One area, about which I oppose Obama, is his desire for the power to violate the rights guaranteed us in the Constitution. While campaigning, he said he would do away with such violations, but he is doing the exact opposite. The un-PATRIOT Act is due to expire on 5/27. Obama, Republicans and DINOs want it. Harry Reid caved-in. It is critical that we join against this violation of our rights. The third provision below is especially heinous.
U.S. House and Senate leaders have reached a bipartisan backroom deal to push for approval of a four-year extension of the the most controversial components of the USA PATRIOT Act, in a move that rejects calls for responsible reform of the law by civil libertarians on the right and the left.
With prodding from the Obama White House – which has been working for months to secure a long-term extension of the PATRIOT Act — and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, and House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, there will be a full-court press in coming days to win congressional approval for the extension of PATRIOT Act provisions that are set to expire May 27. But there will be opposition from both sides of the aisle to this bad bipartisanship, The toughest test will come in the House, where a coalition of Tea Party conservatives and united Democratic caucus could upset the rush to approve the extension.
It will be tough to block a lobbying push by key congressional leaders, especially in the Senate, where Reid and McConnell are co-sponsoring the extension proposal. But there is no question that there will significant be opposition to this assault on basic constitutional values.
As Shahid Buttar, executive director of the Bill of Rights Defense Committee, says: "This agreement reeks of all the worst things about Washington: secrecy, back-room dealing, institutional co-optation, and bipartisan collusion to undermine constitutional rights. The death of Osama bin Laden offered the hope that our nation’s leaders might finally restore sanity to the national security establishment in the wake of mounting documented abuses. Instead, they insulated it from debate and rammed the PATRIOT Act down the throats of hundreds of millions of law-abiding Americans. I am, quite frankly, disgusted."
Among the PATRIOT Act provisions that congressional leaders hope to extend without any changes, until June 1, 2015, are sections that (in the words of the Bill of Rights Defense Committee) outline:
1.) The government’s power under PATRIOT Section 215 to obtain secret court orders for "any tangible thing"—including Internet, phone, and business records—that the government believes is relevant to a terrorism investigation.
2.) The government’s power to use non-specific "roving" wiretaps to monitor any phone number, email account, or other communications facility that the government believes is being used by its target.
3.) The "lone wolf" wiretapping power, which allows the government it to monitor individuals who have no connection to any foreign power or terrorist group… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <The Nation>
Contact your Representative and Senators. Tell them to oppose extending the PATRIOT Act.
15 Responses to “Action Alert: NO on un-PATRIOT Act”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
“about which I oppose Obama,” Please don’t forget that this piece of Legislation was brought to you by George Bush.
Please don’t forget that Obama is a DINO.
Vote out all DINOs during next year’s Democratic Primaries.
Vote only for PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS.
Is anyone even challenging him?
I agree, but Obama has continued the policy after campaigning on undoing it.
Very good action alert issues of NO on un-PATRIOT Act. I totally agree and it is so critical that join against this violation of our rights. So need to thinking against this issues. 🙂
Protect our constitutional rights. Stop Bush spying on inocent American citizens.
Bush spying? DINO Obama is now the president.
Although, I can see how by their similar policies you could confuse the two.
What a choice I’ve had: Lamar Alexander and Bob the Corker. Their boiler-plate responses have been less than enthusiastic. But at least I didn’t have to listen to Corker’s Tin-uh-see twang.
Leslie, I offer condolences on your state of residence.
The Patriot Act has several provisions that I consider unconstitutional, including the wire tapping of any citizen. Get rid of the whole thing – we’re not in Bush scare mode anymore.
I agree, Lisa. FISA worked fine.
Gentlemen… the Constitution is dead. And has been for quite some time. Have you only just noticed?
Cletus, I disagree. The Constitution is more than a document. It is an idea, and as such it cannot be killed. What is dead is observation of the Constitution by Republicans.
STOP this Patri-ASININITY:
1.) The government’s power under PATRIOT Section 215 to obtain secret court orders for “any tangible thing”—including Internet, phone, and business records—that the government believes is relevant to a terrorism investigation.
2.) The government’s power to use non-specific “roving” wiretaps to monitor any phone number, email account, or other communications facility that the government believes is being used by its target.
3.) The “lone wolf” wiretapping power, which allows the government it to monitor individuals who have no connection to any foreign power or terrorist group
I agree, but you’re quoting from what I posted.