Bush signs renewal of Patriot Act

AP ^ | 3/9/6 | DEB RIECHMANN

[SmithL]

WASHINGTON - After a long battle with Congress that went down to the wire, President Bush signed a renewal of the USA Patriot Act on Thursday, a day before 16 major provisions of the old law expire.

Bush said the Patriot Act is vital to win the war on terror and protect Americans. He recalled the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and said the country is still at war.

"We saw the terrorists' destructive vision for us when they killed nearly 3,000 men, women and children," Bush said. "In the face of this ruthless threat, our nation has made a clear choice - we will confront this mortal danger, we will stay on the offensive and we're not going to wait to be attacked again."

Bush's signature came less than 48 hours after the House passed the legislation, ending several months of debate on Capitol Hill over how to balance Americans' right to privacy with a need to foil potential terrorist threats. Political battles over the legislation forced Congress to twice extend the expiration date of the Patriot Act.

"The Patriot Act has accomplished exactly what it was designed to do," Bush said during a signing ceremony in the White House East Room. "It has helped us detect terrorist cells, disrupt terrorist plots and save American lives."

Republicans want to take the law into the upcoming midterm elections to show they are acting to protect national security.

The legislation renews the expiring provisions of the original Patriot Act, including one that lets federal officials obtain "tangible items," such as business records, from libraries and bookstores, in connection with foreign intelligence and international terrorism investigations.

Other provisions clarify that foreign intelligence or counterintelligence officers should share information obtained as part of a criminal investigation with agencies.

[Republican Red]

I watch this on tv. President Bush DID shake Peter King's hand.

Peter King is in the same league as the black Congresswomen who insult the President on a daily basis but make sure to get the aisle seat during the SOTU address. They all bash the President but would stab their mothers in the back to be seen on tv shaking his hand.

King was front row center at the signing. The President thanked him for his help with this bill.

I couldn't be a politician. I would have told King to %^&*% himself.

[ReaganRevolution]

Novak has been quacking since the 80's.

Another reason I don't watch Fox News anymore.

[MNJohnnie]

A sad day for the Constitution, once again

Please cite for me three examples of where the Patriot Act has been used to infringe on the Constitutional Rights of Americans.

[b4its2late]

Oh, ok. I didn't think Bush would do that, he just isn't that way.

[deport]

Don't kid yourself. The Port Deal Hysterics just handed the Democrats the US Senate and probably the US House depending how the Texas case turns out.

---

I think you are wrong. We'll know in about 8 months. PR wise the administration screwed the pooch badly on this deal. I agree it's not what the anti DPW crowd says it is but they got the news out and made their case until that is what a large number of the public believed.

Until Nov. we have to move forward.

[verity]

Is mysterio your puppet? lol

[mysterio]

Go bot somewhere else. I've been over this with tons of you bots already in multiple threads. Every one of you would be screaming to high heaven if this happened under dems. Especially you.

Foul legs good, two legs better!

[roaddog727]

Gee, Harry - I thought that the Patriot Bill was dead - you said it was...........

Arrogant fool.

[ivyleaguebrat]

Since it's a felony to disclose how FISA warrants are being used, we would never know if the changes the USA PATRIOT Act made to FISA have resulted in abuses. Or not.

[Dominion Thing]

"This is an unxeptected move by the Trade Federation..." SW episode I--just for fun...I couldn't resist

This certainly lessens the sting, but they've already made a big noise, and that can go a long way just like misleading headlines. It may be false, and much ado about nothing, but as it goes, say something often and loud enough and it becomes true

[MNJohnnie]

Way to totally destroy any intellectual credibility you may have ever had here. HAAAA. You knee jerks are so easy to make explode. Simply ask a question and your comfortable bigoted little bubble world explodes.

Please cite for me three examples of where the Patriot Act has been used to infringe on the Constitutional Rights of Americans

Answer the question this time. Screaming hate and bile at anyone who questions your dogma does NOT convince anyone that your views have the slightest merit. It merely makes you look even more foolish.

[Christian4Bush]

Go bot somewhere else.

Troll, heal thyself. (I know the phrase is "physician", but like Howard Dean, I shudder at the thought of you being a physician for anyone.)

Of course, you don't have to leave. Neither does the person whom you told to "bot" elsewhere. Welcome to America.

[bray]

Imagine what he could do if he wasn't a Lame Duck?? Keep misunderestimating and he will keep chalking up the W's!!

Pray for W and Our Freedom Fighters

[Earthdweller]

Here Johnnie....I found a dead Moose for all the losers to Kiss. Isn't it cute?

[jmaroneps37]

Suck a lemon Bob Barr you big dope.

[MNJohnnie]

Sorry. That is more Urban Mythology dressed up as "Fact" by the Patriot Act hysterics. Completely untrue.

[newzjunkey]

Good. I think this shows there is a "healthy" skepticism over the government's intrusion into civil liberties, we had a debate, concerns were resolved. Shows the strength of our system although the Michael Moore-fringe will say we're creating a police state at the same time they didn't balk at Reno's armed assaults at Waco, Ruby Ridge or to return Elian Gonzales to Castro's Cuba.

When does it expire next?

[rightinthemiddle]

King was out there defending Bush after Katrina. Big time.

[ohioWfan]

The Dems aren't going to win the Senate OR the House, Johnnie.......no matter how stupid the Republicans just acted.

Americans have short memories. Most of them weren't paying a bit of attention, and now that DPW has behaved like adults in response to the hysteria of the Congress, it will fade away.

There is NO question as to which party is stronger on national security, and in the individual races, that fact will be clear.

This is just a blip. It will be gone by November.

[mysterio]

It's a BS question. The infringement is in the document itself. The "patriot" act allows the government to get rubber stamp warrants without probable cause. The fourth amendment requires probable cause.

Keep drinking that kool-aid! Party before principle!