May 9, 2003
The right to be observed.
TalkLeft has an article about the so-called "Moussaoui fix" passed by the Senate yesterday: Senate Approves Greater Secret Search and Wiretap Powers. The bill is S.113 and passed 90-4 with six not voting.
This legislation is part of what was originally "Patriot Act II," of which I wrote on April 2. As Ashcroft threatened then, the legislation is being reintroduced piecemeal. According to the New York Times (via TalkLeft), the overwhelming support for the bill "was the result of a compromise in which Senator Hatch pulled his request to repeal the sunset provisions of the Patriot Act." So, basically, our Senators, both yours and mine, unless you live in West Virginia, Wisconsin, Iowa or Illinois, sold us out with this legislation by allowing Hatch to cave on the repeal of the sunset provisions of the original Act. Which, of course, can always be reintroduced down the line.
Now, I'm no senator and maybe I'm just uninformed, but doesn't this sound incredibly stupid for people who at least nominally support civil rights?
Posted by Frank at May 9, 2003 1:51 PM