Why The Patriot Act Must be Defeated: We Can't Count on Republicans to Kill the Patriot Act

Sad isn't it! After two years of running on the rhetoric the Democrats are destroying the Constitution (and they are), the Republicans continue their destructive ways. It was a Republican Congress that sent a Republican president the Patriot Act to sign. This was a worse crime against the Constitution that Obamacare ever was. (Trust me, Obamacare is criminal too.)

So, the Patriot Act expires on February 28, and guess who is pushing for its permanent extension. That's right, the same Republicans who promised Americans in the Pledge to America to follow the Constitution have introduced a bill that will make the Patriot Act permanent. While the permanent extension passed with a majority, but didn't pass thanks to special procedural rules before the vote. It needed 2/3 of the House to extend. Thankfully for these rules it didn't pass. It should be noted, my pseudo Tea Party Congressman, Billy Long, voted against the Constitution and voted to extend the Patriot Act.

One of the reasons it's important to make sure this bill doesn't live, even after this critical vote in which a majority of Congressmen voted to extend it, including a few claiming to be Tea Party like Congressman Long, Get this, only 26 Republicans voted against HR 514, extending expiring provisions of the USA Patriot Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005 and Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004. Remember folks, what the Republicans promised us in the Pledge to America--to uphold and protect the Constitution. I guess we can't trust them on that one anymore. Big Surprise! Right?

In this extension was the third provision, surveillance of a "lone wolf" or suspect who isn't affiliated with a known group or foreign power.

Remember after the Patriot Act was passed, the federal government and the state governments working with DHS began releasing terrorist definitions like the Missouri MIAC report. This broad definition of terrorists often included left-wing activities and right wing activities--common activities. Obviously every American can be considered a "lone wolf." As long as this is the case, your Constitutional rights mean nothing. They can and will be on infringed upon. All it takes is a Congressman like Billy Long, who has a political enemies list and supports growing government, specifically the Department of Homeland Security, with the "If You See Something Say Something Act of 2011" to see how dangerous both the Patriot Act and the Long co-sponsored If You See Something Say Something Act of 2011 really is.

So, the Patriot Act extensions failed for now. Remember, if at first you don't succeed try, try again. I don't believe this is over. It passed with a majority, and there is a good chance they won't make the same mistake requiring a 2/3 majority twice.