Bush suffers Patriot Act defeat
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Bush suffers Patriot Act defeat
BBC News 23rd December 2005
The US Congress has voted to trim an extension of the anti-terror law known as the Patriot Act down to a month.
The move is a rebuff to President George W Bush who wanted the legislation extended indefinitely.
The Patriot Act, introduced after the 11 September attacks, gives the US government extra powers to monitor terrorism suspects and their finances.
Democrats have grown increasingly concerned, believing the Act infringes on Americans' civil liberties.
The restricted extension to the life of the Patriot Act means it will again be debated in Congress in January.
For the White House, that will be an unwelcome addition to a crowded political diary in a year when the focus will be on the mid-term elections, says the BBC's Daniela Relph in Washington.
Safeguards
Approval for the shorter deadline came in a vote after Republican James Sensenbrenner, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, refused to agree to a six-month extension which had been passed by the Senate on Wednesday.
He said such an extension would allow the Senate to duck the issue of whether to renew 16 provisions of the Patriot Act, negotiate a new bill or extend the 2001 law further.
The Senate reconvened late on Thursday and swiftly approved the one-month extension.
The White House had lobbied determinedly for the provisions to be passed and hoped to satisfy critics by adding new safeguards and expiration dates for the most controversial elements.
These included roving phone taps and secret warrants for documents from businesses and hospitals, and for records of library books taken out by private citizens.
'Under threat'
President Bush had urged a longer extension, saying that "our nation's security must be above partisan politics".
But Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid said his party had sought a short-term extension in order "to seek a Patriot Act that gives the government the tools it needs to fight the terrorists, while still protecting the rights of innocent Americans."
The president said he would sign the one-month extension into law.
"It appears to me that the Congress understands we got to keep the Patriot Act in place, that we're still under threat, there's still an enemy that wants to harm us," he said.
The House of Representatives also approved a $453.3bn defence budget, which includes $50bn for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. -
well, if he thinks he can arbitrarily do whatever he wants, and call the constitution of his own country "a goddamned piece of paper", he ought to be thrown out..
i'm surprised he's not been impeached by now... -
Yeah, and Clinton was almost impeached over something that seems so mild compared to this..Originally posted by the Bear:well, if he thinks he can arbitrarily do whatever he wants, and call the constitution of his own country "a goddamned piece of paper", he ought to be thrown out..
i'm surprised he's not been impeached by now... -
I think Clinton is so much a better president than he is.
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Err.. I'm confused here. Impeachment for what? Please explain.
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Ken Starr and the Monica Lewinsky case.."ahem" the blue dress.Originally posted by Salman:Err.. I'm confused here. Impeachment for what? Please explain.
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No lah, he was put on trial for impeachment not for Monica but for lying under oath in court.
Anyway I wasn't talking about Clinton. I was talking about Bush, what was he accused of for impeachment? I didn't read anything about that in the links. -
He lied under oath in the Lewinsky case.Originally posted by Salman:No lah, he was put on trial for impeachment not for Monica but for lying under oath in court.
Anyway I wasn't talking about Clinton. I was talking about Bush, what was he accused of for impeachment? I didn't read anything about that in the links.
Bush is not impeached, what we are saying is that it's a surprise that he's not been impeached yet.. -
Err. like I said, impeached for what?
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Misleading the Security Council and lying to Congress..Originally posted by Salman:Err. like I said, impeached for what? -
How did he manage to do that? Please explain.
Why can't his political opponents put him on investigation if he indeed lied?
I'm very curious to understand all these contradictions. -
It's not so simple.American politics is all about compromise and double dealingOriginally posted by Salman:How did he manage to do that? Please explain.
Why can't his political opponents put him on investigation if he indeed lied?
I'm very curious to understand all these contradictions.
Meaning that the Democrats who earlier voted yes to the war have turned around and criticised that very same action. -
Which means to say, Bush could not have lied, its the democrats who lied. Its that simple.
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It's not that...Haiz.Originally posted by Salman:Which means to say, Bush could not have lied, its the democrats who lied. Its that simple. -
Then what?
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Well, let this congressman feingold explain why...Then.. maybe we are qualify to drill it in yr head.
http://www.canofun.com/blog/videos/feingoldpressconfstatementdec1905.wmv
http://www.canofun.com/blog/videos/feingoldshouldbushstopnotakingdec1905.wmv
http://www.canofun.com/blog/videos/feingoldongonzalesdec1905.wmv
http://www.canofun.com/blog/videos/feingoldoncornyndec1905.wmv -
Feingold must be a democrat that voted for the war and now vote against it.
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Maybe because he was lied to.. and now angry..
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i vote the governator as president.
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How was he lied to? Who lied to him? Why was he so easily deceived?
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He was decieved like everyone in the world, but seems to be able to brainwash you.
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Who deceived who? How? where? When? Why? What?
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You are a troll with no substance whatsoever. Even if I were to write up a thesis, with reference, You would simply reply a sentence with only adjectives and throw the burden of proof on me.
scum of society... go play with yourself. -
Really. If all these accusations about Bush is true, how come he's not in trouble?
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Today's Christmas Eve, it's a time of peace and forgiveness, so I won't get dragged into a debate with you.
Have a Merry Christmas.