Go Russ!

CNN.com - Patriot Act renewal fails in Senate - Dec 16, 2005:

"Sen. Russell Feingold, D-Wisconsin [...] voted against the original Patriot Act and led efforts to filibuster the current version[...]. When it comes to discussion of the Patriot Act, Feingold said lawmakers must 'come together' to simultaneously give the government the authority it needs 'and protect the rights and freedoms of innocent citizens.'"

Go Russ! I've always like this guy, but since 9-11, I'm damn near in love with him! I mean, Christ, he was the ONLY US Senator to vote against the 'Patriot Act'?! Why didn't anyone else vote against it? It was clearly flawed, and clearly gave the administration far too much power over US citizens in the guise of fighting terrorism.
I think they voted for it because, with the notable exception of Feingold, the US Senate is filled with a administration puppets and spineless worms only worrying about being re-elected. I propose forbidding those who voted in favor of the act from ever holding public office again. Unless, of course, they can convince a court that they really believed in the provisions of the act. In that case they would be jailed, in order to protect the citizens from their apparent urge to turn the USA into a totalitarian state. Overkill? perhaps. But wouldn't it be nice, anyway.

(BTW, I do see the irony in proposing to protect america from totalitarianism byusing totalitarian means. Does the Bush administration?)