The Patriot Act
* Immediately in the aftermath of 9-11, the Patriot Act was rammed through with one of the fastest votes in US history given how complex the law was. Even today, much of it is classified, making total assessment of it difficult. That the law has limited liberties is clear. We do know that records and communications of Americans are subject to more spying than ever before, phone records, emails, financial records, even for a time what one checked out of libraries, often done without warrants.
* Not just President GW Bush but also Presidents Clinton and Obama bear responsibility for the Patriot Act, as do both parties. Both parties voted for it the first time in overwhelming numbers, and again to renew it. Much of the Patriot Act was planned under the Clinton administration. Obama's administration approved the act the second time.
* It is not overstating to call the Patriot Act repression. So why was it not included? While repression is certainly true, pointing to deaths is far harder, especially since many of the ways the law is used are still not known to the public. The law does provide for expanding the death penalty for terrorists, but so far that has not been used. Defenders of the act claim that many lives have been saved, terrorists captured or attacks prevented. But the evidence they provide is inconclusive, often including material unrelated to the Patriot Act.