Patriot Act declared unconstitutional

[Ra]

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=6369763:
An excerpt:
Surveillance powers granted to the FBI under the Patriot Act, a cornerstone of the Bush Administration's war on terror, were ruled unconstitutional by a judge on Wednesday in a new blow to U.S. security policies.

U.S. District Judge Victor Marreo, in the first decision against a surveillance portion of the act, ruled for the American Civil Liberties Union in its challenge against what it called "unchecked power" by the FBI to demand confidential customer records from communication companies, such as Internet service providers or telephone companies.
Amid talks here and there of abuse of the Patriot Act (remember the thread about the website that got shut down for copyright infringement?), all I can say is good riddance.

[Placebo]

Now we all know this is unconstitutional...but is it actually going to be discarded? We're doing plenty of other unconstitutional things, and they're not being stopped.

[BuonRotto]

My understanding was that one particular aspect of the law was thrown out. Remember, this isn't the Supreme court either, so it can be challenged. Hold on to your party favors.

[SDW2001]

The whole Patriot Act was not declared unconsitutional. Nice thread title.

[rok]

well, you know what this means... time to change that constitution!!!

(just put it on the list)

[Anders]

sdw surprise me. I would have bet $100 that the first post by the rightwing of the AI party would have had the words "activist judges" written with utter resentment in it.

[jimmac]

Originally posted by Ra
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=6369763:

Amid talks here and there of abuse of the Patriot Act (remember the thread about the website that got shut down for copyright infringement?), all I can say is good riddance.

I love it!


OUT THE DOOR IN 2004!

[Ra]

Originally posted by SDW2001
The whole Patriot Act was not declared unconsitutional. Nice thread title. You know, I started posting before I finished with the article. I tried to edit my post but you can't change the thread title. I guess I could have made a note of it but I didn't. Believe me or not, but I don't think it's much of an issue.

[Paul]

Originally posted by Anders
sdw surprise me. I would have bet $100 that the first post by the rightwing of the AI party would have had the words "activist judges" written with utter resentment in it.

They'll do anything for money... including vote for GWB.

[rageous]

Well the whole thing being declared unconstitutional or not, I say throw it out. There was way too much invasive stuffed crammed into the cellars of this legislation, and the entire thing should be taken out and burned.

If they want to write new legislation with only the constitutional aspects remaining, go for it.

But this needs to die a quick and very public death.