“I will speak until I can no longer speak.” – Senator Rand Paul
IT BEGAN at 11:45 a.m. today.
Love his politics or detest him for his literalism, Senator Rand Paul is doing it his way and at least stands for something.
After the Senate Intelligence Committee forwarded President Obama’s CIA nominee John Brennan to the full Senate for confirmation, Senator Paul could take it no more.
The filibuster is streaming live via C-SPAN.
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), a libertarian-minded Democrat who has also expressed reservations about the Obama administration’s drone policy, shortly before 4 p.m. became the fifth senator and first Democrat to join Paul’s filibuster. [...] Four Republicans have joined the filibuster as well: Sens. Mike Lee (R-Utah), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.). [Washington Post]
This administration is making Rand Paul sound reasonable. Does anybody get it, yet?
You think Rand Paul sounds reasonable? The guy went on a rant about Hitler today and got the history wrong in the process!
Senator Rand Paul *is* being reasonable.
This is about the presidents club, not just President Obama.
As Paul just asked, is the Senate a check & balance or not? I’ve been writing about that for YEARS. Congress long ago became a political party cheerleader.
The optics on this issue is terrible for the White House.
Right!
Rand Paul is a twit second only to his father in his capacity to make the residents of Bedlam look down right thoughtful. but even a broken clock is right twice a day and I do respect him for doing this the way…the only legitimate way it should be required it to be done.
rand…yer a whacko…but kudos to you on this one!
Kudos indeed.
I’m no fan of Rand Paul, but if wants an answer to a question like can the President use drones to kill american citizens on american soil, notwithstanding Eric Holder’s explanation -I’m all for it.
Think about it an American president authorizing the killing of an American without due process on American soil. Goddamn right I want answers and so should you.
The Congress and media have become essentially lapdogs in the protection of civil liberties in this country for Presidential Executive Power.
Let Rand Paul filibuster the old way-that’s how it should be done, and this is an issue thats should be put forth to the american public.
I am not really interested in the opinions of people in our government regarding what the President can and can’t do! What we need are laws specifically ban the the Federal Government from using military drones on American territory or in the skies above it! We also needs laws banning State and local government from buying and using military drones period. We also need laws that says no drone of any kind can be armed! A law making a distinction between drones and models airplanes would also help! Ordinary civilians should continue to be allowed to fly model airplanes with their limited range but they shouldn’t be allowed to buy and fly drones! We should so that quickly before the NRA decides the 2nd amendment covers drones as well!
Seconded, liberaljoe.
Code Pink just tweeted in support of Senator Rand Paul’s filibuster on the issue of our government assassinating American citizens on American soil.
It’s hour 11 of the filibuster; Rand Paul is trending on twitter and there are 32,000 comments on HuffingtonPost.
#StandWithRand is number 2 on twitter; 34,000 comments on HP.
It is fantastic. Tpaz.
I haven’t agreed with Rand Paul on hardly anything, but this is TREMENDOUS.
It’s also obvious that Rand Paul may be the only Republican who would also make this stand if there were a Republican in the White House.
I don’t thing Ted Cruz, speaking now, is in his league. His behavior w Hagel was a disgrace. But that doesn’t make him wrong on this.
Seeing the Senate do this is wonderful.
We long ago lost our Congress & this is actually a sign of life.
It could be a very important moment for Republicans, who need it badly.
This makes you want to believe that representative government isn’t completely dead in the U.S. However, the Democrats will be hurt short-term over this. Obama will lose 3-5 points in the polls. Obama supporters are backing RP on twitter. This is a big deal for people who believe in civil liberties.
35,600 HP comments.
Obama will lose 3-5 points in the polls? Hmmm! Where did you get those numbers? I hope you washed your hands after you pulled those numbers out of your rear end!
Have it your way; Obama approval rating will rise in the polls 3-5 points for not answering if the POTUS has the legal authority to kill Americans on American soil without due process.
Hahahaha! His re-elect is killing you on the inside isn’t it?
It’s not killing me, it’s actually benefiting me, my business, my annual income, and my net worth. The stock market is at all time highs. My clients are happy. It is, however, killing America because his policies favor those with wealth at the expense of the middle class and the poor. This trend will only accelerate over the next four years to the benefit of the top 10%.
TPAZ: So let me get this right! Your life is BETTER because of this President’s policies but you hate him anyway. You know I didn’t think it was possible for your views to be anymore nonsensical but nope. They now make even less sense!
He never said that but OK!
“You know I didn’t think it was possible for your views to be anymore nonsensical but nope. They now make even less sense!”
It’s called being your brother’s keeper.
Deut. 15:7. If there is a poor man among you, one of your brothers, in any of the towns of the land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand to your poor brother; but you shall freely open your hand to him, and generously lend him sufficient for his need in whatever he lacks.
TPAZ: Sorry but being an atheist that doesn’t impress me!
“Obama will lose 3-5 points in the polls. “-TPAZ
I doubt Obama cares about his personal poll numbers at this point. It’s not like he can run for a third term. And as for suddenly Saint Rand Paul…the man doesn’t even believe in women rights…yet I am suppose to be happy and joyful over a broken clock being right once…?
He doesn’t care about his numbers but his numbers will impact other Democrats. He is a Democrat, you know.
No, it will not impact other Democrats…right now, Dems and Republicans poll numbers are both in the toilet. No, one likes either party that’s why more people like myself register as independents.
Dems have always struggled with mid term elections…history proves that point. The Dem base does not vote often during mid terms…what the republicans should be more worried about is 2016…where the United States voting population will be even more diverse and lean liberal.
They are thinking short term with this 2014 nonsense about bring down Obama poll numbers for what?….the president already won a second term…going after Obama will not help them in 2016.
The filibuster has wrapped up hour 12. There are now 38,600 comments on HP.
For those of you who only watch MSNBC, the Republicans are running the table on the Democrats this week: Keystone XL Pipeline, Sequestration, and Drones. Three unforced errors by the Blue team.
The Red team has so far won one of TDS with Jon Stewart slots for Thursday monologue space on late night. If the Red Team can last until the first two hours of the morning shows they will have a lock on the weekend shows. Bonus points, if during the morning shows Rand Paul yield for a question to a Democrat and an Independant, in addition to Republicans, the entire political spectrum will be on video opposing the POTUS.
Masterful.
Yes, I think it’s very masterful how Rand Paul is pushing a issue that FOX news own poll said ” using drone to kill suspected foreign terrorist on US soil approval: All 56%… Rep 60%… Ind 55%… Dem 53% (Fox)” http://www.pollingreport.com/terror.htm
Look I have no doubt Keystone XL Pipeline, Sequestration, and Drones are important to a large segment of American voters. However, those are not the sole issues that bring people to the polls…If they where Obama would never have won a second term. However, they are good for Punditry News TV shows. So, I am sure Fox News and every other anti-Obama supporter will eat the Republicans sudden concern of civil liberties violations…after eight longer years of cheer leading Bush & Cheney.
I didn’t vote for Obama in 2012 and don’t trust him…but this sudden rush to support Rand Paul that doesn’t even believe in the basic rights of women in America…I find appalling.
I am handicapping just one week, seven days, of political news, nothing more. The debate tonight was about killing Americans on American soil, not foreign terrorists on American soil.
Yes, I understand the debate and agree with the points being made on Americans being killed. However, the republican mouthpieces pushing this important issues would have stood silently by Bush & Cheney, if the shoe was on the other foot. In fact, many of them did for eight years. As for wacky Rand Paul I believe he is the only that would have questioned Bush and Cheney over the issue.
But that is not saying much when you review Rand Paul other views toward women rights and minorities, in America.
“TPAZ: Sorry but being an atheist that doesn’t impress me!”
Solo, then in the end, your rotting flesh in your grave will just become food for earth worms and maggots and you need not worry about personally burning in hell throughout all of etenity, do you?
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“You’ll have to forgive me for not believing in silly superstitions!”
I don’t believe in silly superstitions either; that would be a specific religion. Modal Realism is what I prefer.
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Solo, Secularh – We will have MUTUAL respect for people’s beliefs here, whether you agree with them or not.
Tpaz quoting what others said is not deleted above, but the same goes for you as well.
I don’t care what you think about someone’s philosophies, but neither of you have the right to personally attack someone on them. So if you can’t find a better way to express your disagreements expect your comments on the subjects from now on to be deleted.
This applies to everyone on these issues around here.
Therefore, you’ve been critical of Obama’s “Faith-based initiatives”, yes?
“No! Obama is always right, until he admits he’s wrong, then he’s even more awesome for admitting he’s wrong!”
“OBAMA UBER ALLES!”
–Solo’s intern
No I don’t. pretty liberating really.
This is in reply to the respectful question ” in the end, your rotting flesh in your grave will just become food for earth worms and maggots and you need not worry about personally burning in hell throughout all of etenity, do you?”