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I just heard on the News that congress will not renew the 16 provisions of the Patriot act. I cant find a link yet as it just happened. Im sure this will make many of you happy.
Its set to expire on dec 31st. The republicans tried to get a vote to renew it but fell 8 votes short. Happy New Year indeed.
Well theres a link now
Senate Blocks Extension of Patriot Act
Quote:
Updated: 12:43 PM EST
Senate Blocks Extension of Patriot Act
Move Marks a Blow for Bush Administration and GOP Leaders
By JESSE J. HOLLAND, AP
WASHINGTON (Dec. 16) - The Senate on Friday rejected attempts to reauthorize several provisions of the USA Patriot Act as infringing too much on Americans' privacy, dealing a major defeat to President Bush and Republican leaders.
In a crucial vote Friday morning as Congress raced toward adjournment, the bill's Senate supporters were not able to garner the 60 votes necessary to overcome a threatened filibuster by Sens. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., and Larry Craig, R-Idaho, and their allies. The final vote was 52-47
Bush, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and GOP congressional leaders had lobbied fiercely to make most of the expiring Patriot Act provisions permanent, and add new safeguards and expiration dates to the two most controversial parts: roving wiretaps and secret warrants for books, records and other items from businesses, hospitals and organizations such as libraries.
Making most of the act's provisions permanent was a priority for both the Bush administration and Republican leaders on Capitol Hill before Congress adjourns for the year.
The House on Wednesday passed a House-Senate compromise bill to renew the Act that supporters say added significant safeguards to the law.
The failure to renew the provisions would be "interpreted by our enemies as somehow inviting or even enabling further terrorist attacks on U.S. soil," Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, said.
But the law's critics, such as Sens. Feingold and Craig, say they don't want the Patriot Act to expire -- they just want enough time to improve the bill to the point where it doesn't infringe on American liberties. That idea was rejected by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R.-Tenn., and by the White House.
"In the war on terror, we cannot afford to be without these vital tools for a single moment," White House press secretary Scott McClellan said earlier today before the Senate vote.
Congress passed the Patriot Act overwhelmingly after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The law expanded the government's surveillance and prosecutorial powers against suspected terrorists, their associates and financiers.
The bill's opponents say the original act was rushed into law, and Congress should take more time now to make sure the rights of innocent Americans are safeguarded before making most of the expiring provisions permanent.
They says the current Patriot Act gives government too much power to investigate people's private lives.
12/16/2005 12:36:32
BBC News Report.
Good. America has finally decided to protect its civil liberties rather than panicking and letting the government take over. :san_cool:
Far out. :jester:
And if they can get that right then everything will be hunky dorey, but then I'm drunk :san_rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by Gawain of Orkeny
This is great news for everyone. I wasn't too concerned with the Patriot Act at first, albeit a bit skeptical, but recently it really over stepped.
Sens. Jim Talent, Missouri R, and Dianne Feinstein, California D, stated the reauthorization included the Combat Meth Act. This includes a few laws which ban the purchase of certain pieces of equipment to produce methamphetamines.
What the hell does that have to do with terrorism? Just another way for these morons to use a popular topic to get some federal laws banning things that were already being done on the local level in the areas they needed to be done in. The PA would've maybe been okay if it was only aimed at terrorism, but if it's being used for these senators to just get any ole damn thing in there than it's just stupid.
The "national security letter" provisions concern me as well, and to a lesser degree I don't like the sneak&peek searches either. The NSLs are the worst I've heard of though- they allow federal agents to demand records to businesses (ISPs, libraries, whatever) without having to seek any sort of judicial authorization. Further, (if I recall correctly) it also makes it illegal for a recipient of an NSL from telling anyone that they were served it... that stinks to high heaven.
Its unfortunate that quibbling has brought the rest of the act down to a point where it may expire- but I suspect the Senate leadership did so on purpose, hoping to ram it through without more debate by letting it go til the last minute. If so, it's certainly nice to see Frist play hardball for a change, but there are alot better issues for him to do it with.
I think the Senators who wanted to keep the Patriot Act did a lousy job of making a case for it's necessity.
looks like some good news for americans to start the new year with.:san_cool:
Yeah we're starting to realize that we don't like being treated like citizens in a 3rd World Dictatorship.:san_wink:Quote:
Originally Posted by Ronin
yay no one watches me in my sleep anymore
Theres still a guy in a suit, wearing sunglasses that stands five feet from my window. Been there watching me five bloody months. Haven't gotten the nerve to tell him to bugger off yet.Quote:
Originally Posted by strike for the south
So the Democratic political gamble was a success, eh?
But they face a battered opponent (politically) and it's probably an easy victory for them. Hopefully now that they at least *win* something they would finally get their acts together to present a realistic alternative for the 2006 elections to the increasingly radically Right Republicans. They hold all three branches--the balance isn't very good.
I support this move, though. The Act violates our rights, period. It's not like I'm the first suspect in case of terrorism, but infringement on rights cannot be tolerated.
In fact, I can see the Republicans in desperation now. George W. just recently decided to take all the blame for himself (and thus, away from the party that would go into the 2006 game) about the Iraq war.
It's alright. You can sleep safely knowing that if you try to perform an act of terrorism on yourself he will shoot you.Quote:
Originally Posted by Wazikashi
Ciao, America. Hello, Islamic Republic of Northistan.
Or possibly hello again America, it seemed as though you had got a bit lost there for a moment.
No, not really.Quote:
Originally Posted by Slyspy
As a member of the Islamic Republic of Americistan, I can say that you are wrong.
Di\oes anyone else other than me think this is really about the coming elections?
Before some people get too excited about the return of their civil liberties . Any investigation from before dec 31st is still covered , as is any person who might be linked to any event before that date or any person who might be linked to any person who might be linked to any person who might be linked to any event .
As this act can cover just about any event or any person , then it is still in effect for everybody for just about everything .
In other words, this can only offer a weak barrier against governmental breach of civil rights.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tribesman
It is, still, a barrier.
Sadly, since I forgot to force my woman to wear the burqas today (oh, I don't have a woman, but that's not the point here), I will soon be arrested by the secret police. See you in Canada, folks! I'm going...err...out!Quote:
Originally Posted by Kaiser of Arabia
:san_wink:Quote:
Originally Posted by Gawain of Orkeny
But I still support the move all the same. It fits with the individualism spirit of America, isn't it? You are a libertarian, you should appreciate the move, right?Quote:
Originally Posted by AntiochusIII
It seems like the paranoia is being cured.... ~;)
The "Patriot Act" (what a great sounding name? EH?) was passed in a state of panic. No one, and I mean no one took the time to read past the first page. When they finally did? Well, those of a civic and demoracratic-republic attitude went "Holy crappers!" - we just signed away our democracy. Thing is, one can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can't fool all the people all the time.
Show cause, and believe me all of congress would sign up ... even the ACLU. But, keep it a "secret" (for national security - which the Limballers will believe, but the rest are still going to act like Missourians of old ... "show-me") and expect people to demand their rights back. It is the American way - we can be BS'ed, but god forbid the BS'er lied. 'Cause then? We will resort to being Americans - which is an independent buncha uncontrollable voters. Thing is, the Republicans got to feel happy that Nov2006 is so far away and the Democrats still don't have a clue.
Still, the end of the "Patriot (Nazi) Act is a good start.
Well, I had to get fit for my turban and dirty night shirt today. I'm also getting the "Guide to Islamic Extremism, for Dummies" in the mail soon. They're shipping me off to Palestine next week. :san_grin:Quote:
Originally Posted by KafirChobee
Cya guys in the news! :san_tongue:
oh goodie
It will help Feingold get re-elected here when his office comes up again. Not that he'll need it though.
*interesting side note: 85% of the people in my district (not really madison but a more conservative suburb, middleton, not even the real middleton, but the town of middleton, where the business people live) voted for Bush, while 90ish% voted for Feingold:san_laugh:. And that was w/ ridiculously high turnout, around 90% again.
So the upshot is that the Patriot Act is dying a well-deserved death, and Kaiser's converting to Islam? Am I missing anything?
Heh, more like being forced to convert by Great Leader George Al-Busha. :san_laugh:Quote:
Originally Posted by Lemurmania
Kaiser, have you been licking frogs/toads again?
As a matter of fact...Quote:
Originally Posted by Martinus