GOP To Introduce "Patriot Act 2" Legislation

[Q]

From Democracy Now:

In news from Capitol Hill, Republican House Speaker Dennis Hastert is expected to introduce a sweeping new intelligence bill, as early as today, that is being being described as Patriot Act 2 because it gives the police sweeping new powers. The Wall Street Journal reports one portion of the bill calls for the U.S. Attorney General's office to maintain a database of criminal records that employers could access to make criminal background checks. In order to access the databases, employers would have to submit to the government fingerprint or other biometric identifiers of their job applicants or employees to the Justice Department. The bill would also increase fines and prison terms for illegal aliens and enlist local and state police in helping round up undocumented residents. Some cities, including Los Angeles and Philadelphia, that have policies restricting police from enforcing immigration law would lose federal funding if they did not rescind such policies. Michigan Congressman John Conyers said Hastert's draft scarcely resembles the recommendation of the 9/11 Commission. He said "It's as if the commission's recommendations have been super sized with irrelevant fat and lard, representing a wish list of past reactionary proposals that would diminish our civil liberties." - http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=04/09/23/1520201

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What are the odds that it will pass?

[Hawkeye-X]

1. The Patriot Act 2 is nothing but toilet paper.

It's never gonna pass - Filibuster the bill to death until Kerry and the entire Dem Congress is inaugurated.

Hawkeye-X

[Q]

3. But then...who would have thought...

...that a partisan hack like Goss would become chief goon for the CIA?

[Village Idiot]

7. Many forget

that Goss was an CIA assassin waaaaaaaaay before he was a party hack.

[ComerPerro]

6. Yeah, right. Dems are gonna fillabuster the patriot act before an election

The republicans are doing this so that Bush, some Senators, and all of the House can run on a "democrats refuse to protect America" campaign.

So, this will pass. I assure you.

[Vincardog]

2. More compassionate conservative practices

[punpirate]

4. In an election year, if the Repugs...

... start slinging around phrases such as "soft on terror," it will get enough Dem support to pass.

Don't want to see that happen, but it very well could. *sigh*

[Cocoa]

5. I'm sure you'll be rooting for it to pass

That would your anti-dem propaganda.

PA-II would be a big victory for you, like the Goss confirmation and the other GOP victories. Conversely, the dem victories like the judicial filibusters bummed you out quite a bit.

Unfortunately, this will be fought in a constructive way, and defeated, with the help of the ACLU and the Sept. 11 widows, and even some republicans.

Better get ready to come up with some other downer for us when this legislation dies.

[Q]

8. Do you understand how stupid you sound...

....when you say I WANT this anti-bill of rights BS to pass? This isn't about Left and Right...but about the future of our faltering Democracy.

- What's your motivation in following me to every thread I post and accusing me of such vile things? Of course I don't want this to pass. Neither did I want the first 'patriotic' act to pass...and I complained that both parties passed it with little or no debate.

- PA-II wouldn't be a victory for anyone. You should know that...even as you defend those who passed that first insult called PA-I

- I'm indeed sorry that you think of INFORMATION about our government as a 'downer'. It's even more disturbing that you seem disconnected with the reality that both parties are making it happen.

[Q]

9. And speaking of this legislation passing, Cocoa...

...what would it mean to YOU if the Dems voted for it?

- Would you say that they 'had to' for political expediency? Would you say that we need to give up 'some' freedoms in the name of 'security'? How about a dialogue instead of accusations?