The American Spectator : The Spectacle Blog : Amending the Patriot Act

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As Ross noted this morning, a move by the GOP leadership to fast-track the extention of some provisions of the Patriot Act failed in the House yesterday. These provisions are still likely to pass, but the Cato Institute's Julian Sanchez notes that there could be an opening to improve the law:

The failure of the fast-track vote means that we may see the reauthorization introduced under rules that would allow amendments aimed at remedying the civil liberties problems with the three expiring provisions, or with the still more controversial Patriot expansion of National Security Letter authority, which under current law does not expire.

Julian goes on to advocate what sound like some very reasonable tweaks to the law that could protect civil liberties without compromising national security. One hopes that his prescriptions gain an audience on Capitol Hill.

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Occam's Tool| 2.9.11 @ 4:15PM

We need the patriot act renewed.

The refudiator| 2.9.11 @ 7:54PM

so that Obama can keep us safe

Conservative Bob| 2.9.11 @ 5:11PM

When it passed I trusted the president and his administration. I was uneasy with some of the provisions but had confidence that their focus was on Islamic terrorists.
I do not trust this president and while the Patriot Actt provides important tools I expect the current administration to abuse it. Look at the justice department’s selective enforcement practices. Look at the former Governor of AZ and the preflight naked scan and grope.
In fairness laws such as these are prone to abuse as over time the state's definition of what constitutes a risk expands (mission creep). Remember HHS early memo on returning vets and believers in the second amendment, as a chilling example.

If it absolutely has to be renewed then it should be modified to require ever more frequent renewal.

In the choice between liberty and security I have learned my lesson. Liberty is too easy to surrender and very difficult to reclaim. I have seen what a government that has no respect for the will of the people looks like and I do not want them to have any more tools than necessary should they decide to turn their energies a “home grown” threats.

Dale Cord| 2.10.11 @ 10:12AM

"Patriot Act"The biggest piece of treasonous crap ever perpetrated on the American people. Those traitors to freedom that drew up this garbage should be taken out and shot by a firing squad. Dirty,Filthy,Rotten,Insolent Bastards! that slither into our government like the snakes they are, and make void our documents of freedom so they can rape and enslave us are the scum of the earth, and should be given a permanent residents in the cemetery's we have come to know as land fills reserved for toxic waste.