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Unfortunately, the House of Representatives just voted to extend The Patriot Act. Congressman Dennis Rehberg has been disgraceful on the issue. Follow that link, it's approaching malpractice that the DSCC and MDP aren't already running ads against him on it.
But instead of just pointing out how awful Rehberg is on yet another issue, Senator Jon Tester should widen the contrast by leading the fight against renewal of The Patriot Act.
He shouldn't vote against it, or try to make it less bad, he should man up and kill the "emergency powers" granted to the president almost a decade ago. He's a senator, he can shut the place down and bring all legislation to a standstill until Patriot Act supporters call uncle and give up their attacks on Americans' civil liberties. He shouldn't settle for Leahy's still awful bill, he should end The Patriot Act once and for all.
Tester would earn a great deal of respect for defending our civil liberties. And every day of the battle would highlight Rehberg's fascist tendency to cave to GOP leadership's attacks on our rights.
Come on Senator Tester, fight to win on this. And realize, the only way to win is to kill it outright.
Update: Both Senators Jon Tester and Max Baucus joined 7 other Democrats, Independent Bernie Sanders and 2 Republicans in voting against the extension. ~ Rob Kailey |
