If we needed the patriot act to 'protect' us- why did Bush let it expire?

[Marleyb]

Bush Lets Patriot Act Expire Rather Than Continue Negotiating

Thankfully- the Senate rejected the new Patriot Act. Unfortunately, as soon as “the next attack” hits, they’ll blame the liberals for not passing this Big Brother bill, then they’ll pass a new version with ever more power.

So we need to get this quote from Feingold on tv, Air America, everywhere…

"according to Senator Frist and Senator Specter, the President would rather let the law expire than support the unanimously passed Senate bill or a short extension to let negotiations continue."

This is pretty powerful evidence that demolishes their, ‘it’s the Democrats fault’ argument.
http://benfrank.net/blog/2005/12/16/bush_lets_patriot_act_expire/#comments

I don't know if I agree that they are going to try "the next attack" since everyone is already on to them about 9/11...but it wouldn't hurt to get the word out that Bush and the repubs are the ones that turned down the extension. They don't care about protecting the nation, they just want everything their way. It is so embarrassing that our president and the republican leadership behave like children.(Of course my children are pretty young and they have already learned that you don't always get your way)

[I Have A Dream]

1. I agree that it's really important that people be aware that...

it's the right that is insisting on all or nothing. The question is how do we do this since we can't force the corporate media to report it?

[Marleyb]

3. WE are the media

The corporate media has lost all credibility, that is why they have been forced to respond to the blogosphere. We just have to keep up the pressure.

[gordianot]

2. The goal of the Patriot Act was to allow Bush to invade Iraq. Create fear.

What better way to honor a terrorist than limit civil rights? The Patriot Act was not a solution, it met the goals of the terrorist and those who allowed the attack.

[Marleyb]

4. more from Russ Feingold

We've just had a tremendous bipartisan victory on the Senate floor. We were able to hold off a cloture motion that would have put a time limit on debate, and for all practical purposes would have led to the eventual enactment of a deeply flawed reauthorization of the PATRIOT Act without the reforms we need. (Here is a statement I gave just prior to that vote.) There is no doubt that the reaction from citizens like you on this issue helped convince a number of Members to vote with us.

The Administration has argued that opposing the conference report would put the American people at risk. Yet, according to Senator Frist and Senator Specter, the President would rather let the law expire than support the unanimously passed Senate-passed bill or a short extension to let negotiations continue. I can't imagine anything more irresponsible than compromising the safety of the American people to score political points.
http://warrenreports.tpmcafe.com/story/2005/12/16/145353/14

[Marleyb]

5. They are already trying to blame the democrats...

"God forbid that there be a terrorist attack that could have been prevented by the Patriot Act after it has expired," said Sen. Jon Kyl, an Arizona Republican.

Senate Democratic and Republican foes of the proposed renewal said the law could be swiftly renewed if lawmakers agreed to better balance national security with civil liberties.

"None of us wants it to expire, and those who threaten to let it expire rather than fix it are playing a dangerous game," said Sen. Patrick Leahy, a Vermont Democrat."
http://today.reuters.com/news/NewsArticle.aspx?type=fundLaunches&storyID=2005-12-16T193852Z_01_SIB572032_RTRUKOC_0_US-SECURITY-PATRIOT.xml