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McConnell's Patriot Act Plot Veers Off Script
nationaljournal.com ^ | 5/23/15 | Sarah Mimms

Posted on 05/23/2015 6:44:18 AM PDT by cotton1706

All Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell wanted was a quick extension of the Patriot Act and then a vacation.

Early Saturday morning, his plans for a two-month extension quickly dwindled to a week-long extension, then a four-day extension, then a two-day extension, then a one-day extension. Each time, McConnell was rebuffed by a small coterie led by Sen. Rand Paul, his home state colleague, a close ally and friend, not to mention his choice for the 2016 presidential nomination.

Call it the Bluegrass State brawl.

The all-out legislative fight capped off the end of a strange session for McConnell, when not only Democrats but his own Republican allies in the House questioned his strategy, one which left the majority leader with an abbreviated recess and no solution to the problem of the Patriot Act's pending expiration on June 1.

Just before 2 a.m. on Saturday, McConnell threw in the towel, for the time being. After attempting to use one of his best-loved tools, the clock and the threat of missed flights home, to cajole a divided Senate into extending the Patriot Act unchanged for at least a short time, McConnell will have to try again next week with an usual Sunday afternoon session. That will give members just a few hours to pass some kind of extension.

When asked about the Kentucky civil war that played out on the floor early Saturday morning and whether Paul gave McConnell a head's up about his strategy, McConnell spokesman Don Stewart said simply: "The communication on the floor was ongoing throughout the evening."

(Excerpt) Read more at nationaljournal.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: elections
If Mitch arrogantly won't let the Patriot Act be amended, then let its provisions die!

Get a warrant, and name the individual. Oh, and stop using the NSA to gather POLITICAL information!

1 posted on 05/23/2015 6:44:18 AM PDT by cotton1706
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To: cotton1706

Even better, instead of invading the privacy of the vast majority of innocent Americans because there are now many dangerous people in the US, how about not allowing dangerous people (Muslims) into the US in the first place?


2 posted on 05/23/2015 6:49:31 AM PDT by winner3000
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To: cotton1706; Viennacon

I am beyond using the term RINO. It is high time FR stop using it as well.

This guy is a straight up, Republican SCUMBAG in the very same category as New York Republican SCUMBAG Peter King.


3 posted on 05/23/2015 6:58:45 AM PDT by Rodamala
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To: cotton1706

I despise mitch more and more every day.


4 posted on 05/23/2015 7:00:33 AM PDT by boycott
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To: cotton1706

VERY well said.

KY GOP, what in the world were you thinking?


5 posted on 05/23/2015 7:02:19 AM PDT by RIghtwardHo
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To: Rodamala
I am beyond using the term RINO. It is high time FR stop using it as well.

This guy is a straight up, Republican SCUMBAG in the very same category as New York Republican SCUMBAG Peter King.

The name Republican pretty much denotes a Rino these days...I am happy with Republican vs. Conservative...

6 posted on 05/23/2015 7:09:03 AM PDT by Iscool
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To: Iscool
The name Republican pretty much denotes a Rino these days...

And isn't that a shame.

7 posted on 05/23/2015 8:20:03 AM PDT by upchuck (The current Federal Government is what the Founding Fathers tried to prevent. WAKE UP!! Amendment V)
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To: cotton1706

Missed flights home? D.C. IS home to these frauds and remember, a man’s home is his castle.


8 posted on 05/23/2015 8:35:04 AM PDT by VerySadAmerican (I'm very sad for my country. Personally, I've never been happier.)
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To: cotton1706

I want the whole thing gone anyway. Goodbye secred FISA court.


9 posted on 05/23/2015 8:37:08 AM PDT by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose o f a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped.)
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To: cotton1706

I want the whole thing gone anyway. Goodbye secret FISA court.


10 posted on 05/23/2015 8:37:32 AM PDT by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose o f a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped.)
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To: Georgia Girl 2

Very interesting that the political people in washington are 10 years out of step then the country. In Mitch’s case add 20 years out of step.


11 posted on 05/23/2015 11:29:47 AM PDT by magua
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