If a democrat wins can and will he repeal the patriot act?

[Hippo_Tron]

Thoughts? Mine are that all of them except maybe Lieberman will do something or at least try to. Even if congress is still controlled by the Republicans it seems like pretty much the president's decission as to how much of it should be used. If the president doesn't want to tap peoples' phones I don't think congress can force him, if the president doesn't want to detain people without any charges congress can't really force him, etc.

[onebigbadwulf]

1. Re: If a democratic president is elected can he repeal the patriot act

Well if he was smart he would grant unconditional pardons to everyone indefinitely detained without reason by the patriot act. Then he would introduce a counter-bill to congress saying "I will continue granting unconditional pardons to everyone, so your patriot act is worthless... repeal it now"

[Hippo_Tron]

5. LOL, that's actually pretty funny.

I will pardon everyone and there's nothing you can do about it you stupid Republican controlled congress, ha ha in your face.

[newyawker99]

16. Hi onebigbadwulf!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[ReadTomPaine]

19. Good answer! There should be more of this sort of hardball now from dems..

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. I agree

how they go about it will depend on the candidate, from
deep judicial review all the way to straight out repeal.

But I agree with you, it will be dealtt with

[DuctapeFatwa]

3. I get the impression that most of them support the Patriot Act

Only a couple have mentioned it in a critical way at all.

[Jazzgirl]

6. Unfortunately the Patriot Act was signed

in a fit of patriotism. This act was passed hastily and while fear was rampant in response to 9/11 and widely unread. Unfortunately we're now seeing how far-reaching it actually is.

Jazzgirl

[George_Bonanza]

4. I think the Patriot Act expires in a couple of years

So the Democratic winner can either try to expunge it, or let it die. I think most, if not all, of the Democratic candidates would never seek to extend it. I don't know if they'd have the support in congress to repeal it immediately.

[DuctapeFatwa]

11. Well, if Congress supports it, the voting class must support it too

So any candidate who opposes it would not be popular with the voting class.

Since the Patriot Act will be used almost exclusively against ethnic minorities and low income people, it sounds like it will be expanded, extended, and continue being popular with its current supporters.

[lovedems]

7. If the next democratic president appoints a responsible

Attorney General it would be my opinion that he/she could make the strongest argument about the insanity of the patriot act (or turn a blind eye to it, just as the conservatives do with gun control laws) We all know what a nutcase Asscroft is and how completely capable of going beyond the intent of a law is no skin off his back.

I would hope that something is done to get this nasty little act at the very least, under control and within the scope of the constitution.

[JohnKleeb]

8. mine plans to and is introducing legislation right now

Go Kucinich. :yourock:

[LWolf]

9. LOL

Who is always introducing actual legislation to address the concerns of the democrats and the republican ravages? Our man, Dennis Kucinich. If he is the next president, the key legislation supporting his platform will already be there.

Dennis Kucinich, :yourock:

[JohnKleeb]

10. thanks

:yourock: too
Seriously he is.

[poskonig]

12. Durbin yesterday introduced a bill to kill the gestapo sections

of the Patriot Act in the Senate.

[JohnKleeb]

14. Go Durbin

I like the guy. Illinois is lucky to have him. I would trade my senator or senators for him in a heart beat.

[pretzel4gore]

13. if 'democrat' then also 'republicrat'

ok...
the neocons use language (rat...gettit?) like fools they think of asinine tricks right outta sandbox, and dems are so nose up they don't see they being mocked.
it's 'repukes' or 'republicrats' or busheviks or 'enron ncons' but not 'republicans' (Abe Lincoln was a republican)
i know this is petty, but dfor 2 generations rushbushinc have done it, and we elect a clown in cacacalifornia!
nyuknyuk!

[knight_of_the_star]

15. Depends on the candidate

I would be willing to bet money that the three front-runners (Clark, Dean, Kerry) would try to kill it in some way. Clark sounds like the kind of guy who would use the pardons approach if legislation fails that was previously mentioned in this thread, Dean and Kerry would probably use legislation and let it die if it fails.

[KG]

17. not likely. the front runners are defenders of the status quo.

they may just allow the expiration of portions of the act. but nothing as radical as repealation.

[rhite5]

18. No. The Patriot Act is a special case, so

it would not fit anyone's definition of "defending the status quo." There is a fair amount of Republican support for rescinding the Act. There is widespread citizen support for dumping it. Intense public pressure will force it to happen

In my state (Oregon) an attempt was made to get our legislature to pass a statewide resolution declaring that provisions of the Patriot Act would not be enforced. It passed our State Senate almost unanimously. Unfortunately, time ran out at the end of the session before it could be brought to a vote in the House.

Previous to that several cities and counties in Oregon had already passed similar resolutions.

It is an issue (getting rid of the Patriot Act) that is supported by all political parties. The Libertarians, most Republicans, Greens, Democrats. In fact it was amazing to find people who might disagree on 90% of the other issues were solidly linked together on this.

And we all know it was originally passed by Congress under false pretenses, late night vote, no copies available to read, a sense of panic after 9/11, etc. I am pretty certain there will be no waiting around for the sunset provision (which only partially exists anyway -- that was another lie).

[JCMach1]

20. It sunsets anyway....

Just don't enforce it...!

[Lexingtonian]

21. The easiest way

-> Appoint an ethical and wise man as Attorney General <-

Basically, the AG can get a law jammed up in federal court and decide not to act to get it legally unjammed.

There are some parts of the thing that are important and useful. But the deal in law enforcement is usually that to get results you need to either apply bad laws crudely or apply good people well to the problem. One damages the whole, the other improves the whole.

I'm for letting the thing sunset and for the AG supplying notice to Congress whenever s/he uses specified provisions of it.

Our problem is Ashcroft more than any enabling legislation. The man is a Pharisee. If Jesus Christ were inprisoned at Guantanamo he wouldn't let Him go.