Patriot Act Expansion Moves Through Congress

[Q]

Published on Friday, November 21, 2003 by OneWorld.net

Going Backwards
Patriot Act Expansion Moves Through Congress

by Jim Lobe

WASHINGTON -- Congress is poised to approve new legislation that amounts to the first substantive expansion of the controversial USA Patriot Act since it was approved just after the September 11, 2001, attacks on New York and the Pentagon.

Acting at the Bush administration's behest, a joint House-Senate conference committee has approved a provision in the 2004 Intelligence Authorization bill that will permit the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to demand records from a number of businesses--without the approval of a judge or grand jury--if it deems them relevant to a counter-terrorism investigation.

The measure would extend the FBI's power to seize records from banks and credit unions to securities dealers, currency exchanges, travel agencies, car dealers, post offices, casinos, pawnbrokers and any other business that, according to the government, has a "high degree of usefulness in criminal, tax or regulatory matters." Such seizures could be carried out with the approval of the judicial branch of government.

Until now only banks, credit unions, and similar financial institutions were obliged to turn over such records on the FBI's demand.

Shortly after the conference agreement was reached, the House of Representatives approved the underlying authorization bill by a margin of 263 to 163. The measure is expected to pass the Senate shortly. - http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/1121-01.htm

[Tellurian]

1. One wonders...

When you read something like this:

"The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) said it was "disappointed" with the House's approval, but also expressed satisfaction that a number of lawmakers on both left and right decided to oppose the bill because they oppose the records provision, whose inclusion in the bill was discovered by staff aides only last week."

Why haven't Dems put on more researchers and lobbyists? If necessary create a reality tv show demonstrating the goings on of these last minute cut throat additions?

"Particularly notable in Thursday's House vote was the defection by several conservative Republicans from the administration's fold."

This faint ray of hope is encouraging. Apparently, all Repugs aren't complete sociopaths..

[tom_paine]

2. The Dems are overwhelmed by Bushevik assaults

and underfunded relative to the Imperials.

Plus, they have been anthraxed and plane-crashed.

Don't tell me they don't know what the score is as much as any Roman Senator during the reign of Tiberius.

The combination of all of these factors and more, such as a media that Stalin and Hitler would have envied for the subtlety of it's spin control, have defanged the Democrats.

[Q]

3. Agreed...we're overwhelmed...

...outgunned and outfoxed.

- I'm beginning to feel like a 'minority' in Hitler's Germany.

[dawgman]

5. It doesn't help matters most dems are just as corporate as the repubs

[Say_What]

10. All nicely bought and paid for by the multinationals and moneyed elite

such as the BFEE

[tom_paine]

6. Been feeling like that for quite some time

It's important to prepare for the eventuality that this will follow right up to the "final conclusion".

Don't be caught by surprise if and when it happens. Also, remember, as it is bad marketing for the Imperial Family to too closely resemble Granpda Prescott's old business partners, the Nazis, whatever heppens will likely come in a new and "kinder and gentler" form.

[Tellurian]

7. There is an untapped majority that you've forgotten about...

Over the weekend, rent the movie "Betrayed" starring /Tom Berringer and Deborah Winger. This obscure movie represents a segment of Americana that is virtually unknown in the mainstream...

[Say_What]

9. Somebody had better grow some balls... overwhelmed is not an excuse

eom

[dawgman]

4. Well all true conservatives should oppose bush and his junta

they are far from conservative.

[Say_What]

8. Repukes will pass it whether we want it or not....

Last Sunday on Now with Bill Moyers Bob Barr pointed out that they would do it by inserting small paragraphs into spending bills.

<clips>

... BRANCACCIO: What do you think about this apparent strategy to insert a little paragraph here into a new law? Or maybe a little paragraph there instead of trying to push for a whole new PATRIOT Act II?

BARR: I always hate to tell people I told them so. But I've been warning for months now that in the wake of the adverse reaction to the initial draft of what I call the Son of PATRIOT Act early this year, the government would probably switch tactics to start trying to insert separate specific provisions of it into other bills. And that's particularly dangerous during the final few months of any Congressional session when all of the spending bills come up.

So this doesn't surprise me. It's very unfortunate that the government is doing this. But it's happened time and again. I remember it from the years that I spent in the Congress. And I'm sure that we'll see it again. It's sort of an underhanded way of doing it. But it's common practice in Washington.

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