meganmonkey

With very little debate the Patriot Act Extension was passed with flying colors in the house and senate yesterday. The most exciting news about this event is that Obama signed it with an autopen...

Obama signs Patriot Act extension with autopen

By JIM ABRAMS

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Congress on Thursday passed a four-year extension of post-Sept. 11 powers to search records and conduct roving wiretaps in pursuit of terrorists. Votes taken in rapid succession in the Senate and House came after lawmakers rejected attempts to temper the law enforcement powers to ensure that individual liberties are not abused.

Following the 250-153 evening vote in the House, the legislation to renew three terrorism-fighting authorities headed for the president's signature with only hours to go before the provisions expire at midnight.

With Obama currently in France, the White House said the president would use an autopen machine that holds a pen and signs his actual signature. It is only used with proper authorization of the president. Minutes before the midnight deadline, the White House said Obama had signed the bill.

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http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world...ct-957694.html

Aside from a couple of nominal objections, the Democrats did their part in preserving the legacy of the Bush administration here, as has been the case since the so-called shift in power from the Repubs to the Dems. What exactly has changed? Oh right, conditions have gotten worse for almost everyone except the wealthiest among us.

Fortunately for the ruling class, the American people have not been able to wrap their heads around the significance of this bill and its re-authorization:

"... while there are numerous interpretations of how the Patriot Act works, the official government interpretation of the law remains classified. "A significant gap has developed now between what the public thinks the law says and what the government secretly claims it says," Wyden said.