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Anyone following The Case of the Disappearing U.S. Attorneys will be glad to know that Josh Marshall and TPM have solved the mystery. We now know who's responsible. A Republican.

So who dropped that little-known provision into the Patriot Act that allows the White House to appoint US Attorneys without getting them confirmed by the senate? We've been looking into this. And the hidden hand appears to be that of Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) -- acting at the request of the Bush/Gonzales Justice Department.

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/002354.php



Video: Sen. Diane Feinstein blows the whistle on yet another Bush power grab :

Watch this video and tremble -fear for the future of Democracy, Due Process of Law, freedom itself:
http://tinyurl.com/2m6gyy
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Even so, the Patriot Act was voted on and approved by congress. As far as I know, it's approval was completely legal. It is very easy to point a finger at someone after an event, but why didn't anyone notice this provision when the act was voted on in the first place? Personnally, I don't fill that either party is doing much toward helping this country.
quote:
Originally posted by Alphonse:
Even so, the Patriot Act was voted on and approved by congress. As far as I know, it's approval was completely legal. It is very easy to point a finger at someone after an event, but why didn't anyone notice this provision when the act was voted on in the first place? Personnally, I don't fill that either party is doing much toward helping this country.




According to the original law, the Attorney General could appoint interim U.S. Attorneys, but if they were not nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate within 120 days of being appointed, the federal district court would appoint a replacement. The new law wiped away that 120 day rule, in effect allowing the administration to handpick replacements and keep them there in perpetuity without the ordeal of Senate confirmation.

But amidst all the controversy last year over the PATRIOT reauthorization bill (the administration's warrantless wiretapping program, their use of National Security Letters to get information on citizens), the new law simply went unnoticed. Until now.

The dirt's in the details and if we don't pay attention to it they'll try to get a free pass, get-out-of -jail card on this stuff.Have you done a freedom check lately? makes you wonder,what else may be law that we don't know about yet.
Last edited by Jan55
quote:
But amidst all the controversy last year over the PATRIOT reauthorization bill (the administration's warrantless wiretapping program, their use of National Security Letters to get information on citizens), the new law simply went unnoticed. Until now.


This is what I'm talking about. The new law simply went unnoticed. If congress cares so much about the rights of us poor plebeians, why do these details only come out after the votes have been cast. My theory; both parties will vote something into being knowing full well what is "hidden" in the act just so they can use it against the other party. Few people in Washington care about any of us.
quote:
Originally posted by Alphonse:
quote:
But amidst all the controversy last year over the PATRIOT reauthorization bill (the administration's warrantless wiretapping program, their use of National Security Letters to get information on citizens), the new law simply went unnoticed. Until now.


This is what I'm talking about. The new law simply went unnoticed. If congress cares so much about the rights of us poor plebeians, why do these details only come out after the votes have been cast. My theory; both parties will vote something into being knowing full well what is "hidden" in the act just so they can use it against the other party. Few people in Washington care about any of us.


Well Said!! I agree! The republicans or just as bad as the democrats! they are for them and not you!

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