4 GOP Senators Hold Firm Against Patriot Act Renewal

4 GOP Senators Hold Firm Against Patriot Act Renewal
More Safeguards Needed, They Say

By Charles Babington
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, December 21, 2005; A04



Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) could barely conceal his anger.

"The Patriot Act expires on December 31, but the terrorist threat does not," he told reporters at the Capitol yesterday. "Those on the Senate floor who are filibustering the Patriot Act are killing the Patriot Act."

There was just one problem. Well, four problems, actually. Four of the 46 senators using the delaying tactic to thwart the USA Patriot Act renewal are members of Frist's party. It is a pesky, irritating fact for Republicans who are eager to portray the impasse as Democratic obstructionism, and a ready-made rejoinder for Democrats expecting campaign attacks on the issue in 2006 and 2008.

The four Republican rebels -- Larry E. Craig (Idaho), Chuck Hagel (Neb.), John E. Sununu (N.H.) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) -- have joined all but two Senate Democrats in arguing that more civil liberties safeguards need to be added to the proposed renewal of the Patriot Act. The law makes it easier for FBI agents to monitor phone calls, search homes and obtain business records of terrorism suspects. The four stand calmly at the center of a political storm that soon will determine whether the law, enacted soon after the 2001 terrorist attacks, is renewed in a modified form or allowed to expire in 11 days.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/20/AR2005122001488_pf.html

that more Republican Senators realize the threat the PA poses and join their colleagues in opposing it.

really know.

but not holding my breath.

It can't be helping the Republicans to have Delay's scandals competing with calls to censure and impeach Bush.

I would like to congratulate the republican senators who have a shred of intelligence but I want to know who the two are that are supporting the Republican plan.

Ben Nelson. I must apologize to Lieberman in my post above.

I just didn't see any reference to who they were.
Thanks