On Friday, Byron York of the Washington Examiner focused attention on an unfolding story the liberal media doesn't want to highlight.
Some key parts of the Patriot Act are set to expire in December. When the anti-terrorism law was passed in the days after 9-11, Congress put eight-year time limits on the most far-reaching provisions. Since the Democrats didn't really favor a War on Terror, their preference for the civil liberties of terrorist suspects over the civil liberties of future terrorist victims is becoming clear. York looked at one exchange in the Senate with freshman Sen. Al Franken:
Even roving wiretaps, a widely accepted, common-sense feature of the Patriot Act, have come under question. At a Sept. 23 committee hearing, Sen. Al Franken, the newest member of the committee, challenged the constitutionality of such wiretaps, and in the process left an Obama Justice Department official -- who supports the law -- muttering in frustration.
That official, Assistant Attorney General David Kris, tried to explain to Franken that the law allows, and the courts have held, that investigators can wiretap a suspect based on a specific description of that suspect's activities, even if investigators don't know his name.
Franken, who pointed out that he is not a lawyer, was unimpressed. "That's what brings me to this," he said, pulling a copy of the Constitution from his coat pocket. He read aloud the Fourth Amendment: "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue but upon probable cause supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched and the persons or things to be seized."
Is the Patriot Act's roving wiretap provision consistent with the Constitution? Franken asked.
"I do think it is," Kris answered, "and I kind of want to defer to that other, third branch of government. The courts, in looking at -- "
"I know what they are," Franken joked, as the audience laughed.
Kris seemed taken aback. "This is surreal," he said under his breath.
Indeed it was. Maybe Franken was serious, and maybe he was just clowning around. But it didn't make for an enlightening exchange -- or bode well for the Patriot Act.
Now the committee is down to the business of crafting an actual bill to reauthorize the act. Republicans believe they can beat back some of the more sweeping changes, but they are under no illusions about the Democratic majority's power to chip away at the government's ability to fight terrorism.
"I'm very worried that we could end up weakening the act," says [GOP Sen. Jeff] Sessions, "when we should be considering what we can do to make it stronger."
—Tim Graham is Director of Media Analysis at the Media Research Center.
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Sooooo.... According to
October 3, 2009 - 10:06 ET by BDSooooo.... According to Franken and the rest of the wackjobs from the Liberal side, only those persons who are KNOWN can be surveilled?
And surveillance cannot be performed on a phone that is known to be used by AQ if the phone is handed about and some of the people using it are unknown?
Surreal is NOT the word for it, it does not go nearly far enough. "Nightmarish" comes to mind...
Maybe the airports will
October 3, 2009 - 14:44 ET by JerryMaybe the airports will follow Franken's brilliance and only screen people who are carrying weapons. What a dimwit.
When asked if he went to war with Iraq to derail the impeachment vote: “I don’t think any serious person would believe that any President would do such a thing." - President Clinton (Dec 1998).
double post
October 3, 2009 - 14:44 ET by Jerrydouble post
If al qaida
October 3, 2009 - 10:17 ET by ahusserwas smart and I am not saying they are. They would just rattle their sabers and not do anything stupid like attack us and watch us self destruct from the machinations and stupidity of the election stealing pols like Franken running the show. 9-11 shamed the democrats into pretending they were patriotic americans. They have since regained their "collective" senses.
"Somehow, I told you so, just doesn't quite say it." Will Smith in 'I, Robot.'
Not Surprised
October 3, 2009 - 10:23 ET by richb313Why am I not surprised, they got what they voted for.
So Al's concerned with the Constitution?
October 3, 2009 - 10:24 ET by metaphorsbwithuWhile Sen. Franken has the copy of The Constitution, someone should ask him where it allows the federal government to nationalize private industries, fire CEO's, regulate salaries, confiscate private property, take over health care, tell us how to live, what to build and buy, redistribute wealth, censor speech ... and so forth!
metaphorsbwithu
Can Weirdo Al even comprehend?
October 3, 2009 - 10:28 ET by CobraManApparently Weirdo Al has no reading comprehension at all. If he had, he would understand that a person's NAME is necessary for reviving a warrant to tap a line of communication, only the "name" of that line and the content of the conversations or information carried over that line.
For those of you who are as confused as Al, the Constitution states that a description of the "persons or things to be seized" is required. If a person is't going to be seized, a.k.a arrested and/or detained, that person's name is immaterial. That's why the Constitution says "or" instead of "and" in the clause.
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.
The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus.
The US Supreme Court
Bingo Cobra
October 3, 2009 - 12:25 ET by JPR1Description of individual person:
Frequently wears clothing on head; ragged beard and dangerous eyes; known to associate with others already identified as terrorists. Known to go by various aliases: Muhommed abdul Samalsummthin or Abdullah Mohammed Kirfirwhatsinam.
Yeah, that's the guy. We need to tap his phone.
Couldnt help
October 3, 2009 - 14:29 ET by Dan The Man 2Couldnt help myself.
Known to go by various aliases: Muhommed abdul Samalsummthin or Abdullah Mohammed Kirfirwhatsinam and most recently Barack Hussuien Obama.
(Lack of) Approval Rating
October 3, 2009 - 11:04 ET by Gat New YorkFranken has just started and already in Minnesota his approval numbers are low:
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_state_surveys/minnesota/41_of_minnesota_voters_give_franken_positive_ratings
People in Minnesota may like liberals, but they don't like fools.
As a Senator, Franken will be one and done.
Only in MN
October 3, 2009 - 11:11 ET by slickwillie2001What is it about Minnesota, aay?
Slick
October 3, 2009 - 11:32 ET by FeynmanFanIt's cabin fever. Those long, dark winters will rot your brain if you're not careful. Look at what happened to Garrison Keillor.
"Reason and persuasion are the only practical instruments against error. To make way for these, free inquiry must be indulged" - Thomas Jefferson
With his low IQ and tenuous
October 3, 2009 - 11:27 ET by samhermanmdWith his low IQ and tenuous grip on reality, Al Franken probably has to read everything out loud. I am sure the health care bills would keep his lips moving for years, if he ever bothered to read the legislation rather than blindly voting in favor of every Democrat bill that goes through the senate.
The only thing of value ever uttered by alfranken.....
October 4, 2009 - 20:45 ET by Willis_Leon_JohnsonSNL "I got mine, you get yourgasm."
And you are free to determine the 'value' if any of the brain that produced it.
http://gjresult.com
Thanks IOC
October 3, 2009 - 11:44 ET by Dan DiegoAny US city that hosted the Olympics would be a major terror target and with Obama, Holder and congress gutting national security I wouldn't want to be within 500 miles of that city.
Poor Stuart Smalley, can't
October 3, 2009 - 12:27 ET by jacktheripperPoor Stuart Smalley, can't comprehend the English language. Maybe Jeanine Barfbagalo can read to him!
"The American Republic will endure, until politicians realize they can
bribe the people with their own money." – Alexis de Tocqueville
Oh boy! Another opportunity to post this:
October 3, 2009 - 12:24 ET by sic721The Pride of Minnesota
soc721
October 3, 2009 - 12:33 ET by FeynmanFanDon't you just love it when famous people are caught being themselves?
"Reason and persuasion are the only practical instruments against error. To make way for these, free inquiry must be indulged" - Thomas Jefferson
He really is a buck-toothed
October 3, 2009 - 13:52 ET by ricklailHe really is a buck-toothed moron.
Semper suprene nitens
OBAMACARE: If it ain't good enough for my Congressman then it ain't good enough for me.
Bad case of diastema, too.
October 3, 2009 - 14:03 ET by celatorBad case of diastema, too.
No citizen's right to life, liberty, pursuit of happiness, or property is safe as long as Obama is President of the United States.
Censors forgive me...
October 3, 2009 - 15:40 ET by CTbut I can't look at Al Franken and not see a smacked A$$!
Perhaps this is a blessing
October 3, 2009 - 16:31 ET by KerrvillianFor the next 3 years any investigation of actual terrorists will either be a minor action left over from the previous administration or incidental. We know that the only serious inquiries by this administration into "terrorism" will be aimed at their political enemies, AKA The United States Citizenry.
So...
If Franken wants to handicap the intelligence community when they want to spy on law-abiding, peaceful U.S. citizens then so be it.
We know that the administration will NOT be investigating Jeff Jones or Bill Ayers who have acknowledged their guilt in previuos attacks on the government. Since they won't bother with putting attention on real terrorists it's better that they face a few obstacles to framing those who seek to preserve the Constitution and the country.
Since the Dumocrats have
October 3, 2009 - 20:06 ET by RR GOPSince the Dumocrats have convinced themselves loooong ago that George Bush stole both elections, they now feel perfectly justified that every fellow Dumocrap that runs for office should be allowed to win by hook or crook.
If a Communist weren't in charge, if we didn't have rabid enemies developing nuclear weapons, if we weren't heading for economic collapse, and if we still didn't have Islamic nut jobs out there trying to blow up as many of us as they can, then I wouldn't really care too much about stolen elections-because no one else would I suppose, even though it's a Banana Republic thing.
At least with what's going on now, enough of us have awakened for me to actively care and speak out about it. The Silent Conservative Majority I'm afraid has gotten us into this fix.
We simply have to stop accepting this garbage from both parties if we manage to dodge this bullet. We cannot go back to the way things were.
One of the 34% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 86% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory.
AL Franken: “funny but expensive”
October 3, 2009 - 22:13 ET by needleWhere I went for High School a particular teacher had a famous comment for any smart-alecky student who acting up; he would say: “funny but expensive, Al.”
The Democrats expended a lot of political/legal capital to get this fraud seated in the Senate. Now if the Democrats do not figure out a way for muzzle this jackass clown, they better HOPE REALLY HARD (because praying is an option pretty much out of their province) this nation does not suffer a terrorist attack. Because if we do not have the kind of communications surveillance that common sense dictates and we suffer a terrorist attack, the Democrats will lose the precious little credibility they still have for protecting the security of this nation.
If that happens, the Democrats with be in political purgatory for the foreseeable future.
- Relying upon the State Run Media for your information is like relying upon an embezzler for your portfolio management.
- I didn't leave the Republican Party; the Republican Party left me.
Blow it up
October 3, 2009 - 23:57 ET by LoosMooseIf we could only get lucky and have them blow up Hollywoodland.
Just how concerned is AL about the Fourth Amendment?
October 3, 2009 - 22:12 ET by needleBy the way, does anybody know what Al Franken's disposition is concerning The Cyber Security Act of 2009 (SB 773 and SB 778) that apparently is to give the President power over the Internet?
- Relying upon the State Run Media for your information is like relying upon an embezzler for your portfolio management.
- I didn't leave the Republican Party; the Republican Party left me.
Minnesota the land of 10,000 Lakes
October 3, 2009 - 22:16 ET by ghblogI guess with that many lakes, you'll get a few loons. Who would have thought that they would send one to congress.
This is the same state that
October 3, 2009 - 22:17 ET by Free StinkerThis is the same state that elected a "wrestler" as Governor . . .
"President Obama is learning on the job and it shows." --Boris Epshteyn
True Free, true.
October 4, 2009 - 02:14 ET by RukusAlmost as bad as my sorry butt bloggin' at 2AM. Sigh. Wish I could sleep. But hey, if I have nothing to do but blog, I might as well trash that POS from Minnisota. He's a joke. I should get some sleep. G'night Free. : )
Gary
If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace. -- Tom Paine