[Changleen]

A good day for America :

http://www.forbes.com/business/energy/feeds/ap/2005/12/16/ap2398698.html

Senate Rejects Extension of Patriot Act

In a stinging defeat for President Bush, Senate Democrats blocked passage Friday of a new Patriot Act to combat terrorism at home, depicting the measure as a threat to the constitutional liberties of innocent Americans.

Republicans spurned calls for a short-term measure to prevent the year-end expiration of law enforcement powers first enacted in the anxious days after Sept. 11, 2001. "The president will not sign such an extension," said Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., and lawmakers on each side of the issue blamed the other for congressional gridlock on the issue.

The Senate voted 52-47 to advance a House-passed bill to a final vote, eight short of the 60 needed to overcome the filibuster backed by nearly all Senate Democrats and a handful of the 45 Republicans.

"We can come together to give the government the tools it needs to fight terrorism and protect the rights and freedoms of innocent citizens," said Sen. Russell Feingold, D-Wis., arguing that provisions permitting government access to confidential personal data lacked safeguards to protect the innocent.

"We need to be more vigilant," agreed Sen. John Sununu, a Republican from New Hampshire, where the state motto is "Live Free or Die." He quoted Benjamin Franklin: "Those that would give up essential liberty in pursuit of a little temporary security deserve neither liberty nor security."

But Frist likened the bill's opponents to those who "have called for a retreat and defeat strategy in Iraq. That's the wrong strategy in Iraq. It is the wrong strategy here at home."

Sen. John Kyl, R-Ariz., said, "If 90-plus percent of the Democrats vote against cloture, and 90-plus percent of the Republicans vote for cloture, it is hard to argue it is not partisan." Cloture is a Senate term that refers to ending a filibuster.

The practical implications of an expiration of the original law remained somewhat clouded. James Dempsey, executive director of the Center for Democracy and Technology, said law enforcement agencies could continue using Patriot Act provisions against all known terrorist groups such as al-Qaida, Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad and the Zarqawi group in Iraq. He said even newly discovered members of these groups would be subject to Patriot Act investigative tools.

The events on the Senate floor underscored the extent of political change that has occurred since 2001. Then, Feingold cast the lone vote against the original Patriot Act, which was designed to give those tracking terrorists some of the authority that had been available only in intelligence investigations.

Much of the controversy involved powers granted to law enforcement agencies to gain access to a wealth of personal data, including library and medical records, in secret, as part of investigations into suspected terrorist activity.

The bill also includes a four-year extension of the government's ability to conduct roving wiretaps - which may involve multiple phones - and continues the authority to wiretap "lone wolf" terrorists who may operate on their own, without control from a foreign agent or power.

Yet another provision, which applies to all criminal cases, gives the government 30 days to provide notice that it has carried out a search warrant.

During debate, several Democrats pointed to a New York Times report that Bush had secretly authorized the National Security Agency to eavesdrop on individuals inside the United States without first securing permission from the courts.

"Today's revelation makes it crystal clear that we have to be very careful, very careful," said Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y.

No Republican defended the reported practice, and the bill's chief Republican supporter joined in the criticism. "There is no doubt that this is inappropriate," said Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. He pledged hearings in 2006.

Under the measure the Senate was considering, law enforcement officials could continue to obtain secret access to a variety of personal records from businesses, hospitals and other organizations, including libraries.

Access is obtained by order of a secret court established under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

Specter told the bill's critics that before such permission is granted, a judge would have to "make a determination on a factual showing that there is a terrorism investigation that does involve foreigners."

On a second issue covered under the bill, a so-called National Security Letter, government investigators could continue to gain access to a more limited range of personal records without a court order of any kind.

Specter said the legislation permitted the recipient of a letter to appeal in court. "The essence of the protection of civil rights ... has been that you interpose an impartial magistrate between the policeman and the citizens. That protection is given," he said.

But Sununu countered that the appeal could only succeed by showing that the government had acted in bad faith. "No individual or business is going to be able to" win that case, he predicted.

On the Senate vote, two Democrats supported the GOP-led effort to advance the bill to a final vote, Tim Johnson of South Dakota and Ben Nelson of Nebraska. Sununu and GOP Sens. Larry Craig of Idaho, Chuck Hagel of Nebraska and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska voted to block the measure. Frist initially voted to advance the bill, then switched to opposition purely as a parliamentary move that enables him to call for a second vote at some point in the future.

On a separate issue, the House called for the Bush administration to give Congress details of secret detention facilities overseas. The vote was 228-187.

Good to see the tide of idiocy turning.

 

[stevew]

So now the CIA and FBI won't be sharing information?

 

[kidwoo]

So now the CIA and FBI won't be sharing information?

They will.

It just won't be while sleeping in your bed, reading your diary while you're at work.

 

[blue]

Thank God...The senate restored what very very very little faith I had in my government.

 

[narlus]

did anyone see the story about GWB picking and choosing which laws he thinks are valid?

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2005/12/18/bush_under_fire_defends_spy_program/

 

[Toshi]

did anyone see the story about GWB picking and choosing which laws he thinks are valid?

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2005/12/18/bush_under_fire_defends_spy_program/

and note that "laws" means "the constitution" here. perhaps this will be the straw that breaks the camel's back.

 

[Reactor]

and note that "laws" means "the constitution" here. perhaps this will be the straw that breaks the camel's back.

Yep, Il Deuce really seems to stuck his foot in it this time. There was already a secret court, where he could get wiretap orders without public knowledge. All he had to was file a request within 72 hours of starting surveillance.

 

[ioscope]

GOoooooo SENATE!

 

[enkidu]

Maybe U.S. Senator Russ Feingold will make a good USA President.

 

[Reactor]

Maybe U.S. Senator Russ Feingold will make a good USA President.

I doubt anyone with a GED or higher education could be worse.

 

[Changleen]

There's an argument that goes along the lines of if Bush simply went on vacation for the entire 4 years you'd be better off.

 

[kinghami3]

There's an argument that goes along the lines of if Bush simply went on vacation for the entire 4 years you'd be better off.

It's a good argument. On the other hand, as a well informed American citizen, I didn't even know they were voting to extend it at the moment.

 

[valve bouncer]

There's an argument that goes along the lines of if Bush simply went on vacation for the entire 4 years you'd be better off.

Well he's almost done that, hasn't he?

 

[Toshi]

It's a good argument. On the other hand, as a well informed American citizen, I didn't even know they were voting to extend it at the moment.

join the aclu or the eff.

 

[kinghami3]

Not a bad idea at all, but sometimes I could care less about politics. I just get annoyed with it all and want it to go away, but it won't, so I complain about it, vote when I can, and have even been in a couple protests, and then try once again to forget about it all.

 

[steelewheels]

U.S. civlil liberties - 1 George Bush - 93793472034823490

 

[The Amish]

A good day for America :

I agree, but just out of curiosity WTF do you even care. Is your life so sad over there in NZ you have nothing better to do than worry about us all day every day. Get bent, or even better just get a life

 

[ohio]

I agree, but just out of curiosity WTF do you even care. Is your life so sad over there in NZ you have nothing better to do than worry about us all day every day. Get bent, or even better just get a life

and on cue, you ring the bell and the dancing monkey arrives.

he probably cares about our government for the same reasons we cared about the iraqi government. some people actually take an interest in global politics. some of them even, gasp, care when they see others under oppressive or abusive regimes.

but thanks for being cordial.

 

[Ciaran]

Get bent, or even better just get a life

You really should just take your own advice.

 

[Pau11y]

A good day for America :

I agree, but just out of curiosity WTF do you even care. Is your life so sad over there in NZ you have nothing better to do than worry about us all day every day. Get bent, or even better just get a life

Something you don't realize is EVERYTHING this country does has reverberations around the world, every little thing. That's what happens when you're the world's leading economic power (not to mention the kid w/ the biggest gun(s) on the "block"). Because you live in said country, you have no idea of the ripples this country causes when it does things via an idiot of a leader. Yeah, it's a domestic issue. But what exactly does it say about where this country is headed to if it had passed...Big Brother, centralized control, maybe the good ol' USSR making a come-back? Ok, that's a little far fetched, but you get where I'm going w/ this...
So, stop being so myopic and put his shoes on before ripping him a new one...

On another note, both sides of Congress is calling for a Congressional hearing on the illegal wire taps authorized by the Doofis (GWB)! Wooo hooo.. maybe he'll get his ass hung. It'd be a good day to find him disgraced and jailed for his presidency due in no small part to his stoooooopid stoooooopid stoooopidity

 

[kinghami3]

On another note, both sides of Congress is calling for a Congressional hearing on the illegal wire taps authorized by the Doofis (GWB)! Wooo hooo.. maybe he'll get his ass hung. It'd be a good day to find him disgraced and jailed for his presidency due in no small part to his stoooooopid stoooooopid stoooopidity

Shhhhh, they're listening

 

[Pau11y]

Shhhhh, they're listening

Hehehe... "they" can kiss my ass!

 

[Changleen]

So, stop being so myopic and put his shoes on before ripping him a new one...

He couldn't rip his way out of a wet paper bag, but anyway...

On another note, both sides of Congress is calling for a Congressional hearing on the illegal wire taps authorized by the Doofis (GWB)! Wooo hooo.. maybe he'll get his ass hung. It'd be a good day to find him disgraced and jailed for his presidency due in no small part to his stoooooopid stoooooopid stoooopidity

Yes indeed! I hope you are right. However from past experience I suspect there will be some hair dryer action and that'll be about it.

 

[LordOpie]

There's an argument that goes along the lines of if Bush simply went on vacation for the entire 4 years you'd be better off.

You can put the puppet in his box, but the handler is still throwing his voice.

 

[Pau11y]

You can put the puppet in his box, but the handler is still throwing his voice.

Yeah, I wonder if they get GWB out of office, can the VP also get the boot by the muppet master default
That would be spectacular!

 

[The Amish]

Something you don't realize is EVERYTHING this country does has reverberations around the world, every little thing. That's what happens when you're the world's leading economic power (not to mention the kid w/ the biggest gun(s) on the "block").

Pimpin aint easy

 

[Pau11y]

I don't know why this just popped into my visual: an Amish pimp...lol!