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Patriot Act Extension By Autopen Raises Questions for Congressman

Posted by timothy on from the great-and-powerful-oz dept.

Okian Warrior writes "Congress passed the [Patriot act extension] bill Thursday night, shortly before certain provisions of the Patriot Act were set to expire. However, Mr. Obama could not sign the bill right away in person, since he was in Europe for the G8 Summit. In order to sign the bill before the measures expired, he authorized the use of the autopen machine, which holds a pen and signs his actual signature. Republican Rep. Tom Graves of Georgia sent President Obama a letter today questioning the constitutionality."

8 of 247 comments (clear)

  1. Questioning the constitutionality... by ChrisMounce · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I'd like to question the constitutionality of a lot more than just how it was signed.

  2. The comments are full of hilarity by OverlordQ · · Score: 3, Insightful

    More nitpicking and stupidity from the GOP that's all it is.

    What, you whiny republicans would rather he hadn't signed it at all, and let the act expire?

    YES

    --
    Your hair look like poop, Bob! - Wanker.
    1. Re:The comments are full of hilarity by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I do recall the PATRIOT act being one of the issues Teleprompter Jesus ran on. He and his democratic minions bitching about eavesdropping on Grandma's phone calls. Now our Dear Reader is renewing the law he railed against so he could get elected. Nice. Real nice.

      The democrats took Bush, painted him brown and put a D behind his name.

      O=W

      O is merely continuing every policy Bush initiated...

    2. Re:The comments are full of hilarity by shutdown+-p+now · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Why such a discrepancy between House and Senate for Dems? Most Dem Senators voted yea...

      Anyway, you can't assume that Dems in the House would have still voted the same way if they were the majority. US politics being what it is, minority parties tend to vote against things out of spite, but flip flop on the issue as soon as they're running things and could use some extra levers.

  3. Re:What a microcosm of what's wrong with us by iceperson · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Hmm, interesting that you call one of the few who stood up and voted against the law a "partisan hack". It would seem you can't see past the D or R next to a person's name. There's a name for that I think. It's right on the tip of my tongue...

  4. President Obama by Bios_Hakr · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Look, I'm not into the whole "political" thing.

    But it isn't "Mr." Obama; it's Mr. President or President Obama.

    You could also use The President or POTUS.

    Saying "Mr." Obama isn't just disrespecting him, it's disrespecting The Office of the President. It's tacky.

    --
    I'd rather you do it wrong, than for me to have to do it at all.
    1. Re:President Obama by Jafafa+Hots · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Gosh, I thought the thing was that the president works FOR US.

      We've had more than enough of putting more power and gravitas than was intended into the role of the presidency, doncha think?

      The whole point was to not have kings.

      --
      This space available.
  5. Re:What? by KDR_11k · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Or a victim of the propaganda of the big telcos and the general corporate propaganda that government is ALWAYS worse than private enterprise.

    --
    Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.