anaconda
Member
- Joined
- Nov 25, 2007
- Messages
- 19,403
Ironic that Rand's speech to a completely EMPTY Senate chamber will be the most heard speech by the American people.
Empty? Was it before 4 PM EST?
Ironic that Rand's speech to a completely EMPTY Senate chamber will be the most heard speech by the American people.
Yes, this will be the next battle. McConnell's amendments (to make it more like the original Patriot Act), and Paul's Amendments (further restrictions on collection data.)
This isn't over yet, but maybe public opinion is now swaying to Paul. McCain made a complete fool of himself, IMHO.
Here's what happened...
As of midnight tonight, the PATRIOT ACT is worm food. Done deal.
The Senate won't pass the re-authorization tonight, and it wouldn't matter anyway, since the House hasn't passed it yet and isn't even in Washington.
The issue today was about the (equally Orwellianly named) Freedom Act (aka PATRIOT Act in drag), and whether it could be passed by midnight tonight (to ensure continuity of tyranny).
The vote that just happened 77-13, which caused so many heart attacks, was merely cloture on the Freedom Act; and it's no surprise that it passed over Rand's objections. The only reason cloture failed before was that McConnel opposed it (because he wanted a clean reauthorization of the PATRIOT Act), but now he's cutting his losses and trying to push through the Freedom Act.
But cloture is only the first step in moving toward an actual vote on the bill; that vote cannot possibly happen tonight.
So, the PATRIOT Act will expire and be replaced with nothing - at least for a little while.
They have the vote to ultimately produce a replacement, but it is unlikely to be the Freedom Act unmodified. A lot of Congressmen supported the Freedom Act only because they thought it was marginally better than a straight PATRIOT Act re-authorization, which at the time was the only alternative. With the PATRIOT Act dead and off the table, some of them will jump ship for a more serious reform (enter Rand's amendments to the Freedom Act).
In other words...
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Ryan Paul is just like Obama.
I watch some news!
*smh* She "may watch the news" but I sure hope that particular caller doesn't vote
Well, she won't vote for Ryan Paul.![]()
Empty? Was it before 4 PM EST?
Is that you John McCain?
Its not realistic. Our security forces have all the tools they need to pursue suspected terrorists. Rand Paul addressed this disingenuous argument in his speech today.
This is awesome!
I have so much respect for those three men.
This is awesome!
I have so much respect for those three men.
Well, there's always the write-in option...if she can write, that is.