If you agree with the Patriot Act how are you going to feel when a Democrat becomes President?

Question

The next President is going to have the same powers Bush has given himself, will you still feel ok with this when it is someone who is opposite your political beliefs?

Answer 1

Excellent question! I believe the Constitution and the Patriot Act have given the president the powers, not Bush himself.

Either it's Constitutional or it's not. I don't know of anything Bush is doing that has not been done by other wartime presidents. In fact, I believe FDR did much more in the way of surveillance, interrogation, detention (even without the internment of civilians), etc.

No, I generally do not trust a Democrat with this power. But if one is elected, he or she will have it. So my recourse is to work to elect a Republican, not repeal the president's constitutional authority.

I wouldn't want a Democrat appointing judges either, but the remedy is not to strip all presidents of this authority.

Again, anyone elected to the office has the authority. So vote wisely! :)

Answer 2

We have little choice, but to trust the leaders we elect and ***** and moan while in some's opinion they prove them-self not trustworthy. I felt that way about Clinton and by your premise, you indicate that you feel that way about Bush. Like Clinton, Bush has give himself no powers for neither had/has the power to do so except for the powers given them in the Constitution or by Congress. Now, we may think they have abused those powers and if so it is only our power to speculate, it is the power of Congress and the Courts to decide. Should a Democrat become President, I expect that my life will continue as it has with no one listening in on my phone calls, reading my email, or looking at my bank statement. The only major difference is that I may be paying more taxes. I still want the Patriot Act!

Answer 3

I'm not sure why it would matter if a democratic or republican representative was in office when it comes to the status of the Patriot Act.

Each party has their own agenda yet surprisingly each individual party seems to swing both ways to a degree.

It seems that you feel if a democrate was in office, the Patriot Act will be abolished. I don't think that will happen.

It's also interesting to note that the only US Senator to vote against the act was Senator Russ Feingold. So this tells me that the majority of republican AND democratic representatives decided to forward the bill to the president allowing him to sign the bill in to law.

Most comments against the Patriot Act are from those who have a misconception about the Act or how law enforcement is required to comply with the Act. The "average" citizen is NOT being eavesdropped upon as many would have you think. It's also not a system that reflects what's seen in the old time spy movies. It is, however, a system that attempts to avoid another tragic incident like that in NYC where terrorists killed over 3,000 innocent men, women, and children in less than an hour. That figure is close to the number of our casualties in Iraq that's taken over five years.

You have to remember that it's not just one side or the other that makes the laws and determines the direction our country goes...but our congress as a whole!

Best wishes.

Answer 4

I hope the Patriot Act expires before 2008. I am a Dr. Ron Paul conservative and have been since the 1990s.

Patriot Act Votes (among representatives who voted on the bill):

Joe Biden (D-DE), Yea
Sam Brownback (R-KS), Yea
Hitlary Rodham Clinton (D-NY), Yea
Christopher Dodd (D-CT), Yea
John Edwards (D-NC), Yea
Duncan Hunter (R-CA), Yea
John McCain (R-AZ), Yea
Tom Tancredo (R-CO), Yea

Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), Nay
Dr. Ron Paul (R-TX), Nay

Unless the two extreme long shots listed above (Kucinich and Paul) are elected, it sucks to be us.

(Several additional candidates were not in the house or senate in 2001 but I doubt any of them outside of perhaps Gravel would have had the balls and knowledge to vote against the Act).

Answer 5

I don't agree with the patriot act. This is a very good question.

I wonder if how they will feel is anything like those of us who do not support Bush, feel now?

It rather astounds me that some people would be scared to death of (a communist welfare and wealth redistribution state). But, they seem to have no concern what-so-ever about a fascist police state, and Martial Law.
*sm*

Answer 6

Agreeing with the Patriot Act, a way to circumvent terror plots before they are actualized, is not a political bias. The only thing I worry about "IF" a democrat is in office, is that they will never enact it. The Patriot Act doesn't give a President any power, and it doesn't infringe on your rights. As long as you aren't doing anything wrong, what would you have to worry about. Stop being paranoid.

Answer 7

Are we going to still be o.k. with the Patriot Act?? is that what you are asking?? Yes I will still be in favor of the patriot act even with a Democrat in office. Will I be happy with other decisions they may make during their administration?? I don't have any Idea, they aren't in office yet but even if I'm not for something they put in place... I will obide by it because I respect the position of the President no matter how much I like or dislike them. Just because you disagree with a law or bill that has been pushed through doesn't give you the right to NOT obey it...
No matter who the next President is I will NEVER cry like a little B♥tch like the Left does!!!!!!

Answer 8

I'm hoping a democratic President will use the powers of surveillance to investigate Bush and his cronies to prove that Bush is a criminal, and have him put in prison.

Answer 9

Well I guess I can't really answer this question because I don't agree with the Patriot Act. Useless, piece of legislation that seeks to undermine liberties.

He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from opposition; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach himself. ~Thomas Paine

Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves. ~Abraham Lincoln

Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it. ~Thomas Paine

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin, Historical Review of Pennsylvania, 1759

Answer 10

Sorry, but as much has you hate it, it's a fact that President Bush was elected by the people of America. If a Dem gets in office there will be no more patriot act, and 911 will be small compared to the next one if a Liberal gets into office. Personally, I doubt a Lib is going to get elected. Let me ask you something. How do you feel about your party now that they've wussed out on cutting funds for our troops?