House votes down Patriot Act Extensions

With key provisions of the Patriot act set to expire on Feb 28th, 24 House Republicans voted to block an extension of what many consider to be illegal spying on U. S. citizens. As reported by The Washington Post*  we see just what provisions were voted down:

    ” The House measure, which was sponsored by Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) and required a two-thirds majority for passage, failed on a 277-to-148 vote. Twenty-six Republicans voted with 122 Democrats to oppose the measure, while 67 Democrats voted with 210 Republicans to back it. Ten members did not vote.The measure would have extended three key provisions of the Patriot Act that are set to expire on Monday, Feb. 28, unless Congress moves to reauthorize them. One of the provisions authorizes the FBI to continue using roving wiretaps on surveillance targets; the second allows the government to access “any tangible items,” such as library records, in the course of surveillance; and the third is a “lone wolf” provision of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorist Prevention Act that allows for the surveillance of targets who are not connected to an identified terrorist group. (emphasis mine)

   Another interesting observation here is that with many Teaparty members considering themselves to be “Patriotic Americans” this mis-named act turns out to be just the opposite of Patriotic. No warrant, no proof, and no reason needed to spy on citizens ? It is nothing short of  ludicrous how this was ever tolerated by the American people to begin with. Kind of like being conditioned to let strangers stick their hands down American’s pants just to fly from NYC to Baltimore. I see a nasty pattern here, and it sure isn’t the America I grew up in. As we see further down in the Post* article, Rand Paul and the Teaparty proved to the country where they stand on this issue, and were instrumental in blocking it:

” The vote came as several tea party-aligned members of the new freshman class had been expressing doubts about the measure.

Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul, who highlighted his opposition to the law during his upstart 2010 Senate campaign, signaled Monday that he may vote ultimately vote against an extension when the measure comes up in the Senate, likely later this month.”

It will be interesting to see how the Senate votes on this later on this month, especially after we saw numerous Senate Tyrants vote against the American people on Obamacare repeal.  Those Senators pink slips are already printed up and signed for their termination in 2012. How many will sign up to join them in the unemployment line between now and then?  Only time will tell.

* https://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2011/02/ahead-of-patriot-act-vote-some.html