A hint of sanity

I've written my rep several times about the Patriot Act. Maybe all those letters from the 76% that disapprove of the direction the country is headed is starting to have an effect. (I'm a little surprised I haven't seen this on the usual alternative news sources like HuffPo yet. It's been in the Chicago Trib and AOLNews since last night.)

From the Trib

Patriot Act deal blocked
Left, right coalition holds up extension

By Jill Zuckman
Washington Bureau
Published November 19, 2005

WASHINGTON -- A near-agreement to extend the controversial USA Patriot Act was blocked Friday by an odd-bedfellows coalition of liberals and conservatives who protested that it did too little to protect Americans' civil liberties.

The act, which gives law-enforcement officials wide power to use wiretaps and to search people in the United States, was Congress' main response to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

But critics have complained about the powers it gives police to invade the privacy of citizens. Among other things, the act allows officials to examine library records and to search homes without residents knowing it.
...

In addition, senators opposing many of the House provisions said there were more than enough votes to sustain a filibuster. As many as 15 Republicans and 38 Democrats were expected to oppose the conference report if it reached the floor without more concessions.

"What you see evidenced today is such a broad spectrum of political thought in Congress," said Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), the co-author with Craig of the Senate version of the bill. "I think it should give pause to the leadership as to whether or not they should go forward with [the drafted proposals] in the Patriot Act."

Besides concerns about the sunset deadline, many lawmakers said they were unhappy about provisions allowing law-enforcement officials to search library records and business records, to search a home when its resident is not present and to issue national security letters that prevent a person from challenging an order in court that prohibits him from publicly talking about allegations against him.

Interestingly, you get a completely different feel for what's happening reading the AOL article. Compare the opening paragraphs:

Congress Puts Brakes on Patriot Act Action
By LAURIE KELLMAN, AP

WASHINGTON (Nov. 18) - Congress slowed the renewal of a central part of the administration's war on terror Friday amid a standoff over how long to extend the USA Patriot Act and a filibuster threat by senators opposed to new powers it would grant the FBI.

"I believe that more time is necessary," said Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter, R-Pa., "The bill is not now generally understood because of its volume and because of not enough time to really digest the changes."

Specter said a compromise is reachable when Congress returns in December from a two-week Thanksgiving vacation.

The bipartisan group of lawmakers declared victory, saying they had gathered enough votes to block GOP leaders from forcing a vote on a proposal put forth by negotiators trying to merge House and Senate versions of the bill. The Patriot Act provisions expire Dec. 31 if not renewed by Congress.