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Senate Rejects Patriot Act

The Senate has rejected the Patriot Act renewal legislation by a 52 to 47 vote. Frist said no to a three month extension.[Update: Roll Call vote is here.]

Huge defeat for Bush. But, they can still go back to the bargaining table and Frist might call for another vote before December 31 when the sunsetted provisions expire.

Cagey Frist: When he saw the bill was going down, he switched sides, so under the rules he can ask for another vote.

If your Senator voted against the Patriot Act, call them and thank them. Let them know you appreciate their vote for your freedom and privacy rights. And ask them to stand firm and reject a new compromise.

Update on the vote: The Nation reports:

In the end, every Democratic senator except South Dakota's Tim Johnson and Nebraska's Ben Nelson (who voted with the Republicans), and Connecticut's Chris Dodd (who did not vote) sided with Feingold. So, too, did Vermont Independent Jim Jeffords and three conservative Republicans: Idaho's Craig, Nebraska's Chuck Hagel and New Hampshire's John Sununu. (Republican Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, an ally of the administration, also voted against cloture in order to maintain his ability to reopen the issue.)

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    Re: Senate Rejects Patriot Act (none / 0) (#1)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:07:06 PM EST
    Goebbels..er...McClellan spews...
    "In the war on terror, we cannot afford to be without these vital tools for a single moment," White House press secretary Scott McClellan said. "The time for Democrats to stop standing in the way has come."
    No, a*hole, it is way past time that the Neoconservatives be removed from power and charged with war crimes. But these fascists will eventually have their way, the Centrists Democrats have no real conviction or love of freedom for the masses. If they did, there never would have been a Patriot Act in the first place. I will not thank anyone for giving back to me what was originally stolen from me in the first place. Meaning respect for and recognition of my Constiutional Rights.

    Re: Senate Rejects Patriot Act (none / 0) (#2)
    by Ernesto Del Mundo on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:07:06 PM EST
    If the Patriot Act provisions expire, Republicans say they will place the blame on Democrats in next year's midterm elections. Actually, what this means is "if there is a terrorist attack we will blame it on everyone but ourselves and our policies." Can someone

    Re: Senate Rejects Patriot Act (none / 0) (#3)
    by Ernesto Del Mundo on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:07:06 PM EST
    oops...to finish that last one: Can someone post a link to how each senator voted on this?

    Re: Senate Rejects Patriot Act (none / 0) (#4)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:07:06 PM EST
    But not for the reasons you think, the power play is well on inside the hall's of total bull. as far as the non war on terror goes, its going to become a war on all who don't get into line and say yes to the power rats who run this non nation.

    Re: Senate Rejects Patriot Act (none / 0) (#5)
    by Edger on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:07:06 PM EST
    Tampa Student: Actually McClellan is right. They (BushCo) cannot afford to be without their "tools" in the WOT... I mean the WOF.

    Re: Senate Rejects Patriot Act (none / 0) (#6)
    by roy on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:07:06 PM EST
    Ernesto, You can see who voted how here. (warning: Pajamas Media link, you may get conservativism cooties)

    Re: Senate Rejects Patriot Act (none / 0) (#7)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:07:06 PM EST
    Here is the vote on the cloture motion from the U.S. Senate website.

    Re: Senate Rejects Patriot Act (none / 0) (#8)
    by Che's Lounge on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:07:06 PM EST
    If the Patriot Act provisions expire, Republicans say they will place the blame on Democrats in next year's midterm elections. Well then they can place our favorite Frister at the top of the blame list. What a political animal. Like, a worm maybe. Slithered across party lines to cover his a**. That's integrity.

    Re: Senate Rejects Patriot Act (none / 0) (#9)
    by Edger on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:07:06 PM EST
    Che, It won't work. He left a sticky trail of slime behind him as he slithered.

    Re: Senate Rejects Patriot Act (none / 0) (#10)
    by peacrevol on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:07:06 PM EST
    Does this mean that the senate listened to the public? Did the system just work? wow....

    Re: Senate Rejects Patriot Act (none / 0) (#11)
    by kdog on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:07:06 PM EST
    Though I hear loud and clear Tampa's sentiment that thanks aren't in order...it being Christmas time and all, I will say thank you, especially to the Republicans with the stones to say no to the White House's ever present quest for more govt. power. Instead of back to the drawing board, lets send the patriot act to the scrap heap of shame.

    Re: Senate Rejects Patriot Act (none / 0) (#12)
    by Edger on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:07:06 PM EST
    Steve Clemons in his Washington Note today makes a good cautionary point today in his post about whether the timing of the NYT story about NSA internal sping ahd an effect on the Patriot Act vote:
    There is momentum now behind those who want to clip the wings of the Bush White House. A genuine battle is breaking out...finally. ... The White House is being handed one defeat after another, but the President and his team despise being beaten. I suspect that we are entering a dangerous period where the White House feels trapped and prone to excess to try and get back in control.


    Re: Senate Rejects Patriot Act (none / 0) (#13)
    by Edger on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:07:06 PM EST
    Oooops. Link to Clemons post.

    Re: Senate Rejects Patriot Act (none / 0) (#14)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:07:07 PM EST
    I notice that Lieberman voted Nay. I wonder what weasel Centrist motivation the DLC had for voting Nay. Not enough domestic surveillance contracts for Halliburton were ensured by this iteration of the Act, I suppose.

    Re: Senate Rejects Patriot Act (none / 0) (#15)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:07:07 PM EST
    Does this mean that the senate listened to the public? Did the system just work? wow....
    All, this isn't over by a long shot. Frist is not going to let this issue die.

    Re: Senate Rejects Patriot Act (none / 0) (#16)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:07:07 PM EST
    If the Patriot Act provisions expire, Republicans say they will place the blame on Democrats in next year's midterm elections. Herr Bush need only extend it if he so desires.

    Re: Senate Rejects Patriot Act (none / 0) (#17)
    by Johnny on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:07:07 PM EST
    I love that phrase "blame". Anyone want to bet the idiot-wingers will proclaim another day of national terror alert in the form of yet another "orange" warning? Shortly before midterms? Then go ahead and say "If those america hating commie liberals hadn't voted the Mussolini act out, we would be safe! Instead, we have yet another meaningless terror alert just before election day!" Quick ? for the idiot wingers... When was the last time we had a terror alert?