The criticism of Bush's new Patriot Act starts slow, a few paragraphs at the end of a news article otherwise devoted to his speech and his supporters. But it's there. And if you join in, and call your elected officials in Congress at their toll-free number, it will grow louder and louder until we can't be ignored.

From the Knights Ridder News Service....in major newspapers tonight around the country (14 so far):

Critics of the original Patriot Act wasted no time Wednesday in attacking the administration's call for extending its reach.

"Politically and legally, further erosions of judicial oversight and the basic checks and balances that protect us and our democracy from political abuses of power are the wrong path to take," said Charlie Mitchell, legislative counsel with the American Civil Liberties Union.

Denver lawyer Jeralyn Merritt, the treasurer of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, called the proposed provisions dangerous.

"We are watering down judicial oversight to the point that it's meaningless and giving away much too much power to the executive branch," she said. "Once you give up power to the government, very rarely do you ever get it back."

Toll Free Switchboard: 1-800-839-5276 . Call now. Call often. Your voice counts.

Update: More than six bills have been introduced in Congress to repeal portions of Patriot Act I--Bush has threatened to veto them.