Senate Proposes Patriot Act Extension

geekylinuxkid writes "Senate leaders reached a bipartisan agreement Wednesday night to extend expiring and controversial provisions of the Patriot Act for six months. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, a Republican from Tennessee, announced the agreement from the Senate floor, ending an impasse over the measure." From the article: "Last week, the House voted 251-174 to renew the 16 provisions after striking a compromise that altered some of them. The provisions were set to expire at year's end if not renewed. Controversial measures include those allowing the FBI -- with a court order -- to obtain secret warrants for business, library, medical and other records, and to get a wiretap on every phone a suspect uses." More commentary on the BBC. We reported on last week's failure of the original renewal.

Re:OUTGOING

[Anonymous Coward]

read the rest of the comment. It's really quite enlightening.

Yeah!!!

[eno2001]

Put me on the top of the list of supposed "terrists" because I oppose everything the jackbooted thug Republicans stand for. Let's see the idiots open a file on me now if they already haven't! Up the rebels!!!

and anybody who disagrees with the Patriot Act...

[cparisi]

must be hiding something...

I guess-

[IWantMoreSpamPlease]

We just got Fristed?

Re:I think they mean...

[Mr Pippin]

Too bad they didn't mean "extinction".

Spelling bee

[hackshack]

"Extention?"

Almost as bad as the guy that posted "czech this out" on the front page.

Palpatine anyone?

[dsaraujo]

What will be the next step? Start gathering a clone army or start building the Death Star?

Re:Now is the time!

[Billosaur]

You have been reported to the Dept of Homeland Security for scurrilous and subversive talk about the Patriot Act. Turn yourself in. We know where you live.

Brought to you by the Government of the United States, keeping it's citizens safe from democracy for over 200 years.

Library records

[VickiM]

These included roving phone taps and secret warrants for documents from businesses and hospitals, and for records of library books taken out by private citizens. From BBC
They can look at my library records? Oh, man. I only checked out the Brian Herbert books 'cause I was curious. I'm so sorry...please don't throw me in jail...

Re:So...

[Secrity]

I suspect that as soon as the Democrats take over Congress and the House that it will be allowed to sunset and it won't get renewed again.

Re:...a win for America's safety and security...

[wombatmobile]

I'm going to quote an old post [slashdot.org] [slashdot.org]

With an attitude like that you're qualified to moderate slashdot.

The Beatles said it best: Back in the USSA!

[Tackhead]

> It's better to fight for freedom by _providing_ freedom. The same goes for a whole bunch of other nations as well... *looks at a bunch of European countries wanting to play Stasi as well*

Hey, if the Iron Curtain was so much fun 1960s, well... the USSA can be fun, too.

With apologies to the Beatles...

Oh, flew into Miami Beach econo-class,
Didn't get to bed last night,
TSA guy's rubber glove still up my ass,
Man I had a dreadful flight,
I'm back in the USSA!
They're watchin' you every day, hey,
Back in the USSA!

Been away so long I hardly knew the place,
Gee it's good to be back home,
Leave it till tomorrow to unpack my case,
Honey disconnect the phone,
I'm back in the USSA.
They're watchin' you every day, hey,
Back in the US,
More flak in the US,
No slack in the USSA!

Well the Midwest girls really knock me out
They leave Moscow behind
And DC girls make me sing and shout
'Cuz Washington is always on my mi-mi-mi-mi-mi-mi-mind!

Oh, they're sayin' it's for reasons of security,
Naw, it ain't no politics,
And now they've redefined the meaning of "be free",
To shiny boots and big nightsticks!
We're back in the USSA!
They're watchin' you every day, hey,
Back in the USSA!

Oh let me tell you, honey! (Ooh ooh ooh!)
Oh, show me around your desert wastelands way down south,
Hire Chicanos for your farm,
Let me hear your patriotic acts ring out,
Shock and awe your comrades warm!
I'm back in the USSA!
They're watchin' you every day, hey,
Back in the USSA!

Oh let me tell you, honey! (Ooh ooh ooh!)
Hey, I'm back! (Ooh ooh ooh!)
I'm back in the USSA. (Ooh ooh ooh!)
Yes, I'm free! (Ooh ooh ooh!)
Yeah, back in the USSA.. (Ooh ooh ooh!)

The PATRIOT Act works

[PaxTech]

No terrorist attacks since 9/11. How can anyone say it doesn't do its job?

Next step: Instituting a federal Bear Patrol to stop these constant bear attacks [wikipedia.org]. I also hear there's a little girl who has a rock that keeps tigers away, this should also be investigated.

Re:The PATRIOT Act works

[terrymr]

I haven't been attacked by monkeys since i started carrying an umbrella everywhere i go.

Should I cast Bless or Protection from Evil?

[Sir_Eptishous]

To thwart would be evil-doers I use:

Cloak of Protection from +1, (+3 vs. Activist Judges)
Gauntlets of Serenity (+3 to saving throws vs. fear of a Neo-Con Supreme Court, unlawful searches and wiretapping)
Boots of successful striding (+4 to saving throws vs. harrasment by overworked and underpaid peon security personnel)

Re: Obligatory Simpsons quote

[james_madison34]

Homer: Not a bear in sight. The Bear Patrol must be working like a charm.
Lisa: That's specious reasoning, Dad.
Homer: Thank you, dear.
Lisa: By your logic I could claim that this rock keeps tigers away.
Homer: Oh, how does it work?
Lisa: It doesn't work.
Homer: Uh-huh.
Lisa: It's just a stupid rock.
Homer: Uh-huh.
Lisa: But I don't see any tigers around, do you?
Homer: Lisa, I want to buy your rock.

Re:Someone please explain

[umbrellasd]

The President needs the extension because it is the Patriot Act on which many of his executive orders stand. Specifically, that Act provides mechanisms to bypass the checks and balances upon which our nation is founded. Executive ordered wiretaps without judicial oversight in situations where the executive branch considers it "necessary" would be one of those bypasses since decisions are made and action is taken entirely within one branch of the government.

Then again, Bush is in the Middle East with our troops because, as he told them, "God told me to come here and set things right." That's right, he said he is setting political policy and sending our children to war because of a religious agenda. Also, quite amazingly, God talks directly to him. I imagine that conversation went a bit like this:

George. George I need you to send the son's and daughter's of your nation to die. I know I said all that Commandment business about not killing, but I'm in an Old Testament mood right now, George. You need to make things right over there. There's evil, George. You know just what to do. Stamp out evil wherever you find it, because George, I'm giving you a mandate, and my word supercedes all authority--including the authority of your nation's legislative and judicial branches. Do what must be done.

There's another basic tenet of our nation's Constituation falling by the wayside: separation of church and state.

Re:The PATRIOT Act works

[mranchovy]

No terrorist attacks since 9/11. How can anyone say it doesn't do its job?

It's not the Patriot Act, it's this rock I have that keeps terrorists away.