The Patriot Act

SOME QUESTIONS:

Why was the Patriot Act passed?

Why is President Bush pushing Congress to renew parts of it that will expire at the end of this year?

SOME ANSWERS:



From the LA Times:

WASHINGTON — A closed-door vote by the Senate Intelligence Committee last week to expand law enforcement powers under the USA Patriot Act is prompting sharp criticism from some conservative leaders who are otherwise among the most vocal allies of President Bush and the Republican leadership in Congress.

The conservative leaders — who have formed a coalition with critics on the left, including the American Civil Liberties Union — vowed to press their concerns in coming days with public statements, rallies and radio advertisements in key congressional districts.

The conservatives, including former U.S. Rep. Bob Barr (R-Ga.) and political activists who have been long-standing critics of the anti-terrorism law, lashed out with particular force last week against the White House, members of Congress and Atty. Gen. Alberto R. Gonzales. They said they had expected a more open review of the Patriot Act in which lawmakers considered some limits in order to safeguard civil liberties.

The conservatives complained that the Senate panel had moved in secret to expand the act. They are particularly upset about proposed "administrative subpoenas" that would let the FBI obtain a person's medical, financial and other records in terrorism cases without seeking a judge's approval.

...Although Barr, Keene and a handful of other well-known conservatives are working with groups on the political left to limit the Patriot Act, Keene rejected arguments from the left that "there is a Republican plot to deprive of us of our rights. The fact is, this is what governments do," regardless of who is in power, particularly in time of war.

Supporters of the Patriot Act (an acronym for Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism) say the law fixes some of the intelligence and law enforcement problems that allowed the Sept. 11 terrorists to enter the country and proceed without detection.

...Keene and Barr's alliance plans to send letters to Capitol Hill this week calling for rejection of the administrative subpoenas and urging a more careful review of the act itself.

In addition, Barr said, radio ads are being readied for key congressional districts, paid for by Patriots to Restore Checks and Balances, a coalition of that includes the American Conservative Union, Americans for Tax Reform, the American Civil Liberties Union, gun rights advocates, the Libertarian Party and some left-of-center groups.

The way I see it, an appropriate balance between personal liberties and protection from people bent on destroying us needs to be found.

I don't want to be stripped of my rights; but I never want to witness another day like September 11, 2001.

I have no problem with a careful review of the Patriot Act's provisions. I do have a problem with the Act being held up as something out of the Nazi handbook. That's lunacy.

I expect my government to protect me from terrorists. The Patriot Act helps do that.