House votes to renew controversial surveillance law

[alp227]

Source: Washington Post

The House of Representatives voted Wednesday to renew a contested surveillance law, moving it a step closer to full reauthorization — a goal strongly shared by the White House and the intelligence community as a way to protect the nation against terrorism and other foreign threats.

Renewal of the FISA Amendments Act, enacted in 2008 after heated debate, faces hurdles in the Senate, where more than a dozen lawmakers are concerned that the law does not adequately protect Americans’ privacy and civil liberties.

The House voted 300 to 118 to extend the law for five years. The Senate likely will not take up the bill until after the Nov. 6 election.

The Obama administration is pressing the case that renewal is crucial to preserving the government’s capabilities to collect intelligence on adversaries overseas. At the same time it is seeking to refute assertions made by civil libertarians and some lawmakers — most notably Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) — that the law enables the intelligence community to spy on Americans without probable cause.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/house-votes-to-renew-controversial-surveillance-law/2012/09/12/ba71bc38-fce5-11e1-a31e-804fccb658f9_story.html

[OnyxCollie]

1. I remember hoping for change.

That didn't happen.

[Proletariatprincess]

6. I had hope too...but it was very slim....

Now we will get 4 years more of the same, then 8 years of Jeb Bush.

(Love that shot of the smiling dogface )

[OnyxCollie]

11. It was Obama's 2008 FISA vote

that ended the dream for me.

All they had to do was let the amendment sunset and FISA would have returned to pre-Bushian status. Democrats, however, can't do nothing right (as if it was a "mistake.&quot

(I saw a post of yours recently, and I was wondering if you sewed my avatar. Your work is absolutely beautiful! )

[triplepoint]

2. The Attack and Killings at Our Libyan Embassy Seem Synced With This

Last edited Thu Sep 13, 2012, 03:10 AM - Edit history (2)

and the anti-Islamic film is just a red herring/phony cover story...now that we know that a failed rescue operation had been initiated by our own troops. This was a well-organized false flag operation...on the 11th anniversary of 9/11 that appears to be yielding a more draconian police state here in the States...and another military posturing and/or beatdown exercise (now in progress)...The gang's all back together. We STILL got it, and we're ready to rumble...once again in our perpetual "search for vengeance." Didn't we ALREADY see and star in that sick movie...or am I just thinking too far outside our opaque fishbowl...A-G-A-I-N???

"Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio, our nation turns its lonely eyes to you?"

--Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel, "Mrs. Robinson"

[JDPriestly]

4. I don't understand what you are talking about.

a well organized false flag operation???

What do you mean by that? I think that the official explanation is quite believable. I don't always think that, but this time I do. So maybe I don't understand what you mean.

[Joe Shlabotnik]

3. Surprise surprise

[villager]

5. "a goal strongly shared by the White House..."

Of course.

[villager]

12. None of us were, frankly

Or at least, we were "hoping against hope." This time.

[gateley]

8. What Dems voted for this?

[Solly Mack]

9. k/r

[dreamnightwind]

10. Might be worth a couple of phone calls

to our Senators. Let 'em know how we feel!