change: obama signs one-year extension of patriot act

obama & the patriot act: 'yes we can' kill the bill of rights
from ap: President Barack Obama has signed a one-year extension of several provisions in the nation's main counterterrorism law, the Patriot Act. Provisions in the measure would have expired on Sunday without Obama's signature Saturday.

The act, which was adopted in the weeks after the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks, expands the government's ability to monitor Americans in the name of national security.


Three sections of the Patriot Act that stay in force will:

_Authorize court-approved roving wiretaps that permit surveillance on multiple phones.

_Allow court-approved seizure of records and property in anti-terrorism operations.

_Permit surveillance against a so-called lone wolf, a non-U.S. citizen engaged in terrorism who may not be part of a recognized terrorist group.

Obama's signature comes after the House voted 315 to 97 Thursday to extend the measure. The Senate also approved the measure, with privacy protections cast aside when Senate Democrats lacked the necessary 60-vote supermajority to pass them. Thrown away were restrictions and greater scrutiny on the government's authority to spy on Americans and seize their records.

flashbacks: fbi misused patriot act powers, judge strikes down part of patriot act & change: obama pushes renewal of warrantless spying on americans


obamessiah updates:
chris hedges on obama the liar:
illegal wars, bailout fraud & assaults on civil liberties*
gun rights expand under obama?*
cato institute: can obama assassinate americans?*
obama's physical shows he still smokes*
obama admin embroiled in illegal removal of haitian children*
scotus may allow corps & unions to make anonymous political donations*
'coffee party' founder is obama campaign operative*
grassroots action: coffee party vs tea party*
video satire: obama caught lip-syncing speech*

warwhores updates:
it pays well to join the military*
huge size of dhs contractor workforce leaves senators 'astonished'*
pentagon fines kbr, then gives it a $2.8b contract*
despite deaths, army awards $2.8b contract to kbr*
latest obama executive order switches dod succession*
new military helmets to be fitted by laser scan of pilot's head*
US navy conceals nuclear weapons production in california?*
no plot to poison food at ft jackson*
chief terror suspect hosts major military drill in turkey*
gen başbuğ & suspect berk photographed together at turkish wargames*

developing: shots fired outside pentagon metro in dc;
2 police & shooter, john patrick bedell, injured*
update1: pentagon shooter dead; posted online rantings before attack*
update2: copycat effect: pentagon shooter j. patrick bedell*
pentagon gunman was 9/11 conspiracy theorist acting alone, say officials*