Time to support Kucinich bill curbing the Patriot Act

[Karmadillo]

If you want to write your representative, you can get the address here. If you want to call, you can reach the House switchboard by dialing [phone].

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/1064482450206850.xml

Kucinich leads move in Congress to curb controversial Patriot Act

Washington- A group of congressmen led by Cleveland Democratic Rep. Dennis Kucinich want to scale back broad federal surveillance powers granted to law enforcement after the Sept. 11 attacks.

They introduced a bill yesterday to repeal parts of the controversial Patriot Act that allow secret searches and wiretaps as well as detaining suspects indefinitely without meaningful judicial review, and that broaden the definition of what constitutes a terrorist group.

Kucinich's bill also would overturn laws that require airport screeners to be U.S. citizens, repeal Justice and Homeland Security department exemptions to the Freedom of Information Act and toss out a law that lets the FBI conduct undercover investigations of religious centers.

Justice Department spokesman Mark Corallo said yesterday that the Patriot Act has helped law enforcement officers prevent terrorist disasters without infringing on civil liberties, and that a recent poll by CNN and Gallup showed 75 percent of the population supports it.

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[ElsewheresDaughter]

1. done...thanks for the post

[bryant69]

2. I hate to be contrarian

But I don't understand certain aspects of the Kucinich bill. Why should religious centers be exempt from undercover investigations? We already know of two groups that sometimes use churches as organizational centers (Right to Life Terrorist organizations, and of course various Terrorist Islamic Groups). That doesn't make much sense to me.

I also don't understand the problem with requiring Airport Screeners to be US citizens; there are lots of jobs that have that requirement, based on the theory that a US citizen has more invested in the United States.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Karmadillo]

3. Citizens in the US speak out against the Patriot Act

I think this is another issue where Dems can peel off independents from the Republicans.

http://www.sacbee.com/content/news/projects/liberty/story/7473568p-8415954c.html

JUNEAU, Alaska -- Tim Armstrong served with the 1st Air Mobile Cavalry Division in Vietnam, surviving a mortar barrage that left 33 pieces of shrapnel in his upper body.

He is a proud American who remembers the vow he made the day he joined the Army. "I took an oath, just like everyone else who serves in the military, to support and defend the Constitution of the United States," Armstrong said.

Today, the 56-year-old radio ad salesman says he is still defending the Constitution as he criticizes the USA Patriot Act and many of the security enhancements that accompany life in post-Sept. 11 America.

"I think the Patriot Act itself, it infringes on the rights that we swore to uphold and defend," Armstrong said recently as political leaders in Juneau debated -- and passed -- a resolution opposing the controversial law. "I didn't go to war to usurp the Constitution."

Concerned about the lengths to which the government has gone to defend the nation since Sept. 11, 2001, thousands of Americans like Armstrong are speaking out, fighting back and banding together in unusual political alliances against everything from enhanced government surveillance to increased airport security measures.

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[Karmadillo]

4. Kick

n/t