Got a letter from my House Rep. re: Patriot Act - not sure what to think

[Mind_your_head]

My Representative in the House is a Republican. This Rep. often sends questionnaires where you can only check-box one of the answers already on the pre-printed card (no space for any variations from the listed choices). Anyway, I got this letter today (it's dated a few days ago - in January). Also, it starts by thanking me for contacting their office about the Patriot Act (which I didn't), so tell me wise DU'ers what do you make of this:

<snip>

...I supported H.R. 3199...

This bill included a provision that would reauthorize Section 215 of the original Patriot Act, which will expire on December 31, 2005, unless Congress reauthorizes the Patriot Act. Unfortunately, much misinformation exists about this section of the law. For instance, it contains no provisions specifically directed at libraries, bookstores, or their patrons. As a matter of fact, the law specifies that no intelligence agency can investigate an American based solely on the exercise of his or her First Amendment rights. Furthermore, the Act's authority can only be used to "obtain foreign intelligence information not concerning a United States person."

Before the Patriot Act was enacted, federal authorities who were engaged in gather foreign intelligence information or conducting an investigation of international terrorism could seek a court order under the Foreign Surveillance Intelligence Act (FISA) for access to hotel, airline, storage locker, or car rental business records. The businesses to which the orders were addressed were bound to silence.

Section 215 of the Patriot Act amended the procedure to allow federal authorities involved in such an investigation to obtain a FISA order for access to any tangible item no matter who holds it, which could include library and bookstore records. And in all cases, a court order or warrant is needed before property is seized.

Keep in mind too that the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution ensures that the Patriot Act balances the needs of law enforcement and the intelligence community while protecting the privacy of individual Americans. Our Fourth Amendment rights, which protect not only tangible property but intangibles such as conversation, are not pre-empted by the Patriot Act.

<end snip>

(bolding is mine; italics is the Reps

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I dunno, I'm not too good at deconstruction, but it sounds like my Representative is saying "don't worry about the Patriot Act, it doesn't affect YOU. It seems to me like the Rep. might be in error here by OMISSION of some of the salient points, but I'm don't have all of the facts at my fingertips here (the Patriot Act is a huge document if I remember correctly).

Any thoughts/suggestions? Should I write my Rep. back or ????

[aquart]

1. Ask him how many Americans are suspected of terrorism.

Ask him if has absolute knowledge that YOUR communications have not been scanned, intercepted, tapped, read. Ask him if he's sure that his own haven't.

Ask him if he has the courage to put his country ahead of his party.

Ask him if he's an American or a Republican.

[cornermouse]

2. I wouldn't.

Furthermore, I suspect that if you checked around with Repub representatives from other states, you'd find that they're issuing the same letter...maybe even word for word. It seems to be a technique that they've adopted.

[AndyTiedye]

3. This is a "Push Poll"

Your rep is spending taxpayer dollars trying to astroturf up some support for "Patriot Act II".

[Mind_your_head]

4. Ahh, I see now, especially since the Patriot Act is coming for a vote

again next week.

<snip>
Patriot Act is due for vote next week - see fresh True Majority message

http://action.truemajority.org/campaign/patriotact_team

As you know, the "USA Patriot Act", enacted in a rush after the 9/11 attacks, gives the Administration sweeping new powers to secretly search Americans' homes, to know what books we’re reading, and much more. And late last year your calls and messages to Congress helped stop a powerful push by the Administration and congressional leaders to make most of those changes to our liberties permanent.
The Patriot Act is coming back next week. The temporary extension to the act which Congress passed last month is about to run out, and moves will once more be afoot to set these sweeping government powers in stone.
<snip>

got this from another poster/DU thread
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2379260#2379300

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