Democrats & Republicans Should Come Together To Support A Future Of Abundance

Cybersecurity Bill Fails To Move Forward In The Senate (Again)

from the why-did-they-bother dept

Wed, Nov 14th 2012 3:34pm — Mike Masnick

As was widely expected, Harry Reid tried to bring the problematic Cybersecurity Act back from the dead today. He needed 60 votes for cloture, which would have then allowed the bill to actually be debated upon (with various amendments considered as well). However, after a few short grandstanding speeches, the attempt at cloture failed, 51 votes to 47, well short of the 60 votes needed. Harry Reid then got up and lashed out at his colleagues, basically saying that he and other Cybersecurity supporters have been spreading so much FUD about how we're going to be attacked that he can't believe Senators didn't fall for it. Of course, one of the problems is that all of the fearmongering failed to actually identify the problems or threats other than to handwave about planes falling out of the sky and similar fanciful stories. Furthermore, it fails to acknowledge that rushing through a bill that has significant impacts on privacy of the public -- especially at a time when people are increasingly concerned about government snooping -- is a bad thing. Reid admitted that the cybersecurity bill in this Congress is likely "dead," though I'm sure something like it will be revived before too long. How about next time, rather than rushing it through and ignoring civil liberties, the government actually highlights the specific regulatory problems already in place, and why this bill is needed -- and does so while including civil liberties advocates in the discussions?

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Filed Under: cloture, cybersecurity, harry reid, senate

19 Comments

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A Dan (profile), 14 Nov 2012 @ 3:55pm

They're still waiting
We know they have it all prepared, and are just waiting for the "Cyber-9/11" to push it through. I wouldn't necessarily push for evidence of need, because it encourages them to manufacture or allow a catastrophe.

(Some believe that happened with the true "9/11". Regardless, we shouldn't encourage it.)
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vegetaman (profile), 14 Nov 2012 @ 4:13pm

Blazing Saddles
"We have to protect our phoney baloney jobs here, gentlemen! We must do something about this immediately! Immediately! Immediately! Harrumph! Harrumph!"

*flash forward to after cloture vote failed*

"I didn't get a 'harrumph' out of that guy!"

*repeat the above, ad infinitum*
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PlagueSD (profile), 14 Nov 2012 @ 4:31pm

Whatever happened with "The Government of the people, by the people, for the people."?

Oh, I know...Four score and seven years ago, Corporations weren't people. I get it!!!
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Anonymous Coward, 14 Nov 2012 @ 5:09pm

Apparently Obama already managed to pass this a month ago:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/obama-signs-secret-cybersecurity-direc tive-allowing-more-aggressive-military-role/2012/11/14/7bf51512-2cde-11e2-9ac2-1c61452669c3_story.ht ml
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harbingerofdoom (profile), 14 Nov 2012 @ 5:26pm

Re: Blazing Saddles
HARRUMPH!!
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gorehound (profile), 14 Nov 2012 @ 6:13pm

Re: Blazing Saddles
FRAK YOU HARRY REID !
We Do Not Want To Lose More Rights A-Hole !
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Pixelation, 14 Nov 2012 @ 6:34pm

Is anyone certain that Harry Reed isn't a zombie?
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Anonymous Coward, 14 Nov 2012 @ 7:18pm

Re: Blazing Saddles
harrumph? We don't need no stinking harrumph!
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Anonymous Coward, 14 Nov 2012 @ 7:49pm

Candy Gram For Mongo

Candy Gram For Mongo

Sign Here Please

Mongo Likes Candy
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Anonymous Coward, 14 Nov 2012 @ 7:52pm

Re:
I thought the whole point of corporations is that they were as an individual under law, thus shielding the owning individuals from the faults of the corporation.
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Anonymous Coward, 14 Nov 2012 @ 7:56pm

Re: Blazing Saddles
Another blow to the Progressive Authoritarian Statists, just wait until Harry changes the filibuster rules, that will show then obstructionist constitutionalists.
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Mike Masnick (profile), 14 Nov 2012 @ 10:48pm

Re:
Apparently Obama already managed to pass this a month ago:

No. We wrote about that too earlier today, and that's different. That's just for the military and doesn't cover the same stuff at all.
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Anonymous Coward, 15 Nov 2012 @ 1:47am

Yes, and I'm sure Congress will forever pretend that Google's business model- one that is based on avoiding taxes, monopolizing internet search and making its money off content it didn't create- isn't incredibly dangerous and antithetical to the concept of a true free market economy.

A concept the US bases its economy on.

Oh yes indeed. This current scenario will absolutely live on forever into infinitum.

Oh happy days for everyone in Silicon Valley :)
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Anonymous Coward, 15 Nov 2012 @ 5:21am

another case of a politician more concerned with having his name associated with some imaginary bill rather than no bill at all. if the same politicians were as concerned with real life issues that try to remove freedom and privacy from the people in the US and elsewhere by trying to bring in Fascist-like measures, it would be a much better choice
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Anonymous Coward, 15 Nov 2012 @ 5:42am

Re: Re:
Has Texas executed one yet?
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Anonymous Coward, 15 Nov 2012 @ 5:45am

Re:
Not much to eat when Congress is in session.
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Anonymous Coward, 15 Nov 2012 @ 5:47am

Re:
Yeah right, and tin foil hats really do work.
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Mr. Applegate, 15 Nov 2012 @ 6:03am

Re: Re:
Yup that is the point. No accountability. Doesn't make it right though.
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Alana (profile), 15 Nov 2012 @ 10:25am

Re: They're still waiting
Waiting? I'd say they're PLANNING a Cyber-9/11 to get this through.
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