Why did the House
By on Dec 22nd, 2005 at 9:26 pm
Why did the House
agree to a short, one-month extension of the Patriot Act, rather than the longer extension being sought in the Senate? Because conservatives believe “a shorter extension will make it possible to jam the unacceptable conference report through the Congress,” according to Sen. Feingold. “I will fight against that as hard in January as I did in November and December.”
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Yeah, That’s what I figured they were up to.
December 22nd, 2005 at 9:34 pmThe GOP always seems to be against the rights
of the American people. Why is that?
Unless someone proves the usefulness of the
(fake) patriot act, I will assume it is
just a power grab to spy on GOP domestic
“enemies” like the Quakers and Vegans.
I think old G.E. Hoover must be smiling
in this evening gown these days.
Oops, make that J.E. Hoover. ;^)
December 22nd, 2005 at 9:35 pmIf only Democrats like Feingold were as enthusiastic about fighting terrorists.
December 22nd, 2005 at 9:36 pmIf only Republican idiots like wwallace would go over there and fight the terrorists themselves if it meant so much to them.
December 22nd, 2005 at 9:39 pmI’m thinking maybe the incompetent GOP
December 22nd, 2005 at 9:40 pmin charge of everything should stop being
sissies and actually DO something other
than whine.
What are they so afraid of?
Guys with box cutters?
Cheesy shoe bombs?
The GOP is run by a bunch of babies.
Magnum, servicemen are Republican by a wide margin, you ignoramus.
December 22nd, 2005 at 9:40 pmOh I forgot other groups the right-wing
December 22nd, 2005 at 9:46 pmis afraid of like:
Quakers
Vegans
Catholics
PETA
Gays and lesbians
Mothers of KIA veterans
Peaceniks
Greenpeace
Medical pot users
Friends !
let me introduce a quote from the new testament .
It is Paul speaking :
” A man is justified by faith and not by works ”
Perhaps you’ll appreciate more fully Bush ( he never seem to work as president , but orate like a preacher ) and all the other morons the wwwallaces who are believers of the faith ,and spout like a bunch of unhappy eunuchs .
December 22nd, 2005 at 10:01 pmafterthought:
J. Edgar preferred to be called “Mary.”
December 22nd, 2005 at 10:17 pmHard to believe that FEINGOLD and sensenbrenner are from the same State.
December 22nd, 2005 at 10:18 pmI would have preferred a 3 month extension (not the six month passed by the Senate) because Bush is on record as saying he would veto it (ie his first veto ends the powers he says he needs so badly).
Chances are he wouldn’t veto anyway now – Congress would assume that if he did he was just doing whatever the hell he pleased.
December 22nd, 2005 at 10:20 pmThe quetion would the democrat filibuster the extension and Alito to supreme court ? I think not that’s what carl rove had in mind
December 22nd, 2005 at 10:25 pmwwallace:
As a resident of NC and a person with SJ AFB privelages, I thought you might be inteterested in a little poll that was done several months ago. The majority, albeit by a small amount, of the military families opposed the war and even more had little faith in if ‘the war is worth it’.
Certainly those aren’t service members.
And wwallace, you’d be an idiot to say that the majority of service members are republicans. They cannot participate in political polling and that question ‘are you a service member’ is never asked by political pollers for the same reasons. The second best is the families, although they probably lean more towards not having their husbands/wives KIA.
It’s fairly evenly split (army experience here, Fort Lewis WA) among enlisted, although the ‘blacks’ are heavily democratic. The officers definately lean Republican. And yes, there are many more enlisted soldiers than there are officers.
You need some form of polling data, but it doesn’t exist. It’s illegal for both parties to ask and answer.
December 22nd, 2005 at 10:25 pmNonsense James. Party registration data are public information.
December 22nd, 2005 at 10:28 pmIf only Republicans like wwallace were interested in fighting for our Republic’s inherent freedoms – you know, the things people have died for since revolutionary times…
Feingold is looking for ammendments to the Patriot Act that don’t water down the effectiveness of it. Most of the provisions will stay and the enhanced FISA powers remain. Honestly, having a *debate* about the Patriot Act is long overdue. Most of the Senators who voted for it the first time around got a copy an hour earlier.
December 22nd, 2005 at 10:29 pmFINALLY!
December 22nd, 2005 at 10:29 pmThese Senators are finding their nether-regions!
If only Democrats like James were interested in fighting for our Republic’s inherent freedoms – you know, the things people have died for since revolutionary times.
December 22nd, 2005 at 10:30 pmJames,
I have not seen your name before so I assume you are new.
Let me introduce you to wwallace:
Resident Troll.
He says nothing of value.
He claims his opinions are “fact”.
He is the biggest, most rascist Troll I have ever had the misfortune to run across.
He is a sad soul… so I suppose we must pity him this X-mas season…
December 22nd, 2005 at 10:36 pmbut he’s still a sh*thead…..
Ignore him.
wwallace:
December 22nd, 2005 at 10:37 pmjoin up and then we can talk.
wwallace,
We just had a big conversation about what equals trolling.
This:
Is trolling.
You then follow up with:
Which is definitely trolling.
So, rather than call people names and spout talking points. Give us some proof that most service men are Republican. I was in the US Army and I can tell you it ain’t filled with Republicans. Maybe the Marines are, but the Army, no. Everybody was pot smoking, drinking, whoring, super troopers ready to kill for our country.
And just so that you know, I don’t have a problem with pot smoking, drinking, whoring, super troopers. We were all dedicated to kicking Saddam Husseins ass outta Kuwait. And we did.
December 22nd, 2005 at 10:38 pmthere are also no comprehensive studies of military political identification, all pollsters refuse to ask the question, and the closest you’ll get is that 80 percent of the military attempted to vote in the last election. That was taken from a random sample of military personnel, but because of federal law, no answers can be given. Yes, voter registration is public data. how you or I vote isn’t.
Party affiliation does not = party vote either.
December 22nd, 2005 at 10:39 pmGood Job, James!!
That’s his weak spot….
He’s a chickenhawk who wants others to live and die for HIS cause!!!
Bye, Wally.
Can’t do any more damage here.
Time to punch out and become another Troll….
HAPPY KWANZA!!!!XOXOXO
December 22nd, 2005 at 10:40 pmwwallace, this is how it works.
You said:
And I rebut you with:
Do you mean let the freedom to not have the federal government illegally wiretap US citizens?
Now you go.
December 22nd, 2005 at 10:41 pmSpudgeBoy,
Thank you. My army first hand experience has been at least partially vindicated.
My air force base privelage experience is that the enlisted lean slightly more Republican as well as the officers.
let’s not forget that the army is larger:)
Eh, and the marines are shock troops as it is. War’s a good thing, otherwise you have a dull career.
December 22nd, 2005 at 10:42 pmIf only chickenhawks like wwallace were enthusiastic about fighting terrorists.
December 22nd, 2005 at 10:43 pmSpudge,
…whoring…?
I’m against it…!
Don’t take advantage of a girl already in a desperate situation.
Other than that point, …you’re a good guy. :))
December 22nd, 2005 at 10:43 pmsee, the issue of calling people on their nonservice is that if you also do not serve you are making yourself look foolish. I know it’s a standard fallback response, but something a little more original would be nice.
December 22nd, 2005 at 10:43 pmTrue Blue by whoring I mean sleeping around with different women. As in we, the men were the whores. And once again, I don’t mean it in a derogitory manner. I was just saying that we were partying, strip joint visiting to soldiers.
December 22nd, 2005 at 10:45 pmyes, spudge, I think there’s a difference between 1. defending country and 2. defending constitution. The two go together – they don’t get seperated. At least that’s what I was told. And I believe george also swore to uphold the Constitution AND protect the US. You can do both and sitll ‘win’.
The FISA court is pretty much a rubber stamp court. Bypassing it wasn’t helpful.
December 22nd, 2005 at 10:45 pmI am typing to fast tonight making lots of errors. Sorry.
December 22nd, 2005 at 10:46 pmYes. Out of almost 19,000 warrant request from FISA, only 4 were turned down between 1978 and today. FISA also provides wiretapping for up to 72 hours before needing a warrant. If the information gathered during those 72 hours was deamed inappropriate, it was just destroyed with nobody knowing and no agents getting in trouble.
That is pretty loose. Why couldn’t Bush play by those rules?
December 22nd, 2005 at 10:49 pmThe thing is, James, that we don’t WANT this war.
It’s a NON-war, and our troops are dying needlessly.
So you won’t find any gung-ho people here.
We want everyone to come home, in one piece, in a timely fashion, to America.
I feel I’m patriotic because I WANT you here. I don’t want anyone to die because Dubya had a “vision”.
(We MEDICATE people who hear voices, for Pete’s Sake!)
This could have been accomplished thru’ diplomatic means, but the boy king HAD to inflate it.
No One Should Be Dying!!!
You guys are amazing….
but your boss is a pinhead.
Sorry.
December 22nd, 2005 at 10:52 pmSpudge,
But the women you sleep with are part of that industry.
I was simply doing my Gloria Steinham best.
NAUGHTY boys!!!!!
:-)
December 22nd, 2005 at 10:54 pmTrue Blue,
I didn’t say we were sleeping with prositutes. Fort Riley, Kansas is right next door to Manhattan, Kansas. That is where Kansas State University is. The Army guys would go over to Manhattan and steal the girls from the college guys. You know how the girls like men in uniform. :)
December 22nd, 2005 at 10:59 pmeeeewwwwww!
December 22nd, 2005 at 11:01 pmI’m gonna call you pig boy from now on….
:-)
Merry Christmas, Spudge
December 22nd, 2005 at 11:02 pmoops!!!
Oh Allright!
You seem like a nice guy.
I’ll let you off the hook this once!
:-)
December 22nd, 2005 at 11:04 pmOh come one, my dad was a sherrif in LA for 36 years. He was always getting hit on by girls. Even when he was older.
December 22nd, 2005 at 11:07 pmI need to be prim and proper for my on screen persona, Spudge…!
C’mon, I can’t let you in on my inner city Momma…!
December 22nd, 2005 at 11:11 pmHAHAHA!
Ok. Maybe I’m getting a bit silly.
It’s all in fun, Spudge.
C’mon…
Give me a great big Non-Holiday Hug!!!!
December 22nd, 2005 at 11:13 pmSo last night, after the repubs couldn’t get their USAPA and DA bills just like they wanted, there was this very, very long wait (3 hours?) where Frist was supposed to come back to the Senate floor but didn’t. Obviously waiting for a response from the White House on what to do.
They had promised a veto. Now they were cornered and couldn’t veto and get away with it.
Someone must have picked the 6 month figure. It was probably late and they may have already been celebrating a little prematurely, and Cheney was probably looking for his iPod, lost in a secure undisclosed location, and told everyone to “f*ck off” like he normally does, so someone just made it up.
Then the next morning Karl realizes, “Wait a minute! We have all these scandals coming down so the sooner we try to force this through the better off I am. Besides, how can I say how important this was and put it off longer than the dems wanted in the first place? Someone may catch on.”
So we have a one month extension. As this heats up, their spin machine may fail completely.
December 22nd, 2005 at 11:17 pmIt’s all good True Blue. Your online reputation is clean.
December 22nd, 2005 at 11:20 pm31.
Obviously shrub didn’t want anyone to know who line he had tapped. Lets just impeach the bastard.
December 22nd, 2005 at 11:23 pmI KNOW!!!!
What’s up with that?
I get censored at home all the time!!!
I can’t even get a post deleted here!!!!!!!
Sometimes it doesn’t pay to be nice…!!!
December 22nd, 2005 at 11:28 pmRight on the money.
December 22nd, 2005 at 11:28 pmTrue Blue,
If you want to have a post deleted, just rebut a troll with facts. :/
December 22nd, 2005 at 11:30 pmThere are currently 6 or 7 Iraq war vets running for the senate or house as Democrats.
The representation in the Senate and House currently there are 13% of Democrats are military veterans, 17% of Republicans. According to Ann Coulter, that is a huge number in favor of Republicans.
Also recently, black enlistement in the US military has dropped from roughly 24% to around 15%.
-GSD
December 22nd, 2005 at 11:31 pmFirst,
Thanks for the laugh, Spudge!
Second, GSD:
Very interesting statistics.
Especially the enlistment figure.
I hpoe every one out there who has a child realizes the “No Child Left Behind” Act is really nothing more than a recruiting ploy.
They keep TRACK of your children.
All the way thru’ High School.
And Target them.
We live about a mile and 1/2 from Ted Kennedy, and there are recruiters set up at the LUNCH TABLES, nearly everyday.
They look over students.
Hello, Hitler’s youth.
I speak the truth.
Schools will also give you a bunch of crap to take your kid off the list.
Why?
They lose Federal funding.
DO NOT SIGN YOUR KIDS UP FOR THIS CRAP!!!
December 22nd, 2005 at 11:40 pmNot until Jenna and Barbara sign up and go, at least!!!
Sorry.
December 22nd, 2005 at 11:41 pmI think I went a little Norma Rae there.
GSD,
I will bet you a hundred billion dollars that 100% of the Senators and House Reps on both sides are/were comissioned officers. Including the ones that are running.
Why is that important? It is the E4 and below that dies for this country then it heads up E5 and above after that, it is the comissioned officers. This is important. The E4s and below are the people who make up the mass of the Army. They are the Democrats I knew. Sorry, I was never an E5 and above. The difference is the same as between the common employee up to manager and upper management.
There is a disconect that occures once people reach that level in their careers.
“Don’t fraternize.”
By company policy, I am not allowed to eat dinner at the VP of Marketings house.
December 22nd, 2005 at 11:46 pmneen
It might seem somewhat off topic, but it helps.
December 22nd, 2005 at 11:54 pmI must borrow from Winston Chruchill. We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in Senate, we shall fight on the House and Judiciary, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength on the airwaves, we shall defend our US Constitution, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the blogosphere, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender…
December 23rd, 2005 at 12:55 amIf only Republicans were interested in fighting for our Democracy’s inherent freedoms – you know, the things people have died for since revolutionary times, like the constitution and our civil liberties.
December 23rd, 2005 at 2:25 amDoes it really matter if Iraq has a constitution? Iraq is center stage for the war on terror, because we need to fight them over there so that we will not have to fight them here(according to Bush). According to Bush’s logic he can do as he wants as President and doesn’t have to answer to congress, follow the constitution or the law because there is a war on terror. Following his logic all Iraq needs is a President to make and change the laws as he goes along, where there are no checks and balances because they are the central front in the war on terror. Oh yeah they had a President like that who didn’t have to answer to the People and his name is Saddam!
My President spied on Me and all I got was this lousy Deportation slip, “But, I am and American Citizen†somebody help!!
Bush wants to know why the people on Americablog and C&L are up so late, because he said bedtime for American’s is 9:00pm est., and he does not want to have to tell you again or he will send the GWB Police and they will shut shit down!
Why does Iraq need a constitution if we don’t need one?
December 23rd, 2005 at 4:06 amI find it odd, that at a place where we should be open to a discussion, leads only to name calling. I wish I could see hope from either party but alas that doesn’t seem to happen. Why is it more important to make fun of both sides than to have true public discourse? The other thing I don’t understand is why most posts don’t even deal with the original topic! I agree that they need to re-work the Patriot Act, and I do believe that some sections in the Act have merit. As for another comment that was made, how many of the many bills that pass through congress do the majority of congressmen read? I would really like to know. I was talking with a friend the other day, telling him how disinterested americans seem to be, perhaps it would be more accurate to say, they are interested, but not in the right thing. We as Americans shouldn’t bicker about the other side, whichever that may be, but give real solutions to real problems.
December 23rd, 2005 at 4:11 amInter-or is it intra- party fighting between the Senate and the House is SwwwEEEET! Isn’t Ironic the President’s biggest Domestic policy issue has to do with Foreign policy. If there is a bubble , WE are in it and he is on the outside running off to save us from the bubble poppers. OT: conspiracy question: Why did we have to switch to new $100. & $20. bills recently? What if any of that cash that went to Kuwait forgeries? Welcome James.
December 23rd, 2005 at 7:48 amIf the Patriot Act is so crucial to our defense, then why do we need to “fight them over there?” And I don’t just mean Iraq (now thanks to this Pres), why bother with Afganistan?
Bush assserts that a true free Iraq, governed a by democratic government will be an asset to American security as democratic governments do not lie to its people and start unnecessary wars.However, it didn’t stop the United States from doing so to Iraq.
Cheney said during the election that the best defense is a good offense – using the tried a true football analogy. You don’t think that terrorists get that also? So again, how does Iraq defeat the terrorists? How does the Patriot Act, even without the provisions that compromise civil liberties, defeat the terrorists?
Conservatives say that if your not a terrorist (an American) then you have nothing to fear by the Patriot act. However, we have a system of justice predicated upon the axiom of “innocent before proven guilty.” The Patriot Act, in its present form, reverses this and removes the burden of proof off of the government to prove that such and such an American is in fact a terrorist. The President need only to suspect you, and now we have seen who he suspects – political peace groups of the left variety. There is no check on the executive branch. Judge, jury, and executioner.
December 23rd, 2005 at 7:52 amwwallace, this is how it works.
You said:
“If only Democrats like James were interested in fighting for our Republic’s inherent freedoms – you know, the things people have died for since revolutionary times.â€
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wwallace for the tenth time the Democrats and the Republicans are the SAME group. BOTH answer to and are politicized by THE WEALTHY CORPORATE International ELITE.
THE BUSH BLAIR Age OLD Magna Carta Empiricism, from WAY back when.
Just Cloaked so FOOLS like you DONT see the big picture, your pea has dried and shakes about in its pod.
As long as you sit here “debaiting” about one parties indeologies, actually HOT POINT issues that the BIG BOYS have no plans on changing you accomplish Zip Zero, at this point why even continue to breath?
Your little Dark heart cannot see past hatred you see in mirror, hatred you have for someone you see, yet have never met.
you cannot really explain all your hatred can you Wwallace?
its not really about about skin color is it?
Money?
Naw
Material Posessions?
Naw.
thats just ’stuff’, right?
Women?
Men?
Well YOU can and probably do rent those souls whom sell it, correct?
then hide behind your hypocrite spew.
Your type is well known Wwallace.
Yet you Have this Hate
still?
What is it Wwallace that makes you Hate?
your father?
your mother?
your priest?
Boy scout leader?
Police?
As a kid at skool?
Were you molested Wwallace?
simple
December 23rd, 2005 at 9:59 amYou werent loved….
BAGHDAD, Iraq, Dec. 22 – The court trying Saddam Hussein on charges of crimes against humanity adjourned on Thursday for a month, leaving Iraqis to ponder what it has achieved so far.
Before the recess, on only the seventh day of testimony in the nine weeks since the trial began……
In a startling rebuke, a federal appeals court refused to allow the transfer of a terror suspect, Jose Padilla, from military to civilian custody and strongly suggested that the Bush administration was trying to manipulate the judicial system……..
And that criminal DeLay wants to rush through HIS trial? Just like the rest of the republican party, A BUNCH OF DELUSSIONAL HORSES ASSES!!!
December 23rd, 2005 at 10:31 amHmmmm…
More Republicans??? In the military? That’s why many Vets are running for congress under the Democratic Banner???
And…
Russel Anderson, a retired black Army command sergeant major who served two tours of duty in Vietnam, said he believes the Bush administration’s rationale for going to war, and its predictions about how quickly the war might end, have left many blacks disillusioned and wary of signing up.
“If you can get so many things wrong, it is difficult to get folks to believe what you say,” said Anderson, who lives in Columbia, S.C., and whose last job in the military was as the top non-commissioned officer at nearby Fort Jackson.
Blacks in Prince George’s County, Md., one of the largest middle-class black communities in the USA, echoed Anderson’s views. David Wingate, 36, an elementary school teacher, said he would not encourage friends or relatives to join the Army although his father retired from the service. “The war was a mistake,” Wingate said. “That country was not a threat to us.”
I think that says it for me…
Regardless of the party, a soldier knows an IDIOT when he sees one! And, even though they may be a part of the party, they do not have to agree with the leadership!
That’s called FREEDOM OF CHOICE!
December 23rd, 2005 at 10:47 amNice one Bob! I think you hit the nail on the head.
December 23rd, 2005 at 10:58 amwwallace…
My point was that YOU should be going over there if you think it’s so important! I wasn’t talking about Republicans in general. I didn’t know your stupidity could keep shocking me, but it does!
Are Republicans just BORN with the inability to comprehend basic ideas? Are you born with only being able to take things out of context?
You know who else goes over to war? Poor people. People looking to pay for college. Liberals and Democrats who were FOOLED by this lying administration to fight for their country.
December 23rd, 2005 at 11:50 amActually, I would like SOMEONE to answer this question. How does this House bill make it easier to pass the conference report in five weeks? What are the mechanics of it?
December 23rd, 2005 at 11:56 am52 Senators had signed a letter to Bush saying they will vote against the bill. So if it did come to a vote, it should fail as it stands today. (I’m not sure how this ties into the cloture vote, maybe some voted yes to cloture and would vote no on the bill?) I think the only advantage is that they hope to get this passed as soon as possible before more damaging revelations appear.
Besides, who needs a USAPA when you have absolute power anyway?
December 23rd, 2005 at 12:12 pmA while back they had hearings on the Patriot Act that were broadcast. I sat there, even when there were boring parts. Their were people who testified that they believed there were parts that should be changed in the Act. But that there were things that have helped. We talk about the fact that it was wrong to go to Iraq, but if you hadn’t noticed we are already there. We can’t change the fact that we went, so what if it was right or wrong to go. We should finish what we started, then get out. I’m more worried about the final outcome than about being there, I can’t change it. Interestingly enough, Bush says that security must trump privacy in the ‘age of terror’And the Justice Department said it must give way to ‘governments compelling interest’ I think that is more frightening, their attitude.
December 23rd, 2005 at 12:21 pmcalifornia_reality_check:
December 23rd, 2005 at 12:25 pmIt extends the bill long enough so that it is still in affect until after the new year. It was a swap, the Republicans got their Budget deficit bill passed (the deficit they helped balloon) and the Democrats stopped the ANWR drilling that was attached to the Defense bill. I would expect the Democrats to try and filibuster it after they return to session next year. All of which is how (unfortunately) politics works.
#66, that doesn’t ring true if you saw how fervently the repubs tried to get ANWR. See especially Ted Stevens, if he was acting, he should get an Oscar.
December 23rd, 2005 at 12:31 pmWell, I guess I don’t understand how that would have worked. The Senate went for 6 months. Then all of a sudden sensenbrenner said 6 months is too long? It seems to me no one expected that. Doesn’t look like a deal to me.
December 23rd, 2005 at 12:41 pmIf only Democrats like Feingold were as enthusiastic about fighting terrorists.
Comment by wwallace
they are enthusiastic about fighting terrorists. they are fighting the bush administration and all their repuke whores in congress with everything they got. and its about goddamn time.
December 23rd, 2005 at 1:27 pmMagnum:
Do you think the war on terror is unimportant?
December 24th, 2005 at 10:54 am#70
Well, if that wasn’t a non-sequiter I don’t know what is.
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