US District Judge Victor Marrero dealt the Patriot Act a major blow today when he declared secret government searches of our internet wanderings and telephone records unconstitutional.

Just in case you missed that bit, a part of the Patriot Act gave the FBI the authority to force internet service providers and phone companies to turn over certain customer records (without obtaining a search warrant where they'd have to show evidence that a person might be engaged in illegal or terrorist activity), but forbid the companies from ever informing their customer that such a search took place.

I'm sure we'll hear more whinging about "activist judges" from Team Bush in the days to come. But, I'd like to think that, somewhere in the stars, the fathers of our country are smiling.