The War on the Bill of Rights

From JPFO:

The FBI is investigating library checkout records in its "War on Terror."

A librarian said "no."

"The Library had consulted their lawyer and done their homework, so they told the FBI that it would have to follow the proper procedures. About a week later, the FBI served a subpoena upon the Library, demanding a list of everyone who had borrowed that book since November 2001...

"After the Library's legal challenge, the FBI withdrew its request. Ms. Airoldi learned, however, that under the Patriot Act, the FBI could go to a secret court to obtain a court order to obtain the borrowing records."

That apparently is not good enough.

From The Washington Post:

"The FBI on Tuesday asked the U.S. Congress for sweeping new powers to seize business or private records, ranging from medical information to book purchases, to investigate terrorism without first securing approval from a judge...

"The proposed new powers, long sought by the FBI, have been added by Republican lawmakers, acting on the wishes of the Bush administration, to the new draft of the USA Patriot Act."

How does the propaganda slogan go, "If you're not with us, you're against us"?

Squarely against over here, guys.

Oh, but wait, here's their rationale:

"Committee chairman, Kansas Sen. Pat Roberts, noted that other government agencies already had subpoena power to investigate matters such as child pornography, drug investigations and medical malpractice. He said it made little sense to deny those same powers to the FBI to investigate terrorism or keep track of foreign intelligence agents."

No doubt the same treasonous black robes who rule the Second Amendment is a collective state power have abetted the destruction of the Fourth Amendment as well.

That doesn't make it right. That doesn't make it Constitutional.

Mr. Franklin warned us about trading liberty for security.