Senate Rejects Surveillance Law Extension, Bill Debate Expected This Week

[Purveyor]

Source: Associated Press

Senate Republicans blocked Majority Leader Harry Reid's attempt Tuesday to extend the life of a surveillance law due to expire Feb. 1, raising the stakes for a vote expected later this week on a new version of the law.

Reid, D-Nev., failed to get the unanimous consent he sought to extend the Protect America Act, which Congress hastily adopted last summer in the face of warnings from Bush administration officials about dangerous gaps in the government's ability to eavesdrop on terrorist e-mails and phone calls.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., objected to the extension, saying there was enough time before the law expires to pass a longer-term renewal of the government's terrorist surveillance authority.

Reid plans to bring to the Senate floor on Thursday competing versions of an update to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. If a bill is not approved then, Reid said he would require the Senate to work through the weekend to get a bill passed.



Read more: http://www.startribune.com/nation/13998146.html

[MadMaddie]

1. Ummm...why is Reid in such a hurry to extend it?

[Vincardog]

3. He is obviously afraid that the democratic "Leadership's" complicity will be exposed

[Nictuku]

4. I bet it has to do with the Telcom Immunity Issue

If the extension passed, then they wouldn't have to consider a new bill that will most likely include immunity to the Telcoms.

Not that I'm defending Reid... I don't trust him for a minute, but I think that is probably why a Republican objected.

[global1]

8. Senator. "I Don't Trust Him For A Minute" Reid Is A HRC Supporter.......

what does that mean?

[The Magistrate]

5. A Reasonable Manouver, Ma'am

The quote from McConnell is the key to it. An extension is temporary; the other side is playing for something both permanent and more savage.

But with the ploy balked, the fight will have to be won, and only a bill the White House will veto should be allowed to pass....

[MadMaddie]

6. Yes that makes sense...

Don't trust Reid or Pelosi...

[Owl]

7. How about not passing any damned bill at all?

Could we fight just to let the miserable thing die? Where might we be with that possibility?

[alllyingwhores]

9. Exactly--the preexisting law that it would revert to is actually constitutional, right?

I know these assholes can't possibly get anything passed unless it has the Emperor's blessing--although, I would think they have the 34 votes necessary to block an even more unconstitutional surveillance bill from being passed, right?

Is there any real argument for Reid's tactic in wanting to extend the existing bill in an effort to block an even more horrid bill from being pushed through by the Repukes?

[LiberalFighter]

2. Why even extend it? REPEAL IT!!

[Sam Ervin jret]

10. This Bill needs to be pulled into the light, debated, in PUBLIC and on EVERY POINT so we

know who is who and who is protecting what. The time for late night stop gap coverage IS OVER. Let's GET it OUT IN THE OPEN AND SEE IT. let the people know what their representatives want to do in their name and "for their own good"

Then we can ask, Do you trust the Bush administration and anyone that comes after it with this power?

What better time than during a presidential election.

Com'on Republicans (and look I can spell REPUBLICANS, YOU TRY spelling D E M O C R A T I C P A R T Y) bring it out into the light of day. You do remember doing business in the light of day? When you were not ashamed of the things that you did? When you did not have to lie to yourself and to others in order to get what you wanted. Think back, way back. It was probably about the same time you were able to get a good nights sleep without having to light a black candle, pop a pill and take a shot of scotch(oh I'm sure it's expensive scotch - but it still BURNS GOING DOWN)