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Justice Department Proud of Patriot Act Slippery Slope

frank_adrian314159 writes "Yahoo News is reporting that the DoJ has been using its increased powers under the US PATRIOT Act to pursue common criminals. DoJ Officials have been holding seminars on how to use increased wiretap powers against (non-terrorist) money launderers and drug dealers. One example in the article is the guy running a meth lab who's now up for a life sentence for 'manufacturing chemical weapons' instead of the much shorter sentence he would have been facing under the current drug laws. Wonderful, huh? Who didn't see this coming? Of course, you're a law-abiding citizen, so you have nothing to worry about, right?" Patriot Act II will allow any Federal agent to demand records from anyone who interacts with you, with no judicial oversight whatsoever.

30 of 1,108 comments (clear)

  1. I, for one, welcome our... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...Federal Government Overlords....

    Oh wait, we've had them since 1776. DOH!!

    1. Re:I, for one, welcome our... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Exactly! I mean, look at the latest fabrication of the Republicans. They're claiming that a hurricane of all things is going to strike the east coast of America. Ask them exactly when or where, and they'll give you some malarky about how unpredictable the weather is. Looks like those new laws haven't done much if they can't predict where the "hurricane" will hit.

      Even better, they're warning people to both cover their windows with plywood AND to evacuate their homes. The notion that you can make a house air tight with plywood is ridiculous enough, but it does little good if the people aren't even there!

      Face it, the Republicans have trumped up this "hurricane Isobel" nonsense to spread fear and panic to the masses. Luckily, you all have us Democrats to tell you about this farce. Take it from us, the best thing you could do, even if a hurricane were to magically hit, is to stay _home_. In the event of an actual hurricane, the roads will be needed for rescue crews and linemen to repair the electrical and telecommunications infrastructure. That's what the roads are there for, after all. Even if your neighbor is in trouble, don't go to help! Call 911 and let the authorities handle the situation, because after all, who's going to be better trained for these situations, you or an impartial team of workers hired and trained to be able to prioritize these things properly?

    2. Re:I, for one, welcome our... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      In Soviet Russia, in 4 more years we'll be living in you.

    3. Re:I, for one, welcome our... by Ickster · · Score: 2, Funny

      Because if they don't vote for a lizard, the wrong lizard might get in.

      --
      --- Usually, those that believe in absolutes are ignorant, fools, or both.
    4. Re: I, for one, welcome our... by Bendebecker · · Score: 3, Funny

      "Reader, suppose you were an idiot; and suppose you were a memer of Congress; but I repeat myself."

      ------------Mark Twain

      --
      There's a growing sense that even if The Future comes,
      most of us won't be able to afford it.
      -- Lemmy
    5. Re:I, for one, welcome our... by MulluskO · · Score: 4, Funny
      A massive tax cut for the rich (while killing off all sorts of social programs at the same time).
      Bush said, "By far the vast majority of my tax cuts go to those at the bottom end of the spectrum," so you're obviously wrong.
      --

      Too busy staying alive... ~ R.A.
    6. Re:I, for one, welcome our... by Afty0r · · Score: 3, Funny
      Bush said, "By far the vast majority of my tax cuts go to those at the bottom end of the spectrum," so you're obviously wrong.

      The majority of his tax cuts went to those at the lower end of the ethical spectrum.
  2. Ob. Brockman. by $hecky · · Score: 3, Funny

    I, for one, welcome our new Republican over--

    Wait a second. No I don't.

    --
    You never know who will get one.
  3. Re:Great by Unregistered · · Score: 4, Funny

    What's so bad abut Vadar?

  4. This is good by CausticWindow · · Score: 4, Funny

    Finally the US government has unveiled some dangerous chemical WMD.

    Too bad it's produced in the US, by a US citizen and for recreational purposes.

    Go USA.

    --
    How small a thought it takes to fill a whole life
  5. Re:Chemical WMDs by Unregistered · · Score: 2, Funny

    Can they book the guys that fart in the car on a rainy day so you can't open the windows?

  6. sue McD's! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Can I sue Mc Donalds for producing and selling WMDs now?

  7. Re:Great by Adam9 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Compared to Bush... not much

  8. Rhetoric.. by MrPerfekt · · Score: 3, Funny

    This is the point where people spew out "If you don't like it, leave!" in a standing tall, patriotic stance.

    I do believe this is the final straw for myself. I will be permanently leaving the country as soon as financially possible.

    It would incredibly interesting if the emmigration rate soared in the next few years from the US. I guess we'll wait and see.

    --
    I just wasted your mod points! HA!
  9. Ever see Ashcroft on TV talking about this by kaltkalt · · Score: 3, Funny

    I saw him on FoxNews with Tony Snow last week (safe haven for him, no tough questions). He was saying how little the patriot act does and how "we still need judges to sign all these warrants, it's not like we do anything on a whim." His basic spiel was "oh come on, it's nothing! Really, we would never use it in a bad way, trust us! We love jesus! Praise!"

    We can only hope 4 year terms run in the bush family. And I voted for dubya.

    --

    Stupid people make stupid things profitable.
  10. 6 months?!? by ThesQuid · · Score: 2, Funny

    Quote from the article:
    A North Carolina county prosecutor charged a man accused of running a methamphetamine lab with breaking a new state law barring the manufacture of chemical weapons. If convicted, Martin Dwayne Miller could get 12 years to life in prison for a crime that usually brings about six months.

    Six months?!?!?? I think the drug laws are kinda whacked, but do you blame a prosecutor from trying to get a stronger sentence any way he can? The guy was manufacturing meth, fer gawd's sake. Not like he was smoking a doob or doing an occasional line.

    1. Re:6 months?!? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Shut up bitch
      Obviously youve never tried meth. How is that more dangerous than a "line". You should really try it: it will clear your mind or at least it will prevent you from sounding like a bullshit-spreading motherfucking asshole.

  11. Where are we going? by SenatorTreason · · Score: 2, Funny

    Hey, Uncle George!
    Where are we going in this handbasket? Me and the USA have to go pee!

  12. Re:Print the article... by Guppy06 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Wouldn't it be easier to just remember not to vote for anybody with a "D" or an "R" next to their name?

  13. Re:Why not go after the tobacco companies next? by Murdoc · · Score: 2, Funny

    Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury. I present to you now the most serious threat to human life and liberty today. It is a Chemical Weapon of Mass Destruction that is more pervasive and insideous than any other known today. It exists in every country, and can even be found in modern homes. It is a major componant of acid rain, and is found in large quantities in ALL forms of cancerous tissue. It is colorless, oderless, and deadly when inhaled. I submit that humankind will not be safe until every molocule of this toxic substance is permentantly destroyed.

    It's chemical name in scientific circles is... Dihydrogen Monoxide, and it must be stopped.

    Thank you.

    --
    Our ignorance is not so vast as our failure to use what we know. - M. King Hubbert
  14. Re:Great by ScrewMaster · · Score: 2, Funny

    He would kill or imprison people that annoyed him.

    --
    The higher the technology, the sharper that two-edged sword.
  15. Re:I Understand Now by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    If I chug enough gasoline, I'll die. Let's put the Oil companies away for 12 years to life! For that matter, drink some bad water from a lake and you'll die.

    No, it's worse than that. If you drink about three quarts of water all at once you can die. So water is "a substance that is designed or has the capability to cause death or serious injury."

    Frankly, I wouldn't be too upset if all water bottlers were put away under the Patriot Act.

  16. Re:Chemical WMDs by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    "Warning, do not attempt to strafe Canadian allies for after taking this pill for 8-10 hrs."

  17. Name change... by MrBlue+VT · · Score: 4, Funny

    I propose a name change. How about instead of Justice Department, we call it the Ministry of Love?

    1. Re:Name change... by desenz · · Score: 2, Funny

      I always prefered miniluv. Its so much less to think about. At least, thats what our friends at the minitrue say.

  18. Re:Print the article... by s.fontinalis · · Score: 2, Funny

    "But what if we vote for a third party candidate?" "Oh, sure, you can do that," Kang replies, "and throw your vote away!"

  19. Re:I Understand Now by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Taking that to its logical conclusion: since most bottled water comes from France, this means the French have been manufacturing and supplying WMD to unsuspecting American citizens for years!!

    Invade France!!! ;)

  20. The Patriot Act, Part III by rice_burners_suck · · Score: 2, Funny
    Oh, I have a good idea for a good new law... Let's call it the Patriot Act, Part III. It'll give the government powers to track down and burn any book that contains information the government doesn't like. To save tax dollars, the government would decide that instead of going through all the books, it'll simply burn them all.

    Books would be classified in the Terrorist Penal Code as Weapons of Mass Instruction.

    It would be illegal, punishable by death by burning, to possess or traffic in any such materials banned by the government. For the convenience of the guilty, the government would offer the choice of being burned at the stake or in a huge bonfire.

    To enforce compliance, the law would allow any federal agent, or anybody claiming to be a federal agent, to enter any property, with or without permission or the use of force, to search and seize anything, to beat up, rape, arrest, or kill anyone, and to charge the party being investigated any "reasonable" fee for the aforementioned services.

    Of course, under the new law, acts of real terrorism, as in blowing things up and killing lots of people, would fall under civil code, like intellectual property laws. Thus, if you are killed in a terrorist attack, you would have to sue the terrorist in small claims court.

  21. NY Times Account V by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    user: member
    password: member

    Got that on a guess. Damn i'm good

  22. Re:Vancouver's Pretty Nice by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny
    you can go skiing, windsurfing, and suntanning all in the same day

    Sure you can, if you are Canadian! Most American prefer suntanning only when the temperature is at least over 70.

    --A Californian who loves Canadian beer and is afraid of the Federal government