Patriot Act May Get Renamed, but With a Few Changes

[G_j]

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2009/09/23

Published on Wednesday, September 23, 2009 by the Chicago Tribune

Patriot Act May Get Renamed, but With a Few Changes
by David G. Savage

WASHINGTON - The USA Patriot Act, a favorite of the Bush administration's fight against terrorism, may be renamed later this year as the Justice Act at the hands of congressional Democrats.

But the law, including its provisions that gave FBI agents more leeway to search computers and bank records, is likely to survive, albeit with changes to limit who can be searched.

"Security and liberty are both essential in our free society," Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., said Tuesday in introducing a bill to extend three provisions of the law due to expire Dec. 31.

As a senator from Illinois, Barack Obama was a critic of the Patriot Act. Last week, however, the Obama administration asked Congress to extend the three expiring of its provisions.

The House subcommittee on the Constitution held its first hearing Tuesday on extending the Patriot Act. Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., the chairman, said the law has "aroused a great deal of controversy and concern" but "remains a useful tool."

The provisions set to expire are not the most contentious parts of the law.

Far more controversial is the FBI's use of so-called National Security Letters to obtain financial records and computer information -- without the approval of a judge. That provision is not set to expire, and Leahy and Nadler said Tuesday they will not seek to repeal that part of the law but will press for changes.

Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune

[Mari333]

1. Renaming the damned thing to make people think it's gone

when much of it will still be in place. Some PR.
Incinerate the whole damned thing, whatever the name is.

[Gormy Cuss]

10. +1

A bright new shiny name isn't going to do the trick.

[Ezlivin]

2. Sequels tend to suck

Even if they had Megan Fox dancing in her underwear it wouldn't make Patriot Act II any better...

[Freddie Stubbs]

12. Except The Empire Strikes Back

[liberal N proud]

3. Naming Justice Act wouldn't do much for its image.

Patriot Act was a stupid name and what it does is even dumber.

[Hoopla Phil]

4. This is NOT the change I voted for.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

5. Pass the lipstick and rename the pig.

[FBaggins]

6. Ah... yep... that'll take care of it.

We'll just rename the thing.

Like an unsavory company buying a little firm with a clean name and swapping to use that name. Or not even merging... just changing the name.

Valu-Jet anyone?

[bullwinkle428]

7. Renaming it "Charmin Extra Soft" is the only way to make it acceptable

in my eyes...

[BarbaRosa]

8. New coat of paint,

same old junker.

[Hosnon]

9. "Justice Act" is worse than "Patriot Act". Patriots are often overzealous

in their defense of their country. Justice is much more rational.

Ugh...please no.

[Forkboy]

11. Oh yay. I can hardly wait.

[Solly Mack]

13. Torture became enhanced interrogation and the Patriot Act becomes "justice"

LMAO (that's a very bitter laugh)

WTG, America!

[Orwellian_Ghost]

14. Everything's getting re-branded

Not so unseemly and content free.

Wheeeeeeeeee!

New Age Empire. It's a hit!

[G_j]

15. like the “Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation,”

:shrug:

[Individualist]

16. K&R

[Orwellian_Ghost]

17. Bump