http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110209/ap_on_re_us/us_patriot_act

The House on Tuesday failed to extend the life of three surveillance tools that are key to the nation's post-Sept. 11 anti-terror law, a slipup for the new Republican leadership that miscalculated the level of opposition.

The House voted 277-148 to keep the three provisions of the USA Patriot Act on the books until Dec. 8. But Republicans brought up the bill under a special expedited procedure requiring a two-thirds majority, and the vote was seven short of reaching that level.

Finally! this bill needed to be repealed years ago, but it failing to pass worked wonderfully!

Doubtlessly a positive benefit of the tea-party's rise. If those Republican gains had been of solid Bush-era Republicans, that wouldn't've happened.

good news for everyone, because every other western democracy copied that shit.

2 days later, Australia repeals their version of the laws. We are such copycats :P

Anyway, it was weird to see the alliance of Obama plus republicans vs other democrats and Tea Party republicans.

Regardless, this is nice to see. It is one of the few times I have noticed a major Western Country push for more liberties rather than less.

Er... hate to burst your bubble.

They're just going to bring it back up under the same loophole that the Democrats used to pass healthcare where they will just need a "regular" majority.

I got excited when I saw it too, until I realized that.

we will have to see. the republicans wanted it to be a 2/3s vote just to show that all their republicans support the measure. since that failed they might be sulking currently. while I hate the tea-party as all they are is  neo-conservatives trying to paint a different light on the same thing, at least the support a smaller gov and less restrictions for the american people.

also, even if this passed, wouldn't it have to go to the senate? it wouldn't get past the senate at all I believe.

The fact that there's any hesitation at all goes to show that the healing process has begun. Let's just hope that some asshole doesn't blow something big up so that people get scared and stupid again.

You can't be a neo-conservative if you support a smaller government and less restrictions.

As for the Senate... dunno.  The democrats are split in the senate, some supporting Harry Reid, and others supporting Obama... and you've got to keep in mind, this shit kept getting extended under the democrats anwyay.  With some of the worst parts of it "FIZA" being put into other bills and "protected".

idk, Bush was a neo-conservative and grew the government's power and size.

And true, but those will eventually be removed.. or expire.

good riddance, that garbage was one of the main reasons I stopped voting Republican.