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27 House Republicans voted against the Patriot Act, joining 117
Democrats<br>
65 Dems and 210 Republicans voted for it, on the Second round of voting
when<br>
it would pass by an easy majority<br>
<h4 class="bTitle"><a href="http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2011/roll029.xml">http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2011/roll029.xml</a><br>
</h4>
<h4 class="bTitle">*</h4>
One notable victim of the Patriot Act who has a story to tell expresses
her disappointment in the Tea Party. <br>
<br>
I have noticed that voters tend to be rather forgetful. But I hope
they do remember.<br>
<br>
I have also seen first hand up close and personal-like the deceit and
strong arm tactics of the Republican Party <br>
on and against its membership and delegates. I have also seen
brothers-in-arms crumple under that pressure,<br>
and have seen brothers stand up against the threats and the deceitful
promises... It takes some backbone.<br>
<br>
<i>and Peter went out, and he wept bitterly.</i><br>
<br>
*<br>
<br>
<h4 class="bTitle">TEA PARTY CRASHES: THE MOST UNPATRIOTIC ACT</h4>
<div class="bSmallHead"> <pubdate>February 15th, 2011</pubdate> <a
href="http://www.thepeoplesvoice.org/TPV3/Voices.php/2011/02/15/tea-party-crashes-the-most-unpatriotic-a?tempskin=basic"
title="Print View"> </a><br>
</div>
<div class="bText">
<p><strong>By Susan Lindauer, 9/11 Whistleblower indicted on the
Patriot Act<br>
</strong></p>
<a
href="http://www.thepeoplesvoice.org/TPV3/Voices.php/2011/02/15/tea-party-crashes-the-most-unpatriotic-a">http://www.thepeoplesvoice.org/TPV3/Voices.php/2011/02/15/tea-party-crashes-the-most-unpatriotic-a</a></div>
<p>....You see, contrary to rhetoric on Capitol Hill, the Patriot Act
is first and foremost a weapon to bludgeon whistleblowers and political
dissidents. Indeed, it has been singularly crafted for that purpose.</p>
<p>The American people are not nearly as frightened as they should be.
Many Americans expect the Patriot Act to limit its surveillance to
overseas communications. Yet while I was under indictment, Maryland
State Police invoked the Patriot Act to wire tap activists tied to the
Chesapeake Climate Action Network, an environmental group dedicated to
wind power, solar energy and recycling. The DC Anti-War Network was
targeted as a "white supremacist group." Amnesty International and
anti-death penalty activists got targeted for alleged "civil rights
violations."</p>
<p>All of these are American activists engaged in lawful disputes of
government policy. All of them got victimized by the surveillance
techniques approved by Tea Party leaders, because they pursued a policy
agenda that contradicted current government policies. The Tea Party
swore to defend the freedom of independent thinking in Congressional
campaigns. One presumes those promises are now forgotten until the next
election.</p>
<p>I cannot forget. I cannot forget how I was subjected to secret
charges, secret evidence and secret grand jury testimony that denied my
right to face my accusers or their accusations in open court,
throughout five years of indictment. I cannot forget my imprisonment on
a Texas military base for a year without a trial or evidentiary hearing.</p>
<p>I cannot forget how the FBI, the US Attorneys Office, the Bureau of
Prisons and the main Justice office in Washington --- independently and
collectively verified my story--- then falsified testimony to Chief
Justice Michael Mukasey, denying our 9/11 warnings and my long-time
status as a U.S. intelligence Asset, though my witnesses had
aggressively confronted them. Apparently the Patriot Act allows the
Justice Department to withhold corroborating evidence and testimony
from the Court, if it is deemed "classified."</p>
<p>I cannot forget threats of forcible drugging and indefinite
detention up to 10 years, until I could be "cured" of believing what
everybody wanted to deny— because it was damn inconvenient to
politicians in Washington anxious to hold onto power.</p>
<p>Some things are unforgivable in a democracy. The Patriot Act would
be right at the top of that list. Nobody who has supported that
wretched law should ever be allowed to brag of defending liberty again.
That goes for the Tea Party. By voting to extend surveillance of
American citizens, they have abandoned the principles of freedom that
brought about their rise to power. They have shown their true face.</p>
<p>It is a face that we, the people, will remember. I, for one, have no
intention of allowing them to forget.<br>
</p>
<a
href="http://www.thepeoplesvoice.org/TPV3/Voices.php/2011/02/15/tea-party-crashes-the-most-unpatriotic-a">http://www.thepeoplesvoice.org/TPV3/Voices.php/2011/02/15/tea-party-crashes-the-most-unpatriotic-a</a>
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