Bush Changes Patriot Act Law

[AGENDA21]

WASHINGTON -- When President Bush signed the reauthorization of the USA Patriot Act this month, he included an addendum saying that he did not feel obliged to obey requirements that he inform Congress about how the FBI was using the act's expanded police powers.

The bill contained several oversight provisions intended to make sure the FBI did not abuse the special terrorism-related powers to search homes and secretly seize papers. The provisions require Justice Department officials to keep closer track of how often the FBI uses the new powers and in what type of situations. Under the law, the administration would have to provide the information to Congress by certain dates.

Bush signed the bill with fanfare at a White House ceremony March 9, calling it ''a piece of legislation that's vital to win the war on terror and to protect the American people." But after the reporters and guests had left, the White House quietly issued a ''signing statement," an official document in which a president lays out his interpretation of a new law.

In the statement, Bush said that he did not consider himself bound to tell Congress how the Patriot Act powers were being used and that, despite the law's requirements, he could withhold the information if he decided that disclosure would ''impair foreign relations, national security, the deliberative process of the executive, or the performance of the executive's constitutional duties."

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2...

[rodeodance]

1. see this discussion in LBN also on DU:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[TAPat]

2. I fell like I should be shocked...

but I'm not. Just business as usual these days.
Why did they even bother to put in the safeguards - waste of time and paper anymore.

[distantearlywarning]

3. So what's the point of Congress?

Seems like they've outlived their usefulness these days. And since they won't bother to stand up for themselves (Repuke & Democrat both), why should I?

[Solly Mack]

4. He didn't change it - he stated he isn't going to adhere to the

provisions that hinder his doing as he pleases.

The signing order does render all those "safe-guards" moot, but then Bush has been doing as he pleased from the get go, and Congress has postured about sunset clauses and oversight provisions on a bill that should have never become law in the first place.


If anyone in Congress thought Bush could be held to "oversight", then they haven't been paying attention.

I hope Congress spares me their outrage over Bush defying the feel good safe-guards in the Patriot Act - as the Patriot Act should have never become law.

[zbdent]

5. Isn't that illegal

too?

[in_cog_ni_to]

6. Yes, but laws mean NOTHING to this administration and

apparently to Congress. They have yet to stop this shit. Congress makes the laws, not the idiot-in-chief, but hey...who cares?

[zbdent]

7. You're right

it's an old law (Constitution . . .)

[AndyA]

8. IMPEACH - PROSECUTE - INCARCERATE

Put an end to The Bush Crime Family™ dictatorship!

I M P E A C H !

[Nordmadr]

9. There goes my blood pressure again.

Peak Oil
Global Climate Attitude Adjustment
Government setting itself up as dictatorship
Powerful elites funding dictator
Powerful elites controlling information

Any questions?

Crazy Olafr...that's me, I'm crazy.

F*ck me.



[Frustratedlady]

10. His arrogance is incredible

I believe the team of Rove-Gonzales is behind these in-your-face incidents where they are doing as they please, regardless of the law or any complaints from Congress (which are few and far between). He asks how he can have his way and they find a loophole that might do the trick. All they have to do is tell him he's good to go and he's off and running.

It looks to me that Senator Leahy has the best shot at stopping this imperialistic bunch of thugs, so maybe we should be backing his efforts? God knows no one else is making much progress, due to blocks and stonewalls in their way, or am I overly anxious? I just feel that every day they are in power, we lose. The closer he gets to being ousted, the faster they move. I suppose the "finger on the button" will be next?

I fear for all of us--even the Republicans. Never thought I'd say that!

[spanone]

11. The trashing of our Constitution goes unabated.

Historians will wonder how the American People sat on their hands while this dictator trashed our protections under law.

[KurtNYC]

12. Yes - He lied to God (Cheney: "yeah...Big time!")

I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.

then he....