[quote=“Fred Smith”]Can anyone remind me again as to what the major loss of rights that occurred under the Patriot Act actually involved? No? So… er…
Also, this is not the first judge to reverse aspects of the Patriot Act. Guess what? He too will have his decision overturned.
So celebrate all you want. It is sorta kinda like how the Democrat takeover of BOTH houses of Congress was going to lead to a major change and a huge challenge to the Bush administration particularly with regard to its management of the war in Iraq. Did it? No? er, so…[/quote]
First of all, yes, Fred we are aware of what the Democratic congress is NOT doing and we are as pissed off as your are amused. I think one of the major factors is that in the kneejerk neurosis of the post 9/11 environment, the Democrats – other than a few visionaries like Kukinich and Gravel – are running scared, ever-fearful that the labels “soft on terror” or “unpatriotic” will attach themselves in the fickle and readily-manipulated public’s eyes. It’s hard to blame them, really, with mouthpieces like Hannity spouting this kind of crap: FOX News attempts to connect Osama bin Laden with American left and Democrats
This is why, in spite of a few misgivings, I still believe Ron Paul is this country’s best hope for 2008, for the same reason that “only Nixon could have gone to China.” He can say and do what almost no Democrat would dare, and NONE could get away with. And despite his problematic stances on health care, gun control, abortion and environmental protection, at least he alone among the Republican candidates truly stands for LIBERTY and against BIG GOVERNMENT.
As for the Patriot Act, well, for one thing I would point out that this judge gives a fairly persuasive argument. Did you read it? Any thoughts? And yes, his decision probably WILL get overturned in the climate of this corrupt, coercive and rule-of-law-hostile administration. But why does it make you so happy every time Bush once again “has his way” with justice?
And let us not forget that it was the Patriot Act that aided in the perversion of justice that occurred in the firing of those mid-term district attorneys, by allowing them to be summarily replaced without senate approval:
[quote]Okay, so we already know that the White House has now taken the unprecedented step of firing at least four and likely seven US Attorneys in the middle of their terms of office – at least some of whom are in the midst of corruption investigations of Bush administration officials and key Republican lawmakers. We also know that they’re taking advantage of a handy provision of the USA Patriot Act that allows the White House to replace these fired USAs with appointees who don’t need to be approved by the senate.
Given that these new USAs are being plopped into offices currently investigating Republicans and other administration officials and others into states with 2008 presidential candidates, there’s certainly ample opportunity for mischief. [/quote]
Read further to find out what kind of A___HOLES they are using to replace the conscientious and assiduous people they fired!
talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/011958.php
When I get a chance, I’m gonna dig up an article I saw chronicling the huge number of warrant-less, botched FBI raids during the past YEAR that led to injuries, deaths of pets, property damage etc. thanks to the Patriot Act. Not to mention those vacuum-cleaner warrant-less eaves-dropping sweeps they’ve been doing, in which a citizen can’t even prove one has been illegally surveiled because that information is classified! (I’ve already posted a thread on that particular catch-22, incidentally, but I doubt any of you Bush apologists cared.)
And if you really, REALLY give a shit what path the Patriot Act has taken us down in terms of injustice and authoritarianism, I challenge you briefly remove your blinders and read or listen to this Peabody-Award-winning program: Habeas Schmabeas 2007.
