[BlackThornn]

He's not just a dumbass. Being a dumbass makes him unfit for the job, but him and those who control him (and indeed, are controlling this country) are DANGEROUS FOR AMERICA.

Here's a couple of highlights from Patriot Act II, something that the Bush administration and in particular Mr. Ashcroft want passed.

1) SECRET ARRESTS. Section 201 would authorise secret arrests, overturning federal court decisions requiring the government to at least disclose the identy of persons it has detained in the September 11th investigation. This provision would mandate that all arrests in connection with "international terrorism" investigations be secret until an indictment is filed. Never before in our history have we permitted Secret Arrests. ..Saddam has though. And Castro..

2) ENDING CONSENT DECREES AGAINST ILLEGAL POLICE SPYING. Section 312 would automatically terminate any consent decree governming police spying abuse that was entered before September 11, 2001, no matter what the basis of that decree. It would essentially eliminate consent decrees for the future with respect to police spying, and place substantial restrictions on judicial injunctions.

3) UNCHECKED DEPORTATION AUTHORITY. Section 503 would give the attorney general unchecked power to deport foriegn nationals, including lawful permanent resident aliens, whenever he determines that their presence is inconsistent with our "national security", which is defined to include "economic interests" or "foriegn policy". The DC circuit has already held that courts cannot review what actions violate our foriegn policy and therefore this would give the attorney general license to DEPORT any foriegn national OF HIS CHOOSING.

4) STRIPPING CITIZENSHIP FOR POLITICAL ASSOCIATIONS. Section 501 would seek to strip citizenship from persons for their political associations. It would provide that even activity that is currently LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONALLY GARAUNTEED - such as belonging to or supporting the lawful activities of a group designated as "terrorist" at any time by the attorney general - would be presumptive grounds for LOSING ONE'S CITIZENSHIP. Like say, oooh.. maybe the ACLU??

5) BYPASSING JUDICIAL OVERSIGHT. Section 103 would authorize the attorney general to bypass the courts altogether for Foreign Intelligence Survellence Act searches and wiretaps whenever congress has authorized the use of force. Section 128 would allow government to bypass grand juries for subpoenas in terrorism investigations. Section 126 allows government to bypass courts or grand juries in seeking access to credit reports.

6. DNA DATABASE FOR "SUSPECTED" TERRORISTS. Section 301-306 would authorize creation of a DNA database on "suspected terrorists". Expansively defined to include mere association with suspected terrorist groups, and noncitizens suspected of everyday crimes or of having supported any group designated as terrorists.

7. ELIMINATING PRIVACY PROTECTIONS FOR US CITIZENS!!!!!! Section 107 would eliminate protections in the current FISA law for US persons (citizens and lawful permanent residents). It would allow the government to get pen registers on US persons for ANY foriegn intelligence investigation, without regard to any criminal or terrorist nexus.

8. COLLAPSING DISTINCTION BETWEEN DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL TERRORIST INVESTIGATIONS. Section 121 eliminates the distinction between international and domestic terrorism. The reason for that distinction has been that domestic terrorism is a crime, and should be treated as a criminal matter, while international terrorism is both a crime and a matter of foreign intelligence. As a result, international terrorism investigations have used broader surveillance under looser restrictions than domestic investigations, which are subject to traditional restrictions that apply to all criminal investigations. This bill would eliminate that distinction, treating wholly domestic criminal acts and conspiracies as subject to the same authorities that extend to foriegn intelligence gathering.

9. ACCESS TO CREDIT REPORTS. Section 126 would give federal law enforcement authorities access to CREDIT REPORTS on the same basis as private companies. Historally, law enforcement access has been more limited, because of concerns that law enforcement is more susceptible to serious abuse than private companies. This provision would eliminate that distinction.

10. SECRECY. Section 128 and 206 impose gag orders on persons subjected to terrorism investigations. Section 204 would presumptively give the government to make secret presentations to courts in criminal cases related to the classified information procedures act. So basically, after they've raped your rights, stripped your citizenship, and violated your right to privacy, you can't talk about it.

11. New DEATH PENALTIES. Section 411 creates new death penalties for certain terrorist offences.

12. EXTRADITION WITHOUT TREATY. Section 322 authorizts extradition even where there is no treaty authorizing and setting criteria for extradition.

13. EXPEDITED REMOVAL FOR "CRIMINAL ALIENS". Section 504 has nothing to do with terrorism whatsoever. It creates an "expedited removal" process, radically limiting judicial review, for any foreign national convicted of a wide range of minor and major crimes, irrespective of when the crime was committed. This simply exacerbates the already harsh immigration laws governing those who have committed a crime, and seeks to deprive them of any meaningful judicial review, without any connection to terrorism or national security.


If this isn't implicit evidence that Bush's evil ass is trying to irrepirably damage the freedoms of this country and turn it into a POLICE STATE, I don't know what is.