Congress Just Sold You Out: Leadership Plans To Extend Patriot Act For Four Years With NO Concessions
from the oh-come-on dept
As we've discussed, there were some very questionable provisions in the Patriot Act which were set to expire last year, but got extended, officially to allow time for debate. There was none, and when the extension was set to expire, Congress extended the clauses again for 90 days, supposedly to debate them. There were some superficial discussions, but the end result is what many people knew would happen anyway: the provisions are going to be extended for four years, with no concessions or greater oversight. Not only that, but the leadership from both major parties, who have agreed to this "deal," want to pass it with little or no debate:The deal between Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Speaker John Boehner calls for a vote before May 27, when parts of the current act expire, according to officials in both parties who spoke on condition of anonymity. The idea is to pass the extension with as little debate as possible to avoid a protracted and familiar argument over the expanded power the law gives to the government.So, let's see. The government grants itself the power to abuse the 4th Amendment and spy on people with little oversight, and it would prefer that there not be any debate over this, because pesky people might raise the fact that this is wide open for abuse, and the senators don't want to have to talk about that.
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Filed Under: extension, oversight, patriot act, wiretaps
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I Hope the Partisan Hacks Remember This
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Well, the Congressmen who actually represents his constituency was going to try to do an anonymous hold, but then he remembered he doesn't exist....
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Not surprised...
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Benjamin Franklin Said It Best
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The inferior people who support the Patriot Act...
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Cure is worse than disease
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Re: Cure is worse than disease
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Where are the pro-PATRIOT Act Trolls?
No?
Then why the heck can't we all just agree to letting the PATRIOT Act lapse?
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Re: Where are the pro-PATRIOT Act Trolls?
better option get a senators son accused of terrorism and see how they like the Patriot Act then
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They have created an amazing Us vs Them culture in this country...
Us vs Illegal Immigrants
Us vs Muslims (it should be terrorists, but that was to hard to explain)
Us vs Godless Homos
Us vs Godless Baby Killers
Us vs Kenyan Manchurian Candidates
How is it the people everyone seems to accept as the voice of Us, are often so far removed from the real people they claim to care about that they are that out of touch?
What does it say about a people who willingly follow what they are told without a single thought beyond "Well X said this was the RIGHT way, so its the only way."
Anyone who dares question the powers that be is seen as a terrorist, out to destroy the American ��(tm) way of life.
Stolen from someone else -
First they shut down Napster, but I didn�t speak out. I didn�t use Napster.
Next they shut down Gnutella, but i didn�t speak up. I never used Gnutella.
Then they shut down The Pirate Bay, and I didn�t speak up. I never used The Pirate Bay.
Now they will shut down the Internet, and there won�t be anyone left to speak up�
Let us all just embrace the fact we are just serfs meant to toil and suffer for the amusement of the rich and powerful. Lets give up on education, because educated people might think there is something wrong with the outright shitting on the Constitution. Think only happy thoughts, because we are coming in to check on your dreams and thoughts in diaries... but its ok because we are only looking for "bad"* people.
*- the definition of bad will be expanded as we see fit, as we work to exile the undesirable elements from the gene pool until we have the brainless drones we need.
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Silence
I didn't say a word when they came to get the communists - because I wasn't a communist.
I didn't say a word when they came to get the socialists - because I wasn't a socialist.
I didn't say a word when they came to get the Jews - because I wasn't a Jew.
I didn't say a word when they came to get the Christians - because I wasn't a Christian.
When they came to get me, there wasn't anyone left to protest.
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Have any of you every been abused by this act? Do you really think you will be in your lifetime? What exactly do you have to hide that the government wants to learn about?
Is it, give them an inch and they will take a mile? I'll have to disagree. There is a line that I wouldnt let them cross but this isnt it.
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We don't care if you agree to give the government this power that is specifically excluded by the constitution.
The rest of us don't agree and that is what counts.
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What a relief!
Thanks, "Blogger Bob"! We miss you!
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At least put some effort into it next time.
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Have any of you every been abused by this act? Do you really think you will be in your lifetime? What exactly do you have to hide that the government wants to learn about?
Is it, give them an inch and they will take a mile? I'll have to disagree. There is a line that I wouldnt let them cross but this isnt it.
And what line is that? Do you realize that the entire patriot act was basically created to negate the rights afforded to US citizens in the Constitution? That by declaring someone a terrorist, all their rights basically get suspended and they can be locked up indefinitely without ever being charged with a crime?
BTW, if you don't mind being spied on, please install web cams in each room of your home, post their IP addresses, and make sure than that they're online 24/7. After all, if you have nothing to hide, you shouldn't mind people watching you, right? While you're at it, will you also please post copies of your bank statements, monthly bills, medical history, a list of all family and friends, what TV shows you watch, what stores you shop at, what web sites you visit, etc.
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Thank God For The Second Amendment!
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Our freedom is becoming less and less..for the greater good of the country but the country has only been great because we ask the "questions" and challenge those who think they know what is best for the country.
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Re: Thank God For The Second Amendment!
whatever dude.
have you seen the gear a marine carries?
have you seen what an army abrams tank can do?
watch the collateral murder video and see what a 25mm bushmaster can do to a group of people from miles away. accident or not, they never heard the shots and never saw the helicopter before they were eliminated. they had ak47's and never fired a shot.
if martial law is declared your moble home full of "huntin' rifles and shootin' irons" won't do you any good against armor, night vision, crew served weapons, and satellite communications.
if you really want to bear arms against the government, stop reading NRA pamphlets and start learning about asymmetric warfare.
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OH NO I Agree with Mike
The trouble is, once you have a form of power its really hard to give that power up.
As the US Gov is well aware of.
Conspriacy people will tell you that the US Gov created the 9/11 attacks specifically to enable them to establish more control. And who is going to argue with US patritism ?
So if that was in fact the case, there is far to much tied up in the effort to enable the Patriot act invested in it for them to just cancel it.
Show me any politician who is willing to give up power and authority over the people ?
So sorry Mike, but on this I have to agree the PA really is a product of the USA and would not be accepted by any other western country.
GW Bush "if you are not with us, you are with the enemy" I think turned most of the planet agaist him and the US, then he put out the Pat Act and sealed it in law.
He played the people of Americal like a fiddle, WMD's, axis of evil, not with us you are with them, patriot act, if you are not with us you are not patriotic, blah blah.
But its a great defense industry money spinner.
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Amazing... Progressives bitching about Govt...
I don't like the patriot act either, but it is also disgustingly hypocritical when progressives don't utter a freaking peep, but actually fervently support when the govt chips away at all out other freedoms by:
- controlling what lightbulbs you can use
- controlling what type of gas you can put in your car (example: seasonal/botique blends. really?)
- controlling how much water your toilet can use
- controlling your consumption of trans-fats (see NY's latest bullshit)
- controlling how/if you can improve your own land (example: small pond deemed "wetlands")
- controlling when/where/how you can exercise your 2nd amendment rights (obvious)
- controlling your access to medication your doctor recommends (example: mail-order meds from Canada)
- controlling who you can buy insurance from (example: Obamacare)
- controlling the food we buy/sell (example: raw milk)
- and on and on and on and on and on...
Yet all of a sudden when the Govt stays true to freakin' character, you get all pissy about it??!!
You jackass progressives created this monster. Now show us what you can do to leash the damn thing! Let's start with a revival of personal-responsibility, self-determination and a commitment to excellence -- instead of near total reliance upon a nanny-state to provide for your cradle to grave needs and protect you from yourself. Can we try that for a few decades??!!
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Re: Amazing... Progressives bitching about Govt...
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YES WE CAN!
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Done complaining? Good. Now write.
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Re: Done complaining? Good. Now write.
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