Word: patriotism
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...many liberal Democrats, the USA Patriot Act and the state secrets privilege represent twin controversial monuments to the post-Sept. 11 secrecy of the Bush era. The Patriot Act, which Congress passed just weeks after al-Qaeda's attacks and reauthorized in 2006, created sweeping new powers for the federal government that some critics on the left, as well as some on the right, see as unnecessarily broad at best and unconstitutional at worst. And in court, the Bush Administration frequently invoked the state secrets privilege - the right to withhold information that compromises national security - to block civil litigation...
...already fuming at the White House over health care, Afghanistan and other issues. Liberals were not happy to hear, on Tuesday and again on Wednesday, Department of Justice officials urging Congressional committees to reauthorize three controversial powers that are set to expire at year's end: the Patriot Act's powers to grant roving wiretaps on unnamed suspects, and to force broad disclosure of documents, which some call the library records power; and the never-used authority, provided for in Intelligence Reform and Terrorist Prevention Act of 2004, for surveillance of lone wolf terrorists unaffiliated with any group or foreign...
...more cautious, saying that President Obama had essentially mirrored President Bush's policy until Holder's announcement. "We're hopeful that this will change their behavior in court," he said, "but in and of itself, the declaration of this new policy doesnt change anything." (Read about Thomas Jefferson's Patriot...
...Democrats' left flank, meanwhile, has begun agitating for major changes to the Patriot Act. On Tuesday, New York Rep. Jerrold Nadler, a Democrat, said Congress should not miss the opportunity to review the act in its entirety. Several liberal Senate Democrats such as Sen. Russ Feingold of Wisconsin and Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, along with Independent Bernie Sanders of Vermont, have proposed a bill known as the Justice Act, which would curb many of the sweeping powers of the Patriot Act. The bill would reauthorize the expiring Patriot Act provisions, but would add new limits: roving wiretaps could...
...common man will reverberate in our nation's soul. The best tribute his colleagues in Congress can bestow is the health-care-reform bill that was his life's cause and that he worked so hard for but, sadly, did not live to see enacted. Farewell to a true patriot. Cheers Echevarria-Leary, PINOLE, CALIF...