Bush asks for Patriot Act Extension

The Patriot Act is set to expire at the end of this year, and President GWB is wasting no time in pushing for an extension. He used the confirmation of Alberto Gonzales for Attorney General to push this agenda.

"We must not allow the passage of time or the illusion of safety to weaken our resolve in this new war" on terrorism, Bush told about 300 Justice Department officials attending the ceremony...The Patriot Act bolstered FBI (search) surveillance and law-enforcement powers in terror cases, increased use of material witness warrants to hold suspects incommunicado for months and allowed secret proceedings in immigration cases...Civil liberties groups and privacy advocates lambasted the law because they said it undermines freedom. But Bush said the act "has been vital to our success in tracking terrorists and disrupting their plans."

I am very confused on my opinion of the Patriot Act. On the one hand, in the right hands it is a powerful tool for the foiling of terrorists. On the other hand, it is only a matter of time until it is in the wrong hands when at least one corrupt cop uses it to persecute an innocent man or woman. Some argue this has already happened countless times. I guess the real question is, how long can we stomach these measures? My gut tells me we probably need this for a bit longer, but another built-in limit should sunset the Act with GWB's presidency in 2008. Let the next president make the case for renewal again... if they can.