THE PATRIOT ACT – AN UNBELIEVABLE POWER GRAB

HAVE YOU READ IT? ALL OF IT? You NEED to!

FIRST – in discussing this abomination - perpetrated on us by an ambitious megalomaniac and a large group of wannabes - I discovered right away that very few people have read it, or could cite even ONE facet of it ! So to make it more meaningful to you, here are just a few facts up front: Remember, all these laws are in effect AS YOU READ THIS. All that is required for these horrors to come to life is one man declaring a “State of Emergency.”

This document runs to a million words. The administration actually wants you to believe that all this thought and consideration was put together in ONE MONTH - in its final form, ready for signature and enactment. The WTC towers were hit on September 11, 2001, and the “ready-to-sign” USA Patriot Act was passed by the House on October 12, 2001 and by the Senate on October 23, 2001. I guess we should have known right then what was coming, if they actually put that lie out there as the truth. It will take you almost that long to read it! It’s a mathematical certainty this document could not have been, and wasn’t, conceived, altered, tweaked and written in one month of normal three-day-weeks by the Congress and Senate

An unexpected immediate effect this theft of our liberties had was that immediately, only a month or so after its October 12 passage, a large number of local cities, counties and whole STATES passed resolutions, ordinances, and ballot initiatives in defiance of the act. These resolutions roundly condemned some or all of the provisions of the USA Patriot Act of 2001. (You can identify all of them at bordc.org – click on State – click on your City or area, to find the Contact person in charge of OPPOSING these obscenities. As of last December, there were 416 of them. Note that bordc.org is an acronym for Bill of Rights Defense Committee.)

IF you are one of the few who has read this outrage, then you know what’s coming, but on the chance that you weren’t able to read the whole thing, at least take a look at these so-called “Executive Orders.” I think you will be surprised at the audacity, indeed the boldness of this transparent power grab. Remember, Dillinger had to break the law robbing his banks. This guy is more subtle. He just writes new ones, or totally guts old ones - and for 7 and a half years (!) Americans have either cheered him on, (Boehner, McConnell, Sensenbrenner, et al) or stuck their heads in the sand.

As of December 7 last year, 416 Cities and EIGHT States had enacted laws stating they will not abide by the (un-)Patriotic Act, and put the Government on notice that the Act is Unconstitutional in many (many) particulars. Large cities like Dallas. Chicago, Los Angeles, Denver, New York City etc. et al, have enacted opposition, along with HUNDREDS of small cities. This Grassroots Opposition to the bush monstrosity currently represents more than 85 million people. (!)

Jonathan Turley, Professor of Law at George Washington University and a noted Constitutional scholar, recently said that by his study of this Administration, this crowd has committed at least 143 felonies to date.

One Patriot Act wasn’t enough. The Congress knuckled under and passed his second version, dubbed Patriot Act 2, and these courageous stalwarts even agreed to his order that the sunset provisions slated for 2005 be repealed, which they were. (See Section 110)

*****To save you hours of reading time, I’ve put in bullet form the most heinous aspects of Patriot for you. I’ve added some normal questions of my own to ask, on some of them. You’ll have your own, I’m sure. Consider the following:

When the President – one man – declares we are in a “State of Emergency” – the following go into effect immediately. And remember – oh yeah – when this man declares a “State of Emergency” he can’t even be questioned about it for six months !!

As you read these, bear in mind that NO COUNTRY on Earth can mount an invasion of America. The very worst they can do is launch a missile or crash a plane or deliver some biological weapon. So ask yourself on each one of these unbelievable “Executive Orders”: Why did he enact such (potential) dictatorial control over America ? Do these dictatorial provisions fit the scenario of a one-episode, minor attack? THE EQUIVALENT OF SWATTING FLIES WITH A SLEDGE HAMMER.”

Remember, these are in effect NOW, as you read this !

EXECUTIVE ORDER 10990 allows the government to take over all modes of transportation and control of highways and seaports.

EXECUTIVE ORDER 10995 allows the government to seize and control the communication media.

EXECUTIVE ORDER 10997 allows the government to take over all electrical power, gas, petroleum, fuels and minerals. What? Why is this relevant?

EXECUTIVE ORDER 10998 allows the government to take over all food resources and farms. Why is this relevant?

EXECUTIVE ORDER 11000 allows the government to mobilize civilians into work brigades under government supervision. Like prison work gangs? Why?

EXECUTIVE ORDER 11002 designates the Postmaster General to operate a national registration of all persons ! “Let me see your papers.” (Gestapo)

EXECUTIVE ORDER 11003 allows the government to take over all airports and aircraft, including commercial aircraft. Effectively gutting any opposition travel
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EXECUTIVE ORDER 11004 allows the Housing and Finance Authority to relocate communities, build new housing with public funds, designate areas to be abandoned, and establish new locations for populations. Auschwitz?
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EXECUTIVE ORDER 11005 allows the government to take over railroads.

EXECUTIVE ORDER 11051 empowers the Office of Emergency Planning and gives authorization to PHYSICALLY put all Executive Orders into effect immediately.

EXECUTIVE ORDER 11310 grants authority to the Department of Justice to enforce the plans set out in Executive Orders, to institute industrial support.
What is meant by “Industrial support? (It means what they say it means.)

EXECUTIVE ORDER 11049 assigns emergency preparedness function to federal departments and agencies, consolidating 21 operative Executive Orders issued over a fifteen-year period.

EXECUTIVE ORDER 11921 allows the Federal Emergency Preparedness Agency to establish control over wages, salaries, credit, and the flow of money, plus control of all energy sources (electric, gas, coal, wind) in any undefined national emergency. This enslaves us. Totally.

**************It also provides that when the President declares a state of emergency, Congress cannot review the action for 180 days.***********

They really thought this one out. They don’t even have to define it – plus he can’t even be questioned on it for six months. Will we all meekly accept this?

Model State Emergency Health Powers Act, which gives governors and public health officials the power to Force individuals suspected of harboring an "infectious disease" to undergo medical examinations.

This is a red herring. If you object, and you’re a leader, and they need to silence you, they “suspect” you of an infectious disease, whereupon you’re picked up, held with no habeas corpus, no knowledge of it to anyone. Silences you, doesn’t it?
Force pharmacists to report any unusual or increased prescription purchases that may be caused by epidemic diseases.

Gives government the power to Preempt existing state laws, rules and regulations, including those relating to privacy, medical licensure, and--this is key--property rights.
PREEMPT existing laws – how is that related to an emergency ???

Mobilize all or any part of the "organized militia” into service to the state to help enforce the state's orders."
A Bold Evisceration of the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878, which prohibits using the Army (“militia”) from doing Police work. Posse Comitatus is in the Constitution.

Ration firearms, explosives, food, fuel and alcoholic beverages, among other commodities. Ration? Not defined, but we know what it means !!!

The elected representatives of the American people are rapidly eliminating constitutional rights by enthusiastically signing on and then supporting Patriot I and 2. (Sensenbrenner, Boehner, etc.)

THE ABOVE WERE ALL IN PATRIOTIC ACT I

Consider the powers of Patriot Act II:

SECTION 501 (Expatriation of Terrorists) expands the definition of "enemy combatant" to all American citizens who "may" have violated any provision of Section 802 of the first Patriot Act.

Under Section 501 a US citizen engaging in lawful activities can be grabbed off the street and thrown into a van never to be seen again. The Justice Department states that they can do this because the person "had inferred from his conduct" that he/she was not a US Citizen. (??) Remember Section 802 of the First USA Patriot Act states that any violation of Federal or State law can result in the "enemy combatant" terrorist designation.

SECTION 201 of the second Patriot Act makes it a criminal act for any member of the government or any citizen to release any information concerning the incarceration or whereabouts of detainees. It also states that law enforcement does not have to tell the press or the Red Cross who they have arrested, and they never have to release the names.

THIS TOTALLY GUTS HABEAS CORPUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SECTIONS 301 and 306 set up a national database of "suspected terrorists" and radically expand the database to include anyone associated with suspected terrorist groups. So if your friend opposes their excesses, you can be arrested.SECTION 312 gives immunity to law enforcement engaging in spying operations against the American people. Of course it does.

SECTION 101 will designate individual terrorists as foreign powers and strip them of all rights under the "enemy combatant" designation. Then you’re no longer a citizen.

SECTION 102 states clearly that any information gathering, regardless of whether or not those activities are illegal, can be considered to be clandestine intelligence activities for a foreign power. This makes newsgathering illegal.

SECTION 103 allows the Federal government to use wartime martial law powers domestically and internationally without Congress declaring that a state of war exists. Martial law anytime they need it.

SECTION 106 is bone chilling in its straightforwardness. It states that broad general warrants by the secret FISA court granted under the first Patriot Act are not good enough: and government agents must be given immunity for searches with no prior court approval. This section throws out the entire Fourth Amendment against unreasonable searches and seizures.
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SECTION 109 allows secret courts to issue contempt charges against any individual or corporation who refuses to incriminate himself or others. This section annihilates the last vestiges of the Fifth Amendment. This one is a nightmare, forcing us to “tell on” each other, in self defense.

SECTION 110 restates that key police state clauses in the first Patriot Act were not sunsetted and removes the five-year sunset clause from other subsections of the first Patriot Act. After all, the media has told us: "This is the New America. Get used to it. This is forever." You know who in the media says this, and their networks.
SECTION 111 expands the definition of the "enemy combatant" designation.

SECTION 122 restates the government's newly announced power of "surveillance without a court order."

SECTION 123 restates that the government no longer needs warrants and that the investigations can be a giant dragnet-style sweep described in press reports

Note: Over and over again, in subsection after subsection, the second Patriot Act states that its new Soviet-type powers will be used to fight international terrorism, domestic terrorism and other types of crimes. And remember - the government has already announced in Section 802 of first Patriot that ANY CRIME is considered domestic terrorism, wherein you lose your citizenship, remember?

SECTION 126 grants the government the right to “mine” the entire spectrum of public and private sector information from bank records to educational and medical records. This is the enacting law to allow ECHELON and the Total Information Awareness Network to break down any and all walls of privacy. The government states that they “must look at everything to determine" if individuals or groups might have a connection to terrorist groups. As you can see, you are now guilty until proven innocent.
SECTION 127 allows the government to takeover coroners' and medical examiners' operations whenever they see fit. What? Why?

SECTION 128 allows the Federal government to place gag orders on Federal and State Grand Juries and to take over the proceedings. It also disallows individuals or organizations to even try to quash a Federal subpoena. So now defending yourself will be a terrorist action.

SECTION 129 destroys any remaining whistle blower protection for Federal agents.

SECTION 202 allows corporations to keep secret their activities with toxic biological, chemical or radiological materials. Of course it does.

SECTION 205 allows top Federal officials to keep all financial dealings secret, and anyone investigating them can be considered a terrorist.
So much for the first amendment, too.

SECTION 303 sets up a national DNA database of suspected terrorists. The database will also be used to "stop other unlawful activities." It will share the information with state, local and foreign agencies for the same purposes.

SECTION 311 federalizes your local police department in the area of information sharing.

SECTION 313 provides liability protection for businesses, especially big businesses, that spy on their customers for Homeland Security, violating privacy agreements. It goes on to say that these are all preventive measures - has anyone seen Minority Report? This is the access hub for the Total Information Awareness Network. I haven’t seen it.

SECTION 321 authorizes foreign governments to spy on the American people and to share information with foreign governments. What? How can he justify this entry ?

SECTION 402 is titled "Providing Material Support to Terrorism” is a crime. The section reads that there is no requirement to show that the individual even had the intent to aid terrorists. What? Guilty until proven innocent?

SECTION 403 expands the definition of weapons of mass destruction to include any activity that affects interstate or foreign commerce.

SECTION 408 creates "lifetime parole" (basically, slavery) for a lot of crimes.

SECTION 410 creates no statute of limitations for anyone who engages in terrorist actions or supports terrorists. Remember: any crime is now considered terrorism under the first Patriot Act.

SECTION 411 expands crimes that are punishable by death. Again, they point to Section 802 of the first Patriot Act and state that any terrorist act or support of terrorist act can result in the death penalty.

SECTION 427 sets up asset forfeiture provisions for anyone engaging in terrorist activities. In other words, if he (one man) says you are engaged in terrorist activities, and you’re NOT, they can still take your home and business until you prove you’re NOT !

There are many other sections that I did not cover in the interest of time. Those in the 13000 range take control of all the financial mechanism in America. The American people should be shocked by this outrage, this obvious grab at dictatorial power, and, really, should be vigorously demonstrating in the streets until it’s burned !!

*******THE SECOND PATRIOT ACT DWARFS ALL POLICE STATE LEGISLATION IN MODERN WORLD HISTORY. ******************

It is patently obvious by now that these provisions were very carefully crafted in an orchestrated attack on the Constitution, along with a grab for limitless power. How could we think otherwise ?

We know that these things were all written well before the 911 tragedies. Well before. It’s also well known that it was passed immediately following 9-11 without Congress having access to all the contents of the Act. One of the main gossip items, when discussing this crowd, is that he (or Cheney) could actually start a war, most likely attacking Iran, just before the election, so that he could then declare a “State of Emergency” and do away with the election. He could do a repeat of his charade in Iraq: just send thousands of troops, then dare the Congress to cut off the money for them, after a 1000 or so have died.

Who among us thinks the Congress will do that?

My greatest fear is that the American people just might do what a lot of good citizens in Germany did in early 1930. That is to say, not recognize the depth of this character’s megalomania, and also not recognize how much support he has from so many people, and corporations. Just like the other guy did – a hideous caricature of a sick individual in charge of a lot of otherwise really good people - but people who did nothing to resist him until it was too late. (He showed his intentions in 1933, and they didn’t make the attempt to unseat him until July 1944!) That’s why I wanted to make as many of you aware of this power grab known as the Patriotic Act, as I possibly could. Reading it flabbergasted me, I have to tell you !

A great deal is terribly wrong right now, in Washington.

***** You can learn more at bordc.org. The acronym is for Bill of Rights Defense Committee. They are also ramping up a People's Campaign for the Constitution. I hope you'll visit that website and take the pledge to join with us in protection of the Constitution! We need millions more signatures.

To do so, go to http://www.constitutioncampaign.org

Faithfully, in the interest of the American people
See also swungnotes diaries on dailykos.org
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