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Ten Senators Vote Against Patriot Act

As expected, the Senate today voted to pass the Patriot Act renewal legislation, including the Meth bill and new death penalty offenses. Ten Democrats voted against it. Send them your thanks.

The ``no'' votes came from Jim Jeffords, I-Vt., and Feingold, Byrd and seven other Senate Democrats: Daniel Akaka of Hawaii, Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico, Tom Harkin of Iowa, Patrick Leahy of Vermont, Carl Levin of Michigan, Patty Murray of Washington and Ron Wyden of Oregon.

The House will pass it next week and then it goes to Bush for his signature.

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    Re: Ten Senators Vote Against Patriot Act (none / 0) (#1)
    by Johnny on Thu Mar 02, 2006 at 04:54:20 PM EST
    As usual, 90% of the senators vote what 50% of the people want.

    Re: Ten Senators Vote Against Patriot Act (none / 0) (#2)
    by Lww on Thu Mar 02, 2006 at 05:09:09 PM EST
    Who are the enemies in the "War" against the war on drugs? Apparently the "liberals" owe something to their young attorney friends. These same young lawyers are making their bones on the backs of the weekly sweep by local police for BS possession arrests. Hopefully the libertarianism in the conservative justices will prevail. We won't get any help from the liberals.

    Re: Ten Senators Vote Against Patriot Act (none / 0) (#3)
    by Lww on Thu Mar 02, 2006 at 05:19:35 PM EST
    Gotta link.

    Re: Ten Senators Vote Against Patriot Act (none / 0) (#4)
    by scarshapedstar on Thu Mar 02, 2006 at 05:43:43 PM EST
    LWW, my dad is a criminal defense attorney and does not support the drug war. If you actually spoke to a lawyer sometime you might discover that some of them have -- gasp -- principles. (You might also discover that nobody becomes a millionaire off defending people on simple possession, for christ's sake.) I find it especially rich how you act like defense attorneys are the greediest of them all. Check into a public defender's salary sometime, versus the retaining fee of, say, Philip Morris's legal team.

    Re: Ten Senators Vote Against Patriot Act (none / 0) (#5)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Mar 02, 2006 at 05:57:53 PM EST
    Any insight into why Senator Boxer voted for the bill? I can hardly imagine that her constituents are for it.

    Re: Ten Senators Vote Against Patriot Act (none / 0) (#6)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Mar 02, 2006 at 05:59:58 PM EST
    Zeig Heil anyone?

    Re: Ten Senators Vote Against Patriot Act (none / 0) (#7)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Mar 02, 2006 at 06:33:33 PM EST
    Regarding the straw and the camel's back...the camel's decayed carcas is hardly recognizable any longer. There is a long dark winter of abstaining in my electoral future.

    Re: Ten Senators Vote Against Patriot Act (none / 0) (#8)
    by Lww on Thu Mar 02, 2006 at 06:45:27 PM EST
    Scar, I've been busted twice on BS marijuana possessions, thumbnail amount and passing a roach, which got me a conspiracy to distribute charge. I love my lawyer... I gotta problem with people who demand money up front for services to be rendered. Even dry-cleaners don't ask for that but then again they got your pants.

    Re: Ten Senators Vote Against Patriot Act (none / 0) (#9)
    by aw on Thu Mar 02, 2006 at 08:10:29 PM EST
    I'm disappointed our NJ senators voted for this. I imagine they think they would look inconsistent on national security if they voted against it while fighting the port operations sale. No room for nuance there.
    I gotta problem with people who demand money up front for services to be rendered.
    Heck, even my dentist does that.

    Re: Ten Senators Vote Against Patriot Act (none / 0) (#10)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Mar 02, 2006 at 09:15:11 PM EST
    Not to mention the cable company. Where in Jersey?

    Re: Ten Senators Vote Against Patriot Act (none / 0) (#11)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Mar 02, 2006 at 09:28:21 PM EST
    I see Vermont acquitted itself well.

    Re: Ten Senators Vote Against Patriot Act (none / 0) (#12)
    by aw on Thu Mar 02, 2006 at 10:22:19 PM EST
    Where in Jersey?
    Northern Passaic County Where are you?

    Re: Ten Senators Vote Against Patriot Act (none / 0) (#13)
    by Che's Lounge on Thu Mar 02, 2006 at 10:30:38 PM EST
    Democrats are such cowards. Rock the boat? Capsize that SOB.

    Re: Ten Senators Vote Against Patriot Act (none / 0) (#14)
    by scarshapedstar on Thu Mar 02, 2006 at 11:48:33 PM EST
    Democrats are such cowards. Rock the boat? Capsize that SOB.
    Patriot, schmatriot. I think they oughtta have a vote on the "Truth, Justice, and the American Way Act That Only a Traitor And/or Terrorist Would Vote 'No' On" (give it a good nickname too, like Kafka and Orwell's Law) that declares pink the national color and makes it a federal crime to interfere with an abortion clinic's operations. Would the wingnuts support it? Could go either way...

    Re: Ten Senators Vote Against Patriot Act (none / 0) (#15)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Mar 03, 2006 at 07:59:09 AM EST
    Reid claimed that the Demos had killed it... Then he voted for it. What leadership.

    Re: Ten Senators Vote Against Patriot Act (none / 0) (#16)
    by kdog on Fri Mar 03, 2006 at 08:47:39 AM EST
    Only ten senators have the courage to stand up for freedom? Sad days folks...sad days.

    Re: Ten Senators Vote Against Patriot Act (none / 0) (#17)
    by Slado on Fri Mar 03, 2006 at 09:15:34 AM EST
    I would like to congragulate the democrats that put partisanship aside and voted for the passage of the "compromised" bill. 50%? Please. I would say about 15% of the country (looney left) were against the new bill. If it were 50% the democrats wouldn't have voted for it. Stop living in the bubble perpetuated by this blog and realize that after the compromise that did put in some civil liberties protections (that in my opinion go to far but so be it) that this bill was going to pass because a "large majority" of americans approved of it. I love democracy.

    Re: Ten Senators Vote Against Patriot Act (none / 0) (#18)
    by glanton on Fri Mar 03, 2006 at 09:28:06 AM EST
    the compromise that did put in some civil liberties protections (that in my opinion go to far but so be it)
    Examples? I thought not.
    I love democracy.
    So do Rupert Murdock and Hamas.

    Re: Ten Senators Vote Against Patriot Act (none / 0) (#19)
    by kdog on Fri Mar 03, 2006 at 09:45:31 AM EST
    I love democracy...but I love freedom more. Elections do not automatically equal freedom. Iraq had elections under Saddam. The picking apart of our freedoms isn't kosher just because it is done by democratically elected reps.

    Re: Ten Senators Vote Against Patriot Act (none / 0) (#20)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Mar 03, 2006 at 10:53:51 AM EST
    "50%? Please. I would say about 15% of the country (looney left) were against the new bill. If it were 50% the democrats wouldn't have voted for it."
    I would say about 10% of America knows what the bill means. Of that 10%, I'd say about 2% have the wisdom to comprehend the possible abuses.

    Re: Ten Senators Vote Against Patriot Act (none / 0) (#21)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Mar 03, 2006 at 11:04:53 AM EST
    Tampa... I'd say about 2% have the wisdom to comprehend the possible abuses. There are always... (and will always be) the possibility of "ubuses". That's no reason to not procede with what is needed. Look how much the last administration (Janet Reno) abused her power (Waco --- Elein' Gonzalas).... Were all you guys complaining about abuses pre patriot act?

    Re: Ten Senators Vote Against Patriot Act (none / 0) (#23)
    by kdog on Fri Mar 03, 2006 at 04:12:24 PM EST
    True narius...the people are to blame. My senators voted for this. I hope somebody besides a republican or conservative party member runs against my senator so I have someone to vote for this year. Otherwise I'm staying home. I'm starting to think George Carlin is right, voting in this country is a pointless excercise.
    I would much rather be a lot richer and a little bit less free, or a lot safer and a little bit less free
    Not me. It's never just a little bit. Give an inch and the enemies of freedom take a yard. I'd rather be a little less rich, or a little less safe, and a lot more free.
    It won't affect most of us anyway
    Time will tell my friend. I don't think our government can be trusted with any new powers. See you in some database, hope we don't end up on the do not fly list, if I see government agents in your crib I'll let you know.

    Re: Ten Senators Vote Against Patriot Act (none / 0) (#24)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Mar 04, 2006 at 04:22:41 AM EST
    To BB, life is like a box of chocolates.

    Re: Ten Senators Vote Against Patriot Act (none / 0) (#25)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Mar 04, 2006 at 04:51:47 AM EST
    And to us, BB is like owning the Mars Corp.

    Re: Ten Senators Vote Against Patriot Act (none / 0) (#26)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Mar 04, 2006 at 05:05:12 AM EST
    Posted by aw March 2, 2006 11:22 PM Where in Jersey? Northern Passaic County Where are you?
    Actually, I'm in Vermont now, but born in New Brunswick, raised in Hunterdon County.

    Re: Ten Senators Vote Against Patriot Act (none / 0) (#27)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Mar 04, 2006 at 05:19:41 AM EST
    Stop living in the bubble perpetuated by this blog and realize that after the compromise that did put in some civil liberties protections (that in my opinion go to far but so be it) that this bill was going to pass because a "large majority" of americans approved of it.
    34 percent is a large majority, eh? On which Planet, Neptune? Gee, you'd think a yankee doodle dandy like you would wanna capitalize Americans. You must be the guy who called C-SPAN and told Rep. Louise Slaughter "if you want fairness, move to Russia."
    I love democracy.
    Where, stuffed and mounted over the mantle?

    Re: Ten Senators Vote Against Patriot Act (none / 0) (#28)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Mar 04, 2006 at 05:31:17 AM EST
    I love democracy.
    So do Rupert Murdock and Hamas.
    Rupert seems to have no problem livin' without it in China as long as he gets the cable/communications rights. It's like Spinal Tap Drummer, Mick Shrimpton, said, "as long as there's sex and drugs, I can live without rock&roll."