More good news
The Senate on Friday rejected attempts to reauthorize several provisions of the USA Patriot Act as infringing too much on Americans’ privacy and liberty, dealing a huge defeat to the Bush administration and Republican leaders.
In a crucial vote early Friday, the bill’s Senate supporters were not able to get the 60 votes needed 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.
December 16th, 2005 at 2:09 pm
Why is that cool? I think it’s just stupid. The terroist are still out there and still want to kill you, forgot that already?
December 16th, 2005 at 2:14 pm
No, bill, I’ve not forgotten. I prefer freedom to safety.
December 16th, 2005 at 8:49 pm
Amen. Safety isn’t obtainable by living in a police state.
December 16th, 2005 at 9:25 pm
Finally, politicians showing that they have some sense left.
When they close the border down, racial profile Arabs at airports, and do the most visible, sensible, thing to protect me and my family, then come to me and ask for my freedoms. Anyone that would allow them to leave borders open for terrorists to walk across with a nuke and support allowing the .gov illegal searches ( abuses of 4th and 14th amendment of our Constitution) is more or less in my book uneducated how and why we became the country we are today.
Perhaps anyone that could not understand the reasoning behind a large number of people rejecting this should take a refresher course in American history. Start about the year of our lord 1773 and go forward from there. Search Google for “Boston Tea Party” to get you started
People seem to forget the reason we are taught history is so that we do not repeat our mistakes. I for one get chills reading about our history and Patrick Henry’s “Give me Liberty or Give Me Death” speech:
Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged. Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable — and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come!
It is vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, peace, peace; but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?
Forbid it, Almighty God — I know not what course others may take; but as for me — give me liberty or give me death!
(Forgive me Uncle for the lengthy rant, but it is dear to my heart)
Keep in mind folks; many have died so that we may have the freedoms we have. It is not the general public’s fault that our government has allowed millions of legal and illegal aliens across our borders unchecked, all in the name of the almighty dollar. I am sorry, but there have been and will always be terrorists in world but when an American citizen agrees to give up on freedom, then the terrorists have already won in my book.
December 16th, 2005 at 11:41 pm
The Dems and a few renegade Rebubs blocked this out of spite and confusion….not because they actually you know….BELIEVE in the Bill of Rights. Even so, I am glad it is stalled for a while. When the gov takes babies off the no-fly list, seals the borders, when Bush quits sucking op to the Saudis, If Bush ever VETOES any bill, when we actually FIGHT terrorism, then talk to me about whether we need the finishing touches on a police state.
Good for the dems. Bush has been an obstinate foe of conservatism and the Bill of Rights….and he made the Repubs roll over for him.
The state never makes good use of any power it manages to grab, in my experience. Usually you end up with catch and release on illegals, strip-searching grandma at the airport, and Cory Maye.
December 17th, 2005 at 1:54 pm
The notion that Dems secretly wanted this bill but blocked it out of spite is pretty stupid partisan blindness. Feingold deserve a lot of credit for making the right decision and leading the charge. He gets a lot of stuff wrong, but he got this one right and should be thanked.
December 18th, 2005 at 9:01 am
agreed. I think conservatives (whatever that means nowadays) should be looking very carefully at Chuck Hagel as well. He has been out in front of this issue, even before the domestic spying scandal on Thursday.