Shrub signed Patriot Act II when "They Got Him"

dahamsta

Typical Bush underhandedness, but all those "Representatives" and Senators have a lot to answer for too. Letting it happen once was bad, twice is sheer idiocy.

adam

WITH A WHISPER, NOT A BANG
By David Martin 12/24/2003
Bush signs parts of Patriot Act II into law — stealthily

On December 13, when U.S. forces captured Saddam Hussein, President George W. Bush not only celebrated with his national security team, but also pulled out his pen and signed into law a bill that grants the FBI sweeping new powers. A White House spokesperson explained the curious timing of the signing - on a Saturday - as "the President signs bills seven days a week." But the last time Bush signed a bill into law on a Saturday happened more than a year ago - on a spending bill that the President needed to sign, to prevent shuttng down the federal government the following Monday.

By signing the bill on the day of Hussein's capture, Bush effectively consigned a dramatic expansion of the USA Patriot Act to a mere footnote. Consequently, while most Americans watched as Hussein was probed for head lice, few were aware that the FBI had just obtained the power to probe their financial records, even if the feds don't suspect their involvement in crime or terrorism.

By signing the bill on the day of Hussein's capture, Bush effectively consigned a dramatic expansion of the USA Patriot Act to a mere footnote.

[...]

gurramok

For a 'freedom loving' nation, it has alot of restrictive and intrusive laws that would make one to be glad not to be american

Politicians have a habit of quietly signing away laws when bigger news happens, a british minister had to resign over 'announcing unpopular things quietly while a big world event occurs' like this before ? (forgotten name)

Exit

Yes, that transport woman who sent a memo on Sep 11 2001 saying that 'today would be a good day to release bad news'. Jo something?

Hobbes

Originally posted by Exit
Yes, that transport woman who sent a memo on Sep 11 2001 saying that 'today would be a good day to release bad news'. Jo something?

Dont remember, but I do remember two people did. One in the US, one in the UK. The UK woman got slapped for it.

So the FBI can now pull your financial records without a Judge or telling you (something the IRS weren't allowed do) and furthermore the financial institution is not allowed tell you.

So when do they should start changing the US National Anthem?

This is an old story on the report...
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/us/HallsOfJustice/hallsofjustice.html

Anyone know the bill name so I can go read it?

bus77

Unbelievable.
If I was Klingon-American Id kill that administration for such disrespect

Éomer of Rohan

A sad day indeed.

It is even sadder to hear the justification of the right wing in america - a friend of mine, Protestant, White, Republican from New York State has said that "this is to protect our freedoms" - at this rate, there won't be any freedoms left to protect - they'll be barcoding people next with the same argument that "only the guilty have anything to fear from us," which is patently not true.

Geromino

Originally posted by Hobbes
Anyone know the bill name so I can go read it?

HR 2417 entitled "Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004." It is located at : http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c108:6:./temp/~c108OwjIaI::

Most of the provisions of the law deal with spending authorizations for the various intelligence agencies. However, I have not have time to go into the different subsections of the National Security Act in which certain provisions have either been amended or striken. Yet from the text of the law, the news report has been grossly inaccurate in detailing which provision(s) of the law actually do what they are intended to do. But then again, that is the press for you: being lazy as usual.

zAbbo

You gotta love the way the patriot act sounds great in name, to the average american it sounds as if its something good.

Still no mention of background checks on gun purchases and the recording of gun ownership for more than 24hrs

Capt'n Midnight

Originally posted by Éomer of Rohan
they'll be barcoding people next

Not True.

Even in this backward country all Guard dogs have to have radio transmitter implants, much handier than bar codes. You simply wire the receiver into the existing metal detectors at airports, ports, schools etc, and then pass machines, vending machines etc. Anyone who does not have a transmitter or whose biometrics don't match gets pulled.