It’s not patriotic to violate the Constitution

As a last-ditch effort to restrain some of the PATRIOT Act before its overwhelming passage, Congress inserted a sunset provision for 16 sections. Unless Congress acts to suspend the sunset provision, those sections, representing some of the most controversial and odious parts of the Act, will expire at the end of this year. President Bush and the Department of Justice are resolute that not only should those sections remain, but are pushing for even more restrictions.

Among the organisations that have been forceful in their attacks upon the PATRIOT Act have been the American Civil Liberties Union, American Bar Association, American Booksellers Association, American Library Association, Association of American Publishers, Bill of Rights Defense Committee, Center for Constitutional Rights, Electronic Frontier Foundation, Electronic Privacy Information Center, Free Expression Policy Project and People for the American Way.

Among conservatives who oppose the PATRIOT Act are former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.), former House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-Texas) and Reps. James Sensenbrenner (R-Wisc., chair of the House Judiciary committee) and C.L. Otter (R-Idaho). Among conservative organisations that oppose the PATRIOT Act are the American Conservative Union, Free Congress Foundation and the Second Amendment Foundation.

Bob Barr’s political philosophy has holes in it. But, he isn’t the ogre portrayed by many liberals and moderates, nor is he the saint that the conservatives believe. He is just a man who believes our Constitution must be protected and defended against all enemies - foreign and domestic.