# FBI, Patriot act **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 10, 2007, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-patriot-act/395329 "2007-03-10T00:10:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bannerrefugee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c68b51/32.png) [@bannerrefugee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bannerrefugee)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2007, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-patriot-act/395329/1 "2007-03-10T00:10:26Z")
FBI is having "implementation problems” with patriot powers. Please step up if you are surprised. Or if you think they are liars. [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7812242](http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7812242) ---
**Author:** ![Orbifold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/779978/32.png) [@Orbifold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orbifold)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2007, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-patriot-act/395329/2 "2007-03-10T02:11:15Z")
> [@](#): > > Nearly everyone commended Fine’s work Friday, although the Bush administration initially objected to the changes in the Patriot Act that gave the inspector general the authority to conduct an annual report. Of course they objected. Of course the data was used improperly and illegally. Of course it was fucked up. It’s the Bush administration. They fuck things up. That’s what they do. That’s all they do. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2007, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-patriot-act/395329/3 "2007-03-10T02:51:46Z")
So the mall security guard that strip searched me was in the wrong, even though he used a national security letter? ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2007, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-patriot-act/395329/4 "2007-03-10T03:49:44Z")
[QUOTE=NurseCarmen] So the mall security guard that strip searched me was in the wrong, even though he used a national security letter? [/QUOTE] Come again? Details if this is for real… ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2007, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-patriot-act/395329/5 "2007-03-10T04:38:46Z")
[QUOTE=ParentalAdvisory] Come again? Details if this is for real… [/QUOTE] Wow, that’s stupider than usual, even for the pit. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2007, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-patriot-act/395329/6 "2007-03-10T05:16:57Z")
Come now, we all had all sorts of promises that this would be watched carefully and that it would only be used against bonafide terrorists. Some assurances being on this very board. Are you saying they might have been wrong? -Joe ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2007, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-patriot-act/395329/7 "2007-03-10T15:30:44Z")
[QUOTE=NurseCarmen] So the mall security guard that strip searched me was in the wrong, even though he used a national security letter? [/QUOTE] Sorry. There’s a narrowly-tailored loophole in the Act. It also applies to gratuitous and unnecessary body-cavity searches . . . and greatly expands the definition of who is authorized to execute them . . . Just a heads-up. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2007, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-patriot-act/395329/8 "2007-03-10T15:44:25Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] Just a heads-up. [/QUOTE] well, if you’re unluckier than most, then yes it would be. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2007, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-patriot-act/395329/9 "2007-03-10T17:03:36Z")
[Gomer Pyle] Surprise, surprise, surprise! [/GP] I’ve heard one pundit suggest that an awful lot of the data mining demands this Administration has made seem tailor made to allow folks with the right connections to make big money in the stock market. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2007, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-patriot-act/395329/10 "2007-03-10T18:26:08Z")
[QUOTE=Tuckerfan] [Gomer Pyle] Surprise, surprise, surprise! [/GP] I’ve heard one pundit suggest that an awful lot of the data mining demands this Administration has made seem tailor made to allow folks with the right connections to make big money in the stock market. [/QUOTE] That’s something that actually would be grounds for impeachment . . . if there’s any proof. ---
**Author:** ![Will\_Repair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a698b9/32.png) [@Will\_Repair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Will_Repair)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2007, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-patriot-act/395329/11 "2007-03-10T19:20:32Z")
As someone who uses a public library computer (one in Orange county, not in Seminole county where access to the SDMB is prohibited) I am proud to know that any information I may be privileged to provide, and any books I may read are subject to scrutiny and that any Librarian will be jailed who tells me the FBI (or those very fine folks at the Internal Revenuers Service) questions my reading choices. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2007, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-patriot-act/395329/12 "2007-03-10T19:37:27Z")
[QUOTE=ParentalAdvisory] Come again? Details if this is for real… [/QUOTE] you are cracking me up. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2007, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-patriot-act/395329/13 "2007-03-10T19:44:20Z")
Oddly enough, I’m mildly optimistic here. This might be just what the Doctor ordered to cure the cancer otherwise known as the “Patriot Act”. Or at least send it into remission. ---
**Author:** ![seenidog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@seenidog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seenidog)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2007, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-patriot-act/395329/14 "2007-03-10T21:19:53Z")
Yeah, like not a hundred posters here did not predict this sort of abuse would happen, So let’s see Pelosi jump on this. I hope so, but my expectaions are not high. Dem or Rep, the people in power want to insure they remain there, and the power to spy is a biggie. The power to spy without fear of being hanged as a spy, even better. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2007, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-patriot-act/395329/15 "2007-03-11T04:26:08Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] That’s something that actually would be grounds for impeachment . . . if there’s any proof. [/QUOTE] With the way the Administration switched gears on the whole US Attorneys thing leads me to believe that there’s _something_ they’re worried about coming to the surface if someone pokes around too much. What that might be, I don’t know. Be interesting to see if Congress decides to push the matter. Wonder if we’ll find out that the people illegally spied on were on Shrub’s “enemies” list? ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2007, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-patriot-act/395329/16 "2007-03-11T04:41:43Z")
NY Times Calls for Gonzalez Impeachment: [The Failed Attorney General](http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/11/opinion/11sun1.html) It seems to me that more congresscritters need to think about the possibility Arlen Spectre raised last week when he said “One day there will be a new attorney general, maybe sooner rather than later.” It’d be nice to at least make a turn in the _direction_ of the rule of law. ---
**Author:** ![if6was9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e47c2d/32.png) [@if6was9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/if6was9)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2007, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-patriot-act/395329/17 "2007-03-11T04:47:12Z")
[QUOTE=Oakminster] Oddly enough, I’m mildly optimistic here. This might be just what the Doctor ordered to cure the cancer otherwise known as the “Patriot Act”. Or at least send it into remission. [/QUOTE] I know you’re a lwayer. You see grounds for overturning it? Or at least curbing it? ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2007, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-patriot-act/395329/18 "2007-03-12T04:36:13Z")
[QUOTE=Squink] NY Times Calls for Gonzalez Impeachment: [The Failed Attorney General](http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/11/opinion/11sun1.html) It seems to me that more congresscritters need to think about the possibility Arlen Spectre raised last week when he said “One day there will be a new attorney general, maybe sooner rather than later.” It’d be nice to at least make a turn in the _direction_ of the rule of law. [/QUOTE] Firing, not impeachment. As if. It’s great that the Times came out with this, but it’s not like Gonzalez’s skill at shitting on the Constitution weren’t his major qualification for the office. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2007, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-patriot-act/395329/19 "2007-03-12T13:55:22Z")
Yeah, how foolish of us thinking it was unwise to enact several hundred pages of legislation expanding police powers and executive authority without debating - or even reading - the damn thing. All the folks who were asking us wild-eyed un-American liberals to identify the specific portions we suspected would be abused? Well, at the current rate looks like we should be hearing of such provisions at a rate of about one per week… ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2007, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-patriot-act/395329/20 "2007-03-12T15:09:11Z")
[QUOTE=Merijeek] Come now, we all had all sorts of promises that this would be watched carefully and that it would only be used against bonafide terrorists. Some assurances being on this very board. Are you saying they might have been wrong? [/QUOTE] Why, I’ll bet next you’re going to say that the nice Nigerian fellow isn’t really going to wire five million dollars into my bank account… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fbi-patriot-act/395329.md?page=2)