Posts Tagged ‘Partiot Act’
Congress agrees on bi-partisan sellout of Bill of Rights – again
See any dissent on behalf of the Bill of Rights in this photo?
Daylife/Reuters Pictures used by permission
Top lawmakers in the House and Senate reached a deal to extend the Patriot Act for four years, a week before key provisions were set to expire…
Extending the Bush-era surveillance law has not been a slam dunk for House GOP leaders this year. In fact, Republicans were unable to muster enough votes to fast-track the bill through the House earlier this year because of objections from lawmakers ranging from libertarian-minded conservatives to liberal Democrats. When a 90-day extension passed earlier this year, Republicans needed Democrats to carry it across the finish line…
Another plus for both parties: the four-year compromise places the vote in 2015 — which is not an election year.
Civil liberties groups reacted with anger to the news of a four-year extension for the controversial law without committee review.
“That is how the Patriot Act first came into being 10 years ago—without meaningful debate,” said the Bill of Rights Defense Committee in a statement issued on Thursday night.
“Today, despite the prior approval of the Senate Judiciary Committee of a bill introduced by Senator Patrick Leahy to impose some (albeit inadequate) reforms, the congressional leadership is dictating the result of a long overdue policy debate that has never happened.”
I would expect nothing less. Like foreign policy since World War 2, there is no debate, little dissent from the party line – from either wing of the ruling political hacks.
The smallish progressive Democrat caucus + the very few libertarian Republicans oppose this crap. Blue Dog Democrats, Republicans and the Kool Aid Klowns are as united against freedom as ever. Congress hasn’t been so well-defined by cowardice since the witch-hunt days of Joe McCarthy.
