THE SON ALSO RISES (via Bob Greggo):

PATRIOT COUPS (Prowler, 12/09/04, American Spectator)

Lost amid all the hubbub about satellites and turf-warfare in the Intelligence Reform Act of 2004 was the fact that the White House and Justice Department were able to get most of the terrorism prevention statutes formerly known as "Patriot Act II" or "Son of Patriot Act" attached to the bill with no notice whatsoever.

It appears that at least some of the act's provisions will make it to the President's desk for signing, including statutes that strengthen and improve bans and penalties for material support to terrorists; prohibit possession of the most dangerous weapons of mass destruction such as atomic weapons, so-called "dirty bombs," and the small pox virus; criminalize terrorist or military hoaxes; permit pre-trial detention of indicted suspects, and strengthen provisions that allow for authorized surveillance of non-U.S. individuals who engage in international terrorism.

The Patriot Act-like amendments sailed through without attracting attention from the usual watchdog groups, which were probably too busy focusing on their bogus campaigns for electoral recounts in Ohio and elsewhere. Either way, the Bush Administration pulled off a major political and national security success, by ramming through important counter-terrorism statutes and removing complicated amendments for what is expected to be a bruising battle to re-authorize some sun-setting statutes in the USA Patriot Act that expire in 2005.

It should be the subtitle of the first Bush Administration: "With no notice whatsoever."

Posted by Orrin Judd at December 15, 2004 11:43 AM