Obama and the PATRIOT Act.

[johnaries]

First of all, let me point out that this is NOT the original USA PATRIOT act that was passed in 2001. When it was up for re-authorization, Obama worked hard as a Senator to revise it.

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2008/jan/06/hillary-clinton/he-fought-to-improve-it-then-voted-for-it/

He and other Democrats were able to get some revisions, and Obama said in his subsequent statement on the Senate floor:

This compromise does modestly improve the PATRIOT Act by strengthening civil liberties protections without sacrificing the tools that law enforcement needs to keep us safe. In this compromise:

We strengthened judicial review of both National Security Letters, the administrative subpoenas used by the FBI, and Section 215 orders, which can be used to obtain medical, financial and other personal records.

We established hard time limits on sneak-and-peak searches and limits on roving wiretaps.

We protected most libraries from being subject to National Security Letters.

We preserved an individual's right to seek counsel and hire an attorney without fearing the FBI's wrath.

And we allowed judicial review of the gag orders that accompany Section 215 searches.

The compromise is far from perfect. I would have liked to see stronger judicial review of National Security Letters and shorter time limits on sneak and peak searches, among other things.

As president, he still asked Congress to revise the current PATRIOT Act each time it came up for reauthorization until this year. Congress didn't, so he signed it anyway. This year it was set to expire right after the announcement of the death of OBL, so there was a rush to make sure there was no lapse in it's reauthorization.

Now, let's look at what was extended:

1. The "lone wolf" clause. Basically, folks like Timothy McVeigh can't fall through the cracks.
2. The loophole allowing throw-away cell phones not to be wire-tapped is closed.
3. Businesses are required to give up pertinent documents.

None of these look that bad to me.

I would rather that the entire law be revised as Obama as called for in the past. But I can tell you that it has a lot less potential for abuse than it had in the Bush days.

[MadHound]

1. Oh geez, another one rationalizing away about this abomination,

Only because the person signing it into law has a D behind his name.

Give it the fuck up. If this was being passed and signed by a Republican president you would be screaming bloody murder like the rest of us. But now, because it is a Democratic president wielding the pen, you come up with these rationalizations "has a lot less potential for abuse" Give me a fucking break you hypocrite.

[Youth Uprising]

6. Well said.

[ixion]

2. the unPATRIOTic Act is unconstitutional, and should be repealed in totum

[phasma ex machina]

4. +1

[Enrique]

3. FBI quadruples its use of National Security Letters

under Obama

http://www.aclu.org/spy-files/fbi-targeting-more-people-national-security-letters-hunt-information-washingtonpostcom

FBI targeting more people with national security letters in hunt for information (washingtonpost.com)

May 9, 2011

Obama administration quadruples its use of Patriot Act 215 orders in 2010.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/fbis-hunt-for-information-increases-through-use-of-national-security-letters/2011/05/09/AFt9YKbG_story.html

[City Lights]

5. Can I buy Sudafed now without being interrogated by my pharmacy? nt

[jaxx]

9. Not if you live in a meth making area.

Or is that ok too?

[City Lights]

10. Do you have a "meth making" map I can check? nt

[jaxx]

12. Call your local PD, they can tell you.

Around here it's rampant. Houses blow up, little kids take it to school, and the arrests are constant.

[City Lights]

14. Then it's a shame that the Patriot Act is failing to do its intended job.

Bad guys are still able to buy Sudafed while those trying to purchase it for its intended use are treated like criminals.

I feel so much safer. :sarcasm:

[jaxx]

15. OMG anger in aisle 6.

[Wilms]

7. That's sounds reassuring. The following a little less so.

Senators Say Patriot Act Is Being Misinterpreted
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1182137


Update on "Secret" Patriot Act: 2 senators win promise of a Patriot Act hearing
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1181226


Thom Hartmann: Is there a shadow Patriot Act behind the Patriot Act?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x586913

[jaxx]

8. Thanks for the post and the facts.

Facts are in short supply on this and those opposed are getting cranky.

K&R

[Forkboy]

11. I wish some would drop the act and admit that they think anything with a D next to it is ok.

Saves me the time of having to assume they can think for themselves.

[jaxx]

13. Would that be like anything with a D is wrong?

[Forkboy]

16. Not at all, and thanks for illustrating the very black and white mentality I was alluding to.

[jaxx]

17. You're welcome.

I was sure you would see the absurdity of it all.

[Forkboy]

18. You couldn't have illustrated my point any better had I paid you to do so.

If you want to keep doing so please continue, by all means.

[jaxx]

19. That's ok, I will leave you to your dreams.

[Forkboy]

21. Your posts aren't even making sense now.

What is my dream? That some people decide on an issue based on what Party/Politician supports it? Not believing that is naivete of the highest order. You don't think people blindly followed Bush or Reagan? You think that doesn't happen with Clinton and Obama (and fuck, let's all go all the way back to Washington...it would still apply)? Every party and every politician has people who do that. Dems, Repubs, Obama, Kucinich...all of them. And yes, there are some right here on DU. No, really.

If you want to insult me that's ok, I really don't mind that at all, but it doesn't make much impact when the insult is a non-sequitor. :shrug:

[JonLP24]

22. +1

There were actual reasons I despised Bush. Patriot Act was in the top 5 of things he did that seriously pissed me off.

[Obamanaut]

20. An abomination with icing is still an abomination. Slice it any way

you want, and it will not change.