BREAKING: In a vote this evening, the House failed to extend key provisions of the Patriot Act. The measure was brought up under suspension, meaning it required a two-thirds majority to pass, but it came up just short, 277 to 148.
The vote breakdown:
Yes — 210 Republicans, 67 Democrats
No — 26 Republicans, 122 Democrats
Here’s the roll.
Given the current occupant of the Oval office, the House acted wisely.
Enhanced police powers in the hands of Barack Obama are like kerosene grenades in the grip of an arsonist.
GW Bush considered Islamic jihadists to be the enemy.
BO views American conservatives as his foes.
This was a good vote that will avert an abuse of executive authority.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWow, almost two dozen Republicans voted against the Security Theater State? Guess all that Tea Party rhetoric about freedom is catching on (amongst a tiny minority).
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseNo, it is not a good thing, it is grossly irresponsibility. The PA strikes a reasonable balance between security and privacy. The Dems and those House Republicans have just curtailed our intelligence capabilities and made it more difficult to prevent the next mass terrorist attack. Fighting terrorism is bigger than George Bush, Barack Obama, and whoever else will occupy the Oval Office. The professionals in the FBI and our intelligence services keep watch against terrorism and save American lives every day through their vigilance. Congress just made it more difficult for them to protect American lives and its shameful.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSo it begins; the break between the Tea Partiers and the old-line Republicans who bear so much of the blame for the country's current state. I'm impressed that the Tea Party reps stuck to their principles.
Esther, your comment is singularly parochial. You want to start determining executive authority based on the current occupant of the White House? If this Act is truly necessary for U.S. security (which I think is highly debatable), you'd be OK with significant gaps if there happens to be a Democrat (or someone else you differ with on policy or other measures) in the White House? Nonsense.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseGiven the nature of the State, the House acted wisely.
JRapp demands that Uncle Sam check under his bed for monsters without realizing that by doing so he is creating the next monster to worry about.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI agree with JRapp. Oh billy, since when is 26 "almost two dozen"?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseDick Cheney forget to make some calls?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWill someone please teach Kevin McCarthy to count? He should lose his position over this.
The Republicans shouldn't have brought this up under suspension unless they knew they had the votes. This is pure organizational incompetence.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"JRapp demands that Uncle Sam check under his bed for monsters without realizing that by doing so he is creating the next monster to worry about"
No, I demand that the Government gather intelligence on radical Muslims and other terrorists with designs on mass murdering Americans. Contrary to your point, the Jihadists are not motivated by common sense measures such as the Patriot Act.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseMy point was regarding Uncle Sam, not jihadists. So thank you for illustrating exactly what I was talking about.
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