Patriot Act reauthorized

[driveby]

Shhhhh, Don't Tell Anyone — The Patriot Act Was Reauthorized [Andy McCarthy]

 

 

After a lot of huffing and puffing, about the need to add more civil liberties protections to a law already teeming with them, the Democrat-controlled Senate quietly voted to extend the three Patriot Act provisions that would have expired without reauthorization. Although beating back Patriot and its sensible national security provisions has been a rallying cry for the Left, Senate Democrats agreed to a clean reauthorization on a voice-vote. The New York Times managed just a paragraph, culled from the AP wire, to report the extension. Why so quiet? There are a couple of reasons, I suspect, and Michelle Malkin — ever on the case — gives us both of them.

 

First, as Rep.Pete King (R-NY) points out, the Patriot Act surveillance measures were critical to the FBI's ability to break the case against Najibullah Zazi, who wanted to mark the eighth anniversary of 9/11 by bombing New York City. As I noted in a column earlier this week, the Obama administration is dubiously using the Zazi case as a testament to the effectiveness of the civilian justice system in countering "violent extremism" (wouldn't want to use the I-word or the T-word). So it's bad timing to be dumping on Patriot.

 

Second, Michelle adds, is the leadership of the anti-Patriot movement: CAIR. Who wouldn't want to be associated on a terrori "violent extremism "issue with a Muslim Brotherhood front, created for the purpose of promoting Hamas under the camouflage of "civil rights," that was recently alleged and shown to be a co-conspirator in a Hamas-financing case? Laughably, CAIR alleges that the Patriot Act is "undermining the integration" of the Muslim community in the U.S. The last thing CAIR is interested in is integrating the Muslim community. To the contrary, CAIR and other Muslim Brotherhood groups pursue a strategy of voluntary apartheid, the goal of which is to set up Islamic enclaves living under sharia law — the very strategy that is now dis-integrating Europe.

 

In any event, kudos go not just to Pete King but to others, including Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL), who worked diligently to get Patriot re-authorized. Sen. Sessions put out this statement last night:

 

The PATRIOT Act is a bipartisan bill that has helped save countless lives by equipping our national security community with the tools it needs to keep America safe. Recent terror attacks, such as those at Ft. Hood and on Christmas Day, demonstrate just how severe of a threat we are facing. There is simply no reason to weaken the PATRIOT Act—and every reason not to. This extension keeps PATRIOT’s security measures in place and demonstrates that there is a growing recognition that these crucial provisions must be preserved. We are now one step closer to what is needed: a full, long-term reauthorization.

 

Sen. Sessions, it should be noted, tried along with Senators Kit Bond (R-MO) and Joe Lieberman (I-CT) to get Patriot reauthorized for four years. In the event, it was only reauthorized for one. Obviously, Democrats decided the timing was bad now, but they'll be back yet again next year to try to gut the contested provisions.

 

That goes to show just how lunatic they are on security issues. To sensible people, there is absolutely nothing objectionable about the three Patriot powers in question. One is roving wiretaps, which criminal investigators have been using for years so that they don't need to get a new court order every time a suspect changes phones. Another is the business records provision — the Left sometimes calls it the "library records" provision even though library records are not mentioned in it — which simply allows national-security agents to collect information on terrorist suspects almost (but not quite) as easily as criminal investigators can. And finally, there is the "lone wolf" law (not part of the original Patriot Act but now tied to it), which allows agents to go after someone as to whom the evidence that he is a terrorist is strong but the evidence that he is tied to a known terrorist organization is weak.

 

You may ask: Why should there be any time-limits on the operation of these laws? Wouldn't we always want our agents to be able to do these things — a year from now, four years from now, or a hundred years from now? Good questions.

 

Ouch. Not good news for all the goodies promised to the libs by Barry.

 

Gitmo - still open

Health care reform - dead

Cap and trade - dead

card check - dead

Troops still in Iraq and Afghanistan - check

Trying KGB in civilian court - furious backpedaling

Yoo and Bybee cleared

 

On the other hand Michelle is doing groundbreaking work keeping Snicker bars out of the hands of young people.

[westvirginia]

These trckers need to be grabbed by the lapels, shaken vigorously, and, well, I don't want to write the rest publicly.

[Big John]

 

The Dems give lip service to freedoms but vote the opposite.

[dmarc117]

The Dems give lip service to freedoms but vote the opposite.

 

 

atleast we know the repubs screw the little guy. the dems lie to the little guy and then screw him.

[caddyman]

The Dems give lip service to freedoms but vote the opposite.

You just figuring this out?

[Perchoutofwater]

Where are Uras, EGOP, Bushwanker, BP, and all the other liberals with their mock outrage?

[bpwallace49]

No mock outrage Perchie . . . just resigned disappointment.

[bushwacked]

The Dems give lip service to freedoms but vote the opposite.

 

Yup, very disappointing.

 

Where are Uras, EGOP, Bushwanker, BP, and all the other liberals with their mock outrage?

 

Because we all know you wouldn't get your panties in a twist if the Dems ever get the balls to use Reconciliation:

 

The Senate approved the extension Wednesday. The privacy protections were cast aside when Senate Democrats lacked the necessary 60-vote supermajority to pass them. Some in Congress had sought to increase restrictions and scrutiny on the government’s authority to spy on Americans and seize their records.

[Kid Cid]

Where are Uras, EGOP, Bushwanker, BP, and all the other liberals with their mock outrage?

My outrage is not mock, nor am I a liberal. This just goes to underscore what I've always said, once you've given a particular power to government, the gov't will never, ever, voluntarily release it. It is only a matter of time before this power becomes abused by some patriotic zealot in a grab for yet more power. Unless we as citizens put a stop to this sort of thing, it will continue. There are a lot more Alberto Gonzales' out there just waiting to strip you of every right in the name of safety and security.

[dmarc117]

Because we all know you wouldn't get your panties in a twist if the Dems ever get the balls to use Reconciliation:

 

 

because we and they know that it would be one of their last votes.........

[dmarc117]

My outrage is not mock, nor am I a liberal. This just goes to underscore what I've always said, once you've given a particular power to government, the gov't will never, ever, voluntarily release it. It is only a matter of time before this power becomes abused by some patriotic zealot in a grab for yet more power. Unless we as citizens put a stop to this sort of thing, it will continue. There are a lot more Alberto Gonzales' out there just waiting to strip you of every right in the name of safety and security.

 

 

the big problem is we are a lazy society. i have always asked what it takes for a society to revolt? how bad must it get? what must we lose?

[Perchoutofwater]

My outrage is not mock, nor am I a liberal. This just goes to underscore what I've always said, once you've given a particular power to government, the gov't will never, ever, voluntarily release it. It is only a matter of time before this power becomes abused by some patriotic zealot in a grab for yet more power. Unless we as citizens put a stop to this sort of thing, it will continue. There are a lot more Alberto Gonzales' out there just waiting to strip you of every right in the name of safety and security.

 

I'm not a liberal and I agree with you for the most part. I want the government to be less obtrusive in all facets of life. That is not true of the typical liberal.

[westvirginia]

My outrage is not mock, nor am I a liberal. This just goes to underscore what I've always said, once you've given a particular power to government, the gov't will never, ever, voluntarily release it. It is only a matter of time before this power becomes abused by some patriotic zealot in a grab for yet more power. Unless we as citizens put a stop to this sort of thing, it will continue. There are a lot more Alberto Gonzales' out there just waiting to strip you of every right in the name of safety and security.

 

Which is why I never, ever, ever want to give the gov't the power to do one more thing and I "squeal like a pig" any time it's going to happen. I know everyone wants to think I'm looney, but damn folks, when is enough enough?

[bushwacked]

because we and they know that it would be one of their last votes.........

 

Not necessarily, I don't think it was a downfall when the Republicans used it when they held a slim majority.

[Square]

Sorry, I stopped reading at this:

 

There are a couple of reasons, I suspect, and Michelle Malkin — ever on the case — gives us both of them

[Square]

My outrage is not mock, nor am I a liberal. This just goes to underscore what I've always said, once you've given a particular power to government, the gov't will never, ever, voluntarily release it. It is only a matter of time before this power becomes abused by some patriotic zealot in a grab for yet more power. Unless we as citizens put a stop to this sort of thing, it will continue. There are a lot more Alberto Gonzales' out there just waiting to strip you of every right in the name of safety and security.

Overall, I'm with The Kid on this one. +1

[TimC]

i have always asked what it takes for a society to revolt?

 

Come on to my house this Sunday at 1:00 and we'll march up I-95...screw the military. Hopefully CNN will carry us kicking Obama out on Pennsylvania Ave nekkid and crying live. Then we put in Odin as President. Our second step is to stop TBone from ruining the economy with his Monopoly money.

 

:followmetofreedom:

[dmarc117]

Not necessarily, I don't think it was a downfall when the Republicans used it when they held a slim majority.

 

 

but we are in different times.

[bushwacked]

but we are in different times.

 

okay.

[dmarc117]

okay.

 

 

we arent? the economy isnt in the poopyter? people are pissed as hell? brown election?

Edited February 26, 2010 by dmarc117

[bushwacked]

we arent? the economy isnt in the poopyter? people are pissed as hell?

 

So the dems can't Reconcile on expanding greater privacy measures in the Patriot Act because "we are in different times" and the economy?

Explain please.

[evil_gop_liars]

The patriot act is the worst piece of legislation ever.

 

But if I remember correctly the righties were clamoring about dirty bombs, code orange and duct tape. "If you are not doing anything illegal you have nothing to be afraid of" or "When a bomb goes off in Oklahoma City and kills millions their blood will be on your commie hands."

 

As long as you remain fearful of Christmas Day cock bombers and Napolitano not stopping crazy Joe from flying his plane into a building the patriot act will ALWAYS be here.

 

 

[moneymakers]

Me thinks Bush not as stupid as media made him out to be.

 

Next is how is Obama going to extend the Bush tax credits without looking bad.

Is the guy going to do what is right for the country or is he going to go down in flames as Jimmy the 2nd?

[driveby]

The patriot act is the worst piece of legislation ever.

[TimC]

As long as you remain fearful of Christmas Day cock bombers and Napolitano not stopping crazy Joe from flying his plane into a building the patriot act will ALWAYS be here.

 

 

 

Do I look like Chief Dick? I don't want to be flying in a plane having some guy's nut package randomly blowing up all over me.