see "Congress Puts Brakes on Patriot Act Action" (AP via SF Chronicle/SFGate, 11/18/05)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2005/11/18/national/w142953S20.DTL

Senate Republicans had hoped to pass the Patriot Act renewal Friday, following its changes in the House-Senate Conference Committee.

However, Democrats with a handful of Republicans who object to the Act's infringements on civil liberties forced a delay in the vote, probably until early December.

I often rail against GOP "moderates" who abandon Constitutional principles in economic matters. They depart from the "party line" in order to raise taxes, expand government, and pander to special interests, all to the detriment of federalism, liberty, and the rule of law.

In this case, I congratulate the "moderates" who departed from the party line in order to protect the Constitution. Patriot Act provisions allowing administrative subpoenas, searches of library and medical records, and various sorts of secret investigations of citizens and non-citizens alike are unacceptable, regardless of it being a time of war. As has been noted by many other observers of American politics, what is the use of defending our country and our Constitution if we do it by destroying the principles our nation was founded upon?

I assume that the Patriot Act will be renewed, and with more infringements on our liberties than I would support if I were in Congress. But maybe these few Republicans, working with the Democrats who are on the right side of this issue (even a broken clock is right twice a day), will have somewhat shielded us from the excesses which the Act gives to the FBI.

Parts of the Patriot Act subvert the very freedoms which we cherish. Just because a right is inalienable or a truth self-evident does not mean it does not need to be defended. Thanks to the courageous Republicans who stood up for such a defense.