Limits Put On Patriot Act Despite Veto Threat

AP reports: In a slap at President Bush, lawmakers voted Wednesday to block the Justice Department and the FBI from using the Patriot Act to peek at library records and bookstore sales slips. The vote which was 238-187 blocked the section of the antiterrorism law that would allow the FBI and Justice Department to search library and book store records, responding to complaints about potential invasion of privacy of innocent readers. The Bills' sponsor Bernard Sanders (Ind-Vt)said "This is a tremendous victory that restores important constitutional rights to the American people [and]"rein in an administration intent on chipping away at the very civil liberties that define us as a nation." Let's hope Senate Democrats follow the House's lead and stands up to the dictator Bush's veto threat and for the civil rights of all Americans. As David Sirota effectively posts on his blog This should be a model for the Democratic leadership: When people undermine the party's position on a key issue - whether Republican or Democrat - there should be a no-holds-barred attitude when it comes to getting them in line. That will take a major grassroots efforts, as well as encouragement from national political leaders. This is the kind of politics that is practiced by people who are serious about winning. For too long, that has meant only Republicans. But we need to see more of it like we did today from Democrats. Right on David!!!! MORE....