Friday, December 16, 2005
Patriot Act Provisions In Trouble
If the Patriot Act provisions expire, Republicans say they will place the blame on Democrats in next year's midterm elections. "In the war on terror, we cannot afford to be without these vital tools for a single moment," White House press secretary Scott McClellan said. "The time for Democrats to stop standing in the way has come."
I find this to be a very lame threat. If the White House and any Republican running for re-election or against a Democrat who is running for re-election who even mentions this should be asked why the NSA was, at President Paranoid's 'secret' direction, was spying on US citizens and how they feel that renewing the Patiot Act in it's present form would prevent that in the future.
To Best statements on the Patriot Act issue:
"I don't want to hear again from the attorney general or anyone on this floor that this government has shown it can be trusted to use the power we give it with restraint and care," said Feingold, the only senator to vote against the Patriot Act in 2001."
"It is time to have some checks and balances in this country," shouted Sen. Patrick Leahy, ranking Democrat on the Judiciary Committee. "We are more American for doing that."
In addition to the Democrats that supported the filibuster to prevent this silliness from being past without further consideration was the following 5 Republicans: Chuck Hagel, Lisa Murkowski, John Sununu, Bill Frist, and Larry Craig. Two things should be noted here 1. Bill Frist changed his vote at the last minute in order to be able to bring this bill back up for a vote when ever he feels like it, and 2. Tim Johnson and Ben Nelson, two Democrats, did vote in favor of breaking the filibuster and sending this bill through. The vote was 57-42.
In addition to this is the story that broke today that we refered to earlier in the post about the NSA investigating (covertly) US citizens. This type of thing always makes me more paranoid. It seems to me that violating the Constitution and Federal Law is quickly becoming the hallmark of this Administration.
Some of the reactions to this breaking story that I think are vary telling:
Neither Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice nor White House press secretary Scott McClellan, asked about the story earlier Friday, would confirm or deny that the super-secret NSA had spied on as many as 500 people at any given time since 2002.
Why would either of them basically refuse to comment on this story, could it be that they are getting sick of being caught lying to cover up for the Administration.
"This is Big Brother run amok," declared Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass. "We cannot protect our borders if we cannot protect our ideals." Sen. Russell Feingold, D-Wisconsin, called it a "shocking revelation" that he said "ought to send a chill down the spine of every senator and every American."
Um, . . . do you think it might be Big Brother run amok, do you think it should send a chill down the spine of everyone in this country.
Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pennsylvania a., said he would make oversight hearings by his panel next year "a very, very high priority."
"There is no doubt that this is inappropriate," said Specter, a Pennsylvania Republican and chairman of the Judiciary Committee. I find Arlen's response to this very telling, and though I haven't copied it Senator McCain's response as well. You want proof of problems with the Administration, the Republican's in Congress (Senate more so than house) are beginning to rebel against the insanity.
Some final thoughts on this situation:
1. Why is this administration so paranoid and secretive? I think part of it may be that several of the high ranking people in the administration were members of the Nixon administration.
2. Why does this administration assume that the citizen's of this country are complete moron's and will believe what ever it is that they do and say? I think there are two answers here: a. they have the whole G-D Complex thing going on, and second they have twisted so much information that I think they don't even know when they are telling the truth any more.
3. It seems that the White House has a major problem internally. Someone is leaking information that is both embaressing and damaging to the administration. I am wondering both who and why? What does the person who is leaking all of these recent stories have to gain by leaking stories about the administration that they are part of, and what will happen if we ever find out who it is?
4. How is it that a group of people as corrupt as the administration and Republican congressional leadership is appearing to be, can continue to convince the smoes in this country that they are 'just ordinary folks?' (I will admit that I am a smoes as of November 2004.)
5. Why is the President so anxiety riden about signing a 3 month extension that he wouldn't sign it in favor of potentially bad legislation?
I find this to be a very lame threat. If the White House and any Republican running for re-election or against a Democrat who is running for re-election who even mentions this should be asked why the NSA was, at President Paranoid's 'secret' direction, was spying on US citizens and how they feel that renewing the Patiot Act in it's present form would prevent that in the future.
To Best statements on the Patriot Act issue:
"I don't want to hear again from the attorney general or anyone on this floor that this government has shown it can be trusted to use the power we give it with restraint and care," said Feingold, the only senator to vote against the Patriot Act in 2001."
"It is time to have some checks and balances in this country," shouted Sen. Patrick Leahy, ranking Democrat on the Judiciary Committee. "We are more American for doing that."
In addition to the Democrats that supported the filibuster to prevent this silliness from being past without further consideration was the following 5 Republicans: Chuck Hagel, Lisa Murkowski, John Sununu, Bill Frist, and Larry Craig. Two things should be noted here 1. Bill Frist changed his vote at the last minute in order to be able to bring this bill back up for a vote when ever he feels like it, and 2. Tim Johnson and Ben Nelson, two Democrats, did vote in favor of breaking the filibuster and sending this bill through. The vote was 57-42.
In addition to this is the story that broke today that we refered to earlier in the post about the NSA investigating (covertly) US citizens. This type of thing always makes me more paranoid. It seems to me that violating the Constitution and Federal Law is quickly becoming the hallmark of this Administration.
Some of the reactions to this breaking story that I think are vary telling:
Neither Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice nor White House press secretary Scott McClellan, asked about the story earlier Friday, would confirm or deny that the super-secret NSA had spied on as many as 500 people at any given time since 2002.
Why would either of them basically refuse to comment on this story, could it be that they are getting sick of being caught lying to cover up for the Administration.
"This is Big Brother run amok," declared Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass. "We cannot protect our borders if we cannot protect our ideals." Sen. Russell Feingold, D-Wisconsin, called it a "shocking revelation" that he said "ought to send a chill down the spine of every senator and every American."
Um, . . . do you think it might be Big Brother run amok, do you think it should send a chill down the spine of everyone in this country.
Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pennsylvania a., said he would make oversight hearings by his panel next year "a very, very high priority."
"There is no doubt that this is inappropriate," said Specter, a Pennsylvania Republican and chairman of the Judiciary Committee. I find Arlen's response to this very telling, and though I haven't copied it Senator McCain's response as well. You want proof of problems with the Administration, the Republican's in Congress (Senate more so than house) are beginning to rebel against the insanity.
Some final thoughts on this situation:
1. Why is this administration so paranoid and secretive? I think part of it may be that several of the high ranking people in the administration were members of the Nixon administration.
2. Why does this administration assume that the citizen's of this country are complete moron's and will believe what ever it is that they do and say? I think there are two answers here: a. they have the whole G-D Complex thing going on, and second they have twisted so much information that I think they don't even know when they are telling the truth any more.
3. It seems that the White House has a major problem internally. Someone is leaking information that is both embaressing and damaging to the administration. I am wondering both who and why? What does the person who is leaking all of these recent stories have to gain by leaking stories about the administration that they are part of, and what will happen if we ever find out who it is?
4. How is it that a group of people as corrupt as the administration and Republican congressional leadership is appearing to be, can continue to convince the smoes in this country that they are 'just ordinary folks?' (I will admit that I am a smoes as of November 2004.)
5. Why is the President so anxiety riden about signing a 3 month extension that he wouldn't sign it in favor of potentially bad legislation?
// posted by Little Wolf @ Friday, December 16, 2005 
