GOP House Conservatives Seek Patriot Act Extension

[babylonsister]

House Conservatives Seek Patriot Act Extension
Submitted by Chip on Fri, 2009-03-13 18:04.


House Conservatives Seek Patriot Act Extension
By Jared Allen | TruthOut


More than a dozen of the GOP's most conservative members on Thursday introduced a bill to reauthorize controversial Patriot Act provisions set to expire later this year.

The group of House Republicans - who include Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.), Conference Chairman Mike Pence (R-Ind.) and Judiciary Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) - want to extend for an additional 10 years the ability of national security agencies to conduct "roving" wiretaps, have access to library patron information and greatly expand the reach of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

Those provisions of the Patriot Act were set to expire this year.

"If there's one thing we can predict about terrorism it's that it's unpredictable," said Smith, the lead sponsor of the Safe and Secure America Act of 2009. "That's why law enforcement and intelligence officials must remain vigilant."

"The national security provisions we're seeking to reauthorize are proven and effective," Smith continued. "They have helped investigators track down terrorists and prevent attacks."

Those provisions in particular drew the ire of liberals and privacy groups who said they trampled on Americans' civil liberties.

But the GOP members who introduced the reauthorization bill shot back that the threat of domestic terrorism is still as real as it was eight years ago.

more...

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/40696

[midnight]

1. After eight years of this line of reasoning, I'm ready to take my chances

with the criminals, terrorists.

[Kittycat]

2. If there is one thing we can predict about the GOP...

it's that they have no respect for the constitution whatsoever.

[msongs]

3. the terrorists are the right wingers, fundies, republicans and their wingnut friends. nt

[G_j]

4. of course this won't happen because the Dems are in control now...

why I am i still scared?

[bluestateguy]

5. I am happy to support keeping these powers in the hands of President Obama

with a sunset provision for January 20, 2013 (might as well play it safe; we can always renew it until 1/20/17).

President Obama needs these tools to go after the real terrorists in anti-abortion organizations and white supremacist groups.

[tularetom]

9. I agree - let Obama have the authority to grab some of the people

who are REALLY causing terror here in the homeland.

Maybe he could start with Glenn Beck and the idiots involved in his latest loony project.

[and-justice-for-all]

12. What the fuck?!! hell to the HELL NO!

"anti-abortion organizations?" that is not a terrorist organization and neither are animal rights groups or environmentalist!

The GOP is the ultimate sleeper cell.

[TheWraith]

6. I believe that the appropriate response here is HAHAHAHAHA NO!! nt

[RB TexLa]

7. No, they seek a bill that will fail so they can put *Democrat Party opposes keeping you safe* in

their fund raising letters. They will want the bill to be so far out there that not even the most conservative Democrats will vote for it. Best way to try to take some of them out, commercials touting how "Gene Taylor votes with the liberals when it comes to the most important issue of all, YOUR SAFETY."

[babylonsister]

10. Yup, that makes sense. More obstructionism. nt

[peacetalksforall]

8. Kiss the Patriot Act, Burn the Constitution. One benefit of this intent it so confuse

and compromise the legality for future lawsuits.

It's also about the legacy of the Republican Party.

Extend it and validate theft of privacy and invasion of government.

This is about money, legacy, protection for their past criminality as much as it is about their
fanaticism.

Let's find out about abuses and excesses of the Cheney administration before we continue their crap.

Russ Feingold THE ONLY SENATOR TO VOTE AGAINST THE PATRIOT ACT. THE ONLY ONE WITH JUSTICE IN HIS SOUL. Thanks to all Wisconsin Dems who voted for Feingold.

[and-justice-for-all]

11. This needs to expire along with shrub Co's tax cuts...nt