Feingold May Try to Amend Patriot Act

[cal04]

Faced with losing his bid to block the USA Patriot Act, Sen. Russell Feingold is preparing a last-ditch strategy
to amend the legislation with stronger safeguards against government intrusion and more frequent congressional
oversight. The effort is unlikely to succeed. Most senators, including the leaders of his party, are expected to vote for the White House-brokered deal that supporters say makes the most changes possible without jeopardizing passage before the terrorism-fighting law expires March 10. "The outcome here is absolutely predetermined," said Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., expressing frustration with the Feingold-led delay. "It's going to pass with overwhelming support."

Still, Feingold, D-Wis., stuck to his objections, saying protracted talks with the White House over the law's protections for civil liberties had produced only a "fig leaf" to cover weaknesses that leave people vulnerable to government intrusion. "What we are seeing is quite simply a capitulation to the intransigent and misleading rhetoric of a White House that sees any effort to protect civil liberties as a sign of weakness," Feingold said during a floor speech Wednesday.

Without any apparent supporters for his filibuster, Feingold agreed to Frist's insistence on holding a procedural test vote Thursday that would clear the way for Senate debate on the legislation. Frist said the Senate would hold its final votes at the end of the month, when Congress returns from a weeklong recess. During the process, Feingold will try to introduce several amendments that would strengthen protections for civil liberties.

One would set a four-year expiration date on the use of so-called national security letters under the Patriot Act - secret government requests for information, according to Feingold's office. Another would require the government to notify the subject of a secret search within seven days or obtain court permission to maintain the secrecy for a longer period, rather than the 30-day requirement in the legislation being considered. While his filibuster was a lone endeavor, Feingold had plenty of company in wanting the 2001 terrorism law to contain more curbs on the government's power to investigate people.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/P/PATRIOT_ACT?SITE=1010WINS&SECTION=POLITICS&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[babylonsister]

1. FWIW, Feingold sparkled today.

I love John Kerry, but I liked Feingold today. He wasn't trying to cancel the Patriot Act, but modify it.

[gumby]

2. Listened to Feingold today and I can't help be really, really pissed.

Where are the fucking Democrats to cover Feingold's back? Oh, there there they are, "Most senators, including the leaders of his party, are expected to vote for the White House-brokered deal..."

Democratic leaders would rather suck off Bush than protect and defend the Constitution. Democratic leaders would rather spend their time attacking other democrats running in primaries than spend their time attacking the Bush administration. Democratic leaders would rather spend their time brokering deals with KKKarl than defending anything meaningful to the vast majority of American citizens. Democratic leaders would rather defend their own personal fiefdoms than defend freedom, democracy or justice.

Just exactly where have the Democratic leaders taken a unified stand against ANYTHING BushCo since Bush stole election 2000?

Stolen election -- check
9/11 -- check
War in Iraq -- check
Patriot Act -- check
Extreme court nominations -- check
Stolen election '04 -- check
Bankruptcy Bill -- check
Medicare Bill -- check
Katrina -- check
Illegal spying on Americans -- check

The list goes on and on. Where have Democratic leaders taken a vocal and united opposition against the extremely destructive march of Bush's despotism?

Oh, yeah, this one says this and then that one says that, but so what? A few sentences (and roses sent) by one Democrat don't mean shit. Not now. Not in the face of the Bush Cabal.

Russ is Right, but the Democrats don't care. So very, very, very sad.

edit: lost the blank lines

[sandnsea]

3. He always wanted to amend it

Maybe this will help get the message out. The filibuster might have gotten more momentum if the reasons for it weren't so distorted and confused. Maybe we can make some progress getting support for the Feingold Amendments.