WTF did you think was happening under the "Patriot Act"?

[KauaiK]

No government has ever voluntarily given-up a power. The Patriot Act was renewed under Obama.

What the hell did you think would happen when all of your 4th Amendment rights; the right of habeas corpus; the right to a fair trial; etc. were easily given up in the name of security; to keep you “safe” against the War on Terrorism?

The abandonment of the republic is a matter of 2 steps; from being “the people” to “the governed” to “the policed”. (Pibgorn comic, Sunday Jun 9, 2013).

[dkf]

1. I didn't like that either. God we are so powerless it's pathetic.

[sharp_stick]

2. That's exactly what I said when they

first passed it.

Now you have that piece of shit, James Sensenbrenner, who actually authored large parts of it claiming that it's not good legislation. The only problem he has with it is that it's a Democrat using it now instead of dim son.

If I get any pleasure out of the whole thing it's in watching the GOP twist in the wind while a black guy has the power they thought would be so useful.

I don't see too many pukes crowing about the importance of a unitary executive. They seem to forget pretty quickly that there is no such thing as a permanent majority no matter how much they pretend it's possible.

[Cooley Hurd]

3. IF Obama let the Patroit Act sunset, AND there were another terrorst attack...

...we'd see President Romney now. I understand the politics of it all. I'm a political pragmatist.

HOWEVER, Obama has no political worries now (short of 2014 midterms), so he should END this abomination! What the fuck country did the apologists grow up in?

I'm wired to unconditionally love this country (raised by Depression and WW2 parents; reared in the Cold War) but I have a brain that comes to only one conclusion - spying and data-mining is fucking WRONG!

[pnwmom]

10. Suppose he ended it. The capacity will always be there, waiting for the next

Rethug administration to use it. And they won't have the restraint that Obama has had.

[treestar]

4. It's not that simple

It's a matter of each provision and whether it violates the Fourth, which legally is in question, and both sides would brief it is someone had standing to challenge it. Why cannot people at least try to learn something about issues rather than deciding on bare bones information that is biased and trying to rile you up?

[think]

5. Been protesting the Patriot Act since it's inception

as have many on the left. It sucked then, it sucks now, and it will suck tomorrow.....

[Anymouse]

6. As far as I can tell . . .

The only part of DHS that keeps us safe is the Coast Guard, and that because the Coast Guard was transferred in from the Commerce Department.
Still taking your shoes off at the airport? It wasn't TSA that discovered the shoe-bomber: it was the passengers on the plane on which he was travelling.
I would rather be free than be safe.

[blkmusclmachine]

7. unPatriot Act

[JoeyT]

8. No, we like the Patriot Act now.

We just didn't like it when a Republican had it. Now we're good with it.

Next time there's a Republican president we promise to be mad about it again.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

9. Time to question Congress - the renewers

[awoke_in_2003]

12. Congress renewed it...

and Obama signed the renewal.

[awoke_in_2003]

11. I have been screaming about the Patriot Act...

since its inception. More here used to scream about it, too.

[JoeyT]

13. I dunno. If I'd thought about it,

I might not have been so quick to sign it into law.

We knew *exactly* what was happening under the Patriot Act. We've been screaming about it ever since it was passed. People are just pissed off again because this is new proof of something that's being done.

People defending the use of it on here is new, though. And kind of surprising.

[impartoftheproblem]

14. Rights...Rights

I live in Seattle and its a HUB for newcomers to America and I see a scary trend,,,some of them grew up and lived in a place that did not live by freedom of speech, choice, press, ect..ect so when laws like the patriot act are passed they not only agree with them but most i have talked with deem the laws too loose..so my point is these people are now american citizens.....scary.

[marble falls]

15. So, is that some of 'them', most of 'them' or all of 'them'? I get worried when I hear 'those' ....

people kind of statements.

[arcane1]

16. I'm sure you talked to so many of them, too.