is this the beginning of the end of freedom?

A new piece of legislation was passed secretly through the US senate on the 2nd of December this year.

http://digitaljournal.com/article/315413

The interesting part was the following sentence :

"...top officials against the bill are Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, FBI Director Robert Mueller ".
Even President Obama himself voted against this bill but it still passed 93-7 in favour.

This legislation in conjunction with the new internet censor legislation posted by peaceAKKI on this thread http://hotcopper.com.au/post_threadview.asp?fid=4&tid=1619421&msgno=568792#568792
must give even the most hard-lined person some angst about what direction the US government is heading towards...