The infamous Patriot Act hit a roadblock Friday morning as the Senate could not get enough votes to reauthorize sixteen controversial provisions. Some of the provisions that are under scrutiny include increased authority of the government to set wiretaps on phone lines and obtain personal records from libraries, businesses, and hospitals without a search warrant. (article)
Sixteen provisions are set to expire on the 31st of December if not reauthorized. And in a stunning move, the Senate Democrats suddenly grew a spine and threatened to filibuster any attempt at reauthorization. In total there were 47 Senators who voted against the reauthorization including five Republicans. One of the Republicans voting against the reauthorization was our own Chuck Hagel.
For all of those Democrats in Nebraska who wonder how Ben Nelson represents your views in Washington, another piece of the puzzle was put in to place. As one of only two Democrats to vote for the measure, I am again forced to ask if he remains a Democrat simply because he lost a horrible bet back in college.
In an election year, it is necessary we get our Democrats elected, but if Sen. Nelson wants any more support from this blogger, he’s going to have to quit holding hands with President Bush on nearly every vote.
In related news, the NY Times reported that President Bush gave the National Security Agency the power to spy on American citizens.
Patriot Act’s critics got a boost from a New York Times report saying Bush authorized the National Security Agency to monitor the international phone calls and international e-mails of hundreds — perhaps thousands — of people inside the United States.
It is estimated that several thousand American citizens have been spied on since Mr. Bush authorized the practice. Are these the American values that he claims he believes in? Mr. Bush has taken away our civil liberties and disregarded the Constitution. Thankfully the Senate made the first stride today in showing the White House that America is still the land of the free.
I can’t believe I am saying this but please call Sen Hagel’s office and thank him for supporting our civil liberties and for upholding the constitution of the united states.
his number is (202) 224-4224
and call Sen. Nelson’s office and urge him to get with the program.
His number is (202)224-6551.
To the author of this blog: I’m kind of curious, but what civil liberties have been taken away from you? Unless Osama bin Ladin called your house, you’ve checked out library books on how to construct a basic nuclear weapon, and you’ve been funnelling money over to Hezbollah and al-Qaeda, you shouldn’t have too much to worry about. If the government intercepted my phone calls, I guess I wouldn’t care considering they’d probably fall asleep while listening. I promise you, I’m not really that exciting
Mr. Paine, you are right. As long as you’re not doing anything coversive who cares if the government is listening. I suppose privacy is not a civil liberty. But, maybe we should be able to have some say if they should listen or watch us or anything. Bush and the Repelicans can listen or whatever they want to do, but they are suppose to follow proper procedures to do so in order to do it democratically through checks and balances. I think it started with the founding fathers, who were justifiably paranoid, so they categorized our privacy as a civil liberty. I think it had something to do with the Bill of Rights. My telephone conversations are also boring, but I still do not want someone listening.