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.

[maica]

Rush said the President shook everyones hand after the signing 'cept Peter King. Guess he feels kinda lonely for a King?

%%%%

Rush was mistaken. Bush shook hands with King and others before he sat down at the desk to sign the bill. He shook hands with others after he got up from signing. It was amazing how many of those creeps wanted to be in the picture with him.There had to be at least 20 members of congress present. Arlen Specter was grinning from ear to ear, and nudging to stand next to the president.

Anyone who thinks Bush is weak has to consider that he smiled while surrounded by summer soldiers today, and smiled while flanked by Nagin and Blanco yesterday.

[Earthdweller]

"Moose Cheese [your] Sister...:

UHuuhhhgg..cheese? There went my dinner. Bahahaha!

[CFC__VRWC]

Let's see now. Almost 5 years without an attack on the nation, the Democrats on multiple occasions have called for us to cut and run from Iraq, called our soldiers Nazi's (Durbin), claimed the WOT was a "legal" problem to be handled by law enforcement (Kerry), have shown more concern for the civil rights of terrorists then the security of Americans (NSA leaks) and you claim that because of this one issue, which has know been stopped at the request of the UAE, that Americans suddenly believe the Democrats are the better choice to protect us?

Hell, read some of the posts on FR - a huge number of people right here seem to think the Dims are stronger on national security than Bush. If you listen to them, Bush has done nothing but sell us out at every turn to enrich his globalist pals, whip up baseless fear and hysteria to further empower himself and lied us into the Iraq war to avenge his Da-Da.

If Bush is as eager to put us in danger as people here would have us believe just so he can make a buck, how can the Dims be any worse?

[dljordan]

"This is how liberty ends, with thunderous applause."

Amen brother.

[demlosers]

LoL! *Chuckle*

[Eagles Talon IV]

I don't know who you mean by "you all" but I personally took the time to actually LEARN the facts behind the UAE port deal. I had no problem with it ans saw the hysteria for what it was, a calculated play by the left. This agreement was signed in September of last year and was known to anyone interested ion port security. The liberals merely held the issue until they could play the card. Now that the UAE has themselves pulled the plug, this will go away as all other left wing attempts to paint the president unfavorably have eventually gone away.

It seems you are a political novice since you are incapable of seeing past the latest MSN headline. You may not believe this but the Democrats are in worse shape then the Republicans, hence the reason for their constant arm waiving hysteria about anything they can come up with. They are totally beholden to their lunatic fringe and in the end that is what will sink them.

Look again at the facts in my previous post of what has transpired since 9/11 and the reactions and statements of the Democrats and the Republicans.

not only will we not lose the Senate, we will in all probability pick up a seat or 2. AS for the House, look at the showing of DeLay in the primary in Texas. For someone who was supposedly "ripe" for the taking he has shown remarkable strength. My suggestion to you is stop believing what you are hearing and seeing in the MSM as far as what THEY SAY will happen re the elections and look at what is actually HAPPENING.

[Eagles Talon IV]

Your Mom is calling for you over at the DUmmies site. Get going.

[Grampa Dave]

Troll alert here.

Rotten fruit here, aka, apricot.

[ohioWfan]

Oh, WOW..........a LIVE TROLL!

A ZOT from the Commander in Chief helps get rid of the washed out brain. :)

[demlosers]

I guess you have no problem with living in a Fascist Dictatorship if you don't see anything wrong with the misnamed USA Patriot Act.

Over-the-top hyperbole. I suggest you back away from the purple koolaid.

"Fascist Dictatorship...BushCo...Gestapo...."

Now where have I heard this said before? Oh yeah, the Commie DU land and from Al Franken on Air Head radio.

[Grampa Dave]

"OF COURSE the Dems aren't going to win the election. They don't control the voting machines."

Insane/inane troll posting on aisle #1.

Hey Apricot, do you hear that knock/knock on your door? Thanks for leaving the electronic trail for No Such Agency.

[Eagles Talon IV]

A HUGE number believe the Dems are now stronger on national defense? How about quantifying that? Define "HUGE", 10%,20, 40, what?

[MikefromOhio]

apriZOT

apriPWN3D

apriKITTY

[Luircin]

IB4TZ?

[Grampa Dave]

Stick around, Dick Cheney wants to talk to you about your stupidity.

[MikefromOhio]

infiltraitor....

Grid: 1593353

[dmellody]

Can anyone tell me how long the patriot act is good for? I can't find it anywhere. I would imagine approx. five years. Please advise.

[Wasanother]

Since everything will be Bush's fault anyway, he should take an opportunity to tell the congress to get him an Immigration Bill at ANY cost by Summer break and he will sign then kick back and watch the congress fall all over themselves for a while.