conjectural navel gazing; jesus in lint form

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Rare conservative-liberal alliance

urges reconsideration of Patriot Act

By Analiz González

WASHINGTON - (ABP) If some of the Patriot Act's provisions aren't
allowed to expire, groups like pro-life demonstrators, defenders of
traditional marriage and evangelicals who disagree with the
administration's foreign policy might find themselves under
investigation as terrorists, members of an unusual left-right coalition
said July 19.

In a Washington press conference held by a group calling itself Patriots
to Restore Checks and Balances, members of both liberal and conservative
civil-liberties groups said they are asking Congress to spend time
reviewing and debating the merits of the Patriot Act. The act, hastily
passed in the wake of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, is due
to expire soon. It is currently before the House for reauthorization.

The Patriot Act gave government agencies broad new powers to pursue
suspected terrorists and terrorist organizations. Civil libertarians on
both the left and the right ends of the political spectrum have
criticized many of its provisions as too broad and dangerous to the very
American freedoms the law's supporters aim to defend.

The PRCB is a bipartisan group hoping to "fix the Patriot Act to enable
the government to fight terror while preserving important checks and
balances on law enforcement, thus limiting undue government intrusion
into the private lives of average Americans," according to documents the
group provided to reporters.

The coalition listed concerns with a section of the law as one of
several reasons why "conservatives should support a robust debate on the
Patriot Act."

That section defines terrorism as "any act that is dangerous to human
life."

PRCB materials said Section 802 of the act regards an action that
"involves a violation of any state or federal law, and appears to be
intended to influence government policy or coerce a civilian population.
This definition is far too broad and vague, and could easily sweep in
pro-life demonstrators, among others."

Other reasons the group listed for conservatives to oppose rushed
re-authorization of the Patriot Act included:

-- ts alleged disregard of the Fourth Amendment's protections against
unreasonable search and seizure;

-- Section 213 of the act, which allows government to secretly search
someone's home or office, seize their possessions and not inform the
person of the search for months.

-- Section 215, which allows the government to ask for secret court
authorizations so officials can collect medical, financial, library and
other personal records -- whether or not the person searched is
suspected of a crime or of being an agent of foreign power.

Members of PRCB include the American Conservative Union, the American
Civil Liberties Union, Americans for Tax Reform and former Rep. Bob Barr
(R-Ga.).