House Limits Patriot Act Rules on Library Records

xerid writes "From CNN.COM: "WASHINGTON (AP) -- The House voted Wednesday to block the FBI and the Justice Department from using the Patriot Act to search library and book store records. Despite a veto threat from President Bush, lawmakers voted 238-187 to block the part of the anti-terrorism law that allows the government to investigate the reading habits of terror suspects.""

Comments

But...

[Anonymous Coward]

How will they find who the Slashdot readers are now that they can't look for people checking out Slashdot-reviewed books?

Re:But...

[njcoder]

who cares. Now I can go back to buying "The Catcher in the Rye" without worrying about silent black helicopters.

Still Payin With Cash

[blueZhift]

This is good news, but I'll still be buying 2600 with cash, thank you very much!

Err, not that I read that, that is...uh yeah...

Outspoken librarians?

[Anonymous Coward]

Shhhh!

Librarians are with the terrorists :(

[Adult film producer]

It's only a matter of time until the Al Quaeda uses our public library system against us. Learning the hidden secrets of the atom bomb and building one, the end result will be campaign of terror against freedom loving people like myself. It's time to take a stand against socialist librarians across america. Who's with me? Go to your local library and steal any books relating the construction of atom bombs, chemical weapons and sheep loving. Please.

Re:Librarians are with the terrorists :(

[dkf]

Without the radioactive material, even the tiniest neutron bomb is just a dude.

Dude! Where's my dictionary?

uh.. oh...

[Anonymous Coward]

Those who dare to replace some security with freedom do not deserve security at all.

(I think George Washington said that...)

Re:uh.. oh...

[aussie_a]

Go outside. See a plane flying overhead? That's how far the joke went over your head.

I rented HHGTTG...

[HaydnH]

...So my plans on becoming galactic president, stealing an awesome space ship and finding the ultimate machine to run Linux on are still safe then?

Oh wait... I just let the cat out of the bag!

Re:One step forward, two steps back.

[Ford Prefect]

Darth Stupideous sounds better

No, no, no!

Everyone* knows that the naming rules for Darths are to take an English word beginning with 'in', remove the 'in' and replace it with 'Darth'. 'In-Vader', 'In-Sidious', and all that.

So, for your Great Leader Bush, I suggest Darth Coherent. Or maybe Darth Continent.

Darth Credulous?

(Spider Blog: No sign of the spider since last update - I think it's gone... sniff!)

Re:One step forward, two steps back.

[quigonn]

Yeah, right. Because "inmaul" is an English word.

Taking over the world, Muhwa hwa

[Anonymous Coward]

Having heard the good news on the mad scientist mailing list, I naturally ran down to the local library. However, I had to wait in line behind all the jihadists, animal rights activisits, closet marxists, union organizers, democrats who voted against Bush judicial nominies, anarchists, gun nuts, abortion clinic bombers, and green party activists. Finally I got my turn at the library desk, only to be put on the waiting list for the "taking over the world for dummies" series. The evil laugh guidebook was also already gone. So was "atomics for beginners". Oh well, I guess I had best head back to the lab and come up with a new fiendish plot...

AT LAST!!!

[Anonymous Coward]

Congress does something useful.

Hope I didn't jinx anything by saying that.

Re:Surely it depends on context

[Kenrod]

Looks like you've got it all figured out. Why don't you just run things for the rest of us rubes? We can't be trusted, obviously...

Eh, big deal..

[pair-a-noyd]

I learned a long time ago to buy all my copies of "Catcher in the Rye" with cash..

Re:Don't get too excited

[lbmouse]

"although he has never used his veto to date"

It's not like he hasn't wanted to VETO, he just can't find the stamp. No one has told him to look for the one that says "OT3V" on the bottom.

Re:Don't get too excited

[ray-auch]

Wierd - I thought he was good at reading upside down...

Patriot Act - New and Improved!!

[rtr0mdrn]

Now with 10% less Fascism and 15% fewer calories! As always, 0g of Trans Fats

Re:Surely it depends on context

[The_Wilschon]

smack of Nazi Germany. Of course, so does the USA, today.

Wait, I'm confused!! What's wrong with the newspaper!??

Re:One step forward, two steps back.

[Anonymous Coward]

No, no!

Darth Telligent

Obviously

Re:Surely it depends on context

[mccabem]

From the Republican Dictionary:

"Patriot Act (USA PATRIOT Act)
1. A law championed by Attorney General John Ashcroft and passed by Congress, the details of which are irrelevant, written by patriots who love freedom, which strengthens the United States in the face of the terrorist threat. Criticism of the Patriot Act is a favorite pastime of liberal intellectuals who seek to provide aid and comfort to America's enemies by reading it. Such treasonous activity has caused over 300 communities across America, including three state legislatures, to pass resolutions challenging the law.

Suggested articles: John Ashcroft and the War on American Freedom, Justice Department Introduces Mom and Apple Pie Act"

Wait a minute, Bush and Gonzalez may be right.

[phrackwulf]

I was wondering about the "Jihadist training" and "flag burning" sections that popped up recently in my local library. And here I thought we were safe! We'd better renew that Patriot Act pronto!

Re:Vader not from Invader

[Ford Prefect]

Vader is Dutch for "father."

I saw a bit of a Star Wars film with Flemish subtitles a few years ago - talk about giving the ending away... ;-)