Remember that promise they made us way back in 2001? Congress said it would pass the Patriot Act, with its many unconstitutional attacks against our civil liberties, but they said it would be okay, because the law would include a “sunset”. It would expire after four years, just to be used during the time of national emergency.
Well, the national emergency has come and gone, but the Patriot Act remains. It was renewed, in spite of previous promises, in 2005, and now, in 2009, it’s the Senate Democrats who are leading the charge to renew the Patriot Act. They’re trying to pass S. 1692, a bill to put off the sunset yet again.
Like the original Patriot Act, S. 1692 fails to protect Americans’ constitutional rights. Good senators like Russ Feingold and Dick Durbin supported an amendment that would have at least guaranteed that the Patriot Act’s worst powers would only be used in cases of suspected terrorism or foreign spying, but their amendment was dismissed. Worse yet, it was other Democrats who made up the deciding votes to kill the reform. The following Democrats voted no to reforming the Patriot Act:
Senator Patrick Leahy
Senator Dianne Feinstein
Senator Al Franken
Senator Charles Schumer
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse
Senator Amy Klobuchar
Senator Ted Kaufman
Herb Kohl
It’s time to talk back to these Democratic leaders. They were elected to take a stand against the abuses of the Bush era, not to extend them! This bumper sticker gives a direct message about what’s at stake: Patriots Against the Patriot Act
This video contains more explanation of the problems with the new Patriot Act extension:
I know it’s not a bumpersticker, but your post title made me think of a button:
REAL PATRIOTS DON’T NEED AN ACT
http://irregulartimes.com/realpatriotsdontneedanactbutton.html
Do you write for a living? You do it very well, with a convincing approach. I haven’t bought one of your bumper stickers yet, but good job incorporating them into the flow of discussion on an issue!