the unexpected defeat of the renewal of the patriot act is not going to stop the patriot act from being renewed fairly soon. what it will do is draw attention to the renewal effort.
the patriot act isn't that popular. house leaders were trying to sneak it through with limited debate (breaking the new GOP leadership's promises to post the text of all bills 72 hours before the vote) to avoid the public taking notice. the renewal failed this time because it failed to get a 2/3 majority that was needed under the house's expedited procedures. but the vote was still 277 in favor to 148 against, which means it will easily pass when they use the non-expedited procedures that require a simple majority.
except now there's a news story. the unexpectedness of the defeat and the fact that it resulted from an unusual alliance between a few tea partiers and dennis kucinich makes this too shiny to keep the media away. i have no doubt that the extension will still pass. except now people might start talking about whether an extension is a good idea. that's not a conversation that either congressional leaders or the white house want to happen.
the patriot act isn't that popular. house leaders were trying to sneak it through with limited debate (breaking the new GOP leadership's promises to post the text of all bills 72 hours before the vote) to avoid the public taking notice. the renewal failed this time because it failed to get a 2/3 majority that was needed under the house's expedited procedures. but the vote was still 277 in favor to 148 against, which means it will easily pass when they use the non-expedited procedures that require a simple majority.
except now there's a news story. the unexpectedness of the defeat and the fact that it resulted from an unusual alliance between a few tea partiers and dennis kucinich makes this too shiny to keep the media away. i have no doubt that the extension will still pass. except now people might start talking about whether an extension is a good idea. that's not a conversation that either congressional leaders or the white house want to happen.
