Posted on 12/17/2005 8:09:19 AM PST by joinedafterattack
Bush Raps Senators on Blocking Patriot Act
By JENNIFER LOVEN
WASHINGTON - President Bush said Saturday that senators who are blocking renewal of the terrorism-fighting Patriot Act are acting irresponsibly and standing in the way of protecting the country from attack.
President Bush said Saturday that senators who are blocking renewal of the terrorism-fighting Patriot Act are acting irresponsibly and standing in the way of protecting the country from attack.
"In the war on terror, we cannot afford to be without this law for a single moment," the president said in a live broadcast from the White House of his weekly radio address.
Senate Democrats, with the aid of a handful of Republicans, succeeded Friday in stalling the bill already approved by the House. The vote to advance the measure, 52-47, fell eight votes shy of the 60 votes required to end debate.
"That decision is irresponsible and it endangers the lives of our citizens. The senators who are filibustering must stop their delaying tactics and the Senate must reauthorize the Patriot Act," Bush said.
Opponents of renewing the law, most of whom are Democrats, argue that it threatens constitutional liberties at home.
Most Republicans and other supporters say the act is essential for protecting the country against terrorists. The law was enacted in the aftermath of the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
Of the 55 Republicans in the Senate, four helped to block its passage while two of the 45 Democrats pushed to pass it.
Some of the most contentious elements of the Patriot Act include powers granted to law enforcement agencies to gain access in secret to library and medical records and other personal data during investigations of suspected terrorist activity.
The law allows the government to conduct roving wiretaps involving multiple phones and to wiretap "lone wolf" terrorists who may operate on their own, without control from a foreign agent or power.
If the law is not renewed, its powers would expire Dec. 31 only for new investigations of people whose criminal activity began after Dec. 31 and who were not associated with anyone who was under investigation before Dec. 31.
The debate over the Patriot Act was fueled anew by a New York Times report that Bush had secretly authorized eavesdropping on individuals in the United States without first gaining permission from the courts.
A service of the Associated Press(AP)
There needs to be a mass firing of ALL the senators and hold special elections in the states to replace them. They are SOOOOO replaceable!
Pound them, Dubya, and don't let up until you get the result you know is right for the country.
As an american, ( not just a republican or democrat ) I understand one thing..
I don't throw out the constitution when things aren't going my way..
Too many people around here seem to forget a basic tenet of government..
Government will always seek more power over the people..
Once a power over the people is gained, government will never willingly give it up..
Once government has a power to utilize it will invariably abuse that power..
The Patriot Act was never a "good" idea..
It was a quick fix for a percieved emergency situation..
It was approved during a national panic..
That fact was recognized, and that's why there was a sunset provision..
If you want to extend what is already bad law, fine..
But don't make it permanent law..
Keep the Sunset provision..
Require that it be reviewed and renewed every 2 years or so..
Even at that, chances are it will become a permanently approved item every 2 years for perpetuity..
Personally, I'd just let it die.. Good Riddance..
The Patriot Act was crafted under the Clinton regime and was on the shelf waiting - 9/11 gave the statist politicians in Washington - Democrat and Republican alike - the opportunity to implement their big government/Orwellian wish list.
The 4th Amendment isn't merely some obnoxious burden for law enforcement. The same requirement could be said for purely domestic calls which do absolutely require a warrant so if you'd have to get a warrant in any event for pure domestic calls under the same conditions why not for times when only one party is domestic.
That really bears repeating.
Personally, I'm dumbfounded by how so many around here seem to believe that 9/11 has somehow made the government able to solve at least some of society's problems, and that granting it more power somehow magically enables it to do something right to keep us safe.
The last time I checked, that's the way that Democrats think, not Republicans. The belief that the government can effectively fight terrorism makes about as much sense as the belief that the government can effectively fight poverty. The result is the same, however - increased government power beyond its original limits.
"You have nothing to fear if you have nothing to hide".
That's just to mask the fact that they have already rolled onto their backs and are showing their bellies. We are starting to look a lot like the old soviet union in that our government has gone socialist for the most part and our police agencies have been increasingly federalized. The bureaucrats in this country are now armed and have more power than at anytime in our history. Fortunately, althought they are brutal when unrestrained, they aren't as an entity very bright. God help us.
You're probably right. I wish he would use the bully pulpit to nail McLame's terrorist bill of rights. Its time to come out and call these people what they, traitors. I have come to the conclusion that with the decline of morality and standards in our society, treason no longer exists. You can probably trace it back to not prosecuting Hanoi Jane.
Let's not forget..
George W. Bush is NOT a conservative..
He is a moderate..
The only thing he has in common with conservatives is "party affiliation".. He's a republican..
But more than that, he's just as you said.. a big-government politician.. ( A "federalist" ? )
That one cracks me up too. It's as though some believe that 9/11 has suddenly changed the fact that freedom has been granted to us by God and that it isn't a matter of only having them insofar as the government has no problem with us. The Orwellian belief that "The government will leave me alone just as long as I remain a good citizen!" is not characteristic of those that truly value freedom in itself.
The war on terror is over anyways.
Their is no way to fight it with the media and the dems.
They have told the enemy all our secrets.
If people get so upset about tracing al queda calls from overseas to the U.S then it is time to stop this war on terror nonsense.
If spying on al queda makes you feel that your rights are being taken away then the war on terror is over.
Let these scumbags plot attacks against us but at least we won't be spying on them.
sarcasm
9/11 is over.
The media, the dems, and mccain have disarmed us.
We are now back to pre 9/11 days. No more need to worry you all have your rights back and it will be hands off the terorrists.
I just hope that a terrorist isn't in your city and law enforcement needs to go on a manhunt and can't obtain records.
I just hope someone isn't about to bomb your city and we can't interrogate a suspect aggressively.
The war on terror has been defeated by the media, mccain, and the dems. They have won. No more secret prisons, no more renditions, no more wiretaps.
We might as well turn into France where the Muslums run wild and burn cities down.
Thank God for the Al Queda bill of rights. The laws in europe have really made them safe from the muslums.
The fact that this got front page news the day after Iraquis made world history by voting for their own freedom and government reminds me that the war on terror is fought right on the front pages of our liberal newspapers. When Chuck Schumer is shown on tv holding a New York times and spouting such crap that comes out of his mouth, I want to throw things!
Of course, nevermind the fact that the law aimed at our enemies today can be turned on us tomorrow. That could never happen.
Running into the arms of the government for your protection should not make you feel safe. It has always been a key principle of conservatism that the government tends to fail at just about everything it tries, and that we enlarge the power of the government to solve our problems at our own peril.
You can repeat your mantra all you like:
"Big Brother will keep us safe,
Big Brother will keep us safe,
Big Brother will keep us safe..."
I prefer Patrick Henry and Benjamin Franklin. "Give me liberty or give me death!" and, even more appropriately, "Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."
Why can't people separate american rights between spying on calls between al queda suspects overseas and people in america. We stopped an attack on the brooklyn bridge because of the wiretaps from al queda overseas to here. If that attack had happened we would have had a commmission and the relatives blaming bush for the attack. The dems would have blamed bush. Talk about hypocracy.
The worst part is the critics weaken the u.s from being able to stop an attack and then they will blast him and form a commission blaming him.
The 9/11 commission which bush's critics wanted said we needed the patriot act.
The cycle will repeat itself if we are attacked again. Bush will get blamed for his critics actions then we will form a commission saying we need these laws and then dems will lets the laws expire so they can blame bush again.
You can't blame bush for an attack while you disarm law enforcement.
Bush should resign saying the dems are setting him up for a trap. Take away our anti terror measures and then put the blame on him for an attack.
Congress used to give the president leeway in overseas matters now congress has taken over national security and overseas matters. The presidency has become nothing more than a media figure.
Enlarge the govt are you kidding. The govt has been disarmed in the fight against radical muslims.
Fine if you want the govt to take a hands off approach to terrorists fine. But then don't have the nerve to blame the president for an attack.
The president will no longer be responsible for keeping america safe. Leave it up to the citizens but don't allow the dems to make it a partisan issue when their is an attack.
If the citizens want our laws to be so relaxed that we turn into france then fine. But do not blame the govt.
When muslims start attacking us in the u.s because we can't stop them do not blame the govt.
Govt should also have nothing to do with illegals then. Govt shouldn't be building walls on private property of ranchers on the border. Let the citizens take care of them. Get rid of the govt then.
You can't get angry about the govt going after al queda and then blame them for illegals.
Because the Patriot Act doesn't just apply overseas, but also grants the government enhanced surveillance abilities domestically as well.
The worst part is the critics weaken the u.s from being able to stop an attack and then they will blast him and form a commission blaming him.
Yes, because right up until 9/11 and the passage of the Patriot Act, those acts of terror against Americans were getting to be a weekly occurance...
I swear, one major attack and some believe that the government is actually capable of making people safe. What's the world coming to?
The 9/11 commission which bush's critics wanted said we needed the patriot act.
Hmm... a bunch of liberals promoted bigger government. There's a shocker. But conservatives don't believe that big government solves anything. Big government exists to the detriment of the people. I said it before and I'll say it again: the government cannot fight terrorism any better than it can fight poverty.
Fine if you don't want the govt then that is fine but then don't complain about illegals and don't complain if a rash of attacks happen in the u.s or their are riots like in france.
Many attacks have been stopped because of these measures. Probably saved the airline industry from going bankrupt.
I am so sick of politics because the dems always win with the supreme court or legislation.
You should be celebrating everything is out their now. The terrorists will have free reign in america.
Their is a big difference between targeting al queda radicals and what the dems do in targeting nra or what janet reno did.
I want those jihadists bastards to be caught wherever they are. If you don't want the govt to do it form a militia and track them yourself.
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