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House Conservatives Seek Patriot Act Extension

Thursday 12 March 2009

by: Jared Allen  |  The Hill

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(Artwork: Wiretap Studios)

    More than a dozen of the GOP's most conservative members on Thursday introduced a bill to reauthorize controversial Patriot Act provisions set to expire later this year.

    The group of House Republicans - who include Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.), Conference Chairman Mike Pence (R-Ind.) and Judiciary Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) - want to extend for an additional 10 years the ability of national security agencies to conduct "roving" wiretaps, have access to library patron information and greatly expand the reach of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

    Those provisions of the Patriot Act were set to expire this year.

    "If there's one thing we can predict about terrorism it's that it's unpredictable," said Smith, the lead sponsor of the Safe and Secure America Act of 2009. "That's why law enforcement and intelligence officials must remain vigilant."

    "The national security provisions we're seeking to reauthorize are proven and effective," Smith continued. "They have helped investigators track down terrorists and prevent attacks."

    Those provisions in particular drew the ire of liberals and privacy groups who said they trampled on Americans' civil liberties.

    But the GOP members who introduced the reauthorization bill shot back that the threat of domestic terrorism is still as real as it was eight years ago.

    "Critics of these provisions claim that the terrorist threat has diminished since 2001," Smith said. "But such claims ignore the deadly attacks in London, Madrid, Mumbai and Yemen. If we want to keep Americans - both here and abroad - safe and secure from future terrorist attacks, we need to extend these provisions."

    Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) did not sign on as an original cosponsor.

    "I've not seen the proposal," Boehner told reporters Thursday. "But the Patriot Act is a part of helping to keep America safe and we've got to do everything we can in this time of economic crisis to protect our citizens from those who'd want to harm us."

    Those House Republicans who joined some GOP leaders to introduce the bill include: Judiciary Committee Members: Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.); Rep. Howard Coble (R-N.C.); Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Calif.); Rep. Daniel Lungren (R-Calif.); Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa); Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.); Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio); Rep. Tom Rooney (R-Fla.); and Rep. Gregg Harper (R-Miss.); and GOP Reps. John Sullivan (R-Okla.); Rep. John Shadegg (R-Ariz.); Rep. Duncan Hunter (Calif.); Rep. Michelle Bachmann (R-Minn.); and Rep. Mary Fallin (R-Okla.).

  

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Comments

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"Threat of terroism" is

 Thu, 03/12/2009 - 23:03 — Anonymous (not verified)
"Threat of terroism" is increased tenfold every time the GOP caucus opens its collective mouth to try to undermine what the people want and need to turn this country around and every time it berates Obama 's and Congressional efforts to promote decency and integrity into everyday government. The GOP is an albatross around our necks. Get it off our backs. GOP-type Democrats should re-assess where their interests are best served.

The Patriot Act was a bad

 Thu, 03/12/2009 - 23:04 — Devon Noll, MPA (not verified)
The Patriot Act was a bad idea when it was first introduced and it is a bad idea now. This is nothing more than an extension of an act that has led to abuse after abuse of American civil rights and liberties. I trust that the organizations who were doing their jobs in 2001 and were ignored by the Bush Administration and those who have supported this extension, would be listened to by this Administration and the appropriate action would be taken. We have been safe for over 200 years without this phony Patriot Act, and we will continue to be safe as long as our leaders listen to what they are being told and act when it is necessary to do so. If anything, a bill should be introduced to repeal the Patriot Act and all the laws of the Bush Dictatorship that took away our freedoms and that bill should be done now and signed ASAP, before the likes of that crazy Michelle Bachmann or that evil Eric Cantor finish what Bush started and truly turn this nation into nothing more than a tyrannical state where everyone is so paranoid that they cannot survive. This bill would continue policies that Bush put in place that were wrong and unconstitutional and this kind of governance must stop now. I call on Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and President Obama - stop this in its tracks NOW!

The USA Patriot Act must go!

 Thu, 03/12/2009 - 23:10 — Deb Della Piana (not verified)
The USA Patriot Act must go! It should not be renewed. It should not be rewritten. It should be canned. It is an affront to freedom lovers everywhere and it is an insult to the U.S. Constitution. Finally, giving up our rights and giving our government imperial rights does not make us safer. In fact, it works just the opposite way.

There are none so stupid as

 Fri, 03/13/2009 - 00:01 — Regina (not verified)
There are none so stupid as those who will not learn. The Republican Party has established itself as the most intransigently ignorant organization that ever saddled the US with its ideology. They are not worthy of the designation "party" -- they have become a SCOURGE..

The Repugs always say that

 Fri, 03/13/2009 - 00:07 — Anonymous (not verified)
The Repugs always say that the Patriot Act and "small loss" of our right to privacy has helped to stop terrorists - where is the proof? It obviously doesn't exist.

If the Democrats allow

 Fri, 03/13/2009 - 00:53 — Anonymous (not verified)
If the Democrats allow this to happen, then even the most dense, among us, will realize that there aren't 2 (two) parties-- only the Ruling Class. And World Depopulation is the underlying goal. "If you're not with us (multi-millionaires), you are against us" (the masses). Nuclear weapons and waste everywhere; GMO food; mandatory(toxic) vaccinations; poisoned water; tasers etc

Well, some of these Neocon

 Fri, 03/13/2009 - 00:55 — Peter White (not verified)
Well, some of these Neocon would-be Nazis are right about one thing - the threat of so-called "terrorism" has actually increased - elevated and successfully consecrated as the holy grail of marketing techniques for fear, oppression, endless war, economy breaking military budgets, drone attacks on sovereign nations, censorship, Nazi-like propaganda, racism, religious dogma, the new Crusades, the new Inquisition, suspension of habeus corpus - and so much more. The Ginzu Knives of successful coup technique - scare your people good enough and they'll buy all, every single bit, of your fear-based, faith-based and consumer always-need-a-new-one checkpoint, camera, chip implant, program, ray-gun, psychosis, whatever... Didn't Dubya say something along the lines of "Gee, don't worry 'bout 9-11, just go shopping"??? Guess a whole bunch of us bought it in so many ways. Yes, they are right, dim and righteous, these idiots with gloves and minds filled with darkness, endlessly prodding on the peasantry...

"Critics of these

 Fri, 03/13/2009 - 01:02 — Anonymous (not verified)
"Critics of these provisions claim that the terrorist threat has diminished since 2001," Smith said. "But such claims ignore the deadly attacks in London, Madrid, Mumbai and Yemen. If we want to keep Americans - both here and abroad - safe and secure from future terrorist attacks, we need to extend these provisions." The logic is on its head. The deadly attacks prove the Patriot Act hasn't worked. Get rid of it and restore civil liberties. Democracy is the safest way to expose terrorism.

Those who push this

 Fri, 03/13/2009 - 01:13 — Fr Tothus (not verified)
Those who push this anti-Constitutional trash are not conservatives but are radicals and fanatics. True conservatism values the original US Constitution and the Bill of Rights. "Our government has kept us in a perpetual state of fear - kept us in a continuous stampede of patriotic fervor - with the cry of grave national emergency. Always there has been some terrible evil at home or some monstrous foreign power that was going to gobble us up if we did not blindly rally behind it ..." (US General Douglas MacArthur)" The problem in defense is how far you can go without destroying from within what you are trying to defend from without. " (President Dwight Eisenhower, 1953)"America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter, and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves." (Abraham Lincoln)

This measure could be a

 Fri, 03/13/2009 - 02:05 — Underground Sanity (not verified)
This measure could be a blessing in disguise. By introducing the issue, Democrats should introduce a counterproposal to REPEAL the Patriot Act immediately, not when it expires. All the necessary legal authority to investigate and prosecute within the limits of the US Constitution already exists. Thus, a repeal of the Patriot Act would be no different that the Executive Orders Obama has already signed that rescind the unconstitutional measures Bush put in place. Since the Ultrs Conservatives want to raise the issue, those who believe in a Constitutional Democracy should [pardon my crassness] Shove it Down Their Throats.

EVERYONE must make waves

 Fri, 03/13/2009 - 05:24 — Anonymous (not verified)
EVERYONE must make waves now! Mass emails to senators, congressman, protests, sign waving, ringing doorbells. Grassroots in every town opposing this. Repeal the Patriot Act NOW!

The politicians and the

 Fri, 03/13/2009 - 06:04 — Any Mouse (not verified)
The politicians and the "elite" are afraid of us, the "common folk". That's why the "Patriot Act" was enacted: to find out who is wise to their game. The aren't trying to stop terrorism, they're committing it!

You want to PROTECT

 Fri, 03/13/2009 - 07:33 — Anonymous (not verified)
You want to PROTECT Americans? How about we start by ensuring they get to stay in their homes first, and maybe giving them some healthcare before we worry about surveilling them. If anyone needs more surveillance it's the banks that got us into this mess, not average citizens. Besides, if "terrorism" is the use of fear to manipulate your enemy, than the worst way terrorists can be "winning" is to cause us to abandon what we hold dear, such as obliterating our civil liberties. We are allowing terrorism to work with this kind of legislation. You cant fight fear with more fear. When you do, you get things like this Iraq mess.

The Patriots Act was

 Fri, 03/13/2009 - 09:24 — Warren Tarrer (not verified)
The Patriots Act was bipartisan. The democrat party supported it. I don't remember anyone filibustering it or placing any obstacles at all to its passage. Did anyone walk off the floor in protest? Now that the Other Party is in power do not expect the act(s) to be repealed. Obama did not run for the office in order to weaken the Imperial Presidency or dismantle the National Security (NatSy) State. In Burma the generals in the government wear their uniform. Here they are disguised in civilian clothes. Look at how many military officers are in civilian positions of power. And they are in the pay of the military as they are drawing salaries in the guise of retirement pensions. They don't have to wait until age 65-66 to collect it like the rest of us. They are continuously on the payroll from day one until death. The Other Party also knows that in this time of economic disaster it is all the more important to have these strong measures in place in the event of wide-spread civil disorder. Can't blame them for thinking ahead. Obamas job is to repair the badly frayed velvet glove, not to unclench the iron fist.

The weirdly-acronymed

 Fri, 03/13/2009 - 11:22 — The Die Hard (not verified)
The weirdly-acronymed P.A.T.R.I.O.T. A.C.T was intended solely for repukelicans to spy on their political enemies. It was used to spy on environmentalists, women's groups, and civil rights groups. There was never any application for "catching terrorists." The intelligence agencies were doing a fine job of that all on their own until Dumbya and his political butt-kissers dismantled them.

What about terrorism from

 Fri, 03/13/2009 - 13:16 — Genklag (not verified)
What about terrorism from within the U.S.? To me we have been under heavy attack by social and economic terrorists for the last few years. With results that Al-Quaida could only rejoice at (admitting that this phantom umbrella organisation really exists...). The financial terrorists masquarading as elected officials and capitains of industry are far more dangerous and effective than any bomb or whatever. And there isn't a finger lifted against them for under the "Pat.ACT II" what they did and keep on doing is explicitly defined as terrorism : 'Threat to National Security ans U.S. Interests".Scrap the Pat.Act II for a revised version aimed at the eculprits that bring a country down to its knees (and the rest of the world...)!With all the accompanying trailers...

It’s amazing that people

 Fri, 03/13/2009 - 13:44 — Anonymous (not verified)
It’s amazing that people ALWAYS refer to the PATRIOT Act like it has something to do with Patriotism. The legislation properly titled, "Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001.” One will not find much about acting in a patriotic manner – or even abiding my The Constitution in that little piece of work. ---- All it does is dramatically expands the authority of the Administration to fight terrorism and detect and prosecute SUSPECTED evildoers, who are often confined without due process and sometimes tortured, denied access to legal council and often held without charge. It justified illegal NSA and Telecom spying and reduced constitutional rights for anyone perceived to be an evildoer. Many times, our government (not admitting any error) said "whoops" and lets these innocent “evildoers” go free. ---- Note that the original U.S.A. P.A.T.R.I.O.T. Act defines domestic terrorism as acts that “appear to be intended” to "intimidate or coerce a civilian population" or "influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion." ---- Wow! Think of the behavior of Tom Delay, Donald Rumsfeld, Carl Rove, Dick Cheney or even Mr. George W.Bush himself. Don’t they appear "to intimidate or coerce" citizens of our country by labeling their perceived antagonists as “Un-Patriotic.” Those guys should all be in JAIL. Who was monitoring THEIR terroristic communications???

The "Patriot Act" was a

 Fri, 03/13/2009 - 14:20 — Anonymous (not verified)
The "Patriot Act" was a horrible idea from the start, passed in an atmosphere of panic; Congress distinguished itself by its ignorance and cowardice. This "law" has had extensive negative side effects, even in banking. Message to Congress: Repeal the entire "Patriot Act"-NOW.

The Patriot Act is

 Fri, 03/13/2009 - 15:03 — dScof (not verified)
The Patriot Act is unconstitutional, period. It absolutely boggles me why Republicans -who have been saying over and over for decades that "government IS the problemand there should be LESS involvement in citizens personal lives"- want so much government control over "personal security." They complain about Democrats and other "liberals" (read: non-conservatives) wanting to expand government reach to create a "socialist, welfare state", and all the while, they seem to want to expand the reach of government to create a rigidly controlled police-state. But this is more of the same from the Republicans: any time they can't get their way or face opposition to getting their way (in this case, insurmountable opposition), they cry out with threats of nuclear war and a new holocaust for the ages [sic]. In the past, these empty threats have made the Democratic minority cower in fear and subsequently cave on every point. Now that the latter has the significant upper hand, I sincerely hope that they've also grown a spine to go with it.... ...however my hopes aren't too high. Can we just fire all of them please?

"They have helped

 Fri, 03/13/2009 - 15:46 — Anonymous (not verified)
"They have helped investigators track down terrorists and prevent attacks." Oh, yeah? Which investigators? What terrorists? What attacks? And enumerating all the world's "terrorist" attacks doesn't prove anything, either. Could the truth be known, most or all of those were probably "false flag" attacks, created for the PURPOSE of causing panic "reactions" amongst the people of the "free world" so that they would sit still for becoming increasingly enslaved to the "RULERS." It is a foolish thing to assume that there is or are no conspiracies, when the evidence for them is so strong. It wouldn't surprise me at all if we were to experience some new "disaster" wrought by "terrorists" in the months leading up to a vote on this bill. EGAD! However it is done, We the People will most likely get some new "lesson in Terrorism" so that BigGovCorp leaders can push through this and other "important anti-terror" legislation. Watch your backs, folks! We are to be rendered paranoid, whether we want it or not. That's the plan. You know? People really NEED to read that PNAC Report (plan). It pretty well spells it all out.

The headline to this piece

 Fri, 03/13/2009 - 20:29 — Bob Walters (not verified)
The headline to this piece is misleading. The sponsors of this "extension" are no more "conservative" than the Man in the Moon. I'm getting more than a little tired of the media's hesitance to use the proper terminology, in preference for "weasel words." The proper terminology to designate the political philosophy of the individuals promoting this assault on the US Constitution is: CORPORATIST/FASCIST...advocates for a police state dictatorship.

I must go on record, now

 Thu, 03/26/2009 - 17:18 — Frances in California (not verified)
I must go on record, now that the crypto-fascists are trying to assert themselves again with the Orwellian-named PATRIOT Act. As a genuine descendant of someone who fought in the American Revolution, I hope most fervently that Congress hears us on this. The PATRIOT Act should never have been rammed through Congress; it is unconstitutional and belongs in the shredded-paper recycle bin, right next to the Military Commissions Act.