Ashcroft proposes vast new surveillance powers

Post by **Edi** » 2003-02-11 04:30am

http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/55/29249.html

Read and tremble. Probably won't make your day much better, but it's better to know than have no idea at all.

Sir Sirius · Post by **Sir Sirius** » 2003-02-11 04:52am

One small step for Ashcroft, but a giant leap towards a police state.

UltraViolence83 · Post by **UltraViolence83** » 2003-02-11 05:07am

I swear, if that thing passes, I will consider moving out of this country whose government has betrayed us. Seriously.

Fuck Ashcroft. He's a modern-day Joseph McCarthy. Bush is a modern-day McKinley, only stupider.

Durandal · Post by **Durandal** » 2003-02-11 12:11pm

It's The Patriot Act Part II: WITH A VENGEANCE!!!

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2003-02-11 12:15pm

Codying Asscroft's position that you can indefinitely detain someone without charges on suspicion of terrorism is just lovely. I guess we'll be travelling to Europe for our next vacation instead of Florida.

Wicked Pilot · Post by **Wicked Pilot** » 2003-02-11 12:17pm

I especially love the part about agents being able to access your credit report without a warrent or sopena. That's a real nice touch.

Mr Flibble · Post by **Mr Flibble** » 2003-02-11 12:18pm

Reading this makes me real glad that I don't live the US.

RedImperator · Post by **RedImperator** » 2003-02-11 12:20pm

Oy vey. This fucking thing again. Let's everybody untie the knot in their panties and remember this thing hasn't even been seen by anybody except Hastert in Congress. This is a law-enforcement wish list that's going to get cut to pieces in committee, assuming it doesn't just get tabled completely.

Durandal · Post by **Durandal** » 2003-02-11 12:24pm

RedImperator wrote:Oy vey. This fucking thing again. Let's everybody untie the knot in their panties and remember this thing hasn't even been seen by anybody except Hastert in Congress. This is a law-enforcement wish list that's going to get cut to pieces in committee, assuming it doesn't just get tabled completely.

I seriously doubt it. Any congressman who tries to weaken the bill will automatically be labeled as anti-American, and even if the bill passes in a severely weakened state, do you really think that'll stop Asscroft from drafting yet another invasive bill? These bills hold top priority in Congress, so they'll get voted on quickly.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2003-02-11 12:31pm

RedImperator wrote:Oy vey. This fucking thing again. Let's everybody untie the knot in their panties and remember this thing hasn't even been seen by anybody except Hastert in Congress. This is a law-enforcement wish list that's going to get cut to pieces in committee, assuming it doesn't just get tabled completely.

What? It will NOT be defeated in Congress unless people DO get pissed off about it and start writing their local representatives in droves. Saying that everyone should relax will only HELP them pass it!

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2003-02-11 12:34pm

Big Brother is here to help you.

Hamel · Post by **Hamel** » 2003-02-11 02:23pm

The Patriot Act was passed through congress quickly and quietly. There is no indication it'll be different this time around.

Jesus H. Billiards. The Patriot Act and this new legislation are just like the Enabling Act of Nazi creation. THIS is but one of the reasons why Bush is often compared to Hitler.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2003-02-11 02:26pm

Darth Wong wrote:Big Brother is here to help you.

I still cannot believe they chose the Illuminati logo, what next? Rename the FBI the Thought-Police?! Giant pyramids to be built in every city?

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2003-02-11 02:27pm

Hopefully when the Patriot Act gets tested in SCOTUS it'll be killed

- and if the "PA2" is accurate (gah, the Reg), it should die, too.

People, write to your congressmen (don't use e-mail!) and demand action.

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2003-02-11 02:27pm

Admiral Valdemar wrote:I still cannot believe they chose the Illuminati logo, what next? Rename the FBI the Thought-Police?! Giant pyramids to be built in every city?

That particular logo is history, btw.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2003-02-11 02:29pm

phongn wrote:
Admiral Valdemar wrote:I still cannot believe they chose the Illuminati logo, what next? Rename the FBI the Thought-Police?! Giant pyramids to be built in every city?
That particular logo is history, btw.

In response to criticism. Doesn't change the fact that it was founded with that logo, or the fact that it's an accurate representation of their intent.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2003-02-11 02:30pm

phongn wrote:
Admiral Valdemar wrote:I still cannot believe they chose the Illuminati logo, what next? Rename the FBI the Thought-Police?! Giant pyramids to be built in every city?
That particular logo is history, btw.

Aww, I was hoping it was still around.

What did they replace it with? The seven eyes of God like the SEELE logo?

Captain tycho · Post by **Captain tycho** » 2003-02-11 03:00pm

Mr Flibble wrote:Reading this makes me real glad that I don't live the US.

My god, what happened to the land of the free.....

Ashcroft is a fucked up man, I tell ya.

Enforcer Talen · Post by **Enforcer Talen** » 2003-02-11 03:03pm

I am becoming nervous.

Darksider · Post by **Darksider** » 2003-02-11 03:15pm

Enforcer Talen wrote:I am becoming nervous.

you're only becoming nervous????? i'm practically hyperventlating (SP?)

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2003-02-11 03:18pm

Darth Wong wrote:
phongn wrote:
Admiral Valdemar wrote:I still cannot believe they chose the Illuminati logo, what next? Rename the FBI the Thought-Police?! Giant pyramids to be built in every city?
That particular logo is history, btw.
In response to criticism. Doesn't change the fact that it was founded with that logo, or the fact that it's an accurate representation of their intent.

I wasn't trying to imply that they're suddenly "good" for changing the logo, just that it was changed.

Arthur_Tuxedo · Post by **Arthur_Tuxedo** » 2003-02-11 03:23pm

Let me tell you something. I would have been writing my congressman and complaining if I wasn't scared shitless. With the full knowledge that I can have my house searched, assets seized, my person held and executed without trial and all someone has to do is mumble "terrorist", I'm being very careful about what I say and to whom. I don't intend to become one of the first casualties of a psychotic regime.

RedImperator · Post by **RedImperator** » 2003-02-11 03:31pm

Darth Wong wrote:Big Brother is here to help you.

Big Brother is dead. The Senate voted unanimously to kill all funding for TIA back in January. http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,57386,00.html If the amendment survives the conference process where the House and Senate reconcile bills worked on in both houses (and considering the bipartisan support it got in the Senate, it should), then Poindexter and his pals have 60 days to explain to Congress how TIA doesn't violate civil liberties or they can consider the program shut down.

This is why I'm not nervous about this justice department nonsense. The first Patriot act was passed less than a month after September 11. It was a panic measure that unforuntately slipped through before anyone really stopped to look at it. This one will be different. At this point, Hastert hasn't even turned it over to the relevent committees, and considering the noise that's being made about it, it might never even make it that far. When I said to relax, I didn't mean that this proposed bill is just fine and dandy, I meant that the people running around screaming that the US ought to just change its name to Oceania right now were overreacting. It's got to get through committee, it's to be passed by both houses of Congress, it's got to be signed into law, and it's got to survive in front of the Supreme Court. I don't think it can do three of those things, and if it can't, it's dead.

EDIT: On a related note, it turns out Justice never consulted Congress while drafting this legislation, and indeed denied they even had a draft ready. You can forget this getting through Congress--the Judiciary Committee is probably furious Asscroft's morlocks dicked them around.

Pu-239 · Post by **Pu-239** » 2003-02-11 03:49pm

Darth Wong wrote:
RedImperator wrote:Oy vey. This fucking thing again. Let's everybody untie the knot in their panties and remember this thing hasn't even been seen by anybody except Hastert in Congress. This is a law-enforcement wish list that's going to get cut to pieces in committee, assuming it doesn't just get tabled completely.
What? It will NOT be defeated in Congress unless people DO get pissed off about it and start writing their local representatives in droves. Saying that everyone should relax will only HELP them pass it!

Too bad I can't vote, so my whining to a congressman is useless. My mother always votes republicans no matter what because she is "pro-life", and vietnamese people resent the Democrats, for reasons I will not explain.

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2003-02-11 04:31pm

Pu-239 wrote:Too bad I can't vote, so my whining to a congressman is useless. My mother always votes republicans no matter what because she is "pro-life", and vietnamese people resent the Democrats, for reasons I will not explain.

Not in Florida they don't.