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4 GOP Senators Hold Firm Against Patriot Act Renewal
Washington Post ^ | Charles Babington | Charles Babington

Posted on 12/20/2005 6:58:23 PM PST by ncountylee

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) could barely conceal his anger.

"The Patriot Act expires on December 31, but the terrorist threat does not," he told reporters at the Capitol yesterday. "Those on the Senate floor who are filibustering the Patriot Act are killing the Patriot Act."

There was just one problem. Well, four problems, actually. Four of the 46 senators using the delaying tactic to thwart the USA Patriot Act renewal are members of Frist's party. It is a pesky, irritating fact for Republicans who are eager to portray the impasse as Democratic obstructionism, and a ready-made rejoinder for Democrats expecting campaign attacks on the issue in 2006 and 2008.

The four Republican rebels -- Larry E. Craig (Idaho), Chuck Hagel (Neb.), John E. Sununu (N.H.) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) -- have joined all but two Senate Democrats in arguing that more civil liberties safeguards need to be added to the proposed renewal of the Patriot Act.

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


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; Politics/Elections; US: Alabama; US: Idaho; US: Nebraska; US: New Hampshire; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 109th; civiliberties; craig; gop; gwot; hagel; larrycraig; murkowski; nationalsecurity; obstructionistdems; patriotact; sununu; terrorism; wot
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1 posted on 12/20/2005 6:58:25 PM PST by ncountylee
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To: ncountylee

Let's take their two and send these four packing.


2 posted on 12/20/2005 7:00:23 PM PST by DoughtyOne (MSM: Public support for war waining. 403/3 House vote against pullout vaporizes another lie.)
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To: ncountylee

Bob Hayes, first plane in to the tower, his liberties?


3 posted on 12/20/2005 7:02:01 PM PST by 359Henrie
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To: ncountylee
RATS running as Republicans just to get elected. One thing for sure, we are learning who the RINOs are.
4 posted on 12/20/2005 7:02:06 PM PST by Logical me (Oh, well!!!)
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To: ncountylee

The Patriot act ought to have a sunset provision. If it does not, then I am against it.


5 posted on 12/20/2005 7:02:21 PM PST by Rodney King (No, we can't all just get along.)
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To: ncountylee

Are these four ready to take personal responsibility for the next terrorist attack that may occur as a result of not renewing the Patriot Act?


6 posted on 12/20/2005 7:02:53 PM PST by FairOpinion
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To: ncountylee

Some American's blood will be on their (RINOs + Dems) hands...and I'll bet you a thousand dollars to doughnuts, they don't give a rat's behind.


7 posted on 12/20/2005 7:03:14 PM PST by jsk10
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To: Rodney King

It does. That's why it needs to be renewed now!


8 posted on 12/20/2005 7:03:35 PM PST by airborne
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To: ncountylee
It is a pesky, irritating fact for Republicans who are eager to portray the impasse as Democratic obstructionism...

4 senators do not make an obstruction persay, 42 senators do.

9 posted on 12/20/2005 7:03:44 PM PST by infidel29 ("We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid." --Benjamin Franklin)
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To: Rodney King
It always has- hence the need for renewal.

What's the difference between the Patriot Act and a Senator?

Senators don't have term limits.

10 posted on 12/20/2005 7:05:48 PM PST by piasa (Attitude Adjustments Offered Here Free of Charge)
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To: ncountylee

From NRO corner...........

PATRIOT ACT POLLING [Ramesh Ponnuru]
A new CNN/Gallup/USA Today poll finds that only 34 percent of the public thinks that the Patriot Act goes too far. Sixty-two percent approve of it (44 percent) or think it doesn't go far enough (18 percent).


11 posted on 12/20/2005 7:06:10 PM PST by Names Ash Housewares
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To: ncountylee

Now, if we could convince AlQaida to restrict their attack planning to Idaho, Nebraska, New Hampshire and Alaska, the rest of us could breath eash.


12 posted on 12/20/2005 7:07:09 PM PST by muawiyah (-)
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To: FairOpinion

Craig is one of the most conservative members of the Senate.
What is going on in HIS mind?


13 posted on 12/20/2005 7:09:54 PM PST by Riverman94610
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To: FairOpinion
Are these four ready to take personal responsibility for the next terrorist attack that may occur as a result of not renewing the Patriot Act?

I'm sure they are, if the shortcoming can be traced to the difference between law in effect. But the government has an obligation to use a vigorous defense.

For example, President Bush has the gravitas to go beyond FISA in conducting warrantless sureveillance of communications that involves known terrorists. That sort of mind-set does not depend on Congress. Likewise with data sharing, the court cases are squarley in favor of data sharing, and don't depend on Congressional action.

14 posted on 12/20/2005 7:11:35 PM PST by Cboldt
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To: Rodney King

No. The Patriot should have NO sunset provision and should be made permanent. The debate all along should not have been about extending it but making it permanent.


15 posted on 12/20/2005 7:12:46 PM PST by plain talk
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To: Riverman94610

If that is the case, then he either lost his mind, or was bribed; take your choice.


16 posted on 12/20/2005 7:13:14 PM PST by nopardons
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To: FairOpinion
Are these four ready to take personal responsibility for the next terrorist attack that may occur as a result of not renewing the Patriot Act?

Well, in the first place they're Senators, which means they aren't responsible for anything that happens. But I'm going to say I'm a little leery of the Patriot Act myself; make it strong, make it permanent and in ten years everything the government wants to investigate will be 'terrorism'.

17 posted on 12/20/2005 7:13:46 PM PST by Grut
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To: ncountylee

GOP turncoats provide cover for the dims.


18 posted on 12/20/2005 7:15:04 PM PST by paul51 (11 September 2001 - Never forget)
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To: Riverman94610
Look, I have little sympathy for these people. Hagel is disgusting. But it's pure politics, and the White House has exhibited several weaknesses. First, the WH is long reported to be weak in working with Congress as well as with the press. Second, until this month Bush has not been selling his program or calling out his opponents. This leads other republicans to waver for various reasons.

Maybe Bush will correct this, we'll see. No excuse for the Senators, but this is the way it works. You have to either put a carrot in front of them or a good steady kick to the rear.

19 posted on 12/20/2005 7:15:48 PM PST by Williams
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To: plain talk

What I don't understand is that if there were all these abuses, where is the evidence??? I have seen zero evidence of any normal cotizens being abused by the NSA or HSD. The RINO's really are scum.


20 posted on 12/20/2005 7:16:18 PM PST by chris1
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