Jeebus, herr. Is this why Congress hasn't repealed the Patriot Act? Because they can't until the President stands down the state of emergency?

The Patriot Act is separate. Revocation would have to be done by a veto-proof majority, because the President (Democrat or Republican) would never cede power without extended battle. President Obama, as one of his campaign promises, said he would repeal it. This has not happened. Bush should have never put it into law, and I screamed about it when it was proposed. That's my way of saying it's not a republican thing or a democrat thing or a conservative or liberal thing. It's a power thing.