Those that would give up essential liberty in pursuit of a little temporary security deserve neither liberty nor security.
—- BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
“We need to be more vigilant,” said Sen. John Sununu, a Republican from New Hampshire, where the state motto is “Live Free or Die”, as he quoted Benjamin Franklin.
Senate Democrats blocked passage Friday of a new Patriot Act to combat terrorism at home, depicting the measure as a threat to the constitutional liberties of innocent Americans.
The events on the Senate floor underscored the extent of political change that has occurred since 2001. Then, Senator Russell Feingold, Democrat from Wisconsin, cast the lone vote against the original Patriot Act, which was designed to give those tracking terrorists some of the authority that had been available only in intelligence investigations.
During debate, several Democrats pointed to a New York Times report that Bush had secretly authorized the National Security Agency to eavesdrop on individuals inside the United States without first securing permission from the courts.
On a separate issue, the House called for the Bush administration to give Congress details of secret detention facilities overseas. The vote was 228-187.
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