Check This Out - The Senate blocked the renewal of the Patriot Act
Is this not a ray of hope for our country? It sure is in my opinion, although many people around me disagree. They say, “Well bubbah, I got nuthin’ to hide.”
Neither do I, but I don’t want people having the ability to follow me around and snoop through my life, or even worse.
But how long do you think this stand against the policy of the W will last?
Considering that the filibuster was being led by a Democrat AND a Republican and more Republicans voted against Cloture than Dems voting for, then I think this stand against tyranny will last. I think it’s a sign that Moderate Republicans, who still hold to the old-time ideas of Republicanism rather than the neo-con executive version, are getting tired of being pushed around. I’m hopeful, anyway, that that’s the case.
True. But the credit really goes to Russ Feingold (D-Wisconsin)! http://www.thenation.com/blogs/thebeat?bid=1&pid=43115
It built very nicely over the last week. The Senate had a version of the renewal that included a lot more protection of our rights and some limits on the FBI.
The Congress version allows for a police state.
I sincerely hope the Senators win out. This could be the second major policy issue that Bush/Cheney lose this week.
Jim
If it does, beers at my place… 
God bless Russ Feingold!!! 
I predict that Dubya wil come down up to the hill, shake his fist, have some “closed-session meetings with Republican leaders” and it’ll pass.
I hope it won’t, but with the Senate having been nothing but a rubber stamp for several years now…I don’t expect them to change now.
-Joe
Feingold in '08!
Ditto!!!
I keep hoping the whole thing will go down the toilet, just like Social Security privatization (“reform”).
Nice !
From what I’ve heard, the main difference between the House and Senate is concerning the “snoop” provision-- the language that allows for your home to be searched w/o your knowledge. The House wants that time period for the snooping (ie, before you’re notified) to be 180 days, the Senate wanted only 7 days. They couldn’t reach a compomise. There will be some form of this bill passed. If not, the original bill will get an extension until the House and the Senate can reach agreement. From the OP’s link:
Wouldn’t it be nice of Leahy gave some facts, evidence, or data, instead of more “They’re gonna kill us all” crap? I mean, come on Leahy. At least point to the successes (if ya can find any).
There are some important provisions of The Patriot Act that should be renewed. Throwing the baby out with the bath water isn’t the solution. It’s not good policy, and I don’t think it’s good politics for the Democrats, either. The “seak and peak” provison isn’t popular, but many of the provisions are:
Disaproval ratings for both parties in Congress are already pretty high, and I expect this will only make them higher.
That much, I can agree with. I didn’t check your links, but you sound reasonable, in saying we should take it apart piece by piece, and reassemble it with the proper protections and oversight, leaving out the “bad” parts. As it stand now, we need more oversight and less secrecy. We need more adherence to probable cause and the obtaining of warrants. On the other hand maybe a fresh start would be good too. The Patriot Act was signed too quickly and without a full enough review. There was too much “we gotta do something now”. I was always against it from the start (you know that), but there are some things I could live with (talking concensus wise). I just don’t accept it as it is now.
The irony of it, in hind sight is, much of what Bush wanted, was already law.
The Patriot Act is a red flag for Civil Liberties defenders because of how sweeping the provisions were, and because of the heavy-handed way that it was rammed down Congress’ throat. It should be thrown out bodily. Then, if necessary, we can figure out which provisions are actually useful and put those in a new bill. And actually let that new bill be debated in Congress this time. And use a less Orwellian name, for crying out loud.
Now that I’ve slept on it, I’m for getting rid of the entire Patriot Act. We did fine without it,and frankly, I just don’t trust our government enough to let it stay in effect. ANy “crime fighting” tools they need were already in place before the Patriot Act. In thinking about it, I don’t want the government’s brand of “protection”. I just don’t trust them. Warrantless eavesdropping, sneak and peek searches with no requirement to notify anyone, credit checks, library surveillance, “secret” courts and “secret” judge, etc. It can all go away. Go back to the old and proven way, as defined by the Fourth amendment. No searches of any kind unless a warrant and sworn testimony before a judge, the return of the right of a person to be secure in their person, property, papers, effects etc. It worked for how many wars? It worked for how many years during the peace? It was good then, it is good now. Plus, politically, it would be an excellent message to the president that he is ONLY a president, not some unlimited superboss.