Is it true that Feinstein supports the Patriot Act?

[tritsofme]

Im in a debate with a RWer and he tells me that Feinstein has been a large supporter of the "Patriot" Act and that she says that most of its criticism is overblown.

It sounds like utter crap to me, but is it true?

[MisterP]

1. I recall that she said it was "misunderstood,"

sorta like Michael Jackson always says he's "misunderstood."
"substantial uncertainty and perhaps some ignorance about what this bill actually does do and how it has been employed," she said.

[Red_Viking]

2. Hmmmm.

I doubt it seriously. Has the RWer given you any support for their position?

So, let's say she voted for it since the pukes rushed it through Congress without giving much time for anyone to review it. Lots and lots of Senators and Congressmen did the same thing and lived to regret it. I wouldn't necessarily hold that against her. Use it as an example to your RW buddy of how the pukes like to railroad their agenda and ram it down everyone's throat. Forget that whole bipartisan two-party thing! It's SO five minutes ago.

As for the criticism being overblown...what a load of crap. Please refer your "friend" to the ACLU page regarding the PATRIOT Act.

http://www.aclu.org/SafeandFree/SafeandFree.cfm?ID=12126&c=207

This is one of the most dangerous pieces of legislation ever to pass. It all sounds good as long as the word "terrorist" doesn't get applied to you or anyone you know. But, when Uncle Fred is arrested for checking out the wrong book at the library and held without charges, without seeing an attorney, without access to anyone...they may sing a different tune.

Make no mistake: It's bad news no matter how you slice it.

:dem:

RV

[tritsofme]

3. He just sent me this article....

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) mounted a strong defense of the Patriot Act, saying she believes there is "substantial uncertainty and perhaps some ignorance about what this bill actually does do and how it has been employed." Panel Chairman Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah) said terrorism legislation has been misrepresented "by extremists on both ends who seem to be dominating the debate in the media today...."

Feinstein said that her office has received 21,434 letters opposing the act, but more than half cite provisions that have not been enacted or sent to Congress by the Bush administration. The rest, she said, largely concern security measures governing items mailed to the United States from abroad -- not provisions of the Patriot Act.

"I have never had a single abuse of the Patriot Act reported to me," she said.

The American Civil Liberties Union has sued the Justice Department for alleged violations of civil liberties under the act, but Feinstein said that when her office asked the ACLU for examples, "they had none......."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A61591-2003Oct21?language=printer

How can this be right?

[Ignoramus]

4. How can this be right?

UIh... duh? She's in favor of military aggression and in favor of race to the bottom unfair trade. Her husband is or was supposedly a war profiteer regarding this current invasion and occupation.

[rucky]

6. Don't forget school vouchers...

D
I
N
O

[jpgray]

5. DiFi is schizoid on a few things like this, if I remember

You'll have to ask a Californian--I just have some vague rememberances.

[Red_Viking]

7. That's crazy!

Take a look at the ACLU site. They have tons of info, including this gem:

http://www.aclu.org/SafeandFree/SafeandFree.cfm?ID=12632&c=206

Conservatives against the PATRIOT Act. They have quotes from Newt Gingrich speaking out against it.

Not sure why Feinstein would say this, except it's been widely held that she is a DINO. My SO is from Cali and says she's not considered a true Dem. They mention her and Orifice Hatch in the same paragraph. Scary!

Nothing anyone says can convince me the PA is not evil. Ask the folks in Gitmo. That's what they used to lock them up indefinitely with no charges and no counsel. Ack. Plus Asscroft is now trolling public library records to make sure we're not checking out the wrong books. And the list goes on and on...

RV

[Scott Lee]

11. You wouldn't hold a rushed vote against Feinstein?

Why in the world not? I see it as a part of the job for every congressperson to read and understand what they are voting on. If they can't, or don't, they have quite simply abrogated their responsibilities and don't deserve the job.

Would you agree?

[Hell Hath No Fury]

8. Yes, she does...

She has always been much more conservative and hawkish than folks think a Sentor form, California would be.

[haele]

9. She approves of parts of it...

(cynical mode)
Especially the parts that require contracts for R & D, high-tech manufacturing and support and new facilities and will result in engineering spin-offs for more civilian infrastructure, which will employ many of her newly unemployed constituancy.

DHS is where the future of high-tech based contracting is.

Honestly - she does disapprove of the privacy intrusion areas of it, as well as the 40% that verges on unconstitutionality, but some small parts of it are viewed as important for national security and community protection - along with a resource and communications coordinating ability if there is a large-scale disaster - natural or otherwise that occurs.

The idea of a central Federal disaster prevention and mitigation agency isn't that bad in itself - it's just a matter of what sort of regulation one will have on it to insure that Constitutional bounderies on Government interferance with the citizen does not get crossed.

I'd be more comfortable with the idea of DHS if it were something that Carter had developed rather than the current mis-administration.

Haele

[Frangible]

10. Feinstien tends to be authoritative as a rule

Doesn't mean she's not a democrat in the left/right economic sense, just differs from most in the authoritative/libertarian sense.

It's up to you and your belief system if that's "good" or "bad" to you.

[shance]

19. Feinstein follows the men of Congress as a rule.

She seems to continue seeking male approval, including Republican men, and will support and maintain their legislation to keep her position as 'alpha female'.

Very disappointing because she would probably be a decent enough statesmen, but apparently its the way she works.

[jiacinto]

12. All Democrats except Russ Feingold voted for it

Even Paul Wellstone did.

Sorry your friend is right on that point.

[Some Moran]

18. Wellstone's Axis of Treason

DOMA, DMCA, Patriot Act

[fujiyama]

13. Your friend is right

As Jiacinto noted, all senators except one voted for the PA.

DF is definetely a DINO for all reasonable means, considering she also voted for Bush's tax cuts. Being that she's not from Montana or some soutern state, there's no excuse for her vote on that. Talk about being financialy reckless!

I stopped taking her seriously since that vote. The IWR didn't improve my opinion of her, though it honestly didn't surprise me the least.

[leesa]

14. Feinstein supports most everything the Chimp does.

I do believe she is one the secret PNAC signatory list along with many other Dems. She needs to go. Notice how the GOP are going after Boxer and not Feinstein in California. Now Boxer is pretty worthless too, but she has her moments. Feinstein is just evil.

[fujiyama]

16. I'm curious...

but how is Boxer worthless? Her record has proven itself to be pretty liberal. She opposed the tax cuts, the war, the bankruptcy overhaul bill, and probably has as good a voting record as Ted Kennedy.

But as I said above, DF is definetely a DINO.

[stickdog]

15. Finemess is a whore.

She defended the fucking repeal of the inheritance tax for God's sake.

When I called her on this shit, she sent me a 100% lame, Hoover Institute "double taxation" argument -- as if she actually believed that Republicrap.

[funkyflathead]

17. She is popular right?

But why then?

[oasis]

20. Don't forget her pre 9/11 memo to Scooter Libby which he denied

so she didn't press the issue.