Why hasn't the Patriot Act been repealed?

[CreatureFeature]

We see this crap over and over. One party passes a law that restricts and erodes our freedom, and the other party voices opposition to the law prior to it's passing. However, when that party regains control, they make no effort to restore our freedom.

This just pisses me off.

[havocmom]

1. Been wonderin that my own self

Only thing that comes to mind: the corporate entities that really run things like the Patriot Act.

[ShortnFiery]

2. IMO, Excellent Question CF.

BTW Welcome to DU. :-) :hi:

[NorthCarolina]

3. Simple, conservative DLC/New Dems like it.

They have no real issue with trade agreements like NAFTA either....unless it's during campaign season of course. Talk is cheap, and voters are gullible.

[RaleighNCDUer]

5. Remember, it would have never passed without them to begin with. nt

[ProgressiveProfessor]

13. As does the current administration

[NorthCarolina]

14. No surprise there

Obama has openly declared himself to be a "New Dem" ( http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20090311/pl_politico/19862 ).

"New Democrat" is the public moniker DLC members now prefer to use ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Democrat ) as the term DLC has become a bit sullied with Democratic voters. Of course a turd by any other name, still smells the same.

In spite of Obama's public declaration calling for his name removed from the DLC roster during the primaries, we now know that this was nothing more than baseless campaign shtick. I remember the scuffling here on DU during the primaries that ensued any time anyone dared to post that they believe Obama to be tried and true DLC in spite of any public statements he had made to the contrary. Who gets the last laugh in that case? Perhaps in retrospect, it's really not a laughing matter.

[tavalon]

27. Yeah, we all lose

I fell for the movement but yeah, Obama is DLC in action, if not in name.

[indepat]

4. Many of the most egregious deeds by Bushco have now been ratified, hastening

the demise of the government of, by, and for the people, equal justice under the law, the rule of law, and perhaps the Republic itself, all buy small prices to pay for the joys of living in a RW society. :P

edited to add a phrase

[doc03]

6. Once government gains a power they don't ever

give it up.

[99 Percent Sure]

7. . . . because it is the dealbreaker for the Bill of Rights

and it allows an end-run around the whole US Constitution.

Notice that you rarely, if ever, hear any elected officials mention contitutional rights anymore. Also, notice that they ALL refer to us as "the American people," never "we" or "us," as if we live in a different nation than they. It is because the Patriot Act has given them extraordinary powers superceding those granted us in the constitution. And there's absolutely nothing we can do about it.

[WhiteTara]

8. they realize what a great tool it is

they can disappear someone without a trace, if need be.

[TreasonousBastard]

9. The tinfoilers have it all wrong-- it's not "corporate overlords" or fascist government..

screwing us-- Congresscritters simply aren't smart enough to pull any of that off.

What they are is terrified of an opponent calling them "soft on terrorism" in the next election, so keeping that shit law on the books is one less problem in November.

Similar reasoning keeps stupid, counterproductive drug and other criminal laws on the books, keeps unnecessary and expensive military projects and bases open, kills productive social programs, and other ridiculous positions they often take.

Half the time they admit the position is insane, but they have to do what they have to do to stay in office.

(Don'tcha just love democracy in action?)

[rudy23]

10. Because corporate Dems are supposed to try and fail, and keep their cushy jobs.

They want to be the permanent minority party. America's religion is Conservatism, and Democrats survive in this game by passive-aggressively helping their agenda.

Conservatives advance the Conservative agenda by succeeding in ramming it through. Democrats advance the Conservative agenda by failing to stop it.

[tavalon]

28. Yeah, we really fucked that one up for them, didn't we

If it weren't so life and death, it would be funny to watch them continue to carry out their role as the minority party.

[ixion]

11. Indeed. Why hasn't it?

Of course, when it was passed, I said that would be the result.

A government loves to take power. It loathes to return it.

[CanonRay]

12. Because government never voluntarily gives up power

No government, anywhere.

[OnyxCollie]

15. It's next on the docket.

Right after banning electronic voting.

[SlipperySlope]

16. That was the change I voted for.

I'm still waiting.

[jimlup]

17. because the powerful never give up power voluntarily

It is really that simple

[nightrain]

18. apparently Obama likes it. Remind me, how did he vote?

[depakid]

21. He wasn't a Senator when it was enacted but there's not much question now on how he would have voted

[live love laugh]

19. becuz obama can't fix every evil of bushco post haste. nt

[saracat]

20. Because Obama supports it?

[MarshalltheIrish]

22. A question that I've asked myself just about every day

If I've read correctly, I think it's only gotten stronger since Obama took office. In any case, there's no way you can run on a campaign of undoing the damage of the past eight years and not address it. As far I'm concerned, it's the most flagrant compromise of our Constitutional integrity ever enacted.

[autorank]

23. Answer: Because they really dig it!

k*r Excellent, focused, critical post.

[Nothing Without Hope]

24. Because there is corruption in both parties. n/t

[The Damned]

25. So you come into office and you have all this power...

You really gonna give that up? But I still R this thread!

[tavalon]

26. Pretty nifty little trick, eh?

Bread and Circuses.

I think it's been very interesting to watch the Democrats flail about in their new status as majority party. Their role has always been the ones to say, "sorry, we can't do anything because the majority won't let us.". But they keep pretending that there is something holding them back. It's well past time we call them on their bluff.

[pecwae]

30. +

:thumbsup:

[Kablooie]

29. Because there are still patriots left that need to be thrown in jail.