This Sunday, at midnight, the notorious Section 215 of the Patriot Act is set to expire. Section 215 has been the basis for the bulk collection of communications of all Americans, indeed of all the world. It was born under Bush in the wake of 9/11, and Obama kept it alive in beginning in 2010 — until now. But on Sunday a stake can be driven through its heart — if WE act NOW. This is not simply a possibility but a likelihood!
Obama and his co-conspirators, both Republican and Democratic Senate “leadership” are hell-bent on keeping this Frankenstein alive. If they cannot, then they have other monsters in line to take its place. In addition to the original Patriot Act, there are on the table three other bills, all phony reforms of the U.S. Patriot Act.
Yesterday a large group of civil libertarian and other organizations sent a letter to the Senate leadership calling for the Senate to block not only Section 215 of the original Patriot Act but also all three ersatz reform bills, which are the USA Freedom Act (already defeated once in the Senate), a bill put forward by Senator Burr and another put forward by Senator Feinstein.