Declan McCullagh at CNet News wants the Bush administration to "explain why laws involving cigarette taxes, methamphetamine possession, and pocket knives are necessary to protect America in the War on Terror." The Allentown Morning Calls timidly asks Congress to tighten the government's ability to issue national security letters, while the Albany Times Union more forcefully argues that "there is no justification to put basic civil liberties at risk for even four minutes, let alone four years."

Florida Today remains "vehemently against provisions reauthorized in the Patriot Act that continue to assault civil liberties and give the government broad authority to invade individual privacy." The Repository in Canton runs an article by civil libertarian Nat Hentoff, reminding us that December 15 is Bill of Rights Day, a celebration that should not be dishonored by circumventing privacy rights with bad legislation.

I congratulate the patriotic resisters — in and out of the Senate — for not allowing the administration to retain sections of the Patriot Act which 399 towns and cities across the country, and seven state legislatures, had told their representatives in Congress to change in compliance with the Bill of Rights.