The Patriot Act, which I have always called the Unpatriot Act, is so vast complex that writing it could not have been done in less than six months. Yet the Republican Reich had it ready to shove down peoples throats less than a week after 9/11. Neocons at AEI and PNAC must have prepared it months in advance in hopes that a “Pearl Harbor incident” would give them an opportunity to gut the Constitutional Rights of the American people.
After a post-midnight vote Saturday, the U.S. Senate took no action to extend or revise the National Security Agency’s controversial phone data surveillance program, and the program along with other sections of the Patriot Act will expire as planned on June 1.
“Sunsetting the Patriot Act is the biggest win for ending mass surveillance programs, and one that conventional DC wisdom said was impossible. We are seeing history in the making and it was because the public stood up for our rights to freedom of expression and freedom of association — and there’s no turning back now,” Tiffiniy Cheng, co-founder of Fight for the Future, an anti-government surveillance group said in a news release.
A cohort of House members including government surveillance critic Rep. Rand Paul (R-KY) rejected Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) proposed amendments to the bill that would extend the program, the Washington Post reported. The Senate could not muster the 60 votes needed to move forward with the NSA reform bill, the USA Freedom Act, passed by the U.S. House of Representatives last week.
The failed 57-42 procedural vote early Saturday blocked the only bill that could prevent a complete shutdown of the NSA’s metadata program. The bill also would have been a compromise with the White House and civil liberties advocates to limit the government’s data collection abilities under Section 215 of the Patriot Act.
With Congress now in recess until after the Memorial Day holiday, the NSA will dismantle its program so that no new data queries can be made after June 1…
Inserted from <Think Progress>
It always was unpatriotic. At least for now, good riddance!!
11 Responses to “It Always Was Unpatriotic”
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Yeah, old Mitch McTurtle showed real leadership there. Keeping them up till one in the morning and then not even coming close.
I would not put it past him, though (and more to the point, neither would Daily Kos, CREDO, Free Press, and some other good groups) to try again right before the expiration, after having done some wheeling and dealing. So expect a petition (probably one huge joint one rather than several separate ones) to correctly voting Senators to stand strong.
Just what I was thinking Joanne. If they repeal something awful then they have something else waiting in the wings. However, we must continue, and always remember 'Don't let the bastards grind you down!'
Yup. Just as I predicted, the first link to a followup petition came in this morning (Sunday):
http://act.credoaction.com/sign/sunset_update?t=6&akid=14473.2616308.LufPsP
Thanks JD. Signed.
I know that this a US petition, but Harper follows the US. particularly the Republicanus/Teabaggerum, that I feel I have a large stake in this too.
See today's Open Thread. 🙂
Every once in a while some good news comes out of Washington.
All too rarely!
"With Congress now in recess until after the Memorial Day holiday, the NSA will dismantle its program so that no new data queries can be made after June 1…"
This is good . . . too bad it isn't permanent!
It may still be.
CREDO Petition:
Tell Congress:
“The Senate’s vote against reauthorizing the PATRIOT Act represents major progress in the fight to restore constitutional rights suspended in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks. Now is the time to allow the PATRIOT Act to expire. Vote no on any bill that would reauthorize the PATRIOT Act, whether it’s a so-called ‘clean’ reauthorization or a fake-reform bill like the USA FREEDOM Act.”
http://act.credoaction.com/sign/sunset_update?t=6&akid=14473.2616308.LufPsP
I just cannot believe it! They are ACTUALLY letting the Patriot Act expire? WOW!
It has been raining and storming here for the last SIX WEEKS! We have had over 20 INCHES OF RAIN IN ONE MONTH! This has been the rainiest MONTH IN HISTORY, for Oklahoma! We busted the records since they have been keeping records and it wasn’t just by a little bit! We broke it with AT LEAST 5 inches! And it is STILL raining! Ugh!!!!! If ANYONE says ” And we need the rain because of the drought” AGAIN, I will explode!