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1.  

   

   Brian Schroth (profile), May 24th, 2011 @ 7:26am

   
   

   So who were the 18 Senators too cowardly to attend the vote?

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2.  

   

   Chris ODonnell (profile), May 24th, 2011 @ 7:34am

   
   

   You have to love an issue that has Rand Paul and Bernie Sanders voting on the same side! If you are curious, the list above is 4 Democrats, 3 Republicans, and 1 Socialist.

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3.  

   Re:

   

   Jay (profile), May 24th, 2011 @ 7:49am

   
   

   There's still a Socialist party?!
   
   Wow... Next thing you know, there will be an Objectivist party in the works.
   
   *Thinks about the Tea Party*
   
   Oh, wait...

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4.  

   Wyden?

   

   Killer_Tofu (profile), May 24th, 2011 @ 7:53am

   
   

   I am rather surprised that Senator Wyden isn't on that list. Quite surprised really.

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5.  

   Re:

   

   Mike Masnick (profile), May 24th, 2011 @ 7:54am

   
   

   You have to love an issue that has Rand Paul and Bernie Sanders voting on the same side! If you are curious, the list above is 4 Democrats, 3 Republicans, and 1 Socialist
   
   Once again, we discover that civil liberties is not a partisan issue...

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6.  

   +1 Against (sorta)

   

   Kevin (profile), May 24th, 2011 @ 7:57am

   
   

   Especially in light of the "18 senators too cowardly to attend" comment above, I think it's only fair to point out that Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) also said he would have voted no, but was prevented from attending the vote by inclement weather. Still, that would have put it at a measly 4 Rep., 4 Dem., & 1 "Socialist". (Yes, there is a socialist party, btw, but Bernie Sanders is listed as an Independent.)

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7.  

   Disgusting

   

   DCX2, May 24th, 2011 @ 7:58am

   
   

   So much for democracy.

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8.  

   This makes two

   

   E. Zachary Knight (profile), May 24th, 2011 @ 8:01am

   
   

   This makes two letters I have written to my senators in as many days. Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma voted for this measure. Senator James Inhofe did not vote.
   
   I hope that they get the idea that the privacy and due process rights granted by the Constitution are not something that can be tossed to the wind. I hope they realize that the people of this nation will not allow this to continue indefinitely.

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9.  

   Re: +1 Against (sorta)

   

   Jay (profile), May 24th, 2011 @ 8:02am

   
   

   That's odd... Why are all third parties merely listed as "independent?"
   
   What happens if they gain significant traction to become an actual third party?
   
   HOW does a party become a viable option to Republican or Democrat?

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10.  

    Re:

    

    el_segfaulto (profile), May 24th, 2011 @ 8:21am

    
    

    It's hard to believe that my state's Dean Heller is on that list. I never liked the man, but now I don't know what to think anymore!

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11.  

    Re: Re: +1 Against (sorta)

    

    Anonymous Coward, May 24th, 2011 @ 8:24am

    
    

    They don't. And that's the way the parties in power like it.

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12.  

    Re: Wyden?

    

    Ron Rezendes (profile), May 24th, 2011 @ 8:36am

    
    

    That's the first name I looked for and I am just as surprised, if not disappointed.

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13.  

    We get what we deserve

    

    Spaceman Spiff (profile), May 24th, 2011 @ 8:38am

    
    

    Well, we elected them. We are getting what we deserve. If we want representatives who have our interests forefront in their minds and efforts, then we need to elect new ones that will do that! Caveat voter!

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14.  

    Re: Re: +1 Against (sorta)

    

    Anonymous Coward, May 24th, 2011 @ 8:39am

    
    

    Of course the real 3rd party is the Libertarians. If enough people cared about their rights they would be Libertarians. But the US is full of retarded sheep that can't see that neither the Republicans or Democrats care about them. They care about who's lining their pockets and wipe their asses with the Constitution.

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15.  

    Re: Re:

    

    Hephaestus (profile), May 24th, 2011 @ 8:40am

    
    

    He so obviously pushed the wrong button ...

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16.  

    No compromises

    

    Insider, May 24th, 2011 @ 8:46am

    
    

    You can't compromise security VS liberty.
    We are supposed to be defending freedoms.
    If you take those freedoms to insure security, there is nothing worth living or dying for.
    If the people in government CAN NOT keep us safe WHILE keeping us free, they are the wrong people for the job. PERIOD.

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17.  

    

    Anonymous Coward, May 24th, 2011 @ 8:52am

    
    

    My guy didn't even vote. Lame.

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18.  

    Re: We get what we deserve

    

    Chronno S. Trigger (profile), May 24th, 2011 @ 8:57am

    
    

    My manager had this argument this morning as well. Vote for someone new, shut up, or get out of the country. I responded with "OK, how do I vote for someone new?".

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19.  

    Re: Wyden?

    

    Almost Anonymous (profile), May 24th, 2011 @ 8:59am

    
    

    Same. Quickly scanned list, quickly puzzled by missing name.

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20.  

    Re: Re: +1 Against (sorta)

    

    DCX2, May 24th, 2011 @ 9:34am

    
    

    There is no way to make a viable third party. The third party leeches votes away from one of the first two parties, weakening that party so that the other one wins. The smart people know this and avoid "wasting their vote".
    
    The solution is that we need fourth parties. If we simultaneously fracture Republicans and Democrats, then folks might not feel like they're wasting their vote anymore.
    
    It's more possible than you might think. Consider all the conservatives who hate Republicans and all the liberals who hate Democrats.

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21.  

    Re: Re:

    

    Anonymous Coward, May 24th, 2011 @ 9:38am

    
    

    Clearly. Both of my Senators voted for this, 1 Rep and 1 Dem. And they'll try and spin it as a bi-partisan action.
    
    "Stop trampling my rights... Oh, both sides came together to trample my rights as one? Well that makes it all better."

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22.  

    Re: We get what we deserve

    

    DCX2, May 24th, 2011 @ 9:39am

    
    

    Yeah, elect new representatives. That sounds great, in theory. A lot like "oh, you don't like your [broadband ISP] or [Wireless provider]? Go find a new one. Caveat consumer!"

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23.  

    Re:

    

    Any Mouse (profile), May 24th, 2011 @ 10:13am

    
    

    Lamar Alexander (TN)
    Michael Bennet (CO)
    Roy Blunt (MO)
    Scott Brown (MA)
    Sherrod Brown (OH)
    Thad Cochran (MS)
    Bob Corker (TN)
    Richard Durbin (IL)
    Lindsey Graham (SC)
    James Inhofe (OK)
    Mike Lee (UT)
    Claire McCaskill (MO)
    Mark Pryor (AR)
    James Risch (ID)
    Marco Rubio (FL)
    Richard Shelby (AL)
    David Vitter (LA)
    Sheldon Whitehouse (RI)

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24.  

    

    monkyyy, May 24th, 2011 @ 10:17am

    
    

    its been a long time since my senator (hatch) wasnt on a list of shame
    
    one in a row NEW RECORD

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25.  

    Re:

    

    monkyyy, May 24th, 2011 @ 10:21am

    
    

    oh wait this is a list of the only reasonable senators -__-
    *delete high score table*

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26.  

    Re: Re: We get what we deserve

    

    monkyyy, May 24th, 2011 @ 10:32am

    
    

    write it in, and expect disappointment, its the only way

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27.  

    Re: Re: +1 Against (sorta)

    

    hothmonster, May 24th, 2011 @ 10:54am

    
    

    A party can become a real party by having a canidate receive a certain percentage of votes, I forget the number. After that they are an official party and receive the same money/benefits of a real party.
    
    The closest a party has ever got was the green party with the nader/leduke ticket, they were only a percentage or two off. I would give you better numbers but I'm on my cell

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28.  

    Re: We get what we deserve

    

    Anonymous Coward, May 24th, 2011 @ 10:57am

    
    

    If only anyone who ran fit your description

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29.  

    Re: Wyden?

    

    Checker, May 24th, 2011 @ 1:52pm

    
    

    Wyden is actually one of the guys leading the fight against the Patriot Act. He's argued that we need to actually debate it and not just keep passing extension after extension so clearly he didn't want to vote against debating the bill --- that was the subject of last nights vote. We can be sure he will have amendments to rein in the government and will vote against renewing the law also

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30.  

    Misnaming to mislead...

    

    CN, May 24th, 2011 @ 3:34pm

    
    

    I think it would help if the act were named properly, instead of some positive spin marketing b-s.
    
    Why is it even the "Patriot Act" in the first place? (To mislead, and make opposition seem anti-american scum, obviously.) Should be the "Big Brother's Watching You Act", or something like that.

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31.  

    Re: Misnaming to mislead...

    

    Angry Puppy (profile), May 24th, 2011 @ 4:43pm

    
    

    I remember the first time I heard the title "Patriot Act". My first thought was: "Oh boy! They're going to strip every civil liberty won in the past 200 years in one day in the name of patriotism." And they did. It's the most un-American thing a US government ever did.
    
    Osama may have gotten himself executed but he did destroy an important part of America and so he did get a partial victory. I can only hope that since the US government is not willing to give up the total power they stole from the US people in order to make the defeat of Bin Laden complete the death of America's boogie man will result in new found courage to make the politicians rescind an act that had no real effect on terrorism but a profound effect on Americanism.

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32.  

    Re: Re: Misnaming to mislead...

    

    Anonymous Coward, May 24th, 2011 @ 6:48pm

    
    

    Osama didn't get himself Executed, he got himself Assassinated. Our government didn't have the guts to take him in and have a real trial. And now our government is just going to say that the murder of Osama has made a bunch of psychos come out and that they (be our government) need to terrorize us even more.

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33.  

    unpatriotic act

    

    lincko, May 24th, 2011 @ 6:50pm

    
    

    Thanks to the eight Senators that voted against this tyrannical bill. Hang in there we will see if we can ellect some new people that speak for the people as you do.I wrote my senator Mrs hutchinson to vote against it.She replied that she would vote for it becuse the people demand it.LOL.I wrote back to ask which group of people would that be?The DHS,FBI God bless whats left of our once great nation

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34.  

    Re: Re: Re: +1 Against (sorta)

    

    Dale Sheldon-Hess, May 24th, 2011 @ 7:09pm

    
    

    No way *under the current system*.
    
    *cough*approval voting*cough*

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35.  

    Re: Re: Re: +1 Against (sorta)

    

    Dale Sheldon-Hess, May 24th, 2011 @ 7:12pm

    
    

    You talking about federal funding for presidential races.
    
    The rules for congress are completely different, and vary by state.

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36.  

    Re: Re: Re: +1 Against (sorta)

    

    Anonymous Coward, May 24th, 2011 @ 8:39pm

    
    

    I can't tell if this a troll or a real Libertarian.
    
    On the other hand, what would the difference be between the two? ;)

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37.  

    Re: Wyden?

    

    BearGriz72 (profile), May 24th, 2011 @ 9:08pm

    
    

    DITTO, Ditto, & ditto. What happened to Wyden? At least Jeff Merkley stood up to it.

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38.  

    Re: Re: Re: Re: +1 Against (sorta)

    

    BearGriz72 (profile), May 24th, 2011 @ 9:13pm

    
    

    Interesting Idea, to bad it will never fly.

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39.  

    

    Anonymous Coward, May 24th, 2011 @ 11:22pm

    
    

    I hope Ron Paul becomes president (but I won't hold my breath, though that's not the kinda language I should be using right now if I want him to win).
    
    Regardless, please Vote for Ron Paul.

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40.  

    Re: Re: Misnaming to mislead...

    

    hegemon13, May 25th, 2011 @ 5:46am

    
    

    Well, not the most unamerican. FDR sending Japanese people to prison camps was pretty heinous. The creation of the Federal Reserve, the founding of the CIA, and the Wickard vs. Filburn decision all notch a bit higher on the scale of destroying liberty and expanding authoritarian federal government. But, yeah, the Patriot act is up there.

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41.  

    Re: Re: Re: +1 Against (sorta)

    

    HothMonster, May 25th, 2011 @ 9:35am

    
    

    "In 2000, Nader and his running mate Winona LaDuke received 2,883,105 votes, for 2.74 percent of the popular vote (third place overall),[52] missing the 5 percent needed to qualify the Green Party for federally distributed public funding in the next election, yet qualifying the Greens for ballot status in many states."
    
    from Nader's Wiki

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42.  

    Re: Re: Re: Re: +1 Against (sorta)

    

    Anonymous Coward, May 25th, 2011 @ 11:26am

    
    

    A real libertarian would be a friend to Techdirt-type readers. Libertarians generally would NOT approve of more copyright regulation

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43.  

    Re: Re: +1 Against (sorta)

    

    Colin, May 25th, 2011 @ 2:59pm

    
    

    Take down the two-headed corporate party

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44.  

    Sanders & Paul

    

    David Bennett, May 26th, 2011 @ 9:52pm

    
    

    Rand actually sounded thoughtful and definitely is correct. I actually was surprised at that. I learned from the comments made here that we have people that don't seem to have a clue about how our government works. Regarding socialism. Where do you think Highways come from? The tooth fairy? ALL government services including water, sewer, police, fire departments are paid with tax revenue. That's socialism folks. I suppose some of you think that the United States being the ONLY Industrialized country without universal health care is something to be proud of but guess what? The rest of the industrialized nations are laughing at us for the ignorant attitude of far too many shills for Wall Street and the Insurance companies. Bernie Sanders cares more about your freedom than you do.

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45.  

    Odd

    

    Kosta Demos, May 27th, 2011 @ 8:28am

    
    

    I'm surprised Al Franken wasn't front and center on this. Open Tech and Civil Liberties are both pet issues of his - and he ain't shy about forcing inconvenient testimony down the throats of his recalcitrant senate brethren (and sistren).

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