This section of the Patriot Act was complete horse shit to begin with.
The idea, that there was going to be a threat so imminent in nature that the extra couple hours it would take for a federal judge to hear the request is just moronic. It being packaged sold as the "Patriot" act during a time of fear and uncertainty so any Senator that would oppose it would be labeled as Anti American, Anti Security was also wrong, and I am ashamed America ever bought into this pile of shit.
Wiretaps may sometimes be necessary. Sometimes with some level of urgency. No reason why federal judges whose sole purpose would be to hear these things at all hours could not have been appointed and ultimately held accountable for any unnecessary encroachment of freedom.
Heck, during war time the President had the authority to issue an executive order to demand it from his desk in case of any emergency too pressing for a federal judge to hear it. The order is issued, then reviewed in a potential crisis. Problem there is he is held directly accountable and we obviously could not have that so the Patriot act was born, hooray for plausible deniability!!
The executive branch never relinquishes power. That aside, I don't think Obama will come out in support or against it even if he would like to take apart the patriot act. If he did, it would give the far right plenty of fodder to complain about Obama making American unsafe and secretly being a terrorist sympathizer or something ridiculous like that.
Then again, Obama continues to surprise me. I still don't have him pegged.
Thrax
🐌Austin, TX Icrontian
Comments
The idea, that there was going to be a threat so imminent in nature that the extra couple hours it would take for a federal judge to hear the request is just moronic. It being packaged sold as the "Patriot" act during a time of fear and uncertainty so any Senator that would oppose it would be labeled as Anti American, Anti Security was also wrong, and I am ashamed America ever bought into this pile of shit.
Wiretaps may sometimes be necessary. Sometimes with some level of urgency. No reason why federal judges whose sole purpose would be to hear these things at all hours could not have been appointed and ultimately held accountable for any unnecessary encroachment of freedom.
Heck, during war time the President had the authority to issue an executive order to demand it from his desk in case of any emergency too pressing for a federal judge to hear it. The order is issued, then reviewed in a potential crisis. Problem there is he is held directly accountable and we obviously could not have that so the Patriot act was born, hooray for plausible deniability!!
Then again, Obama continues to surprise me. I still don't have him pegged.