UnPATRIOT Act Extention is on its way.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/02/house...extension/

The US House of Representatives voted Thursday night to clear the road for an extension of controversial provisions in the USA PATRIOT Act.

The final vote was 248 to 176, largely along party lines. Just 4 Republicans voted against the extension, while only 15 Democrats voted for it.

Under the House bill, the act would be extended until Dec. 8.

Democrats protested a Republican plan to hold the vote under the "closed rule," which prevented amendments.

The last PATRIOT Act extension was passed in Feb. 2010.

Thursday's House vote paved the way for a second ballot on the PATRIOT Act, allowing it to clear the chamber with a simple majority. An earlier vote failed when it did not obtain a two thirds majority.

The Wednesday vote was 23 votes short of the two-thirds majority needed to pass it under a procedure that allows bills that aren't controversial to pass quickly.

When the act was first signed into law, Congress put in some "sunset" provisions to quiet the concerns of civil libertarians, but they were ignored by successive extensions. Unfortunately, those concerns proved to be well founded, and a 2008 Justice Department report confirmed that the FBI regularly abused their ability to obtain personal records of Americans without a warrant.

The only real sign of strong opposition to the act was in 2005, when a Democratic threat to filibuster its first renewal was overcome by Senate Republicans.

The Obama administration had called for the act to be extended for three years, two years longer than Republicans were seeking.

As a US Senator and candidate for the presidency, Barack Obama never actually argued for a repeal of the Bush administration's security initiatives. Instead, he's consistently argued for enhanced judicial oversight and a pullback on the most extreme elements of the bill, such as the use of National Security Letters to search people's personal records without a court-issued warrant.

A prior version of this article said the House had passed the PATRIOT Act extension.

There was a reason this so-called law had an expiration date. I wish they would just let it die.

I still think it's for the best that our government can have the access to information. Maybe not as completely unchecked power in this case.. but to gain security means losing a little freedom.

And it's interesting that the Democrats extended it longer than even the Republicans wanted.

I still think it's for the best that our government can have the access to information. Maybe not as completely unchecked power in this case.. but to gain security means losing a little freedom.

And it's interesting that the Democrats extended it longer than even the Republicans wanted.

The government has the power to "spy" but they are only allowed to do so with a Warrent and Probably Cause. Basically, the powers and restrictions given by the constitution are all we need.

It is interesting that regardless of what political party is in power the PATRIOT Act is extended. Its just more proof that both parties are the same.

This is a good thing.

The patriot act is wrong.

Also, I'm a "republican". I want smaller government.

I think it's ironic that the republicans voted FOR this...

I still think it's for the best that our government can have the access to information. Maybe not as completely unchecked power in this case.. but to gain security means losing a little freedom.

F'uck that s'hit. The government should only be allowed information you willfully give up, or gain information by the normal means of obtaining a warrant.

This is a good thing.

The patriot act is wrong.

Also, I'm a "republican". I want smaller government.

I think it's ironic that the republicans voted FOR this...

I very much expected most Republicans to vote for this. They're not really Republicans. They are basically just corporatists. The only things most of them are loyal to is religion and money.

First, I will start by stating this...I would rather face the dangers than give up my freedoms. The more power that is given to the government, the more they will take and not give back. The patriot act is just one piece of a much larger picture. Most people don't even know what is in the patriot act and even more to the point don't understand it's purpose.

Most of us know that the patriot act was started as a response to the attacks on 9/11/01. What most people don't know is the details surrounding that event. The government was able to basically pull a fast one on the general public in creating the patriot act before anyone had a chance to examine it. Meanwhile the people were told it was in the interest of national security to put this bill into law.

There are a lot of things that can be said about this and I have uncovered a great deal of information about 9/11 and its connection to the patriot act. Bottom line is that the patriot act takes away many of our freedoms and that is very much against the constitution.

Most of us know that the patriot act was started as a response to the attacks on 9/11/01. What most people don't know is the details surrounding that event. The government was able to basically pull a fast one on the general public in creating the patriot act before anyone had a chance to examine it. Meanwhile the people were told it was in the interest of national security to put this bill into law.

Fast one is right. As much as I dont like Moore, his documentary has congressmen admit that they didnt even read the bill - they said they didnt have enough time and you cant expect them to read every bill. To make matters worse, being unable to read bills before they are voted on is still a major issue today (inspite of Obama's promise to allow all Americans 5 or so days to read a bill online before it is voted upon).

I very much expected most Republicans to vote for this. They're not really Republicans. They are basically just corporatists. The only things most of them are loyal to is religion and money.

They're trying to flip the system upside down so that the common voter won't know up from down and will just vote for what seems "nice".
For example, Obama. He's what seemed nice at the time. A ton of people that voted for him are regretting it now.

We need to stop making decisions based on our perceptions of the guys personality and how hip they are and start focusing on their policies and what they are going to do, not just plan to do.

For example, Obama. He's what seemed nice at the time. A ton of people that voted for him are regretting it now.

The main problem I have with this is: who would have been better? Hillary Clinton? John McCain? Mitt Romney? Mike Huckabee? It's not like the American political system offers a better alternative. If you're not voting for R/D, you're not gonna count for anything.

The main problem I have with this is: who would have been better? Hillary Clinton? John McCain? Mitt Romney? Mike Huckabee? It's not like the American political system offers a better alternative. If you're not voting for R/D, you're not gonna count for anything.

Ron Paul! It is a shame he will never be elected.

Ron Paul! It is a shame he will never be elected.

I would vote for him.

The main problem I have with this is: who would have been better? Hillary Clinton? John McCain? Mitt Romney? Mike Huckabee? It's not like the American political system offers a better alternative. If you're not voting for R/D, you're not gonna count for anything.

Ron "Who-Actually-Gives-A-pomegranate-About-The-Constitution" Paul, or you could have at least mentioned Kucinich (he constantly proposed articles of impeachment for Bush for unconstitutional acts(. He isnt perfect, but he is better than all the fools you listed.

And those are only the people associated with the main parties. If you look outside the main parties, you will see some decent people like Bob Barr who actually respect the law and the constitution and our rights.

The main problem I have with this is: who would have been better? Hillary Clinton? John McCain? Mitt Romney? Mike Huckabee? It's not like the American political system offers a better alternative. If you're not voting for R/D, you're not gonna count for anything.

None of those were better. However, you obviously didn't see how the last election turned out. Many people voted for Tea Party candidates and guess what, they won. Votes do count. Its people who don't think that their vote is going to matter that mess it up for the rest of us. Thats how we end up with People like Obama and Bush.

I am registered as republican, but I vote for the people I think are the best choice regardless of party affiliation. The political system will not change until we the people stand up and get noticed. It is up to us to change things. If we keep letting the people in washington tighten their grip on us we will eventually see the U.S. turn into a police state because of bills like the patriot act. There are several other bills that have been passed that go hand in hand with the patriot act and most of them were done without it being made public.

And those are only the people associated with the main parties. If you look outside the main parties, you will see some decent people like Bob Barr who actually respect the law and the constitution and our rights.

I only listed people who ran for and got a fair number of votes for the presidential candidacy in 2008. Ron Paul couldn't have suddenly gained an 50-fold increase in pledged delegates, so he was never really in the running except as an independent (which with the 2 party system, makes sure he can't get nationwide votes).

Ron Paul and Kucinich are my preferences also but hey, the election system was never gonna choose them. It's unfortunate how it works, but that'll have to change seriously before someone other than Obama or Bush can have a chance in hell of being elected.

Protection > some rights

Protection > some rights

Exactly how does spying on American citizens protect us? How exactly does the PATRIOT Act protect us?

The truth is that the only success of the patriot act is that it allowed the government to bypass the court systems to illegally spy and detain people without due process. The point of warrents is for the government to prove that it is necessary that a person be spied on, property be seized or a person be arrested. The point of due process is for the government to prove that a person is guilty (or not guilty) and prove that a person needs to be punished or detained. What is the point of the patriot act? So that the government doesnt have to prove pomegranate. They can just do whatever the hell they want without any checks or balances. They can spy on who they want when they want without first proving that it is even necessary to spy on them. They can arrest even US citizens without proving they are guilty and never give them a day in court thanks to the PATRIOT act. All it does is open the door for abuse, what checks, balances and the courts are meant to prevent.

And didnt the government say that the terrorists hated us for our rights? because we have freedoms? Aren't we letting the terrorists win by forfeiting those rights that the terrorists hated?


Also, Ron Paul never ran as an independent, and the main reasons he was not the nonminee for the republican party was because the media purposely ignored him (compare the screen time he got compared to other candidates) and the fact that the mainstream party also ignored him.
But that was 4 years ago. He has gained a lot of momentum since then. People are waking up to the fraud that was presented to by the government and the two main parties.

As one last point for now, most of us want change. If you want it, it wont come from some handsom man that is a good public speaker. Its going to come from dissent. Its going to come from informing the public about the world, and opposing the two party system that keep changes nothing.
Thinking that nothing will change, and simply giving up will not change a thing.

Edit: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/...oll-1.html
Ron Paul won a recent straw poll. Anyone saying he has no chance is ignorant (I'm looking at you Donald)

I agree moose. Also Ron Paul is going to be a hard sell to his party but I think he has a good shot. Change only comes from those of us who stand up and get noticed.

No matter what I say Moose, you'll have 15 points on why I'm wrong. Regardless, I never thought this was a bad idea. Give up some rights for the whole. Have you any reason to be spied on? Then why does this concern you?

No matter what I say Moose, you'll have 15 points on why I'm wrong. Regardless, I never thought this was a bad idea. Give up some rights for the whole. Have you any reason to be spied on? Then why does this concern you?

I don't have anything to hide from the government but I dont think it is right for them to take away any of the freedoms that we have under the false term, "security". Like I said many times already, I would rather face the dangers than give up my freedom. The patriot act was put into motion because of the "attacks" of 9/11/01. What were we told about that? It was a terrorist attack. I call BS. I have seen far too much information that says the story we were told is total and utter crap. We were lied to then and we are still being lied to now. It saddens me to see so many people just so blind to the truth.

Bottom line here is that our freedoms are not things to give up for a false sense of security.

Protection > some rights

They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.