Always strive to learn something useful. --Sophocles

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) says that there's what you think the Act says and allows the government to do, and then there's what the government thinks it says it can do.

Not good. Basically the government has it's own interpretation, and that interpretation is classified. Wyden and others are pressing the Attorney General to release the government's interpretation. We've had problems with the TSA/DHS claiming things are law, and when asked for citations, they say it's secret. For example, the no-fly list. Easy to get on, pretty much impossible to get off.

I can understand that the government needs secrets: troop deployments/movements, weapon specifications, stealth technology, etc. But secret laws should not be permissible in a democratic republic.

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/05/secret-patriot-act/

They've changed a few things procedurally and it will only need a simple majority vote.

http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2011/02/patriot-act-punt/

Yes, internal investigations are important, but does this really target the people who originated, recommended, or ordered these abuses? Sounds like like they're preparing to sacrifice some agents in order to be able to say "see, we're doing something about the problem!"

http://www.wired.com/politics/law/news/2007/07/exigentinvestigation