Bush Urges Renewal of Patriot Act

ap ^ | 2-14-05 | Nedra Pickler

[Dan from Michigan]

Bush Urges Renewal of Patriot Act

44 minutes ago White House - AP

By NEDRA PICKLER, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - President Bush (news - web sites) on Monday urged Congress to reauthorize the USA Patriot Act, the Justice Department (news - web sites)'s widely criticized anti-terrorism law.

AP Photo

Reuters Slideshow: President Bush

"We must not allow the passage of time or the illusion of safety to weaken our resolve in this new war" on terrorism, Bush said at a swearing-in ceremony for Attorney General Alberto Gonzales at the Justice Department.

The president also argued that the Senate must give his nominees for the federal bench up-or-down votes without delay to fill vacancies in the courts.

The Patriot Act, passed in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, bolstered FBI (news - web sites) surveillance and law-enforcement powers in terror cases, increased use of material witness warrants to hold suspects incommunicado for months, and allowed secret proceedings in immigration cases.

Civil liberties groups and privacy advocates lambasted the law because they said it undermines freedom. But Bush said the act "has been vital to our success in tracking terrorists and disrupting their plans." He noted that many key elements of the law are set to expire at the end of the year and said Congress must act quickly to renew it.

The Patriot Act was pushed by Gonzales' predecessor, John Ashcroft (news - web sites), who was in the audience as Gonzales took his oath from Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor (news - web sites). Bush lauded Ashcroft's tireless efforts to make America safer as he oversaw a drop in violent crime besides his counterterrorism work.

Gonzales, who served as White House counsel during the last four years, said he would be a part of Bush's team but his first allegiance will be to the Constitution.

"I am confident that in the days and years ahead we in the department will work together tirelessly to address terrorism and other threats to our nation and to confront injustice with integrity and devotion to our highest ideals," Gonzales said.

[Dan from Michigan]

This law needs to follow the way of the AWB. It needs to be dead and buried.

Especially the judge shopping and sneak and peak provisions.

[bahblahbah]

Well it should be redebated in the congress and repassed with some of the questionable measures taken out.

[frogjerk]

This law needs to follow the way of the AWB. It needs to be dead and buried.

Question: How many American's rights have been violated because of this law? Please give specific examples. I'd like to research them...

[pissant]

It needs to be renewed, just as it is.

[bahblahbah]

Our government is citing an old 1898 measure in order to start taxing Internet connections. No matter what the PATRIOT act should not be made permanent because it could be used for a lot of abuse later on.

[the invisib1e hand]

homeland security needs to have an exit strategy built into it, as well.

[petro45acp]

Another real problem I see with Patriot act (assault on the Constitution notwithstanding) is the follow-on repercussions. If, in 2008, a pinko-commie-nannystate-liberal-whacko ends up in the whitehouse, their enemies will be delivered unto them on a silver platter.

</tinfoil beanie>

LET IT SUNSET!

Top sends

[bahblahbah]

That doesn't mean it shouldn't be renewed though.

[Dan from Michigan]

Judge shopping is slick trick used to get around locals. Sneak and peak is a violation of the 4th amendment.

So I can name 290,000,000 reasons there. If the law is there, it violates the constitution.

[econ_grad]

Made any bank transactions lately, of size say 5k?

[MEG33]

I disagree..We are at war.

[frogjerk]

No matter what the PATRIOT act should not be made permanent because it could be used for a lot of abuse later on.

How? I want to find out more information about the specific loopholes and possible legal implications of making this act permanent.

[Dan from Michigan]

Does anyone here want AG Schumer with this power going after gun groups, cause that's EXACTLY what's going to happen at some point if this is permanent.

[frogjerk]

Made any bank transactions lately, of size say 5k?

Yes, I just did, in fact, this morning...

[Dan from Michigan]

Congress never declared war.

[bahblahbah]

So what if we get into a perpetual state of war. How much different is the War on Terror than the War on Drugs? What if we start getting into a war with China? There needs to be some light at the end of the tunnel where we don't need this act or a reduced form of it.

[Protagoras]

But Bush said the act "has been vital to our success in tracking terrorists and disrupting their plans."

I'm trying to find out if it has EVER been successfully used for that purpose.

I think I heard Napolitano say on Fox News a few weeks ago that it has never been used for it's designed purpose. But had been used twice for the WOD.

I'd like to know if I heard that right.

[Smartaleck]

The Patriot Act, passed in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, bolstered FBI (news - web sites) surveillance and law-enforcement powers in terror cases, increased use of material witness warrants to hold suspects incommunicado for months, and allowed secret proceedings in immigration cases.

Civil liberties groups and privacy advocates lambasted the law because they said it undermines freedom. But Bush said the act "has been vital to our success in tracking terrorists and disrupting their plans."

[frogjerk]

Judge shopping is slick trick used to get around locals.

Judge shopping is going on right now. Doesn't every ACLU case seem to find the most available liberal judge in the US for any reason other than terrorism right now?

[Dan from Michigan]

I know for a fact that it was used in some Vegas case unrelated to terrorism.