As many know, the Senate voted down the renewal of the Patriot Act today because it doesn't properly protect civil liberties. They want it tweaked before they will pass it again.
This whole debate, however, seems ridiculous when we learn this morning that the administration has been out eavesdropping on Americans on its own, completely circumventing the legal structure that was set up to ensure that the government won't abuse such powers in the first place.
The Bush administration didn't need the Patriot Act to strengthen its anti-terrorist powers. It gave itself that power on its own. So why don't we just end this farcical debate over the Patriot Act and let the Bush administration do what it wants -- which is what it's already doing.
This whole debate, however, seems ridiculous when we learn this morning that the administration has been out eavesdropping on Americans on its own, completely circumventing the legal structure that was set up to ensure that the government won't abuse such powers in the first place.
The Bush administration didn't need the Patriot Act to strengthen its anti-terrorist powers. It gave itself that power on its own. So why don't we just end this farcical debate over the Patriot Act and let the Bush administration do what it wants -- which is what it's already doing.