would have to report to Congress twice a year exactly how it was using this investigatory power, the aides said."

Oh, make a "report." I feel safe with that.

< /sarcasm>

[steve86]

IMHO, this is clearly unconstitutional.

Agreed. Yet another reason no viable political party has my vote at the moment.

[ElkGroveDan]

expand government powers in the name of fighting terrorism

Oh goody, I can't wait. I'm sure we'll be confiscating a lot more Whizzinators at the airport in the name of national security.

[FReepaholic]

...But the measure being written by Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., would give the FBI new power to issue administrative subpoenas, which are not reviewed by a judge or grand jury, for quickly obtaining records, electronic data ...

The Fourth Amendment:
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

[soloNYer]

For some reason, I'm a little skeptical of more "anonymous" sources, and will wait to see.

I wonder how many papers will print a story like this right next to the Star Wars reviews tomorrow? Mine will.

[Dan from Michigan]

HELL NO!

[ellery]

bump

[joesnuffy]

Makes a person wonder what the PTB have on ole Pat Roberts (R) Kansas or what he's been promised...can't believe he just thought this crap up on his own and decided he needed to do it for the sake of the nation...

imo

[bamaborn]

Have you ever thought to consider that maybe the Administration knows that a certain % of judges are sympathetic to the Islamofascist movement?

[redgolum]

I wonder if this is just a leak to stir up trouble, or if they are actually planing to pass this.

If the former, well that is par for the course. The latter? Well, then the Republic and Constitution are just about dead.

[roses of sharon]

This is a Assoc Press "reporter", meaning a DNC operative, I will wait to see it for myself.

[af_vet_rr]

IMHO, this is clearly unconstitutional.

But it's ok, because Republicans are in power, and the democrats aren't, right? There's no chance that a democrat will ever have these powers at their disposal, right??

Am I sounding sarcastic or cynical this mornig :-)