But House Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner, R-Wisconsin, who shepherded the bill through the House, said sunset provisions were not necessary because there was no evidence the Patriot Act was being misused and lawmakers could provide sufficient oversight.

Oh. My. God. It's worse that I ever could have imagined.

One amendment that did pass overwhelmingly requires the FBI director to personally approve any FBI requests for bookstore or library records of suspected terrorists. Sponsored by Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Arizona, it passed 402-26.

Yeah, because I can seriously picture the freaking director of the FBI taking stock of each and every request for his sig that hits his desk.

Director: "More papers to sign, Jerry?"
Secretary: "Yes, sir, right where I've put the sticky arrows."

-janelane, expatriate

I think one thing that is overlooked in this is that Sensenbrenner is considered to be the right's answer to, well, I have a hard time thinking of anyone as far to the left as Jim is to the right, not even Ted. He's the one who held up the Intelligence Act because he wanted to attach immigration riders to it. He's the same one who, when presented by Amnesty International quoting FBI documents abouts abuses at Camp X-Ray, Abu Gharib and Bagram, simply didn't want to hear it, gaveled the meeting closed and walked off.

His saying there was no evidence saying it had been abused is like Bagdahd Bob saying that the Americans are losing.

RE: Patriot Act Extended