crossposted from La Resistance
I've done a lot of writing about how great I think Ned Lamont is over the past couple of days. To me, it's obvious that Joe Lieberman has got to go. Visitors to La Resistance certainly deserve better than just a hunch from me, so I present exhibit A in the case against Joe Lieberman.
Joe, it's too late to change your website. I found it, and I'm showing it to the world.
Lieberman Lauds Extension of USA Patriot Act; Urges Passage of Bill That Adequately Protects Individual Civil Liberties
I've got no quarrel with the second bit. I'm all for civil liberties. Read his press release:
More on the f-l-i-p
December 28, 2005
Senator Joe Lieberman recently made the following statement after Senate leaders agreed to a six-month extension of the USA Patriot Act. Lieberman was a strong supporter of the extension. Had the Republican Senate leadership allowed the act to expire, many of the Patriot Act's protections for Americans' civil liberties would have been lost:
"I am pleased that the Republican leadership did not follow through on its threat to allow the Patriot Act to expire, unless we passed the version approved by the conference committee. It was my hope that the conferees would follow the Senate's example and craft a bipartisan bill that was able to garner unanimous support, but unfortunately they agreed on legislation that would not have provided enough protections for individual liberties. I believe that the government must have the tools it needs to fight the war on terror, but I am convinced that adequate protections for civil liberties will not dull the sharpness of those tools. I am hopeful that we will be able to use this extra time to reach a more bipartisan compromise."
"Many of the Patriot Act's protections for Americans' civil liberties would have been lost." Are we even talking about the same Patriot Act? The one that allows sneak-and-peek searches, gives law enforcement the power to demand your reading list, and takes no issue with detaining detainees for detainment's sake?
Joe "lauds" this extension.
- laud (lôd) tr.v. laud·ed, laud·ing, lauds
- To give praise to; glorify.
These are the provisions that would have expired (from Wikipedia):
- §201. Authority To Intercept Wire, Oral, And Electronic Communications Relating To Terrorism.
- §202. Authority To Intercept Wire, Oral, And Electronic Communications Relating To Computer Fraud And Abuse Offenses.
- §203(b), (d). Authority To Share Criminal Investigative Information.
- §206. Roving Surveillance Authority Under The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Of 1978.
- §207. Duration Of FISA Surveillance Of Non-United States Persons Who Are Agents Of A Foreign Power.
- §209. Seizure Of Voice-Mail Messages Pursuant To Warrants.
- §212. Emergency Disclosure Of Electronic Communications To Protect Life And Limb.
- §214. Pen Register And Trap And Trace Authority Under FISA.
- §215. Access To Records And Other Items Under FISA.
- §217. Interception Of Computer Trespasser Communications.
- §218. Foreign Intelligence Information. (Lowers standard of evidence for FISA warrants.)
- §220. Nationwide Service Of Search Warrants For Electronic Evidence.
- §223. Civil Liability For Certain Unauthorized Disclosures.
- §224. Sunset. (self-cancelling)
- §225. Immunity For Compliance With FISA Wiretap.
I'm not 100% familiar with legalese, but on cursory inspection, the only thing in that list designed to protect civil liberties seems to be the SUNSET clause.