Patriot Act To Be Made Permanent? (Trial balloon to gauge the public reaction?)

sierratimes ^ | 4/8/2003 | J.J. Johnson

[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

[TLBSHOW]

Libraries learn how to protect patrons from Patriot Act

Seminar urges deleting Internet histories and shredding sign-up sheets


Monday, April 07, 2003
We are grappling with this -- we are a country at war and everyone wants to be patriotic, but they're forgetting the First Amendment," said the librarian, who asked not to be identified.

http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-3/1049695909282110.xml

[heyhey]

Welcome to the New America PoliceState U.S.A

[TLBSHOW]

Tell that spin to a sheeple, not to me.

[dirtboy]

GROW UP PEOPLE, IF YOU HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE, YOU HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR.

Unless, of course, they take something currently legal, like guns, and make them illegal. Or change the definition of a terrorist to include domestic political activists. Or...

[TLBSHOW]

Something I expected from the rat democrats not our republican leaders. Disgusting is what it is.

Calling Bob Barr as he knows the score! All conservatives need to voice our opinion now and not wait till this is made permanant.

[Dane]

looks like Drudge has now linked to the times story and its on his site

Interesting that you left out the preface New York "to the times story", in your above italicized passage.

The New York Times is certainly no friend of conservatives and is trying to get some conservatives up in and arms and why am I not surprised you took the bait, TLB.

[tacticalogic]

GROW UP PEOPLE, IF YOU HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE, YOU HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR.

I suppose a lecture on the childishness of the 4th Amendment is next.

[TLBSHOW]

Here is what is going to happen across the country because real Americans are not going to allow this act to become law of the land forever!


.....
"Libraries are less likely now to keep records," said Barbara Pickell, director of the Wayne Public Library and one of the panel members. "And records that were kept only because nobody bothered to get rid of them, they are now getting rid of."

Such moves are more subtle than those taken in other places around the country, such as Santa Cruz, Calif., where trustees have posted signs alerting patrons that titles of books they borrow may be passed along to federal agents.

At the center of the controversy is the USA Patriot Act, sweeping legislation that greatly broadened the government's powers to use wiretaps, obtain financial information, monitor e-mail and obtain other information secretly. http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-3/1049695909282110.xml

[michaelje]

If they make guns illegal, then you shouldn't have them. So whats your point?

[michaelje]

Your argument is rooted in the fact that your paranoid. Have a drink and relax.

[TLBSHOW]

My take is it is (true) and that means we need to stop it now not after the fact. Tips was true and we had to hear about it from a paper out of the country first and it was stopped by trying ahead of time to stop it. Tips came from the same people who brought us the Patriot Act so 10 to 1 this story is as true as tips was.

I would rather be proved wrong that it isn't true, than not to of done anything to stop this if it is true. If that makes sense?

and sorry conservatives are already up in arms over this, like the Eagle Forum and more.

here is that story......

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.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/888645/posts?page=

[Quick1]

There there, nice troll.

[michaelje]

Great... some liberal librarians (sp) shred your paper work and this is a revolt? The majority of Americans back the Patriot Act and would support making it a permanent.

[TLBSHOW]

Like I said some sheeples maybe that are as clueless as you are about this Anti-American BS

[michaelje]

Thats a rather intellectual reply....

[michaelje]

ANTI-AMERICAN???

Who was the architect of this legislation? Was it not our own AG John Ashcroft and his aides?

[jmc813]

Would you like to see the Patriot Act made permanent?

[Dane]

,p> Well it seems that you get your information from the New York Times and you like the liberal left terrorist protectors can have a kniption fit, that is your right.

I will trust the judgements of GW Bush, Cheney, Ashcroft, Rice and Ridge over the likes of the New York Times editorial board, Adam Clymer, Maureen Dowd, RW Apple, and Paul Krugman.

[dirtboy]

If they make guns illegal, then you shouldn't have them. So whats your point?

Thanks, you just made it for me.