Parts of Patriot Act ruled unconstitutional

[MissB]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20999950/

PORTLAND, Ore. - Two provisions of the USA Patriot Act are unconstitutional because they allow search warrants to be issued without a showing of probable cause, a federal judge ruled Wednesday.

U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken ruled that the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, as amended by the Patriot Act, "now permits the executive branch of government to conduct surveillance and searches of American citizens without satisfying the probable cause requirements of the Fourth Amendment."

Portland attorney Brandon Mayfield sought the ruling in a lawsuit against the federal government after he was mistakenly linked by the FBI to the Madrid train bombings that killed 191 people in 2004.

[Atman]

1. BushCo responds:

"Fuck you. Who cares what the courts think. I'm the decider."

.

[TahitiNut]

2. Why do Portland lihbrul judges hate Amerika?

Obviously, that makes Portland a ripe target for the 'terra-ists.'

[stevedeshazer]

5. Now that you mention it,

http://www.northcom.mil/News/2007/083007.html

<snip>

Exercise Vigilant Shield ’08 slated for October

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command along with U.S. Pacific Command, the Department of Homeland Security as well as local, state and other federal responders will exercise their response abilities against a variety of potential threats during Exercise Vigilant Shield ‘08, a Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff-designated, North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM)-sponsored, and U.S. Joint Forces Command-supported Department of Defense exercise for homeland defense and defense support of civil authorities missions.

VS-08 will be conducted concurrent with Top Officials 4 (TOPOFF 4), the nation’s premier exercise of terrorism preparedness sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security, and several other linked exercises as part of the National Level Exercise 1-08. These linked exercises will take place October 15-20 and are being conducted throughout the United States and in conjunction with several partner nations including Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom, as well as the Territory of Guam.

VS-08 and National Level Exercise 1-08 will provide local, state, tribal, interagency, Department of Defense, and non-governmental organizations and agencies involved in homeland security and homeland defense the opportunity to participate in a full range of exercise scenarios that will better prepare participants to prevent and respond to national crises. The participating organizations will conduct a multi-layered, civilian-led response to a national crisis.

USNORTHCOM’s primary exercise venues for VS-08 include locations in Oregon, Arizona and a cooperative venue with USPACOM in the Territory of Guam. NORAD’s aerospace detection and defense events will take place across all the exercise venues, to exercise the ability to mobilize resources for aerospace defense, aerospace control, maritime warning, and coordination of air operations in a disaster area.

[warren pease]

8. StevieD - I thought you'd taken a leave of absence from DU...

Glad to see you here. Also, have a look here: http://tinyurl.com/25lak4

I've been doing some writing and agitating with this group lately. Good folks and seriously pissed off activists.

Are you going to the march Saturday? If so, hope to see you there.



wp

[Pachamama]

6. Activist judge, activist judge alert!

:eyes:

More like a Judge who respects the constitution.....unlike so many in this administration and the GOP...

[pdxmom]

3. Here's a local story (sorry, reg. is required) but it has the judge's

ruling to read: http://www.kgw.com/news-local/stories/kgw_092607_news_mayfield_ruling.111d9e019.html

[me b zola]

4. k&r

[MissWaverly]

7. I hope that the Patriot is struck down, every last bit of it

I hope that it is smacked down so hard that nobody ever tries to pull this stunt again.

[Maat]

9. As a proud law school graduate ... all I have to say is"

"No-duh! How come every judge and justice in the land hasn't been screaming about the unimaginably disgusting Patriot Act since it was even introduced!"

Fricking amazing that we have let things get this far.

:grr:

Now, let's repeal the whole thing and restore all constitutional freedoms!

:rant:

[stranger81]

10. As another proud law school graduate, I'm keeping my fingers

crossed that the 9th Circuit affirms (I think we actually have a shot with them, as opposed to the 4th Circuit or others hearing homeland security cases these days). And I'm still completely slack-jawed at the fact that we got rid of HABEUS CORPUS. Just unbelievable.

[stranger81]

11. k&r [n/t]

[Maat]

16. I agree (n/t)!

[Nutmegger]

12. The USA Fascist Act only benefits the Bush Crime Family.

It's long past time to dump it.

[Disturbed]

13. Only one Dem Senator voted against this piece of crap.

Feingold. Sen. Edwards touted it & hasn't been asked about it since. He said his
IWR promotion was wrong. How about this stinking, so called Patriot Shit?

[PA Democrat]

14. Mayfield also received a $2 million settlement from the federal government

From the story:

The federal government apologized and settled part of the lawsuit for $2 million after admitting a fingerprint was misread. But as part of the settlement, Mayfield retained the right to challenge parts of the Patriot Act, which greatly expanded the authority of law enforcers to investigate suspected acts of terrorism.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20999950

You know it was horrendous if they actually got $2 million and an apology from this administration.

[Hubert Flottz]

15. The Paranoid Act.

230 years of fighting and bleeding for the Constitution and congress lets Bush wipe it out! The terrorists won big, the day Bush signed away our freedom and liberty.