Patriot Act extension runs into conservative opposition

[Newsjock]

Source: Los Angeles Times

A House GOP push to permanently extend expiring provisions of the Patriot Act is running into opposition from conservative and "tea party"-inspired lawmakers wary of the law's reach into private affairs.

... But as the Republican-led House prepares to vote Tuesday for a short-term extension of provisions expiring at the end of this month, some rank-and-file Republicans are signaling they will resist efforts later this year to make the law permanent.

"There need to be sunsets on the bill after that in order to have adequate accountability and oversight," said Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas). "Until sunsets come up, it is often difficult to get the answers we need to do necessary oversight to avoid abuses."

... The three provisions up for renewal have long raised objections from civil libertarians, including the so-called library provision, which allows federal investigators, with a judge's approval, to access a wide cache of a suspect's personal information, including library records.

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-patriot-act-20110208,0,6963018.story

[bluestateguy]

1. They just don't want Obama to have the powers

They'd bend over backwards to let Sarah Palin have the full unrestricted Patriot Act.

[krispos42]

4. They're already bent over backwards

Any farther and they'll start digesting themselves n/t

[PSPS]

6. I don't want Obama to "have the powers" either.

[markpkessinger]

9. Agreed. I don't want ANY President to have those powers!

I only wish more Democrats would recognize the long-term dangers of the Patriot Act. People may not think President Obama would abuse those powers, and maybe they're right, maybe he wouldn't. But the longer these extreme provisions remain in place, the more entrenched they will become and the less likely it will be that they will ever be rolled back (no matter how safe we convince ourselves we are). With a right wing as radicalized as the current one, I want to see these provisions rolled back before some hard right lunatic gets elected to the Presidency.

[aquart]

10. Yup.

But the only thing that coulda done it was impeaching Bush and we didn't.

[Adsos Letter]

12. Well said!

[Myrina]

22. ding, ding, ding ... we have a winner!

:applause: Indeed.

[yellowcanine]

28. Me neither. This should never have been passed in the first place. It was hysteria that

prompted this legislation. It is interesting though that Republicans were not against it until a Democrat became President.

[lovuian]

32. the tea party members maybe worth something

after all

there is a certain karma working here

[indimuse]

15. exactly! n/t

[golddigger]

26. I don't want any President to have the powers either.

[SteveG]

29. Ditto

The Patriot Act was an abomination from day 1.

[X_Digger]

2. Even a blind pig occasionally finds an acorn. n/t

[TalkingDog]

3. they keep this up and they'll forfeit the "batshit crazy" label n/t

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

5. Good... someones standing up to it.

Even if for the wrong reasons... I'll take it.

[Democat]

7. They should change the name so cowards can feel safe voting against it.

Democrats are too afraid to vote against the "Patriot" act.

[Zoeisright]

8. Huh? They weren't concerned about this when Bush the Dumber was in office.

Methinks that racism certainly plays a part in this "concern". Assholes.

[Ter]

35. Tea Baggers weren't in power when Bush was president, only neo-cons were

Except for Ron Paul, who was against it from the start.

[markpkessinger]

39. Possibly true, but . . .

Regardless of their motivations, the Patriot Act has been, from day one, an insidious, appalling over-reaction to the terrorist threat that has paved the way for the Security State. Many of its provisions, included ostensibly to gather intelligence on potential terrorists, can just as easily be used t intimidate or quash political dissent. So, frankly, I don't give a shit about the purity of motives on the part of folks who are speaking out against the Patriot Act. The toxicity of the Patriot Act is such that I'm willing to join common cause with anyone who is willing to fight against its extension.

[orleans]

11. we didn't like it then and we don't like it now

shame on them for making the rest of us put up with it for so long.

[Solly Mack]

13. K&R

Fucking kill that beast. It never should have been brought to life.

I didn't support it under Bush and I don't support it now.

[rasputin1952]

18. I'm with you...

that should never have been passed, it's a travesty that it went through so fast and so so many had no idea what was even in the damn thing.

I think it was prepared well in advance, the only thing that kept it hidden away was the timing, something big had to happen...all of the sudden this monstrosity popped up and passed w/just the smallest accounts of what was in it.

They got support from fear, if this had been debated and the citizenry had any idea what was in ti, it would have been rejected almost immediately.

[melm00se]

14. to be fair and honest

you can't declare everything the opposition does as contrary to core beliefs.

you have to admit when they are right and in this case: go tea party! cut this abominable legislation off at the ankles and let it die.

[SpiralHawk]

16. When they meekly Assume the Position for AWOL Bush & RepubliCronies, and then...

...start whining because now Obama is at the helm, they deserve 50 lashes with a wet noodle.

They earned it with their steenkin hypocrisy.

[naaman fletcher]

20. but they did...

But that was before that libertarian-ish wing of the party had any clout. I think we should be supporting the tea party as much as possible in these things. They are generally psycho but on a few key things we are 100% aligned and shouldn't get on their case about that. Also, on the stuff they are psycho about at least they are generally honest about it which is refreshing compared to the W-Cheney secret agendas and such.

[hugo_from_TN]

25. There were no tea party members in the house when Bush was in office

If you didn't notice, there was a huge turnover in the house from the last election.

[SpiralHawk]

30. Of course I noticed

I also noticed that -- in or out of Congress -- they never joined with those who courageously opposed the Orwellian 'patriot act' when the TeaBaggers' RepubliCronies were shoving it down America's throat.

Not nice to try and re-write history.

[Ter]

36. Yes they did join

They just had no power then. Ron Paul and former rep. Bar Barr were pretty much alone. Tea Baggers despise Bush.

[BumRushDaShow]

17. So the Libertarians in their ranks were allowed to finally flex their muscles?

10 years later? :rofl:

They like to talk a good game but let's see how it goes with Neo Con vs Libertarian! :popcorn:

[tahrir]

19. now if they will join forces with the liberals on this issue, maybe there is something we can agree

on.

if not, we will all be walking like Egyptians.

[Hubert Flottz]

21. Boiled in their own juices.

[elocs]

23. I have a conservative friend with a libertarian bent who was uncomfortable with the Patriot Act

even under Bush because he thought it went to far in infringing upon people's rights and liberties.

[krabigirl]

37. Most libertarians were against the patriot act.

[Javaman]

24. How do the dems stand on this?

let me guess, they haven't said anything.

sigh.

A sad state of affairs when the lunatic libertarian/john birchers/tea party/ball lickers are the ones championing our rights.

We have fallen so far.

[markpkessinger]

40. Unfortunately, many Democrats are just as guilty...

Unfortunately, many Democrats are just as guilty as Republicans of opposing something merely because the opposition supports it, then later giving a pass to one of their own.

[midnight]

27. I didn't know that the "tea party" allowed professional left

ideas.... Because any resistance to a bill is because of the professional left.....

[no limit]

31. Yeah, can't have the black guy spying on you. But the coked out frat boy? No problemo

[The Doctor.]

33. My first thought too; Spoiled Frat boy; 'OK!" Scary Black Man; "Oh NO!" n/t

[Ter]

34. This is why I have said that tea baggers are vastly better than neo-cons

You people gloating that the neo-con Lisa Murkowski beat Tea Bagger Joe Miller might not be happy to know that Lisa will vote to extend it, Miller wanted to scrap it.

[krabigirl]

38. Depends on the kind of bagger. Palin tyes? No. Ron paul ones? Yes, on stuff like this.

Most of the tea party though is the palin type which IMO is worse than neocons..they pretty much want a christian theocracy in the us.

[eridani]

41. I say support the stopped clocks whenever they are right about something n/t