Federal judge slams Patriot Act A federal judge today struck down provisions of the Patriot Act as unconstitutional, adding fuel to the politically charged debate over the controversial law. US District Judge Ann Aiken slammed Patriot Act amendments to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) for eviscerating the Fourth Amendment to the American …
Game over man, game over!
The Terrists (authentic Du(m)bya pronunciation) have already won. In the space of a few years and with the help of truly gargantuan databases and a few constitutional shortcuts, we've lost many rights that took centuries to win (on both sides of the Atlantic).
Then again, what does it really matter? We've got barely half of the UK electorate voting and a decent chunk of the populace are barely literate or interested in the world around them.
Give 'em sports, soap operas and reality TV and continue to trample on their few remaining rights. No one will really notice.
I blame an increasingly poorly-educated populace. Power grabs by politicos are nothing new... If it's not the right snatching at the 4th amendment, it's the left, snatching at the 2nd and both sides are interested in interfering with how and what you can do with your person, your property, and your thoughts.
But that's old news - in the past, an aware and participant population kept the bastiches, left AND right, at bay. Not so any more. Now, increasingly, all the voters care about, when they care about anything, are bread and circuses.
Look in the mirrors, folks. You have the government you deserve.
Since the court documents indicate that much of the reason that Brandon Mayfield and his family were so persecuted was due to sworn statements made by DOJ and FBI agents, I'll believe it's really going to do some good when I see them hauled up on charges. Lying under oath is a CRIME - it's called perjury. When they're prosecuted and convicted, I'll believe it.
Notice the author said "Cheney Administration." Always knew Dumbo the elephant was nothing more than a puppet.
"Look in the mirrors, folks. You have the government you deserve." Uh, I for one kinda resent that. I did not vote for the current monarchy; not either time. I have spent the past 7 years fighting every move he's made. It's the rest of the population that deserves the mess we're in. Well, okay, not everyone - I know there are other people out there who have their eyes wide open - and their heads on their shoulders, not up their asses. Of course, the rest of it is true - Give them their football, their remote, their Survivor, and their health insurance, and their cushy arm chair, and they couldn't care less if the rest of us go to hell in a handbasket. If it doesn't touch them, or affect their retirement plan, then it goes right over their head and under their feet. But when it finally does, they are the ones who scream the loudest. And when they hear about this, they will probably sarcastically say, "Oh, and you'd rather let the terrorists get away and blow up another skyscraper?"
It'll be interesting to see how long this judge has her job under the current regime. Or if they manage to get rid of her, too.
"the Supreme Court is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the White House these days." I wouldn't count on this. One of the drawbacks to appointing conservative leaning folks is their tendency to adhere to the constitution literally. I believe this will eventually bite the Bush administration in the backside. Or, at least, I can hope so...
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