Democrats Renew Patriot Act

[Monkey Riding Dragon]

Whoever hasn't yet read about this subject (http://www.wsws.org/articles/2010/feb2010/patr-f27.shtml) should. I liked my native Patrick Leahy's reasoning on his vote in particular:


"I would have preferred to add oversight and judicial review improvements to any extension of expiring provisions in the USA Patriot Act, but I understand some Republican senators objected."

--Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont

[Communist]

"I would have preferred to add oversight and judicial review improvements to any extension of expiring provisions in the USA Patriot Act, but I understand some Republican senators objected."
--Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont

:lol:
Well, that's got to be the single weakest, lamest example of the old mulberry-bush blame-game yet. I'm sure they'll top it soon enough though.

The Democrats will be beside themselves with private elation and public mourning should the GOP pick up a handful of congressional seats and two senators this year, which is very likely to happen.

That would be perfect for the ruling class both parties dutifully serve, while allowing the Democrats more absurd finger-pointing at the "opposition".

[Uppercut]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House has passed a one-year extension of key provisions of the USA Patriot Act, the nation’s counterterrorism surveillance law.
The 315 to 97 vote Thursday evening sends the bill to President Barack Obama for his signature.
The surveillance and seizure provisions are scheduled to expire Sunday. In agreeing to pass the bill, Democrats retreated from adding new privacy protections.
The outcome is a major disappointment for Democrats and their liberal allies, including the American Civil Liberties Union, who believe the Patriot Act fails to protect privacy and gives the government too much authority to spy on Americans and seize their property.
Democrats have retreated from adding new privacy protections to the nation’s primary counterterrorism law, stymied by Senate Republicans who argued the changes would weaken terror investigations.


WASHINGTON (AP) — President Obama has signed a one-year extension of several provisions in the nation's main counterterrorism law, the Patriot Act.
Provisions in the measure would have expired on Sunday without Obama's signature Saturday.
The act, which was adopted in the weeks after the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks, expands the government's ability to monitor Americans in the name of national security.
Three sections of the Patriot Act that stay in force will:
• Authorize court-approved roving wiretaps that permit surveillance on multiple phones.
• Allow court-approved seizure of records and property in anti-terrorism operations.
• Permit surveillance against a so-called lone wolf, a non-U.S. citizen engaged in terrorism who may not be part of a recognized terrorist group.
Obama's signature comes after the House voted 315 to 97 Thursday to extend the measure.
http://dougpowers.com/2010/02/26/hope-change-patriot-act-renewal-passes-house/

The Senate also approved the measure, with privacy protections cast aside when Senate Democrats lacked the necessary 60-vote supermajority to pass them. Thrown away were restrictions and greater scrutiny on the government's authority to spy on Americans and seize their records.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2010-02-27-Patriot-Act_N.htm

(http://dougpowers.com/2010/02/26/hope-change-patriot-act-renewal-passes-house/)

[Vladimir Innit Lenin]

This shows that issues such as these are power-elite based, rather than an ideological one.

I'd express my disgust but one expects this from the oppressive, corrupt and self-serving elites that are the Democrat and Republican Parties.

[Uppercut]

I'm surprised this thread hasn't attracted more attention. For God's sake, the Feds can track us and infiltrate our homes!

[Democrat]

Only when you see a soldier standing in your doorway will anybody notice that they really don't have as many rights as they think they do.