Wex Wimpy
September 2nd 03, 06:15 PM
Get a new Patriot Act
Palm Beach Post Editorial
Tuesday, September 2, 2003
Like a fading rock star trying to revive a deteriorating fan base,
John Ashcroft has set off on a 12-city tour to rally support for the
Patriot
Act. The attorney general's material, however, is hardly new: Anyone
with questions about abuses of civil liberties is still "aiding the
terrorists."
The road show never was intended to advance discussion or to improve
the law. Mr. Ashcroft seeks only to energize friends and
brand dissenters as unpatriotic. But enough speeches to enough
friendly audiences will keep contributions flowing from the faithful
for
the boss' reelection campaign. There are plenty of unfriendly places
Mr. Ashcroft will be sure not to visit. About 150 communities
have passed local legislation opposing parts of the Patriot Act -- a
chorus of second thoughts rising across the nation that wonders
exactly what Congress gave away during those anguished days following
9/11.
Lawmakers from both parties have begun to look closely at one
particularly egregious portion of the law, which allows the
government to get information from most any institution about what an
individual is reading or writing. Libraries, universities, Internet
sites and hospitals have no recourse but to turn over information to
the FBI, which has no obligation to seek permission from a judge
or give a reason. Mr. Ashcroft is telling audiences that this makes
Americans safer. In fact, it compromises their rights and violates
their privacy. The legitimate measures in the law -- new rules for
sharing information between agencies and updated standards for
wiretaps and surveillance -- are lost in the excesses.
Much of the Patriot Act expires after 2005. The new appeals begin the
campaign to make the law permanent. Americans will be
imperiled if the law expires, Mr. Ashcroft says. This means the
government would have to release the names of those imprisoned
since 9/11 and explain how two U. S. citizens can be held without
charges or access to attorneys as enemy combatants.
Former Attorney General Janet Reno says Mr. Ashcroft should return to
Washington to help Congress rewrite the Patriot Act. But the
administration would count that idea as aiding the terrorists. There
is the argument that the more time Mr. Ashcroft spends on the
chicken-dinner circuit, the less time he has to abuse Americans' civil
liberties. Om second thought, maybe the tour should be
permanent
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/opinion/content/auto/epaper/editions/tuesday/opinion_f32538f7c64e804f10a0.html
Palm Beach Post Editorial
Tuesday, September 2, 2003
Like a fading rock star trying to revive a deteriorating fan base,
John Ashcroft has set off on a 12-city tour to rally support for the
Patriot
Act. The attorney general's material, however, is hardly new: Anyone
with questions about abuses of civil liberties is still "aiding the
terrorists."
The road show never was intended to advance discussion or to improve
the law. Mr. Ashcroft seeks only to energize friends and
brand dissenters as unpatriotic. But enough speeches to enough
friendly audiences will keep contributions flowing from the faithful
for
the boss' reelection campaign. There are plenty of unfriendly places
Mr. Ashcroft will be sure not to visit. About 150 communities
have passed local legislation opposing parts of the Patriot Act -- a
chorus of second thoughts rising across the nation that wonders
exactly what Congress gave away during those anguished days following
9/11.
Lawmakers from both parties have begun to look closely at one
particularly egregious portion of the law, which allows the
government to get information from most any institution about what an
individual is reading or writing. Libraries, universities, Internet
sites and hospitals have no recourse but to turn over information to
the FBI, which has no obligation to seek permission from a judge
or give a reason. Mr. Ashcroft is telling audiences that this makes
Americans safer. In fact, it compromises their rights and violates
their privacy. The legitimate measures in the law -- new rules for
sharing information between agencies and updated standards for
wiretaps and surveillance -- are lost in the excesses.
Much of the Patriot Act expires after 2005. The new appeals begin the
campaign to make the law permanent. Americans will be
imperiled if the law expires, Mr. Ashcroft says. This means the
government would have to release the names of those imprisoned
since 9/11 and explain how two U. S. citizens can be held without
charges or access to attorneys as enemy combatants.
Former Attorney General Janet Reno says Mr. Ashcroft should return to
Washington to help Congress rewrite the Patriot Act. But the
administration would count that idea as aiding the terrorists. There
is the argument that the more time Mr. Ashcroft spends on the
chicken-dinner circuit, the less time he has to abuse Americans' civil
liberties. Om second thought, maybe the tour should be
permanent
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/opinion/content/auto/epaper/editions/tuesday/opinion_f32538f7c64e804f10a0.html