President Obama Signed A Temporary Extension to the Patriot Act

I did not vote for Mr. Obama in 2008, nor did I vote for his opponent.  There was, after all the layers were pealed away, very little difference in the politics that Obama and McCain would have brought to the White House.  But, one difference, I thought, was that President Obama would begin the destruction of the most despicable pieces of legislation ever fostered against the United States Constitution and the American people.

I must say that I really believed Obama when he said he did support not many provisions of the USA PATRIOT ACT.  If you recall, Obama also spoke of the swift end he envisioned for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.  I also thought Obama would follow his word and begin immediate withdrawals from those to situations as was safe and practical.  He spoke of being against these wars, as well as the expenditure involved in two such massive military operations.  Not that Obama was so noble, but that he could use money from the military budget for more "Democrat-like" programs.  But, two years after his election, we are still involved in military actions in Iraq and Afghanistan, with plans for an exit proceeding ever so slowly.

I believed that Mr. Obama would make short work of the USA PATRIOT Act by directing federal agencies not to utilize it, by having the Justice Department to pursue nullifying USA PATRIOT in the federal court system, and by using his Congressional majority to strike down USA PATRIOT through the legislative process.  In fact, Mr. Obama is now nearly indistinguishable from George (Dubb-ya) Bush in his politics.  Wasn't George a Republican?  No matter, it is politics as usual no matter who occupies the White House.  I remember after Obama moved into the White House he went on a nearly non-stop George W. Bush bashing tirade in the press, but he is in fact following his predecessor's footsteps in these matters.

The good news for all Americans is that the extensions of USA PATRIOT are only for three months, and at the end of that time, the US Congress will once again debate then vote on USA PATRIOT.  The bad news is that in only three months the US Congress will once again debate then vote on USA PATRIOT.  I am not holding out much hope that Congress will do what it was mandated to do and vote the will of the people.  Polls show time after time that most people are deeply opposed to USA PATRIOT.  This most vicious attack on American civil liberties was perpetrated on US by a Republican Congress working with a Republican President.  Now the Republican Congress is working with a Democratic President.  I am ashamed to say that it appears that Republican representatives and senators, who should feel OBLIGATED to remove USA PATRIOT without prejudice will in fact vote to extend it, and for as long as possible, if I am not mistaken.  I think several Democrats will support it as well.  And, since Obama has already signed the extension, he will obviously sign the law keeping USA PATRIOT in place. 

I hope we say goodbye to Mr. Obama in 2012, but the next president may not be any different and may not be anymore inclined to restore our liberties than was that most popular PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE who has turned out to be not a very promising President.