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Senate Republicans Block Sweeping Overhaul of N.S.A. Program
nyt ^ | 11/18/14 | savage & peters

Posted on 11/18/2014 5:31:17 PM PST by knak

Senate Republicans on Tuesday blocked a sweeping overhaul of the once-secret National Security Agency program that collects records of Americans’ phone calls in bulk.

Democrats and a handful of Republicans who supported the measure fell two votes short of the 60 votes they needed to take up the legislation, which sponsors named the U.S.A. Freedom Act.

Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader, worked hard to defeat the bill, which had the support of the Obama administration and a coalition of technology companies, including Apple, Google, Microsoft and Yahoo.

“This is the worst possible time to be tying our hands behind our backs,” Mr. McConnell said before the vote, expressing the concerns of those who argued that the program was a vital tool in the fight against terrorism.

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


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: Kentucky
KEYWORDS: agitprop; kentucky; mitchmcconnell; usafreedomact
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1 posted on 11/18/2014 5:31:17 PM PST by knak
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To: knak

Here’s hoping that they oppose overhaul because they plan to abolish...


2 posted on 11/18/2014 5:33:33 PM PST by Kay Ludlow (Government actions ALWAYS have unintended consequences...)
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To: knak

Paging Rand Paul...


3 posted on 11/18/2014 5:34:19 PM PST by The Antiyuppie ("When small men cast long shadows, then it is very late in the day.")
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To: knak

The Constitution, Mr Yertle, ties your hands behind your back, but since 0 supported the bill, it was probably just going to divert spying away from terrorists and toward the Tea Party.


4 posted on 11/18/2014 5:34:32 PM PST by demshateGod (The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.)
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To: knak
“This is the worst possible time to be tying our hands behind our backstrying to uphold the Constitution” Mr. McConnell said.

Spying on Americans isn't a conservative value.

/johnny

5 posted on 11/18/2014 5:36:21 PM PST by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: demshateGod

U.S.A. Freedom Act

Yeah right. I’ve found anything they pass that sounds good actually does the opposite.


6 posted on 11/18/2014 5:37:26 PM PST by sheana
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To: knak

Did they have specific objections against this bill or do they think everything is hunky-dory? If they think everything is hunky-dory they are on the wrong side.


7 posted on 11/18/2014 5:39:24 PM PST by Lurkina.n.Learnin (It's a shame nobama truly doesn't care about any of this. Our country, our future, he doesn't care)
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To: JRandomFreeper
Spying on Americans isn't a conservative value.

Correct. This is also a VERY hot issue for young voters. The GOP once again shoots itself in the foot.

8 posted on 11/18/2014 5:42:40 PM PST by Straight Vermonter (Posting from deep behind the Maple Curtain)
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To: knak

“This is the worst possible time to be tying our hands behind our backs...”

What do you mean, “our” hands?


9 posted on 11/18/2014 5:44:05 PM PST by oblomov
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To: Straight Vermonter
I have NO problem with the federal government field stripping the freedoms of foreign non-Americans if required to keep us safe.

But not American citizens in CONUS, Alaska and HI.

/johnny

10 posted on 11/18/2014 5:46:11 PM PST by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: knak
From the article:

With the bill’s defeat, the Senate faces a hard deadline for new legislation since the legal basis for the phone records program, a provision of the Patriot Act, expires in June.

After that, when the 90-day orders to phone companies requiring them to turn over their customers’ records expire, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court would be unable to issue a new round of orders.


Doing nothing now might not be a bad idea since the ability to collect them will expire in June. Somehow, I doubt McConnell will allow this to happen, though.
11 posted on 11/18/2014 5:46:51 PM PST by Girlene
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To: knak

Does anyone know exactly what is in this bill? Has anyone read it?

If Obama wants it, it can’t be good.


12 posted on 11/18/2014 5:48:11 PM PST by Fresh Wind (The last remnants of the Old Republic have been swept away)
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To: Kay Ludlow
We do need a spy agency like the NSA to keep us safe. We just don't need them spying on Americans.

/johnny

13 posted on 11/18/2014 5:48:20 PM PST by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: JRandomFreeper

The reason Senator Paul voted against it is because of the provisions that extend portions of the Patriot Act through 2017. Take those provisions out and he votes with Senators Cruz and Lee (whose hearts are in the right places on this one and I completely understand why they voted for it).

I believe the sections of the Patriot Act extended by this bill would have been section 206 (roving surveillance authority) and section 215 (access to records/other items under FISA).


14 posted on 11/18/2014 5:56:06 PM PST by beanshirts
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To: beanshirts
Republicans completely ignored the Constitution with the Patriot act.

That's why we need conservatives, and not Republicans or Democrats or other liberals in charge.

/johnny

15 posted on 11/18/2014 5:59:17 PM PST by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: knak

I hope that everyone is really seeing that the republicans are just as much a part of the establishment as the democrats. They are planning nothing more than continuing the socialist anti-American agenda.


16 posted on 11/18/2014 6:00:53 PM PST by Revel
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To: Revel; All

From another similar story:

“Last week, Senator Rand Paul, the Kentucky civil libertarian and potential Republican presidential contender, said the USA Freedom Act was too weak for him to support. He is instead urging the expiration of certain surveillance authorities under the Patriot Act next year, as he did unsuccessfully in 2011. He voted against cloture on Tuesday night. “

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2014/nov/18/usa-freedom-act-republicans-block-bill


17 posted on 11/18/2014 6:06:15 PM PST by knak (The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing)
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To: Fresh Wind

>> Does anyone know exactly what is in this bill? Has anyone read it?

Doubtful few no much about anything related this perceived scandal.


18 posted on 11/18/2014 6:07:57 PM PST by Gene Eric (Don't be a statist!)
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To: knak

Overhaul under the Obama Admin = Very Bad Idea


19 posted on 11/18/2014 6:12:28 PM PST by molson209 (Blank)
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To: molson209
The Patriot Act = Very Bad Idea.

/johnny

20 posted on 11/18/2014 6:13:56 PM PST by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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