Senate Rejects Extension of Patriot Act

From Yahoo news:

The Senate on Friday refused to reauthorize major portions of the USA Patriot Act after critics complained they infringed too much on Americans' privacy and liberty, dealing a huge defeat to the Bush administration and Republican leaders.

In a crucial vote early Friday, the bill's Senate supporters were not able to get the 60 votes needed to overcome a threatened filibuster by Sens. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., and Larry Craig, R-Idaho, and their allies. The final vote was 52-47.

As you can see in the upper left hand corner of this page, Senator Feingold is blogging at TPM Cafe's Table for One today, in case you want to say anything to him. Maybe when you're thanking him, you can tell him he's earned a Howardly.



As for a very UN-Howardly doctor in the U.S. Senate...

"The Patriot Act expires on Dec. 31, but the terrorist threat does not," Frist said. "We have a clear choice: Do we advance against terrorism to make America safer or do we retreat to the days before Sept. 11 when terrorists slipped through the cracks."

Seems like he deserves a little something special too.



Here's what Feingold said in response:

Wisconsin Democrat Russ Feingold said it was "shameful to suggest" that lawmakers seeking changes in the bill want the Patriot Act to expire. "That would only happen if the proponents block alternative reauthorization that can easily pass," he said. "Now is not the time for brinksmanship or threats."

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