Alaska Passes Anti-Patriot Act Resolution

[Midnight Son]

Here: http://abcnews.go.com/sections/us/DailyNews/alaska_patriot030523.html

Excerts:

"Alaska has joined a growing national rebellion against the USA Patriot Act, voting to oppose the massive federal anti-terrorism law passed by Congress soon after Sept. 11, 2001.

But Alaska's measure goes further than most, advising police and other state agencies not to "initiate, participate in, or assist or cooperate with an inquiry, investigation, surveillance or detention" if there is not "reasonable suspicion of criminal activity under Alaska State law.

The Alaskan measure passed in the state House, with 27 Republicans and 13 Democrats, by a vote of 32-1. It passed 19-0 in the Senate Wednesday. There are 12 Republicans and eight Democrats in the state Senate."

Hmm, bipartisan support! Looks some folks are not happy with what their elected officials in Washington (bipartisan) did.

[Machfive]

And people were actually afraid the Patriot Act would stick.

It only took 2 hours for someone to launch an attack against the McCain-Feingold Campaign Funding Act. I didn't see the Patriot Act lasting 2 years before someone realized, "What the shit? The FUCK did we do?"

I wouldn't call this a bipartisan victory, I'd call it a libertarian victory. ;)

[Lizard_King]

I wouldn't call this a bipartisan victory, I'd call it a libertarian victory. ;)

To be fair, I'd call Midnight Son's post here a victory for us all, as I would have expected (unfairly) that he find a way to call this a Democratic victory. :)

Pity Alaska's so damned cold.

[Midnight Son]

I'm no Democrat, man. I'm just following my much-maligned "lesser of two evils" belief.

[Lizard_King]

I'm no Democrat, man. I'm just following my much-maligned "lesser of two evils" belief.

That's fine. I'm just busting your balls because I noticed you went out of your way to BIPARTISAN the hell out of your statements.

[Midnight Son]

As a married man, my balls can't be busted anymore! What is actually really really interesting is that there's a clear Republican majority against it. Maybe they are the misbegotten Alaskan offspring of 60's hippies rebelling against their parents?

[bmulligan]

if you're married, then your balls may not be busted, but they are now in a vice and can be squeezed at will with 1 turn of a lever. Just like Alaska's going to get squeezed by the Feds.

[Brad Grenz]

I don't know what Alaska's worried about. Has the DOJ ever even tried to use the Patriot Act in an investigation there? I wouldn't have thought of it as a hotbed of terrorist activity. I doubt Washinton will even notice their noncompliance.

[quatoria]

if you're married, then your balls may not be busted, but they are now in a vice and can be squeezed at will with 1 turn of a lever. Just like Alaska's going to get squeezed by the Feds.

The feds are far too busy squeezing California, last I checked.

[Lizard_King]

I don't know what Alaska's worried about. Has the DOJ ever even tried to use the Patriot Act in an investigation there?
What're you talking about? They're RIGHT NEXT to the commies.

Or it might be one of them, what do you call it, questions of principle. I hear they still have those in rural areas, although it could be a myth.


I wouldn't have thought of it as a hotbed of terrorist activity. I doubt Washinton will even notice their noncompliance.
All it will take is one Liddy Dole-esque figure in government to fuck them over. Mind you, it'd be a different story if any other states were following their lead.

[triggercut]

Actually, The Washington Post had a lengthy article last Tuesday or Wednesday stating that Idaho has an even tougher anti-Patriot Act resolution in the works than Alaska's.

But...this is Idaho and Alaska we're talkin' about. Ballsy of 'em, I gotta say.

[voltaic]

Pity Alaska's so damned cold.
Cold but beautiful. With some decent central heating or a nice fireplace you're set. And if you live close to the coast on the southern "slice", say near the capital Juneau, you get some more regularity and mildness in the temperature from the oceans.

[Lizard_King]

Pity Alaska's so damned cold.
Cold but beautiful. With some decent central heating or a nice fireplace you're set. And if you live close to the coast on the southern "slice", say near the capital Juneau, you get some more regularity and mildness in the temperature from the oceans.
Been there, done that. I like my climates more temperate than arctic. Or better yet, tropical. But at least with Idaho coming along there'll be a choice...

[Chris Nahr]

So what are the actual effects of this resolution? Isn't terrorism a federal crime that the FBI would investigate in Alaska whenever they want to, whether Alaska likes it or not?

[quatoria]

So what are the actual effects of this resolution? Isn't terrorism a federal crime that the FBI would investigate in Alaska whenever they want to, whether Alaska likes it or not?

Yes. The effects of most of these resolutions are largely demonstrative - even if specifically instructed not to cooperate with federal authorities unless evidence is presented to satisfy the act, odds are good that the federal authorities will either ignore, override, or cajole the local authorities into cooperation. It's more of a demonstration of dissent than anything effective in checking the Patriot Act. Still, a demonstration has its uses.

[Midnight Son]

Do we still have any right to dissent? Last time I checked it was TREASON!!!