Senate Republicans Block Sweeping Overhaul Of N.S.A. Program
Citing terrorism fears, freedom-loving Senate Republicans on Tuesday blocked a sweeping overhaul of the once-secret National Security Agency program that collects records of Americans’ phone calls in bulk. Mitch McConnell worked strenuously to defeat the bill.
Democrats and a handful of Republicans who supported the measure fell two votes short of the 60 votes they needed to take up the legislation, which sponsors named the U.S.A. Freedom Act.
Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader, worked hard to defeat the bill, which had the support of the Obama administration and a coalition of technology companies, including Apple, Google, Microsoft and Yahoo.
“This is the worst possible time to be tying our hands behind our backs,” Mr. McConnell said before the vote, expressing the concerns of those who argued that the program was a vital tool in the fight against terrorism.
But the vote only put off a fractious debate over security and personal liberties until next year. While a Republican-controlled Senate is less likely to go along with the kinds of changes that were in the bill, which would have ended the N.S.A.’s ability to collect bulk phone call data, the debate could further expose rifts between the party’s interventionist and more libertarian-leaning wings.
This issue will now rest on President Obama’s shoulders to make changes on his own. Obama has put some limits on the NSA, but he specifically supported the legislation Republicans defeated.
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23 responses to Senate Republicans Block Sweeping Overhaul Of N.S.A. Program
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Foundryman November 18th, 2014 at 20:58
So according to McConnell they would be tying their hands behind their backs if they had to stop spying on innocent Americans.
Why wasn’t this voted on before the election so he could explain why he supports denying Americans their freedoms and liberties?
Foundryman November 18th, 2014 at 21:58
So according to McConnell they would be tying their hands behind their backs if they had to stop spying on innocent Americans.
Why wasn’t this voted on before the election so he could explain why he supports denying Americans their freedoms and liberties?
searambler November 18th, 2014 at 21:28
Weren’t these same idiots screaming bloody murder when the NSA’s meta-data mining program was first disclosed? But now that push comes to shove, they support it. Figures. Their values are as rock-solid as jello…
fahvel November 19th, 2014 at 03:41
it’s their spines that are jello.
rg9rts November 19th, 2014 at 05:01
not their wallets
searambler November 18th, 2014 at 22:28
Weren’t these same idiots screaming bloody murder when the NSA’s meta-data mining program was first disclosed? But now that push comes to shove, they support it. Figures. Their values are as rock-solid as jello…
fahvel November 19th, 2014 at 04:41
it’s their spines that are jello.
rg9rts November 19th, 2014 at 06:01
not their wallets
fahvel November 19th, 2014 at 03:41
is there massive profit involved or are these people truly living in a state of exhausting fear? How can a people give up their absolute freedom and replace it with caves – somewhat like during the 50’s when the world quivered from the prospect of an Abomb on the way.
Carla Akins November 19th, 2014 at 04:37
excellent comparison
rg9rts November 19th, 2014 at 05:01
And looked under their beds for commies too
fahvel November 19th, 2014 at 04:41
is there massive profit involved or are these people truly living in a state of exhausting fear? How can a people give up their absolute freedom and replace it with caves – somewhat like during the 50’s when the world quivered from the prospect of an Abomb on the way.
Carla Akins November 19th, 2014 at 05:37
excellent comparison
rg9rts November 19th, 2014 at 06:01
And looked under their beds for commies too
rg9rts November 19th, 2014 at 05:00
Every day the gopee evolves more and more into a genuine merkin nazi party
Eva Grace November 19th, 2014 at 08:18
@My last pay xd5.net/988f
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rg9rts November 19th, 2014 at 09:03
You sister is turning tricks at twice the rate you are. maybe you should wash with soap instead of sandpaper
rg9rts November 19th, 2014 at 06:00
Every day the gopee evolves more and more into a genuine merkin nazi party
rg9rts November 19th, 2014 at 10:03
You sister is turning tricks at twice the rate you are. maybe you should wash with soap instead of sandpaper
William November 19th, 2014 at 09:45
Republicans…..They’re too busy with other things.
William November 19th, 2014 at 10:45
Republicans…..They’re too busy with other things.
Agamemnon_man November 19th, 2014 at 10:09
Actually there never was any possibility that the bulk collection would stop. It has been all a PR exercise for delay. The American national security state, which includes law enforcement, will never allow itself to be limited where it cannot pry into anybody’s communications it wants to for any reason and at anytime – and this includes prying into American’s communications and tracking them.
The Stasi had to hire half the population to watch the other half. The American national security state only needs to purchase enough digital hardware to do the same, and do it better.
Agamemnon_man November 19th, 2014 at 11:09
Actually there never was any possibility that the bulk collection would stop. It has been all a PR exercise for delay. The American national security state, which includes law enforcement, will never allow itself to be limited where it cannot pry into anybody’s communications it wants to for any reason and at anytime – and this includes prying into American’s communications and tracking them.
The Stasi had to hire half the population to watch the other half. The American national security state only needs to purchase enough digital hardware to do the same, and do it better.