PATRIOT Act largely expires tomorrow night...

Tomorrow night, most of the highly controversial US PATRIOT Act is set to finally expire after being renewed in 2011 by President Obama. However, unlike the last time, the world now knows the full extent of the programs the bill allowed for, provided by Edward Snowden in 2013.

Currently, the prospects for a renewal of the bill look bad. Desperate to keep the act going for another 4 years, President Obama pled to Congress in the name of "National Security". However, given that Obama's approval ratings are at historical lows in both parties, his voice on the matter is unlikely to hold much weight.

Many Republican hawks tried to enact a modified, only slightly better version of the bill called the FREEDOM Act; however, this bill failed to garner enough votes to pass.

The legislators mostly responsible for fighting the aged PATRIOT Act, passed in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, are led by Senator Rand Paul, the leader of the Libertarian wing of the Republican Party and the son of former Congressman Ron Paul. He is also running for president in 2016.

Paul and his followers have shown no willingness to compromise and oppose both the PATRIOT and FREEDOM Acts. He has stated that he wants a complete end to the NSA and government spying programs, opting for more old-fashioned methods to catch criminals and terrorists.

Hopefully, all goes well and the PATRIOT Act expires as planned. The director of the FBI recently stated that the bill has failed to catch any terrorists and has been frequently abused. Rand Paul and his followers have also defeated most of the heaviest hitters supporting the bill, including fellow Republican Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, whom like Republican House of Representative majority leader John Boehner, is largely considered to be a personal lapdog for Obama.

Fellow DNM community members, let's hope that tomorrow is finally the end of the dreaded act, which has been confirmed to have been used against average criminals that had no terror links at all.


Comments


[16 Points] None:

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[7 Points] rapey_tree_salesman:

Rand signed the TPP which a million times worse than either of them. This is called distraction.


[4 Points] consumerrr:

The reason it won't just go away is in the number of contractors, firms and money involved in such a program. Too many special and powerful interests at stake. National security is the second-last of their concerns, ranking just above your privacy.


[3 Points] None:

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[2 Points] bo0zer:

i doubt it will expire. they will find a way to renew it, and even if it does expire whats to stop them from continuing their spying?


[1 Points] Drugaddicatedanimal:

congress will scramble to reauthorize for sure. A dream for us all to see it expire but totally unlikely. Fucking republicans are like rattle snakes. They rattle louder and louder the more and more threatened they feel.


[1 Points] None:

The Senate is in session Sunday. They will cut a deal to keep it. Paul is just whoring for donations.


[1 Points] BizzyWriter:

** fingers crossed **


[1 Points] None:

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[1 Points] None:

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[1 Points] LongLiveThe_King:

Isn't this kind of a non issue?

We know that federal agencies have no problem breaking the law to get whatever they're going after. The expiration of the PATRIOT Act just means that they have to operate in the shadows rather than in the light.


[1 Points] Suck_a_gerbils_dick:

I'm skeptical of Paul's motivations too, as he is not his fathers son its been shown, but having the act expire is a net positive no matter how you look at it. Surely though, with the executive on a totalitarian streak and addicted to the added powers the patriot act gave them, they will likely try to get it re-enstated somehow even after it expires.

Let's hope the false FREEDOM act doesn't pass, it makes this shit permenant whereas PATRIOT had to be reauthorized every few years.


[1 Points] J0NJ0NES:

Pointless.

Why?

Because the Five Eyes. One of the others will pick up the slack. Laws on intelegence sharing have not changed. Real impact would be miniscule.


[1 Points] auto587643:

The renewal hasn't been going anywhere in Congress. The bill will most likely expire at this pace. Hopefully, Rand breaks out Green Eggs and Ham to waste more time like he did on his anti-droning filibuster.


[1 Points] auto587643:

Most of the controversial PATRIOT Act sections have officially sunsetted!