Thursday, September 06, 2007

Another Strike for the Patriot Act

AP via Yahoo

NEW YORK - A federal judge struck down a key part of the USA Patriot Act on Thursday in a ruling that defended the need for judicial oversight of laws and bashed Congress for passing a law that makes possible "far-reaching invasions of liberty."

U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero immediately stayed the effect of his ruling, allowing the government time to appeal. Justice Department spokesman Dean Boyd said: "We are reviewing the decision and considering our options at this time."

The ruling handed the American Civil Liberties Union a major victory in its challenge of the post-Sept. 11 law that gave broader investigative powers to law enforcement.



One can only hope this is among the first in a series of defeats for some of the patently unconstitutional provisions of the so-called Patriot Act. Like the Clean Air Act and No Child Left Behind, the branding is deceptive.

The Patriot Act has nothing to do with patriotism, particularly if one has respect for the Constitution of the United States of America just as the Clean Air Act has nothing to do with cleaning any part of the environment unless you mean several corporations get to clean up windfall profits at the expense of the general public. As for no Child Left Behind, great numbers of them are being left behind, excluded, and uncounted.


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