Here we go again......

Vertigo1 · Post by **Vertigo1** » 2003-11-26 05:06pm

http://www.spywareinfo.net/nov25,2003#whatfreedom

What if I said the FBI could order your bank, ISP and telephone company to turn over all records and logs relating to you without a valid warrant, then force everyone involved to cover it up?

That doesn't sound right because the Fourth Amendment should prevent that sort of thing. Let's say the FBI does an end run around the Constitution by issuing itself a so-called "national security letter" which states that the records they want are relevant to an investigation into terrorism. The FBI wouldn't need to show probable cause, have any evidence of this or even consult a judge first.

The organization that is forced to turn these records over is issued a gag order and kept from revealing the subpoena's existence to anyone, including the subject of the investigation. Violating that gag order would be worth a trip to federal prison for the offender.

If I were to tell you that, would you think I had lost my mind? Or would you think I needed to loosen my tin foil hat? Certainly someone has gone mad, but unfortunately it isn't me. The outrageous scenario above is exactly what can happen now.

The Justice Department, unable to have the so-called "PATRIOT II Act" passed in the face of public opposition, has performed an end run around the legislative process. Congress is infamous for inserting unpopular legislation into bills that are totally unrelated in order to sneak them through with a minimum of opposition and debate. That is exactly what has just occurred in the United States.

This article at Wired explains it better than I ever could. When I read it, all the blood drained from my face and I thought I was going to faint and wake up thirty years in the past, in the good old U.S.S.R.

Wired.com Article: http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,61341,00.html

If you would like to know if your congressional representative voted for or against this.... insanity.... the voting record is located at http://clerk.house.gov/cgi-bin/vote.exe ... number=649. The voting records are still a matter of public record, at least until they decide to do away with that as well.

Posted for Einy.

Montcalm · Post by **Montcalm** » 2003-11-26 05:15pm

I guess the US constitution does`nt mean much for US government agencies CIA,NSA,FBI or IRS they all think they`re above the law.

CmdrWilkens · Post by **CmdrWilkens** » 2003-11-26 05:19pm

1) I already can't acces the votes via that link though I was able to go through the site itself to reach the votes.
2) Fuck you Cardin, and I voted for you ass because I actually like most of your shite.
3) DAMN, that's just fucking invasive to a new level.
4) Damn senate doesn't seem to want me to find out how my Senators voted.

*adendum* Apparently the Senate passed it by Voice Vote which means the vast majority said okay to it, shite

Einhander Sn0m4n · Post by **Einhander Sn0m4n** » 2003-11-26 05:22pm

Montcalm wrote:I guess the US constitution does`nt mean much for US government agencies CIA,NSA,FBI or IRS they all think they`re above the law.

Or Microsoft, or the RIAA...

I can understand that we need to fight the terrorists, but at this point, the U.S. Government and their Corporate Stooges have BECOME Terrorists...

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2003-11-26 06:21pm

Does anyone actually have the text of the bill in question?

EDIT: Ah, here it is (the final one on the bottom was the one that was passed)