Posted on 04/09/2003 8:21:51 AM PDT by TLBSHOW
Patriot Act To Be Made Permanent? By Report by J.J. Johnson
WASHINGTON, April 8 - According to the New York Times , Congressional Republicans are working to make permanent the sweeping antiterrorism powers given to federal law enforcement agents after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The Times reports that the move is likely to touch off strong objections from many Democrats and even some Republicans in Congress who believe that the Patriot Act, as the legislation that grew out of the attacks is known, has already given the government too much power to spy on Americans. If you recall, it was only passed with the agreement there would be a sunshine clause inserted, where Congress would have to review the act in 2005.
The legislation expanded the government's power to use eavesdropping, surveillance, access to financial and computer records and other tools to track terrorist suspects, clearly testing the limits of the Fourth and Fifth Amendments to the Constitution. It has been on the books since October of 2001.
The times said the move to repeal the ‘sunset’ clause was crafted by one Senator Orrin G. Hatch, Republican of Utah. Republicans may seek to move on the proposal this week by trying to attaching it to another antiterrorism bill that would make it easier for the government to use secret surveillance warrants against "lone wolf" terrorism suspects.
Bear in mind that while the New York Times laid on this on Hatch, the Utah Senator made no comment on the record. Nor has any other republican. Democrats, needless to say, aren’t too happy about it. Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD), predicted that Republicans lacked the votes to repeal the limits.
The Times also wrote that Justice Department officials credited the Patriot Act with allowing the F.B.I. to move with greater speed and flexibility to disrupt terrorist operations before they occur, and they say they wanted to see the 2005 time limit on the legislation lifted.
"The Patriot Act has been an extremely useful tool, a demonstrated success, and we don't want that to expire on us," a senior department official said on condition of anonymity.
Another senior official who also demanded anonymity said the department had held discussions with Congressional Republicans about how that might best be accomplished. "Our involvement has really been just keeping an open ear to the issue as it's proceeding, not to really guide the debate," the official said.
Again, notice how no one wanted to go on the record about this. Debate is expected, but months away. The Sierra Times suggests, consider this New York Times story an official ‘trial balloon’ to gauge the public reaction. Chances of the sunshine clause being lifted is slim at best - unless another major terrorist attack happens before then
They overestimated their audience. I think Abundy's closer to the proper level of discourse.
I cant help but to LOL at your illustration. Just for clarification, your wrong, but definitly funny.
Some of the people posting around here scare me more than the most wide eyed Democrats ever did. Let's hope they learn something while they're here.
Mike - I've got nothing to hide - and that means that the Constitution was written for me, by me to protect me. To argue that I should piss away all those limits imposed on Govenment power to keep it as uncorrupt as possible just because I'm law-abiding is patently stupid. I've never bumped into you before - others on this thread know me personally and know my credentials. They might surprise you. But then a jackboot like you wouldn't care anyway.
Dane - I've been watching your discussion regarding the Patriot Act and I will respond civilly. You are dead wrong. The entire premise of our government is one of limitation of power because power always corrupts. The document that sets up our govenrment is intended to restrict the lowest common denominator, the worst of the worst, should they get into office somehow. ANY legislation that is premised on lawful use of power by a good and benevolent head of state or congress should never be made law. Period.
Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!
Grow up pal. At least the other posters who critcize me do so with intelligent argument and discourse.
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What, you don't like my comparison? That's something in which we lawyers excel. I pointed out to you that you would take a different view if a majority of Americans voted away a number of your civil rights...
What's wrong, can't admit you are wrong?
Of course you can't.
Staunchly pro-life and pro-gun. Enjoy the politics of economics and world affairs. Believe the terms liberal and American are not synonymous. Distrust the biased media and police.
And the answer to my question, I will assume, is yes.
And I think you are in denial of the character of the people who now run the government.
I haven't forgotten 1993-2001, character actually matters now, and people of good charcater are now running the War on Terrorism.
Interesting how the bootlickers don't mind postulating that if a law passes we should all obey it - regardless of how said law infringes on civil rights.
That is until the law is targeted at the bootlickers' civil rights...then their constitutional analysis changes drastically.
The right to dissent is one of the rights that makes this country what it is. I do not want to live in a country like communist China, the former Soviet Union, Iraq, et al., where dissention is not allowed. Living while being forced to agree with EVERYTHING the government does is not living.
I would rather die on my feet than live on my knees.
I would certianly fight to my death to protect my right to keep and bear arms, and my right to say, "I do not agree with my government". To do any less is to say the U.S. should bever have been created and that we should still be a British colony.
Dane, with all due respect, isn't that rather short sighted?
I pray that we have the wisdom to avoid going down that road.
We are supposed to be the ones in favor of limited government, aren't we?
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