The US Senate did something it rarely does today. Both parties agreed to swiftly end debate and bring a bill up for a yes/no vote without getting wrapped up in deliberation and amendments. Cloture was brought to end debate on a bill to extend provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act (including the portion that authorizes roaming wiretaps) that were set to expire if no action was taken by Friday.
In a 74-8 vote; with 18 being too afraid, lazy, or corrupt to participate, a bipartisan supermajority with the support of leadership in both parties voted to extend the all out assault on privacy and civil liberties that has been going on in this Country for nearly a decade.
I would like to take the time to personally extend my thanks and gratitude to the 8 brave Senators who stood up to power and party in boldly voting no, the rest of the lot today acted like traitors and cowards.
The 8 NO Votes:
Max Baucus and Jon Tester of Montana
Rand Paul of Kentucky
Mark Begich and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska
Dean Heller of Nevada
Jeff Merkley of Oregon
Bernie Sanders of Vermont
These men and women, 4 Democrats, 3 Republicans, and 1 Socialist deserve our support and admiration. And of course we must also take the time to remember former Senator Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, who voted against the original heinous bill and no doubt would have once again authentically stood up for liberty if he hadn’t been so unfairly smeared and steamrolled out of the Senate in the 2010 Wave.
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