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Senate Extends Controversial Patriot Act Spying Provisions By 90 Days; But Will They Debate Them During That Time?

from the questions-to-ponder dept

Tue, Feb 15th 2011 6:01pm — Mike Masnick

In response to the House's approval to extend three controversial Patriot Act spying provisions until December of this year, the Senate has (by a huge majority) voted to extend the provisions by 90 days. While any extension isn't great, a 90-day extension is better than the alternatives that were being debated. Of course, the real question is whether or not the Senate would hold any real debate or discussion about these provisions in this 90-day period. It seems unlikely, but maybe I'll be proven wrong.

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Filed Under: patriot act, senate

18 Comments

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Jay (profile), 15 Feb 2011 @ 6:03pm

Talking to my Senator...
Is a huge waste of time.

Thinking about my Congressman and telling him my opinion but really, would it ever reach him?
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Anonymous Coward, 15 Feb 2011 @ 6:05pm

Re: Talking to my Senator...
if you write a letter(you know those funny things with the stamps) then yes.
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Mudlock, 15 Feb 2011 @ 6:17pm

Almost ten years in, and I doubt any of the Senators have even read the whole thing, let alone considered debating it.
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ChurchHatesTucker (profile), 15 Feb 2011 @ 6:23pm

Re: Re: Talking to my Senator...
Actually, they even take emails seriously these days.
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Anonymous Coward, 15 Feb 2011 @ 6:36pm

Re: Re: Re: Talking to my Senator...
yeah but any nut can pop off an e-mail, takes time to write a letter and send it
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Jay (profile), 15 Feb 2011 @ 6:45pm

Re:
Yep...
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Anonymous Coward, 15 Feb 2011 @ 6:52pm

Why the change to 90 days?
Was December too uncomfortably close to the 2012 elections? DO they want to get the big three year (or permanent) renewal done well before 2012?
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ChurchHatesTucker (profile), 15 Feb 2011 @ 6:52pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Talking to my Senator...
True, and of the two options snail mail is probably the better one. But they don't dismiss emails the way they used to.
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Jay (profile), 15 Feb 2011 @ 7:01pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Talking to my Senator...
How so? With the tons of emails they get, and the fact is bad news spreads far quicker than the good stuff, it's debatable it'll make a difference in the long run...
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J.J. (profile), 15 Feb 2011 @ 7:46pm

Sticking their finger in the wind to see the reactions before going ahead with it.
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monkyyy, 15 Feb 2011 @ 8:06pm

Re: Re: Talking to my Senator...
u sure? im think the last time i sent a letter it was completely ignored
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Josef Anvil (profile), 16 Feb 2011 @ 12:54am

Seriously?
This one is simple. No matter how ridiculous those provisions are, any attempt at changing The "Patriot" Act will result in the opposition being cast in the role of anti-Patriotic and unwilling to keep Americans "safe".

C'mon, it was named The Patriot Act for a reason.
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Thomas (profile), 16 Feb 2011 @ 5:13am

debate them?
hahahahaha. As #12 points out, any one opposing the act will be considered anti-patriotic. Not to mention pro-terrorist. I wonder how much of the spying they do is actually related to terrorism and how much is related to critics of the government?

Oh god...a black SUV with tinted windows is parked in front of my house.
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antimatter3009 (profile), 16 Feb 2011 @ 5:14am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Talking to my Senator...
Right. Snail mail is probably still better, but I've gotten relatively thoughtful (read: not canned) responses to my emails before, at least from my House Rep. Senators are probably getting more mail, so you may be more likely to be lost in the shuffle.
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Shon Gale (profile), 16 Feb 2011 @ 7:20am

Wow the US Senate did something. I'm amazed!!
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weneedhelp (profile), 16 Feb 2011 @ 7:55am

Dont worry
anyone who opposes it will just get anthrax sent to them in the mail.
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ChurchHatesTucker (profile), 16 Feb 2011 @ 10:53am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Talking to my Senator...
That's a good point. More people know who their Senators are than their Reps. So especially with them you should lean towards smail (I just coined that.)

However, as long as you indicate that you live in their district/state, most congress-critters will take an email seriously. Hell, most of them are on facebook these days.
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Anonymous Coward, 16 Feb 2011 @ 4:38pm

Oh, thank goodness the Tea Party revolution saved us!
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