Washington acts quickly....when they want to:
If only they were as interested in putting Americans back to work as they are on spying on them.
Priorities
"Congress on Thursday passed a four-year extension of post-Sept. 11 powers to search records and conduct roving wiretaps in pursuit of terrorists. Votes taken in rapid succession in the Senate and House came after lawmakers rejected attempts to temper the law enforcement powers to ensure that individual liberties are not abused.
Following the 250-153 evening vote in the House, the legislation to renew three terrorism-fighting authorities headed for the president's signature with only hours to go before the provisions expire at midnight.
With Obama currently in France, the White House said the president would use an autopen machine that holds a pen and signs his actual signature. It is only used with proper authorization of the president. Minutes before the midnight deadline, the White House said Obama had signed the bill.
Obama said he was pleased the act had been extended."
If only they were as interested in putting Americans back to work as they are on spying on them.
Priorities
And Des, why are you spreading this hyperbole? According to the clerk.house.gov page, this is the Small Business Additional Temporary Extension Act of 2011. It doesn't say anything about the patriot act in the title.
Are we really, as David Cross once suggested, a nation of 8 year-olds? We must be because this silly chit wouldn't even fool my 9 year-old daughter.
Here is the roll call, if anyone wants to be just a little sicker:
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2011/roll376.xml
Was this "live, on C-Span"?
Look at it this way... They are going to do this stuff anyway. At least now they can legally do it.
Patriot Act set us back hundreds of years...
What did I do with my copy of "The Bill of Rights"???? Shit! I know it's around here somewhere.
"Obama said he was pleased the act had been extended."
That's not the guy I voted for. I'd write more but I'm down at the Harris County Courthouse and I gotta stop and take off my shoes, and watch, and sunglasses, take out my change and cell phone,and keys and let them search my book and HEY, whadya doing down there??!!!
Agreed, and this 4 year extension stuff is bullshit too. The Patriot Act is now etched in stone. It’s had the support of a Republican president and now a Democratic president. Both parties in Congress pass it overwhelmingly. It’s now part of our post-9/11 Bill of Rights(?).
R.I.P. Fourth Amendment.
I am really NOT HAPPY about this!
Obama appears to have become Bush III.