Judge Strikes Down Part of Patriot Act

Shining Celebi writes "U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero ruled in favor of the ACLU and struck down a portion of the revised USA PATRIOT Act this morning, forcing investigators to go through the courts to obtain approval before ordering ISPs to give up information on customers, instead of just sending them a National Security Letter. In the words of Judge Marrero, this use of National Security Letters 'offends the fundamental constitutional principles of checks and balances and separation of powers.'"

Comments

Re:to be blunt

[Scrameustache]

I wouldn't solely blame "the administration" for this, as both parties have actively supported the Patriot Act. Not unanimously: http://www.ronpaul2008.com/about/

• He has never voted to increase the power of the executive branch.
• He voted against the Patriot Act.
• He voted against regulating the Internet.

Re:See: Bans on Drugs, Abortion and Flag Burning.

[goldspider]

Socialized cars would make sure everybody has the means to drive themselves to work, but that doesn't make it a good (let alone feasable) idea.

I don't recall making the decision to support hateful religionists through my taxes, but 'churches' are tax exempt.

Don't you realize that if you start taxing churches, you legitimize their stake in government?? I'd think that's the last thing you'd want.

Re:It's a good start

[Amouth]

the problem i see is lawyers.. (arn't they the root of all evil? that aside)

honestly people need to realize that to error is human.. and that doctors do the best they can and should not be expected to be perfect - if they make a mistake and it was an honest mistake - then it was - *gasp* a mistake.. we all make them

if it wasnt' so easy to sue doctors over simple mistakes and make massively obseen amounts of money off of it.. then the doctors insurance wouldn't be nearly has massive as it is, and our costs would go down ... so much of the cost of health care is to cover the insurance and liability that it is just sickening..

hell almost all professions now days need liability insurance cause people are so damn greedy and belive they are intitaled to everything..

even my wife - a school teacher - has to cary insurance incase one of the parents sues her for god knows what? I know one teacher that was sued by parents of a kid that didn't show up for class and failed the eog's - they said the she didn't do enough to help the child.. it is all kinds of fucked up....

make it hard to sue people - get rid of crap lawsuits - and stop crap malpractice suits - i mean if they can show intention to do harm sure sue and lock the guy up - but if it is a mistake .. then it is a mistake...

Re:It's a good start

[plague3106]

What we have now needs improvement, sure. Letting the government run it (and taxing everyone to death to fund it) is not the solution. We already have an obesity problem; I can't imagine what would happen if suddenly there were no costs associated with being obese. Right now there are a few, but to have none.. ugh.

socialized medicine

[falconwolf]

Ironically, socialized medicine takes healthcare decisions out of individuals' hands and gives it to the government, but you don't hear many people around here complaining about that.

Socialized medicine is one of the reason I oppose Clinton, she wants to socialize the country.

If you love freedom vote for Ron Paul.

Falcon