The Unconstitutional Patriot Act
By Susan Steffen-Kraft
Whether you believe it or not, the Patriot Act infringes on some of our liberties. These liberties were guaranteed by the Constitution; by permitting the Patriot Act to exist we are trading off these liberties. Laws on paper have always been susceptible to the power mongers. President Obama is only building on what President Bush put into play and Bush built on what President Clinton put into play; a massive surveillance program.
If the supporters of Clinton, Bush and Obama get mad at me I really do not care. It will only mean that you are not lovers of liberty but are champions of big government. Our rights according the the 4th Amendment are "the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects against unreasonable search and seizure.
Did you know that books, computers, documents may be taken? This could not just be at your home but at public libraries, medical facilities, churches, bookstores, Internet providers, political groups, universities, and other types of institutions and businesses.
Indeed my friends, the phrase Patriot Act has nothing to do with being Patriotic because there is nothing Patriotic about this act. The people who are served cannot even tell anyone that the Feds have searched their records. So free speech is gone by the roadside to boot.
To top it off, the FBI can make Internet Services turn over a log of the websites that you have visited and all the e-mails coming to and from that computer. Now isn't that nice? So if they do not like you or what you stand for then you are out of luck should they choose to classify you as a terrorist.
That means that as a rule, officers have to get a warrant! I believe in my rights and stand by the 4th Amendment! If the FBI believes you are a terrorist they can get authorization by search orders to investigate you. The Patriot Act authorizes this investigation of activities that could involve a non violent protest. Note the words non violent.
If the supporters of Clinton, Bush and Obama get mad at me I really do not care. It will only mean that you are not lovers of liberty but are champions of big government. Our rights according the the 4th Amendment are "the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects against unreasonable search and seizure.
Did you know that books, computers, documents may be taken? This could not just be at your home but at public libraries, medical facilities, churches, bookstores, Internet providers, political groups, universities, and other types of institutions and businesses.
Indeed my friends, the phrase Patriot Act has nothing to do with being Patriotic because there is nothing Patriotic about this act. The people who are served cannot even tell anyone that the Feds have searched their records. So free speech is gone by the roadside to boot.
To top it off, the FBI can make Internet Services turn over a log of the websites that you have visited and all the e-mails coming to and from that computer. Now isn't that nice? So if they do not like you or what you stand for then you are out of luck should they choose to classify you as a terrorist.
That means that as a rule, officers have to get a warrant! I believe in my rights and stand by the 4th Amendment! If the FBI believes you are a terrorist they can get authorization by search orders to investigate you. The Patriot Act authorizes this investigation of activities that could involve a non violent protest. Note the words non violent.
The First Amendment protects for example the rights to have these non violent protests. And how many Senators voted against this atrocity! Gee, only one had the guts and common sense to do so. My oh my, it was a Democrat by the name of Russ Feingold of Wisconsin in 2001.
In 2006 these 10 Senators voted against the Patriotic Act. In 2001 all but one of the 10 voted for it. Strange the change of mind but, even a blind squirrel finds an acorn now and then.
Nays---10
Alaska (D-Hi)
Bingaman (D-NM)
Byrd (D-WV)
Feingold (D-WI)
Harkin(D-IA)
Jeffords (I-VT)
Leahy (D-VT)
Levin (D-MI)
Murray (D-WA)
Wyden (D-Or)
All the Democrats supported President Bush in this endeavor, but at least 10 did not in 2006. I can see why the Republicans did. I mean, after all, President Bush was a Republican and many or most Republicans feel they must support their party whether it is wrong or right! So what was the Democrats excuse? Well, obviously Russ Feingold in 2001 and 2006 did not need an excuse did he? He seemed to be the only one with any brains. I excuse neither party for their stupidity!
Yes, the three men pictured above and below contributed to taking away our freedoms. Live with it because that's the truth. Of course Obama has taken it many steps beyond but both of these other two men were, and are part and parcel of the New World Order just like Obama. God, why cannot the sheeple see this for what it is. Why ask? After all the sheeple follow blindly after their leaders and would jump off a cliff if ordered too.
Of course the FBI loves the Patriot Act. They can ignore the rules because they can ignore probable cause and conduct searches from their own warrants. But again, Bush did not care nor has Obama. But wait there is more! Clinton signed into law many bills that led to the Patriot Act. So lets see now, from Clinton to Bush to Obama.
Let them all join hands and sing;
Kumbaya My Lord, Kumbaya! We fooled the People Lord, Oh Yes We Did, We Fooled the People Lord, Kumbaya! Oh Lord, Kumbaya!
Now the new Patriot Act redone by President Obama well, compare it to the Constitution, Bill of Rights and Declaration of Independence. A good Ninety percent of the act has nothing to do with terrorism and is instead a giant Federal power-grab. Its tentacles reaching into every part of our society stripping American citizens of all of their rights. It also grants the government and its private agents total immunity from anything they do in the process of stripping you of your rights.
When Bill Clinton was President he signed into law the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act, which the New York Times calls “broad legislation that provides new tools and penalties for federal law-enforcement officials to use in fighting terrorism.” The Clinton administration proposed the bill in the aftermath of the Oklahoma City terrorist bombing (see 8:35 a.m. - 9:02 a.m. April 19, 1995). In many ways, the original bill would be mirrored by the USA Patriot Act six years later (Oct. 26, 2001).
Civil libertarians on both the left and right opposed the legislation. Michael Freeman, who is a political analyst, stated that the proposal was one of the “worst assaults on civil liberties in decades.” The Houston Chronicle called it a “frightening” and “grievous” assault on domestic freedoms which is the truth.
Congressman Ron Paul (R-Tex) told the Washington Times that not one member of Congress was allowed to read the first Patriot Act. It was passed by the House on October 27, 2001 and had the civil libertarians and Constitutional scholars across the political board upset and speaking against it. A Mr. William Safire who was writing for the New York Times stated and described the first Patriot Act's powers as the President seizing dictatorial control. Indeed it was.
Republicans opposed the bill that Clinton put forth and forced a compromise that removed increased wiretap authority and lower standards for lawsuits against sellers of guns used in crimes. And yet the Republicans passed the Patriot Act that George Bush brought forth.
But remember: it was the same bill! So what made the difference? Of course it was which party was occupying the White House when each bill was brought forth. Yet, even the chief sponsor of the Patriot Act, Jim Sensenbrenner, said he "always worried about potential abuses." Of course by now we should all realize that his worries were justified.
It would be so nice if the members of Congress (from both parties) would choose the side of Liberty and the Constitution. But no, indubitably they pick tyranny and Big-Government! Many still believe that there is a lot of difference in the party lines. There are some but who do not but I fear they are in the minority. Some in both parties have supported the Patriot Act. A few on both sides have not!
As for some Tea Party candidates; some like Representative Michelle Bachmann and Senators Rubio and Jeff Flake seem not to understand the 4th amendment of the Constitution and voted to extend certain provisions in the Act in the early fall of 2011. On the other hand, Idaho's Representative Raul Labrador explained the basis of his voting "no" on the Patriot Act by saying it gives too much latitude to the FBI and other law enforcement agencies to check on Americans without their knowledge.
Senator Rand Paul understood what was really happening. He not only filibustered the Patriot Act being renewed for hours in May 2015 with the support of Republican Sen. Mike Lee and Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden. He also got some help from 10 fellow senators -- three Republicans and seven Democrats. Senators Bernie Sanders, a Socialist and Democrat Presidential contender has been against the Patriot Act also. Good for all of them!
Rand took on Chris Christie in the Presidential debates over this same issue. When Christie was asked about his past attacks on Senator Rand Paul over this issue because these two men disagree vehemently about an NSA program that spied on tens of millions of innocent Americans. It logged all the phone calls they dialed and received. Rand who is a leading critic of the phone dragnet, argued that it flagrantly violates the Fourth Amendment. The Fourth Amendment is about the right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures.
Christie, because he is an idiot and does not believe in personal freedom or the Fourth Amendment, has said that if America is hit by another terrorist attack then Rand Paul should be called before Congress to answer for his efforts to constrain the NSA’s domestic spying. Christie can go jump in a lake for all I care and I will never support him in any capacity.
“The Fourth Amendment was what we fought the Revolution over! John Adams said it was the spark that led to our war for independence. I'm proud of standing for the Bill of Rights. I will continue to stand for the Bill of Rights, stated Rand Paul. Of course Christie pretty much laughed at that and continued his errant way of supporting violating our rights which is typical of someone like that who knows nothing apparently about the Fourth Amendment.
My God, they should all have to study and take a test on the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. So should the Presidents.
As for some Tea Party candidates; some like Representative Michelle Bachmann and Senators Rubio and Jeff Flake seem not to understand the 4th amendment of the Constitution and voted to extend certain provisions in the Act in the early fall of 2011. On the other hand, Idaho's Representative Raul Labrador explained the basis of his voting "no" on the Patriot Act by saying it gives too much latitude to the FBI and other law enforcement agencies to check on Americans without their knowledge.
Senator Rand Paul understood what was really happening. He not only filibustered the Patriot Act being renewed for hours in May 2015 with the support of Republican Sen. Mike Lee and Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden. He also got some help from 10 fellow senators -- three Republicans and seven Democrats. Senators Bernie Sanders, a Socialist and Democrat Presidential contender has been against the Patriot Act also. Good for all of them!
Rand took on Chris Christie in the Presidential debates over this same issue. When Christie was asked about his past attacks on Senator Rand Paul over this issue because these two men disagree vehemently about an NSA program that spied on tens of millions of innocent Americans. It logged all the phone calls they dialed and received. Rand who is a leading critic of the phone dragnet, argued that it flagrantly violates the Fourth Amendment. The Fourth Amendment is about the right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures.
Christie, because he is an idiot and does not believe in personal freedom or the Fourth Amendment, has said that if America is hit by another terrorist attack then Rand Paul should be called before Congress to answer for his efforts to constrain the NSA’s domestic spying. Christie can go jump in a lake for all I care and I will never support him in any capacity.
“The Fourth Amendment was what we fought the Revolution over! John Adams said it was the spark that led to our war for independence. I'm proud of standing for the Bill of Rights. I will continue to stand for the Bill of Rights, stated Rand Paul. Of course Christie pretty much laughed at that and continued his errant way of supporting violating our rights which is typical of someone like that who knows nothing apparently about the Fourth Amendment.
My God, they should all have to study and take a test on the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. So should the Presidents.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/mar/09/usa,
http://dayontheday.com/2014/05/29/foundation-for-enabling-patriot-act-started-with-clinton-and-democrats-not-bush-43/,
https://www.rutherford.org/constitutional_corner/amendment_iv_searches_seizures_and_warrants,
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/02/politics/02cnd-patriot.html?_r=0,
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/george-w-bush-signs-the-patriot-act,
http://www.historycommons.org/context.jsp?item=a102601patriotact,
http://www.rense.com/general34/takeover.htm.
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/08/rand-paul-and-chris-christie-clash-on-nsa-spying/400718/,
http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/20/politics/rand-paul-filibuster-patriot-act-nsa-surveillance/
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Elections/Tea-Party-Tally/2011/0209/Patriot-Act-upset-vote-Can-tea-party-lawmakers-liberals-be-friends,
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/12/15/rand-paul-rallies-before-debate-hits-cruz-on-patriot-act/
http://dayontheday.com/2014/05/29/foundation-for-enabling-patriot-act-started-with-clinton-and-democrats-not-bush-43/,
https://www.rutherford.org/constitutional_corner/amendment_iv_searches_seizures_and_warrants,
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/02/politics/02cnd-patriot.html?_r=0,
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/george-w-bush-signs-the-patriot-act,
http://www.historycommons.org/context.jsp?item=a102601patriotact,
http://www.rense.com/general34/takeover.htm.
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/08/rand-paul-and-chris-christie-clash-on-nsa-spying/400718/,
http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/20/politics/rand-paul-filibuster-patriot-act-nsa-surveillance/
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Elections/Tea-Party-Tally/2011/0209/Patriot-Act-upset-vote-Can-tea-party-lawmakers-liberals-be-friends,
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/12/15/rand-paul-rallies-before-debate-hits-cruz-on-patriot-act/
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