Daylife/Reuters Pictures used by permission
See any dissent on behalf of the Bill of Rights in this photo? |
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.
The pieces of the law that allow the federal government to compel businesses to release records, issue roving wiretaps, and monitor so-called “lone wolf” terror suspects were set to run out on May 27. The outline of the deal between Speaker John Boehner, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell still needs to pass both chambers in the next seven days to avoid a lapse in the law…
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. Congress hasn’t been so thoroughly-defined by cowardice since the witch-hunt days of Joe McCarthy.
Like I said many time, this is the new normal.
The Cheney administration convinced the American sheeple to give up the liberties in order to save the children, especially the white ones.
Wait till the GOP installed Corporation controlled Supreme Court fucks us in new ways.
The ACLU was accused of being un-American and pro-Muslim by the majority of conservatives, the Christian Taliban (because this of course a holy war)_and the 30% dumb asses that vote.
Now the same fucktards are complaining. Yes, we need a Rupture.
#1. Alfie- Change the tune Alfred….this one got old a year ago.
Dallas, making crazy excuses again…
Hey Dallas! How about spinning this?
A truly excellent. Nails Obama perfectly. Written by Pulitzer Prize winner Chris Hedges about Obama’s long term relationship with Princeton University Professor Cornell West.
Just a small quote:
“No one grasps this tragic descent better than West, who did 65 campaign events for Obama, believed in the potential for change and was encouraged by the populist rhetoric of the Obama campaign. He now nurses, like many others who placed their faith in Obama, the anguish of the deceived, manipulated and betrayed. He bitterly describes Obama as “a black mascot of Wall Street oligarchs and a black puppet of corporate plutocrats. And now he has become head of the American killing machine and is proud of it.”
And the truth just keeps flowing.
#2 if u keep sweeping tough lessons under rug, how else are you gonna learn? You’ll never hide what you’ve done from your children. Come clean, man!
Yep, no surprises here…No Change, No Hope for Change.
#4. You aren’t even remotely amusing or interesting anymore. I’ll add you to the list of comments I skip routinely. Mainly you, Tea dude, and of course bobbo.
Maybe we can get an app the filters out the morons.
#6 The technical term for tuning in to only those that say what your want to hear is called “drinking each others bathwater”.
This is not good for you and arguably an incestuous path. This is not good, especially with tomorrow Rapture.
#7. You are being filtered out because of your droning. I can only read the same book so many times before I know exactly what it will say.
Surprise me…say something original. Would it kill you to disagree with just ONE thing your master does.
#8 I though my clever term “the new normal” was quite original. I also implied it was not a good thing.
I’ll see if I can come up with something else you might like.
Now we will see if Tea Party got enough votes (and who is sticking to Tea’ principles and who is not). This may well define next Senate/Congress elections.
And for those with LeftMedia goggles on – Tea Party principles are strongly against Patriot Act which is considered keystone of Progressive BigGovernment.
hear none, see none and speak none
Dusanmal again makes a good point. I specially like “who is sticking to Tea’ principles and who is not” and against BigGovernment.
Dallas, on the other hand, confirms my assertion in #3.
I don’t know about you guys but this Biden administration is just as bad as the Cheney administration.
I think they are the name man. Let me do some research here . . .
Yep! Joe Biden and D Cheney both add up to 64.
They are the same man, I knew it!
/the mind numbed masses respond:
woah…
look how much shinier the gold
bars on our gilded cage look today. -sweeet!
^%$@#!!
-s
Now, that is more of the ‘Change’ I voted for, and you? Glad all the troops are home safely and that the ‘War on Brown People’ has ended.
The Bill of Rights is under fire from all sides lately. So this is what the end of an empire looks like.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Politicians never give up power unless it taken away by force or they have lined-up something better.
I will remind those who ignore the truth and continue to blame Bush/Cheney for the Patriot Act. Both Democrats and Republicans voted for it in large numbers 98-1 in the Senate and 357-66 in the House.
Also, the Bill of Rights was under fire long before the patriot act.
cocks
Yea, it is interesting. Pedro asked who is worse? The white man that promises to be a douche, or the black man that promises hope and change but turns out to be almost the complete same douche? ie–only slightly not as douchey as the other guy?
Is only slightly not as douchey being exactly the same level of douchey or is he slightly better?
Who do you want: a total douche or someone who is slightly less than a total douche?
Yes, these are trying times.
Thomas: I read your posts with rapt attention. Who knows when you might change?
Dallas: Always good work. Surely your borrowed “the new normal?” I’ve heard that before. Drinking each others bathwater was new for me though–I was thinking koolaide. Both work, both flavor full–I only wonder which is healthier for you.
It isn’t just the BoR getting the shaft. The Constitution is, too.
The War Powers Act (a bypass on the Constitution, itself) says that Obama either needs Congressional approval to stay in Libya or get out. TODAY is that deadline.
“No more ignoring the law when it’s inconvenient. That is not who we are. We will again set an example for the world that the law is not subject to the whims of stubborn rulers.”
BO – 2007
http://tinyurl.com/3fr8zvx
Everybody was warned but I guess the breath of fresh air was just a mint covering up the stench of fetid deception.
He bitterly describes Obama as “a black mascot of Wall Street oligarchs and a black puppet of corporate plutocrats. And now he has become head of the American killing machine and is proud of it.”
And the truth just keeps flowing.
Rats, Ah_Yea #3, you beat me to it.
Sorry!
Nah, good job. I couldn’t remember where I saw the article.
So, what all you O-Haters really wanted was a more progressive program of liberal social engineering (Copyright the Newt) huh?
FTA: “. I said, ‘I have been thoroughly misled, all this populist language is just a facade. I was under the impression that he might bring in the voices of brother Joseph Stiglitz and brother Paul Krugman. I figured, OK, given the structure of constraints of the capitalist democratic procedure that’s probably the best he could do. But at least he would have some voices concerned about working people, dealing with issues of jobs and downsizing and banks, some semblance of democratic accountability for Wall Street oligarchs and corporate plutocrats who are just running amuck. I was completely wrong.”
I can see why you right wingers are upset.
#19 Bobbo, yes I do recycle good terms in the spirit of being green. ‘New Normal’ is not new but surely ‘fresh’ in this hairball forum.
I was thinking “drinking each others Koolaid” was stupid and “sucking each others cock” was used last month and “circle jerk” is too general purpose.
#19. “Yea, it is interesting. Pedro asked who is worse? The white man that promises to be a douche, or the black man that promises hope and change but turns out to be almost the complete same douche? ie–only slightly not as douchey as the other guy?”
You asked…my answer is, the man that promises to be a douche, and is elected, is at least an honest douche. The other guy is a lying douche. So if you vote for the guy who promises to be a douche, and TWICE, (I might add)…then YOUR douchery is 10 times more douchetastic than if you voted for the guy who runs on an anti-douche platform. Then you should shut your yap, because you got nothing to bitch about.
Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice…er, Won’t get Douched Again. That includes the next election.
@26–McCullough==I think you are making a very close equation, a balance of the very edge of the fulcrum, a bathtub full of douche water if you will.
But what is the gravamen? The real issue? Being a lying douche bag or the better or worse Prenedent depending on whether you like your eggs sunny side up or not?
Hard to judge, but at least the question is worthy.
In times such as these, only one man can help restore BHO to his true path of hope and change- Undercover Brother!
http://.youtube.com/watch?v=lFn1SZj59x8
The picture reminds me of a joke. A black guy, an orange guy, and a pasty-faced white guy walk into a bar…..
I think everybody who ever signed the “Patriot Act” is guilty of Treason. They swore to protect the Constitution then buried it.