[John D Harris]

In Seattle, the public library printed 3,000 bookmarks to alert patrons that the FBI could, in the name of national security, seek permission from a secret federal court to inspect their reading and computer records -- and prohibit librarians from revealing that a search had taken place.
Anyone note the words federal court? That means a judge must ok any search ie: warrent, sounds Consitutional, DOH!

As a result, critics ranging from the liberal American Civil Liberties Union to the conservative Eagle Forum complain that the law is violating people's rights but acknowledge that they cannot cite specific instances of abuse.
Anyone notice the words "they cannot cite spcific instances of abuse."?

Exasperated with how little they knew about the ways the Patriot Act was being applied, the ACLU and the Electronic Privacy Information Center, a Washington-based public interest group, went to court last October with a freedom of information complaint against the Justice Department. Before a judge dismissed the case in May, Justice officials released a few hundred pages that said little about their activities. One document was a six-page list of instances in which "national security letters" had been issued to authorize searches -- with every line blacked out.
A common practice in all freedom of imformation releases, has anyone ever seen a discovery, scifi, or history channel show on UFO's? There are hundereds of page released with most or all blocked out. The freedom of imformation act alows the govt. to block out things it deems as classified.

Massachusetts state Rep. Kay Khan (D) learned about the use of the Patriot Act in her case after repeatedly asking why a $300 wire transfer had not reached her brother. She discovered that her husband's name was on a special list at their bank because it may have been used by someone else as an alias. "So we are on some list, which is scary," she said. "I just feel that it's intrusive."
She's more worried about being on a list then somebody may be using her husband's name as an Alias?????????? Could one of you folks up in Massachusetts inform her that there are many more accurances of idenity theif then then being on this list. This news paper with all the resources at it's disposal could ONLY] find this one instance. Can anybody say "The sky is falling"

Critics of the law complain that cases such as Khan's are of greater concern than investigations, such as Al-Arian's, that lead to prosecutions. "We are more concerned about the information that is collected and maintained on potentially thousands of law-abiding citizens who are never going to be charged," said David Sobel, general counsel for the Electronic Privacy Information Center.
Anybody notice the word "potentially"? Anyone care to give the definition of the word "pontentially"?
Critics complain that cases? What cases? they can only cite the one case Where is all the FOX news haters that complain about their bias, on this one? Come on people if you are going to be believed you must be intellectually honest. I'm a simple countryboy but I learned in grade school there is a differance in pural and singual in the english language.

In May, the Justice Department told Congress that it had asked courts for permission to delay notifying people of 47 searches and 15 seizures of their belongings. The document said the courts had consented every time but one, but it did not detail why the delays were needed.

The next month, in testimony before the House Judiciary Committee, Ashcroft said he personally authorized 170 emergency orders to conduct surveillance, allowing investigators 72 hours before they must seek permission from an obscure, secret court whose role has been expanded under the law.
47 searches? Again I write 47 SEARCHES ? in 18 months that were asked to be delayed? Whoa back the TRUCK UP!!!!!!! 47 searches out of how many thousands, hundreds of thousands of searches that were conducted during the same time period, in criminial cases throughout the USA. I'm sure glad you guys brought that to my attention, in a nation of nearly 300,000,000 people there are 47 cases in 18 months. Lordy, Lordy yes, we must stop this evil freedom stomping law. But wait you also get they had to go through the courts to get these 47 cases delayed.

Ok folks here's the big question what freedoms have any of you lost because of the Partriot Act? I can sure as "HALE" tell you it ain't the freedom of speach! If it was you wouldn't be able to write many of the posts I've seen on this board. Ziroc have you been asked or ordered by the courts to provide any imformation on any of the memebers?
Freedom of movement? Anyone not allowed to travel freely in this Country? Anyone not allowed to worship as they wish by the gov't? What about purchasing a firearm? Any of you had your homes searched without a warrent?

I'll give you some advice Oswalt was the lone shooter, the USA did send men to the moon, there are no little green men hidden in a secret base in Nevada, there is no secret group of people trying to run the world behind the scenes.