Battle Looms Over the Patriot Act

[Orwellian_Ghost]

Days before, the Obama administration called on Congress to reauthorize the three expiring Patriot Act provisions in a letter from Ronald Weich, assistant attorney general for legislative affairs. At the same time, he expressed a cautious open mind about imposing new surveillance restrictions as part of the legislative package.

"We are aware that members of Congress may propose modifications to provide additional protection for the privacy of law abiding Americans," Mr. Weich wrote, adding that "the administration is willing to consider such ideas, provided that they do not undermine the effectiveness of these important authorities."

One of the witnesses Democrats have invited to testify at both hearings is Suzanne E. Spaulding, who has worked for lawmakers of both parties as a former top staffer on the House and Senate Intelligence committees. Mrs. Spaulding said she would urge Congress to tighten restrictions on when the F.B.I. could use the Patriot Act powers.

The rapid build-up of domestic intelligence authorities after the Sept. 11 attacks, she said, had overlooked "important safeguards," which has resulted "in a greater likelihood at a minimum of the government mistakenly intruding into the privacy of innocent Americans, and at worst having a greater capability of abusing these authorities."

...

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2009/09/20-1

[LWolf]

1. I hope so.

I hope the battle is to ensure that they are NOT reauthorized.

In any form.

[ixion]

2. The unPATRIOTic Act is unconstitutional, and should be repealed

post-haste.

[bertman]

3. This is the ONE area of agreement I have with the teabaggers. I want the government out of

my personal affairs.

This Patriot Act b.s. is nothing more than Big Brother at work. Pretty soon (if not already) there will be nothing about your life that the government doesn't know.

So much for personal freedoms.

Recommend.

[blindpig]

4. k&r, n/t

[endless october]

5. repeal the patriot act. n/t

[Autumn]

6. I would like to see someone nuke

the piece of shit.