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House Unexpectedly Defeats Patriot Act (Freedom & Liberty Restored?)
FoxNews.com ^ | February 08, 2011 | Chad Pergram

Posted on 02/09/2011 3:09:10 AM PST by broken_arrow1

It was the Congressional version of never count your chickens before they're hatched.

And when you do on Capitol Hill, you can sometimes lose a vote.

The newly-minted House Republican leadership botched a vote Tuesday night when it presumed it had the necessary support to reauthorize the Patriot Act, the anti-terrorism law imposed after September 11th.

The GOP expected little trouble with the bill. So Republicans brought the Patriot Act to the floor under a special procedure that requires a two-thirds vote for passage. It's a maneuver that's typically reserved for non-controversial legislation or bills that carry wide support.

Renewing that Patriot Act had certainly had wide support. 277 members voted in favor of the measure compared to just 148 nays.

But that's short of the two-thirds supermajority. Which means the House defeated the bill.

With 425 members voting, 284 yea votes were necessary to cross the two-thirds threshold for passage. 26 Republicans voted against renewing the law.

Democrats opposed to the Patriot Act were gleeful at the GOP miscalculation.

"Look at the ‘Don't Tread on Me flag.' It doesn't say don't tread on me, but it's okay if you spy," said Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), one of the most ardent opponents of the Patriot Act. "What the Republican leadership didn't count on is that they have some new members who are freshmen who are conservative, libertarian, who really do believe in civil liberties."

Eight Republicans whom the GOP regards as freshmen voted against the reauthorization. That's precisely the number of yea votes Republicans needed to pass the bill.

House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) used to set the schedule when Democrats were in the majority and is familiar with floor meltdowns like the one Tuesday night.

But despite the misstep, Republicans blamed Democrats for the defeat.

(Excerpt) Read more at politics.blogs.foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 112th; congress; counterterrorism; gop; house; obama; patriotact; teaparty
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To: jd777

Not unless you like bacon.


221 posted on 02/10/2011 11:01:37 AM PST by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: jd777
Don't be offended, ok? But Please Read and learn what happened when Richard the Lionheart became sick during battle. Read what happened when Richard lost his horse in a battle - The European Knights could not believe what Saladin did.

The Templars chose for their emblem a design showing two riders on a single horse.

Why would they do that?

222 posted on 02/10/2011 11:07:45 AM PST by jd777
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To: driftdiver

Garcon! mon ami voudriez le porc sandwich


223 posted on 02/10/2011 11:12:49 AM PST by jd777
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To: jd777
m-rde! I conjugated that incorrectly -Alors, c'est pas grave. Here I'll teach you a french joke - Tu parle franciais comme une vache esapnole.

Or even more suitable to our case. "Tu parle francaise comme un arabe!"

224 posted on 02/10/2011 11:26:41 AM PST by jd777
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To: Crim
Now I've asked you a question.

Bearing in mind what Saladin did when Richard the lionheart lost his horse - why did the Templars chose an emblem featuring two riders on the same horse?

I am waiting.

225 posted on 02/10/2011 11:32:58 AM PST by jd777
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To: sickoflibs

This guy needs to step down and let someone like Bachmann take the seat!


226 posted on 02/10/2011 11:55:27 AM PST by Cheetahcat ( November 4 2008 ,A date which will live in Infamy.)
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To: driftdiver

Thank you for that Pee Wee Herman (I know you are but what am I) response. Incoherent devoid of context ridiculous accusation.


227 posted on 02/10/2011 12:03:11 PM PST by TigersEye (We're gonna need more blades of grass.)
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To: TigersEye

Please put down the bottle before you make any more posts. It might help you make sense.


228 posted on 02/10/2011 12:05:20 PM PST by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: jd777

So you’re one of those who push that all modern science came from muslims.

Do you get a stipend from Dubai?


229 posted on 02/10/2011 12:08:11 PM PST by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: driftdiver

Those in Dubai - are not my friends nor yours. As to the history of science, and the influence of the Islam on Western Civilization - If I take the time to write, will you take the time to read?


230 posted on 02/10/2011 12:25:47 PM PST by jd777
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To: driftdiver

You may be a drunk but you’re a jerk to accuse me of drinking when you’ve never met me. It fits with your other stupid grade school level accusations though.


231 posted on 02/10/2011 1:04:57 PM PST by TigersEye (We're gonna need more blades of grass.)
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To: TigersEye

Well sport you are the one that started with accusations. Despite having never met me.

Go away and grow up


232 posted on 02/10/2011 1:24:00 PM PST by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: driftdiver
You're a liar. You posted to me first and that post was a poorly thought out knee-jerk accusation. You started out with the accusations. So far every single post you have made to me has been an accusation based on a poorly thought out assumption.

Try to act like a freaking adult just once in your life, chief.

233 posted on 02/10/2011 1:39:15 PM PST by TigersEye (We're gonna need more blades of grass.)
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To: driftdiver

I wished to convey something to you - but perhaps you are busy with other things - I’ll let you be.


234 posted on 02/10/2011 1:41:55 PM PST by jd777
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To: TigersEye; Crim

No, you started with the drama accusations. you debate as poorly as crim does.


235 posted on 02/10/2011 1:56:55 PM PST by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: driftdiver

I haven’t debated you about anything. I have been responding to your poorly thought out accusations based on knee-jerk assumptions. Your first post confirms that diagnosis.


236 posted on 02/10/2011 2:02:18 PM PST by TigersEye (We're gonna need more blades of grass.)
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To: broken_arrow1
All of this crap sounded good at the time when adults were in charge: DHS, TSA, Patriot Act, etc.

My fondest hope is to see this trifecta completely abolished. They are all an anathema to freedom, period.

237 posted on 02/10/2011 2:04:20 PM PST by Gaffer
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To: driftdiver; Crim
Looking for some action --- check this out

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2671813/posts

238 posted on 02/10/2011 7:40:37 PM PST by jd777
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