Patriot act extension: DENIED

If they are so worried about certain parts of it for law enforcement, why didn't they just carve those non-controversial parts out and vote on them separately from the crap that it was rejected over?
 
Because the Republican leadership is as stubborn as hell. Bush has outright said that he considers compromise to be the same thing as defeat, if not worse. By refusing to compromise at all, they can at least claim that they were standing by their principles. Plus, they can always hope that there's another terrorist attack, then blame it on the Democrats for not letting the federal government spy on what books you check out at the public library.
 
[quote name='Drocket']letting the federal government spy on what books you check out at the public library.[/QUOTE]
I think that provision was actually nixed a little while back.
 
[quote name='capitalist_mao']I think that provision was actually nixed a little while back.[/QUOTE]

wonder what they'd think of my records, Karate-do & survivalist books :lol:
 
[quote name='elprincipe']If they are so worried about certain parts of it for law enforcement, why didn't they just carve those non-controversial parts out and vote on them separately from the crap that it was rejected over?[/QUOTE]


The President said he would veto anything but the full bill.
 
[quote name='usickenme']The President said he would veto anything but the full bill.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, I know, but what I'm saying is that if this is as important to law enforcement as claimed, passing the non-controversial parts would still be important even if they can't get the library part and a few other parts, no?
 
[quote name='elprincipe']Yeah, I know, but what I'm saying is that if this is as important to law enforcement as claimed, passing the non-controversial parts would still be important even if they can't get the library part and a few other parts, no?[/QUOTE]

that's the rub. No legislation is so important that is is above politics.
 
[quote name='elprincipe']Yeah, I know, but what I'm saying is that if this is as important to law enforcement as claimed, passing the non-controversial parts would still be important even if they can't get the library part and a few other parts, no?[/QUOTE]

Because if he does that then there is no hope for getting the rest past.
 
*Ahem* LOSER! I'm surprised the "inner circle" isn't working to get Dubya out of office and Cheney in office. Where Dubya is just plain stupid, Cheney is evil, and would probably put more pressure on those "rogue" republicans to tow the party line.
 
[quote name='E-Z-B']*Ahem* LOSER! I'm surprised the "inner circle" isn't working to get Dubya out of office and Cheney in office. Where Dubya is just plain stupid, Cheney is evil, and would probably put more pressure on those "rogue" republicans to tow the party line.[/QUOTE]

Cheney's evil works best out-of-sight. Right now, Bush dances around like an idiot while Cheney works his evil magic almost entirely out of view of the cameras. If Cheney was president, he'd have cameras on him 24/7 broadcasting his pure evil for all the world to see - he'd be impeached and removed from office within 2 weeks.

The Bush administration is built entirely on sleight-of-hand - pay no attention to what the man behind the curtain is doing! Look at the dancing monkey! Isn't he funny, saying goofy things about the 'internets'?
 
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=politicsNews&storyID=2005-12-22T024628Z_01_KRA102363_RTRUKOC_0_US-SECURITY-PATRIOT.xml&archived=False

Senate Agrees to extend PATRIOT act for 6 months in order to go back to the discussion table

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senate leaders reached a bipartisan agreement on Wednesday to extend for six months key provisions of the anti-terrorism USA Patriot Act set to expire in 10 days.

The accord, to be voted on later on Wednesday, would provide time for Congress to try to resolve differences over safeguards for civil liberties before making most of the provisions the Bush administration deems necessary for its war on terror permanent.

Democrats and Republicans who helped negotiate the deal voiced confidence that the White House and House of Representatives would give needed approvals.

Initially passed after the September 11, 2001, attacks, the Patriot Act expanded the authority of the federal government to conduct secret searches, obtain private records, intercept telephone calls and take other action in the effort to track down suspected terrorists.

Earlier on Wednesday, 52 of the 100 senators, including eight Republicans, signed a letter in support of a Democratic-led bid to extend expiring provisions for just three months to provide time to resolve differences.

Senate leaders, who had earlier opposed any such short-term deal, agreed to the six-month extension following talks during much of the day.

The battle has been complicated by the recent disclosure that shortly after the September 11 attacks Bush authorized spying on communications by Americans with suspected terrorist ties without a warrant.

Bush brushed aside criticism of his aggressive tactics and, earlier on Wednesday, accused Senate Democrats of putting the United States at risk by blocking renewal of the Patriot Act.

Bush made no mention of the four senators in his Republican Party -- Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, Larry Craig of Idaho, John Sununu of New Hampshire and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska -- who joined most Democrats last week to block the bill with a procedural hurdle.
 
I think the GOP should have taken the 6-month extention over the 1-month. That would have pushed the debate closer to mid-terms and the Democrats wouldn't want to do anything that could be used against them as "soft on terrorists". And won't this screw up plans in the House to hold off the session until late January in hopes that DeLay will be back?
 
It's actually a 5 week extension, and that puts it in early February. They hope DeLay is cleared of the indictments by January 31st when Congress reconvenes.
 
bread's done
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