ACLU Says Patriot Act Unconstitutional

[Khephra]

DETROIT -- The USA Patriot Act gives federal agents unlimited and unconstitutional authority to secretly seize library reading lists and other personal records, civil liberties advocates told a judge.

A U.S. district judge in Detroit heard arguments Wednesday in the first legal challenge to the part of the Patriot Act that lets agents obtain such things as library lists and medical information.

The American Civil Liberties Union filed the lawsuit in July on behalf of the Muslim Community Association of Ann Arbor and five other nonprofit groups. The U.S. government argued that the case be dismissed, saying there is no basis for the plaintiffs' complaints since the provision being challenged has never been used.

Judge Denise Page Hood said she would issue a written opinion on the government's motion but did not say when.

more.......

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-patriot-act-lawsuit,0,4159236.story?coll=sns-ap-nation-headlines

[rock]

1. Patriot act unconstitutional

Duh.

[bemildred]

2. Yeah, no shit.

After the selection in 2000, I figured the Constitution was only a
set of recommendations anyway.

[Enraged_Ape]

3. What was their first clue?

There's no question it's unconstitutional. The question is why our representatives didn't kill this monstrosity to begin with.

[madddog]

5. because 90% never saw the final bill

...I wasn't there, but I've heard that the final version was only distributed right before the debate, and I think debate only lasted an hour or so. I recall all of this happening at the end of a long day/night, and I seem to remember a lot of Members saying they didn't get enough time to check it out before the vote, FWIW.

[tom_paine]

9. Plus they were anthraxed into fearful submission

But I am sure Heinrich Ashcrfoft is going to find the Nazi who perpetrated that dastardly deed any minute now.

:puke: :puke:

[Media_Lies_Daily]

16. Funny how only Democratic Members of Congress got anthraxed.

[tom_paine]

19. Now, now, that's not completely true

The "Librul Media" (what a Orwellian joke THAT lie has become!) also received them (but not Faux, natch), as did the tabloid that printed pictures of the Bunnypants* Twins falling down drunk.

But there is NOTHING, NOTHING to indicate motive of this dastardly Lone Nut. Poor Ashcroft just doesn't have anywhere to start looking....

:puke: :puke: :puke:

So this is the first small taste of what it was like to live in the Old Soviet Union.

I don't like it, though I fear that other similarities will rise and other Bushevik shoes will drop...

[Media_Lies_Daily]

15. Only Byrd read the entire thing, but Feingold was the only one to cast...

...a dissenting vote. Byrd let'em have it with both barrels, but still went along with the crowd, unfortunately.

Chronology of the USA PATRIOT Act, 2001
<http://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section=The_USA_Patriot_Act_and_Libraries&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=11185>

"October 12: Senate and House Pass Anti-Terrorism Legislation; Problematic Privacy Provision Retained

Abstract:

The Senate passed its anti-terrorism legislation, S. 1510, very late on Thursday night, October 11th.The final vote was 96 to 1 with Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) the only Senator voting against the bill."

[enough]

4. Time to renew that membership.

Thanks to the ACLU for bringing this fight to the courts.

[ConcernedCanuk]

6. HATE it when others take my line - Yah - You, rock -

. . Patriot Act Unconstitutional

. . DUH

(But it deserved repeating)

[Neutrino]

7. more of the same

The USA Patriot Act is unconstitutional, Wolfowitz of Arabia admits
that the invasion of Iraq is illegal, no WMD, no connection
between Saddam and 9/11, and yet the carnage continues. There is a
complete disconnect between the will of the American people and
the Administration of Dear Leader. Protestors have given up because
they are brushed off, pleas of families of fallen soldiers
are ignored, Congressman are shrugged off with "me too, buddy",
and "watch me". The American people seem to be falling back on the
idea that the election will right desperate wrongs, but there is
an undercurrent of assurance by the regime in charge that
re-election is a shoe-in.

The only thing that will get the full attention of Washington is
a sustained spike in the price of Crude Oil which started this
insanity, and can just as well end it. The exponential costs of
of running the War Machine for each Dollar per barrel of Oil can
stop it in its tracks. If it will save lives, I think the American
people will tighten their belts for the ancillary negative effects
of such a spike.

[ConcernedCanuk]

8. If it will save lives, I think the American people will tighten their belt

. . wish that were true

. . I have talked with americans with RELATIVES in the war

and their "handling" of the problem is to "change the channel"

yup yup - I know more what's going on over there than some parents and siblings

THEY DON'T WANT TO KNOW !!

That's the impression I get from those I speak to

sad

but true

so the "carnage" will continue

(sigh)

[AndyTiedye]

12. Why Should a bunch of Oil Barons Care If Oil Prices Go Up???

>The only thing that will get the full attention of Washington is
>a sustained spike in the price of Crude Oil which started this
>insanity, and can just as well end it. The exponential costs of
>of running the War Machine for each Dollar per barrel of Oil can
>stop it in its tracks. If it will save lives, I think the American
>people will tighten their belts for the ancillary negative effects
>of such a spike.

I rather thought that giving his friends a worldwide oil monopoly was the plan all along.
Cheaper oil? No way! Monopolies don't work that way.

[UpInArms]

10. The USA PATRIOT Act

The USA Patriot Act:


Violates the First Amendment freedom of speech guarantee, right to peaceably assemble provision, and petition the government for redress of grievances provision; it violates the First Amendment to the Constitution three times.


Violates the Fourth Amendment guarantee of probable cause in astonishingly major and repeated ways. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution reads: "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons of things to be seized." The Patriot Act, now passed and the law of the land, has revoked the necessity for probable cause, and now allows the police, at any time and for any reason, to enter and search your house - and not even tell you about it.


Violates the Fifth Amendment by allowing for indefinite incarceration without trial for those deemed by the Attorney General to be threats to national security. The Fifth Amendment guarantees that no person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law, and the Patriot Act does away with due process. It even allows people to be kept in prison for life without even a trial.


Violates the Sixth Amendment guarantee of the right to a speedy and public trial. Now you may get no trial at all, ever.


Violates the Eighth Amendment (cruel and unusual punishment).


Violates the 13th Amendment (punishment without conviction).

[ConcernedCanuk]

14. Why do words like "SS" and "GESTAPO" come to mind ?

.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

17. Probably for the same reason "Reichstag fire" comes to my mind.

[hang a left]

11. Didn't this judge just dismiss another case against the federal

government? I will go back and look, and then post

[Frangible]

13. Does the bill of rights even mean anything anymore?

How can the fact it's "unconstitutional" or "against the bill of rights" be used as a defense anymore, when that same defense has been ignored for so many of the other amendments and fundamental rights?

Bah, don't mind me, I'm just a bitter liberal with libertarian tendancies.

[Minstrel Boy]

18. John Ashcroft says the Constitution is un-Patriotic Acty

Guess whose opinion carries weight with the judiciary?

[drfemoe]

20. Bill of Rights Defense Committee

http://www.bordc.org/

Civil Liberties Safe Zones:
Three states and 219 cities, towns, and counties have passed resolutions, ordinances or ballot initiatives protecting the civil liberties of their 27,773,518 residents. Hundreds more are in progress. Visit our Tools and FAQs pages to find out how.
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[DoNotRefill]

21. "Jewish, French, English, Russian groups say the Nazis sucked..."

This is news?

Of COURSE it's unconstitutional.

(for anybody upset that their group was left out of the subject line, sorry...only so many characters will fit)