URGENT! CONTACT YOUR SENATORS TODAY-PATRIOT ACT II

[TornadoTN]

Alright folks, we know its coming. We have heard the stories about the committees meeting behind closed doors on this issue. Now is the time to start contacting your Democratic Senators (Maybe even a few moderate Republicans) and get a firm answer on how they will be voting on PATRIOT Act II.

If you haven't looked into this yet, I suggest you start doing some research. If we allow this to pass, we are setting ourselves up for a full blown fascist regime here in the United States. This isn't "patriotic" or "protecting America", this is a clear and present danger to our democracy! The FBI and other federal agencies will be allowed to subpoena you WITHOUT a court order or judicial review. It makes NO differentiation between "terrorist" related offenses or other offenses other than giving the "terrorist" card lip service.

The Bush Administration and Republicans are already heaping the rhetoric on the general public, saying that "we need this to protect you from terrorists, so be afraid!". The very suggestion of this hearkens back to Nazi Germany. The Democrats need to oppose this thing to the end (with the exception of Lieberman, who will roll over and be the mouthpiece for BushCo.). We have to stop this thing before its too late.

[annabanana]

1. I've lost my list of "not the most unreasonable republicans"

Aside from Snow and Voinovich, who should I ask?

[TornadoTN]

2. Good question

At this stage, It's hard to tell where some of the moderates are going to fall on this issue. I'm leaning towards saying that they may be a lost cause, since the Bush Administration will be pushing this heavily and leaning very hard on them to vote YES.


It's going to be a battle, there is no doubt about it, but we have to be prepared to fight this battle and we have to get out in the community and approach the moderates and even to some extent the non-fundie conservatives (who by all rights should be violently opposed to this).

[annabanana]

3. certainly every libertarian should be hollering! . . n/t

[TornadoTN]

4. Here is a partial list

But by no means is it the end-all, be all. We all know that some of these have already sold their soul to Bush and will dance with him whenever he comes calling.

Snowe - R, Maine
Chafee - R, Rhode Island
Specter - R, Pennsylvania
McCain - R, Arizona
Collins - R, Maine
Hagel - R, Nebraska
Voinovich - R, Ohio
Lieberman - D, Connecticut

But Remember, HR 3162 (Patriot Act I) passed 98-1, with Feingold the only NAY vote (Landrieu did not vote), so noones hands are clean. But they can be redeemed on this vote.

[KharmaTrain]

5. Here's A Couple...

Chaffee and Snowe still appear to be moderate on things, and, they're in Democratic areas where, if the Democrats make gains, next year, stand to be "deal makers".

Also, there's Hagel...he seems to be extremely suspect of this regime now and, especially in libertarian issues. Since there are many right wing groups that are against this bill as much as left ones, he's got the cover.

I would have said Specter...but he's so conflicted by this regime right now, he'll say one thing and vote another...just to keep Frist from picking on him. Maybe he should run for Senator of Scotland after all.

[dbeach]

6. "Senate Intel Cmte set for secret PATRIOT Act expansion"

Pat Act and real ID Natl ID don't get much traction at DU??

Wonder why??

I did contact Chafee.



"Senate Intel Cmte set for secret PATRIOT Act expansion"


Patriot Act won't make the US safer BUT it will be another bonanza for security companies and related surveillance equipment..


"Senate Intel Cmte set for secret PATRIOT Act expansion
As the ACLU is reporting, the Senate Intelligence Committee will be holding a closed hearing on USA PATRIOT Act reauthorization on Thursday, May 19.

Our Washington sources report that not only are Senators on the committee planning to renew almost all of the handful of PATRIOT provisions that are set to "Sunset" at the end of 2005, but are also planning to expand many police-state PATRIOT powers as well.

On the drawing board are ideas to expand surveillance powers in so-called "terrorist" as well as criminal investigations. Administrative subpoenas, an instrument to circumvent judge-signed search warrants, are a particular favorite.

House and Senate Judiciary Committees have held the vast majority of hearings on the PATRIOT Act compared to their Intelligence Committee counterparts. The move by the Intelligence Committee is seen on Capitol Hill as a sneaky power grab.

If you want to express your outrage and demand open hearings on the PATRIOT Act, call Intelligence Chariman Kansas Sen. Pat Roberts at 202-224-4774 (fax [phone]) or the Senate Intelligence Committee at 202-224-1700. The ranking Democrat member of the Intelligence Committee is West Virginia Sen. John Rockefeller, [phone].

The USA PATRIOT Act police-state bill was passed in the atmosphere of fear and panic after September 11, while the infrastructure of the Congress was crippled by the militarized anthrax-by-mail attacks."
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http://www.total911.info/2005/05/senate-intel-cmte-set-...

dbeach