If Rand Paul is your party’s future, it has no future
Rand Paul, the junior senator from Kentucky, is drawing attention as a potential Republican candidate for president come 2016, part of a new generation of GOP leadership.
But ladies and gentlemen, Rand Paul is also a bit of a nut. The deep streak of paranoia that he displayed for almost 13 hours on the Senate floor last week would, in ordinary times, disqualify him as a party leader, let alone a potential president. But sadly, these are not ordinary times.
Let’s start by admitting that the stunt itself was a nice piece of political stagecraft. The one-man, TV-friendly filibuster gave Paul the opportunity to play Jimmy Stewart, a lone hero standing up in defense of the Constitution. It’s the type of role that Paul covets.
However, if you’re going to grandstand on the national stage like that, shouldn’t you have something sane to say?
According to Paul, he rose to address the nation because he was deeply, seriously concerned that the Obama administration might start using drones to kill U.S. citizens, on U.S. soil, without due process and even if they posed no imminent threat.
“I will speak as long as it takes, until the alarm is sounded from coast to coast that our Constitution is important, that your rights to trial by jury are precious, that no American should be killed by a drone on American soil without first being charged with a crime, without first being found to be guilty by a court. That Americans could be killed in a cafe in San Francisco or in a restaurant in Houston or at their home in Bowling Green, Ky., is an abomination.”
It is a nonsensical, ridiculous issue. In a letter to Paul earlier in the week, Attorney General Eric Holder had already made it clear that no American was going to be droned by his or her own government in his or her own country:
“As members of this Administration have previously indicated, the U.S. government has not carried out drone strikes in the United States and has no intention of doing so. As a policy matter, moreover, we reject the use of military force where well-established law enforcement authorities in this country provide the best means for incapacitating a terrorist threat….
The question you have posed is therefore entirely hypothetical, unlikely to occur, and one we hope no President will ever have to confront. It is possible, I suppose, to imagine an extraordinary circumstance in which it would be necessary and appropriate under the Constitution and applicable laws of the United States for the President to authorize the military to use lethal force within the territory of the United States. For example, the President could conceivably have no choice but to authorize the military to use such force if necessary to protect the homeland in the circumstances of a catastrophic attack like the ones suffered on December 7, 1941, and September 11, 2001.”
That’s an entirely reasonable, common-sense and constitutionally appropriate response to an inherently silly query. But to Paul, that wasn’t enough to calm the fear. He and a few others, including Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, seized upon the Holder letter as proof that the administration was keeping its options open.
As Paul later noted in his filibuster:
Those and other rantings inspired a second letter from Holder, much more succinct than the first:
“It has come to my attention that you have now asked an additional question: ‘Does the President have the authority to use a weaponized drone to kill an American not engaged in combat on American soil?’ The answer is no.”
Bill Kristol, writing in the Weekly Standard, was properly dismissive of the Paul stunt, and what it might mean to the Republican Party:
“Will it ultimately serve (Paul) well to be the spokesman for the Code Pink faction of the Republican Party? How much staying power is there in a political stance that requires waxing semi-hysterical about the imminent threat of Obama-ordered drone strikes against Americans sitting in cafés? And as for the other Republican senators who rushed to the floor to cheer Paul on, won’t they soon be entertaining second thoughts? Is patting Rand Paul on the back for his fear-mongering a plausible path to the presidency for Marco Rubio or Ted Cruz? Is embracing kookiness a winning strategy for the Republican Party? We doubt it.”
I doubt it too. I didn’t think it possible for the 2016 GOP presidential field to even approach the 2012 field in terms of wackiness, but given early indications, I may have to reconsider that notion.
– Jay Bookman
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761 comments Add your comment
Oscar
March 11th, 2013
3:47 pm
DSo it’s ok with the senator to use sniper rifles, just not drones.
williebkind
March 11th, 2013
3:47 pm
Yeah, I hope Hillary runs for President! Benghazi liar…have you notice she is letting her hair grow. Do you think she is trying to become sexy for the campaign?
Jose79845
March 11th, 2013
3:49 pm
Hillary has an army of bloggers discrediting Rand Paul so she can get away with being the marijuana hater that she is.
Kamchak ~Thug from the Steppes
March 11th, 2013
3:49 pm
Benghazi liar…
The smoking gun is the mushroom cloud.
We will be greeted as liberators.
getalife
March 11th, 2013
3:49 pm
I think we should label his wig as going galt
JamVet
March 11th, 2013
3:50 pm
Robert, no worries. Even if that neophyte at everything decided to run, outside of Ky., he would attract about as many voters as Herman or Newt did outside of Georgia.
Which is to say, other than as comedic material, his campaign would not be noteworthy…
Oscar
March 11th, 2013
3:50 pm
Willie – I think since she will not be constantly traveling all over the world, she will be able to take care of her hair and will be able to wear it long.
Oscar
March 11th, 2013
3:51 pm
Never knew that Hillary hated weed.
curious
March 11th, 2013
3:53 pm
Stevie Ray
“WOW, if a jackass like Trump will fund WH visits, why can’t the president do his part and cut his t&e expense? I thought he did that already..”
It’s a trick by Trump to infiltrate the WH with his investigators who are still uncovering evidence about Obama’s birth certificate.
Oscar
March 11th, 2013
3:53 pm
Pul is a non-starter. Jeb Bush looks like the man. And will probably be the next President.
Oscar
March 11th, 2013
3:54 pm
Tump said his investigators were on to something and would release the facts of the fraud later. Still waiting.
Kamchak ~Thug from the Steppes
March 11th, 2013
3:57 pm
Jeb Bush looks like the man.
I heard a lot of complaints about ” European style dynasty” from libertarians and conservatives against the Hillary campaign of 08.
I wonder if they’ll feel the same way if Jeb is the nominee in 16.
getalife
March 11th, 2013
3:59 pm
You have to be a gop kook to win in Texas.
Vinny
March 11th, 2013
4:00 pm
Welcome to the Weenie-blog. Let the bedwetting begin!
DoggoneGA
March 11th, 2013
4:01 pm
“Welcome to the Weenie-blog”
Well, you set the tone…so you should know.
Jose79845
March 11th, 2013
4:01 pm
How can Rand Paul be a non starter when he has already started? The Hillary lovers know that Rand Paul is the only GOP who can beat the marijuana hating old lady.
DebbieDoRight - What this country needs is more unemployed politicians
March 11th, 2013
4:02 pm
Redneck: I guess I should be thankful that old Chip Rogers took care of my concern about being jumped by a bunch of thugs and having a chip planted in my brain.
OMG! Redneck!! You are too funny! OMG I had to grab my inhaler ’cause you made me laugh so hard, i stopped breathing for a minute!
You need Jesus Rednck! You need jesus!
getalife
March 11th, 2013
4:03 pm
Jose
There are more issues than weed but do you have a link to show her position on weed?
TBS
March 11th, 2013
4:05 pm
“Welcome to the Weenie-blog. Let the bedwetting begin!”
Yep, like clockwork, it got pissy about the time you showed up
just saying
williebkind
March 11th, 2013
4:05 pm
So you liberals are choosing which republican is going to run for the white house? So I can expect the main stream media to start broadcasting that on an hour basis-Hillary good, liberal choice of republican bad!
Kamchak ~Thug from the Steppes
March 11th, 2013
4:07 pm
…a marijuana prohibitionist.
…marijuana prohibitionist who will lose in 2016.
…being the marijuana hater that she is.
…the marijuana hating old lady.
Worth noting that a stoner can be this focused.
Just sayin’.
TBS
March 11th, 2013
4:07 pm
“So you liberals are choosing which republican is going to run for the white house?”
Dude, you guys used that lame excuse after Republicans picked McCain and Romney…..
Talk radio and the rw websites really need to give you guys some new talking points
getalife
March 11th, 2013
4:08 pm
Hillary is retired so you can stop attacking her.
alittlecommonsense
March 11th, 2013
4:09 pm
Let me try to answer this question for Eric Holder.
“Yes Senator Paul, it would be absolutely and completely unconstitutional for the U.S. government to use a drone strike on a U.S. citizen within the U.S. who is not posing any imminent threat.”
If he said that, the issue would have been dead and dropped. It does seem wildly ridiculous that the U.S. government would do this. It seems so wildly unconstitutional that I can’t see any reason for any government official to use waffle phrases like “unlikely to occur”.
I’m not a lawyer and I can see that it is ridiculously unconstitutional. I can’t see how our Attorney General could think otherwise. Easy question, easy answer, no controversy.
Kamchak ~Thug from the Steppes
March 11th, 2013
4:09 pm
So you liberals are choosing which republican is going to run for the white house?
I say Elmer Fudd.
After all, y’all were so keen on him last time.
Thomas Heyward Jr
March 11th, 2013
4:10 pm
Comes now Bookman……………true to form.
A no principled Obama lap-dog progressive.
.
‘Glenn Greenwold has your number——————–
.
“Meanwhile, a large bulk of the Democratic and liberal commentariat – led, as usual, by the highly-paid DNC spokesmen called “MSNBC hosts” and echoed, as usual, by various liberal blogs, which still amusingly fancy themselves as edgy and insurgent checks on political power rather than faithful servants to it – degraded all of the weighty issues raised by this episode by processing it through their stunted, trivial prism of partisan loyalty. They thus dutifully devoted themselves to reading from the only script they know: Democrats Good, GOP Bad.”
.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/mar/10/paul-filibuster-drones-progressives
.
“which still amusingly fancy themselves as edgy and insurgent checks on political power rather than faithful servants to it ”
.
Toooooooooooooooooooo funny.
Me
March 11th, 2013
4:10 pm
Hey Bookman-
If your party is so grand and wonderful, how about you write about it intead of your 1,258,368th blog on how awful the Republican party is…
DebbieDoRight - What this country needs is more unemployed politicians
March 11th, 2013
4:12 pm
SIX-HUNDRED AND SIX federal job openings were posted the same day they closed the White House for tours. If you still believe this man has the best intentions in his heart for this country, you are miserably gullible.
Class of ‘98…………………hmmm………………let me guess……………you’re a graduate of BugTussle Elementary in PoDunk Mississippi in ‘98 right?
I bet your folks are proud………………it only took you 10 years to get out of the 6th grade! Jethro Bodine has met his match in you by golly!
Boris Badnoff
March 11th, 2013
4:13 pm
That crazy right wing extremist Rand Paul believes that the American government shouldn’t be allowed to kill Americans on American soil with even being charged with a crime, much less indicted, tried and convicted. That Fifth Amendment to the Constitution that states that no one shall be deprived of life, liberty, or process without due process of law is just way too extreme. This is why I’d love to live next door to Jay Bookman. No one would ever send a drone for me because if they missed they might waste Our Beloved Messiah’s most faithful cheerleader and devoted scribe.
DebbieDoRight - What this country needs is more unemployed politicians
March 11th, 2013
4:13 pm
The Guardian is owned by Rupert Murdoch……………who just happens to own………….wait for it………..wait…………………………………for it……………….
Faux News!!
Is it any wonder that the Guardian and Faux News has the same “credibility” rating? //snicker//
ATL Tiger
March 11th, 2013
4:14 pm
Jay misses the point again.
This fillibuster wasn’t about drones, this fillibuster was about exposing another President and it’s Administration abusing power not granted to them in the Constitution.
JamVet
March 11th, 2013
4:15 pm
My prediction? Unless Obama gets caught sleeping with Larry Craig between now and 2016, there is no way in hell, that any member of the GOP will see the inside of the White House for another dozen years. Unless they are there to help Sean Hannity lead the school children’s tour…
JamVet
March 11th, 2013
4:17 pm
Boris found his respect for the US Constitution on January 21, 2009…
getalife
March 11th, 2013
4:17 pm
The gop said nothing under w so what changed?
Hypocrites.
DebbieDoRight - What this country needs is more unemployed politicians
March 11th, 2013
4:18 pm
That Fifth Amendment to the Constitution that states that no one shall be deprived of life, liberty, or process without due process of law is just way too extreme. This is why I’d love to live next door to Jay Bookman.
Dude — Two words Patriot Act
Brought to you by the letter B as in Bush as in G.W. Bush and the letter C as in Cheney as in Dick Cheney and the letter G as in Gonzalez as in AG Gonzales. Ramped up by the then republican congress and senate as the best thing since sliced bread in order to defeat home grown terrorists.
Class dismissed.
williebkind
March 11th, 2013
4:20 pm
“SIX-HUNDRED AND SIX federal job openings”
Yeah, creating federal jobs will get the economy growing because the government feeds off itself. Looks like someone graduated Socialist High!
getalife
March 11th, 2013
4:20 pm
Where was rand when w started these programs?
DebbieDoRight - What this country needs is more unemployed politicians
March 11th, 2013
4:21 pm
This fillibuster wasn’t about drones, this fillibuster was about exposing another President and it’s Administration abusing power not granted to them in the Constitution.
……………….BUT granted to him by the Patriot Act that was signed INTO law by a republican president and endorsed by a republican senate and congress and every FauxBot and LimpBallBaiter in a world called RepublicLand.
I finished the sentence for ya. I noticed you forgot a crucial part of it!
williebkind
March 11th, 2013
4:21 pm
“Dude — Two words Patriot Act ”
And the letter O– as in Obama and O I am going to blow your A$$ up.
union
March 11th, 2013
4:22 pm
i would bring this up too.. since the democratic party is not worried about killing anyone with the drones.. just making sure they are not used to spy on hollywood…
DebbieDoRight - What this country needs is more unemployed politicians
March 11th, 2013
4:23 pm
The gop said nothing under w so what changed?
Two words.
Brown Skin
Brown changes everything………………..
williebkind
March 11th, 2013
4:23 pm
“BUT granted to him by the Patriot Act”
The patriot act allowed citizens to be bombed? Wow, those government paid meds are reallly working.
union
March 11th, 2013
4:24 pm
debbie.. you taking instruction from jesse or al on your talking points?
williebkind
March 11th, 2013
4:24 pm
“The gop said nothing under w so what changed?
Two words.
Brown Skin
Brown changes ever”
Will you ever be equal?
Matt321
March 11th, 2013
4:24 pm
Jay, sorry to see you still carrying water for the unconstitutional policies pursued by the government. Please do further research on how the executive branch has repeatedly pushed back against any Congressional oversight of the drone program, to the extent that even legal memos which supposedly show the program is legal have not been shared with the staff of the Senators responsible for such oversight.
JamVet
March 11th, 2013
4:25 pm
Had John McCain or (perish the thought) Willard Romney been elected, does anyone think that Boris and willie would be *itching in the slightest about civil liberties, drones, etc?
Riiiight…
DebbieDoRight - What this country needs is more unemployed politicians
March 11th, 2013
4:26 pm
willie b — did you protest the patriotic act when it was first signed into law?
And, actually the letter O stands for,
O Sh###t!! A Black man is president!!
ATL Tiger
March 11th, 2013
4:26 pm
“Dude — Two words Patriot Act
Brought to you by the letter B as in Bush as in G.W. Bush and the letter C as in Cheney as in Dick Cheney and the letter G as in Gonzalez as in AG Gonzales. Ramped up by the then republican congress and senate as the best thing since sliced bread in order to defeat home grown terrorists.”
Passed the Senate 98-1
49 Dems, 49 GOP, 1 Ind
DebbieDoRight - What this country needs is more unemployed politicians
March 11th, 2013
4:27 pm
The patriot act allowed citizens to be bombed? Wow, those government paid meds are reallly working.
You mean you never READ it?!?
You endorsed it, you held it up as an example of america’s might, you applauded its passage, but you never READ it?
Dang!
I guess Forest was right…………..
Stupid is as stupid does.
williebkind
March 11th, 2013
4:27 pm
“to defeat home grown terrorists.”
The smoking gun is in the mushroom cloud!
ATL Tiger
March 11th, 2013
4:28 pm
“Where was rand when w started these programs?”
Probably practing Opthamology. Do research, less ignorance.
williebkind
March 11th, 2013
4:29 pm
I knew it! You and Forrest were political debaters.
indigo
March 11th, 2013
4:29 pm
George W. Bush was willing to get us into two useless wars in part, to fulfill Bible prophecy.
Mitt Romney stated that 49% of Americans paid no taxes. He also accused Obama of giving a large amount of “gifts” to people in exchange for votes.
Nominating whacky people for the House, Senate and the Presidency is the Republican way.
MANGLER
March 11th, 2013
4:29 pm
You’ve got nothing to worry about unless your hometown is renamed Benghazi.
ATL Tiger
March 11th, 2013
4:30 pm
“……………….BUT granted to him by the Patriot Act that was signed INTO law by a republican president and endorsed by a republican senate and congress and every FauxBot and LimpBallBaiter in a world called RepublicLand.
I finished the sentence for ya. I noticed you forgot a crucial part of it!”
No where in the Patriot Act does it grant the President or any other official in government the authority to kill an American citizen without due process.
What are you drinking?
Kamchak ~Thug from the Steppes
March 11th, 2013
4:30 pm
Yeah, creating federal jobs will get the economy growing because the government feeds off itself.
GOP lawmaker seeks $550M grant to promote abstinence in teens
Yeah, creating a half a billion dollar abstinence program will get the economy growing because IOKIYAR.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
March 11th, 2013
4:31 pm
All these conned willing to fund tours but not willing to pay for medical care, food for infants, help shelter the homeless.
I say we collect the checks and use them to help people.
williebkind
March 11th, 2013
4:33 pm
First, I do not support anything that is against the constitution but in times of crises, bombing of the towers, some liberties may have to be ignored for a few to keep the country safe. Then I have exception to it. There was not power struggle in the patriot act just a way to keep NY and other cities from exploding again. Second, most things done and said by Obama have demonstrated the desire for power. That is the scary part.
DEM
March 11th, 2013
4:33 pm
Is there no length to which you will stoop, Jay, to defend your Team Blue?
Paul asked Holder whether POTUS has the authority to use drone strikes on US soil. A simple no would have ended the matter. Holder refused to give that no.
Paul then commenced his filibuster.
Only then did Holder give the unqualified “no” Paul sought. This wasn’t a “more succint” version of the first letter, but a substantivelu different response. Response 1 refused to say POTUS lacked the authority, but offered assurances that the authority wouldn’t be used. That is far different from letter 2’s unqualified acknowledgement that the authority does not exist.
You are too smart not to notice the substantive difference. Thus, you’re intentionally obscuring the issue to score a cheap point for Team Blue.
Pathetic.
ATL Tiger
March 11th, 2013
4:33 pm
getalife,
here’s your concern laid to rest about rand on w’s policies
http://web.archive.org/web/20101104202615/http://www.randpaul2010.com/issues/h-p/privacy-liberty/
DebbieDoRight - What this country needs is more unemployed politicians
March 11th, 2013
4:34 pm
Passed the Senate 98-1
And? Your point?
Maybe your point is that it’s a LAW that was given credence by the CONGRESS and signed into action by PRESIDENT BUSH.
Before, someone, ( i think it was you, it sounded like your drivel), stated that the President didn’t have the RIGHT to do this or that, I was just pointing out……………..correctly i might add, that yes he DOES have the right.
The same people standing up decrying the legality of those rights, (now), probably SIGNED the dang bill in the first place.
williebkind
March 11th, 2013
4:34 pm
“All these conned willing to fund tours but not willing to pay for medical care, food for infants, help shelter the homeless.”
Google who donated most to charities then apologize for being a liar.
one and only
March 11th, 2013
4:36 pm
welcome back hope you all had a great time and played lots of golf and drank lots of bucca, but not too much.
Jefferson
March 11th, 2013
4:36 pm
willie is full
independent thinker
March 11th, 2013
4:36 pm
Excellent article Jay.
This stunt was part of the tea bagger “patriot” movement who want to convince the gun huggers and right wing kooks that the Black Messiah and Eric Holder is about to do a Waco on them and go after them just like the Branch Davidians. Read Paul’s egotistical and childish op-ed Saturday in the Washington Post. I am sure he has now inspired a few Timothy McVeighs and Nancy Lanzas to arm themselves for possible federal tyranny.What is most alarming is Paul’s mention of many conservative Senators who he alleges supported him including Saxby.
Where were all these patriots when Cheney and Gonzales were waterboarding and torturing with impunity?
Nobama
March 11th, 2013
4:36 pm
Talk about wacky – how about that moron Joe Biden ? and the lying bunch of cabinet members Nobama has surrounded himself with ? My personal favorite is the new secretary of energy – nice perm !
Nobama
March 11th, 2013
4:38 pm
Independent Thinker – Kill em’ all !!!
JamVet
March 11th, 2013
4:39 pm
You’ve got nothing to worry about unless your hometown is renamed Benghazi.
Now that is funny.
How the arguably worst candidate for POTUS in three generations could have turned that incident into a humiliating self-disgrace is still pretty mind boggling…
And Tiger is correct, the kowtowed Dems were just as complicit as the spineless Republicans in the willful violation of our constitutionally protected liberties vis a vis certain sections of that legislation.
And if you were to list those 99 men, NOT ONE of them beside Feingold of Wisconsin would be worthy of my vote for high office.
And as sad as it is, at least ten Democrats (NO neocons, of course) voted against the extension in 2006…
Throw in a scummy US Supreme Court and voila!
Who needs any stinking habeus corpus or protection from heretofore illegal spying?
ATL Tiger
March 11th, 2013
4:40 pm
“And? Your point?
Maybe your point is that it’s a LAW that was given credence by the CONGRESS and signed into action by PRESIDENT BUSH.
Before, someone, ( i think it was you, it sounded like your drivel), stated that the President didn’t have the RIGHT to do this or that, I was just pointing out……………..correctly i might add, that yes he DOES have the right.
The same people standing up decrying the legality of those rights, (now), probably SIGNED the dang bill in the first place.”
My point is that Senate was clearly in support of the Patriot Act, both Dems and GOP. You were just ranting how it was all GOP, when clearly Dems supported it just as much.
Also, please show where the President has the right under the Patriot Act or any other law since you ‘pointed it out’.
JamVet
March 11th, 2013
4:40 pm
I do not support anything that is against the constitution…
Which would be relevant, if you had a clue as to what was in it…
DebbieDoRight - What this country needs is more unemployed politicians
March 11th, 2013
4:41 pm
First off — all you Beauty School Dropouts may not understand the nuances of the law. I know, i know – I’m not trying to belittle your knowledge; however I find it amusing that you in turn try to belittle MINE! Just because you heard it on LimpBalls, (who’s a HS dropout), or heard that Pizza Guy Skirt chasing Idiot Savant say it on his talk show, (Who doesn’t have a law degree OR any common sense); does NOT make it true!
These people are paid entertainers — they tell you what you wanna hear. You guys should be used to this by now.
First it was the gin up to 2 wars, then it was the Mission Accomplished 11 years later, then it was the polling and that Republican Math, and NOW it’s this stuff.
Think gentlemen think! Its sort of like that time you paid that hooker all that money to say she loved you and she said it all night long. Then you ran outta money. And she ran outta love.
Haven’t you guys learned your lesson YET?
The act, as a response to the terrorist attacks of September 11th, significantly reduced restrictions in law enforcement agencies’ gathering of intelligence within the United States; expanded the Secretary of the Treasury’s authority to regulate financial transactions, particularly those involving foreign individuals and entities; and broadened the discretion of law enforcement and immigration authorities in detaining and deporting immigrants suspected of terrorism-related acts. The act also expanded the definition of terrorism to include domestic terrorism, thus enlarging the number of activities to which the USA PATRIOT Act’s expanded law enforcement powers can be applied.
Bernie
March 11th, 2013
4:43 pm
Rand Paul A DEMAGOGUE, Charlatan, a Person who fools others, A fraud and a Poor excuse For a Human Being…Period
ATL Tiger
March 11th, 2013
4:44 pm
“The act, as a response to the terrorist attacks of September 11th, significantly reduced restrictions in law enforcement agencies’ gathering of intelligence within the United States; expanded the Secretary of the Treasury’s authority to regulate financial transactions, particularly those involving foreign individuals and entities; and broadened the discretion of law enforcement and immigration authorities in detaining and deporting immigrants suspected of terrorism-related acts. The act also expanded the definition of terrorism to include domestic terrorism, thus enlarging the number of activities to which the USA PATRIOT Act’s expanded law enforcement powers can be applied.”
Sounds like the Patriot Act is all about intelligence gathering and not so much authority to kill American citizens without due process.
Thanks for making my point for me.
Welcome to the Occupation
March 11th, 2013
4:44 pm
USMC: “Not a good day for DemocRats:
Another record day on Wall St. under their guy’s watch. What’s not to like?
Kamchak ~Thug from the Steppes
March 11th, 2013
4:45 pm
Its sort of like that time you paid that hooker all that money to say she loved you and she said it all night long. Then you ran outta money. And she ran outta love.
Haven’t you guys learned your lesson YET?
The word, “no” immediately leaps to mind.
johnny davis
March 11th, 2013
4:46 pm
I see you guys love the nasty personal attacks. And we are supposed to just trust the government and it thought to the contrary is madness?
More evil has done by government than in anything else both in the history of Mankind and in America’ s history. The madness is crazy attempts to dimiss holding our government to account.
Welcome to the Occupation
March 11th, 2013
4:46 pm
Got to love the condescension here:
“Let’s start by admitting that the stunt itself was a nice piece of political stagecraft. The one-man, TV-friendly filibuster gave Paul the opportunity to play Jimmy Stewart, a lone hero standing up in defense of the Constitution. It’s the type of role that Paul covets.”
Yes, heaven forbid we besmirch our pristine democratic system with something so grubby, so of the street, as theater.
Kamchak ~Thug from the Steppes
March 11th, 2013
4:47 pm
I see you guys love the nasty personal attacks.
Ann Coulter says, “What?”
Lu
March 11th, 2013
4:48 pm
Funny, there is always an article that can’t resist spinning this into something partisan.
If you think none of this drone talk matters and it’s simply a distraction, then you forget about the 16 year old American boy that was killed in Yemen by a drone with no explanation.
There is a bigger issue here and people better wake up.
Rand Paul is the real deal. Watch and learn.
Phil
March 11th, 2013
4:51 pm
This constructive piece has advanced the discussion within our community about meaningful national policy issues. Thank you Jay for your leadership and perspective.
That Black Guy
March 11th, 2013
4:51 pm
independent thinker
March 11th, 2013
4:36 pm
Excellent article Jay.
This stunt was part of the tea bagger …
______________________________
Filed under “I wouldn’t read the rest of that shyt if you paid me” (H/T dB or Keep I think)
If you have to start you comment with name calling, you really don’t have much to say.
TBS
March 11th, 2013
4:51 pm
“Rand Paul is the real deal. Watch and learn.”
Let me guess, for Rand’s next trick he will tell us how both parties suck and are corrupt, yet he will remain a Republican long after the 1st time he says it.
Oh wait, that was his daddy’s shtick……
Kamchak ~Thug from the Steppes
March 11th, 2013
4:51 pm
Rand Paul is the real deal.
Rand Paul is Evander Holyfield?
Who knew?
moonbat betty
March 11th, 2013
4:52 pm
Funny how the libs name a new Republican candidate every week and they don’t have any of their own!
Funny how? Funny like a clown!
DebbieDoRight - What this country needs is more unemployed politicians
March 11th, 2013
4:53 pm
willieb — quick question, WHAT power grab is Obama trying to take? Under Dubya, the office of the President’s powers were expanded and ENDORSED by the governing parties.
Oh and here’s a thought — Obama already HAS power. He chooses not to use all of it — he can, but he chooses not to.
My cousin was asking me why i thought he doesn’t flaunt his power, and i told him think of Jackie Robinson.
He was the first black major league baseball player — he had to set an example. He couldn’t fight back, he couldn’t tell people what he really thought. If he did – he would’ve been the first and the LAST black baseball player.
Obama is jackie Robinson.
=====================
My point is that Senate was clearly in support of the Patriot Act, both Dems and GOP. You were just ranting how it was all GOP, when clearly Dems supported it just as much.
AND?
Hillary is licking....
March 11th, 2013
4:53 pm
…her what?
Nobama
March 11th, 2013
4:56 pm
Hillary – physical impossibility
moonbat betty
March 11th, 2013
4:57 pm
Obama is like Jackie Robinson???
Yeah, when Jackie played T-Ball!
Welcome to the Occupation
March 11th, 2013
4:57 pm
Lu: “Rand Paul is the real deal. Watch and learn.”
Whether or not he’s the “real deal” or not, is debatable. He seemed awfully quick to be placated by that second Holder statement for my tastes by the way. But the fact is that Americans should be grateful to him for putting some pressure on this administration for its outrageous and cynical continuation of the security state policies of the previous administration. Far from sufficient, but at least it forced open a space in which some little bit of discussion could take place — much to the chagrin of this administration.
JamVet
March 11th, 2013
4:58 pm
betty @4:52,
I have to wonder if Elizabeth Warren may be the next nightmare for the decaying Old White Guy Party…
(And if Rush is still mooching off of Clear Channel by then, will she be the greatest slut and prostitute of all time?)
Kamchak ~Thug from the Steppes
March 11th, 2013
4:59 pm
Funny how the libs name a new Republican candidate every week and they don’t have any of their own!
Funny how it was asserted here by several people the even Elmer Fudd could defeat Obama.
Funny how?
Looney Tunes funny!
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
March 11th, 2013
5:00 pm
. . .then it was the polling and that Republican Math. . .
Well, I hope they’re firing that bunch of pollsters that had Mitt as a shoo-in for President. Making us look like a bunch of Morans. And I was all ready to go pee on the yard of one of Those People. On election night I never felt so cheated in my life.
moonbat betty
March 11th, 2013
5:00 pm
lol, Jam, there will be at least 100 more candidates before 2016 at this rate…
Erwin's cat
March 11th, 2013
5:01 pm
Funny how?
I mean funny like a clown?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E84VqqCPI7w
moonbat betty
March 11th, 2013
5:03 pm
“Looney Tunes funny!”
Yeah, funny, right?
Elmer Fudd isn’t even a real person.
Or is he?
Erwin's cat
March 11th, 2013
5:03 pm
Making us look like a bunch of Morans.
Moran:
The preferred method of spelling “moron” by morons
moonbat betty
March 11th, 2013
5:03 pm
E-cat
DebbieDoRight - What this country needs is more unemployed politicians
March 11th, 2013
5:06 pm
ATL Tiger — why not stick to what you know? I’m sure there’s a strip club somewhere near your house that is missing your patronage.
Tiger: Sounds like the Patriot Act is all about intelligence gathering and not so much authority to kill American citizens without due process.
O.k. — here’s a thought, perhaps you can comprehend it……..perhaps not.
Why not google these subjects:
**MOVE (not MoveOn.Org); Philadelphia .
**John Dillinger
**Timothy Russel Cleveland
**Tennessee V. Gardner
Google those, maybe you’ll learn something……………oh wait!……………..
TBS
March 11th, 2013
5:06 pm
moon
A quick google search brought up the blaze, dailycaller, Foxnews, usconservative, etc etc……. all opining on Democrat 2016 candidates…..
Don’t get too upset and feign too much outrage. The right is engaging in the same exact thing as both sides do each election.
JamVet
March 11th, 2013
5:07 pm
Interesting analogy between Robinson and Obama.
Both obviously endured great racial animus to get where they did.
Barack Obama shares many similarities with Jackie Robinson. He’s quiet, powerful, and often questioned. Most of all, he’s the right man in the right place at the right time.
To those who haven’t studied Robinson, he must seem like a lucky guy who came along at the right time. Robinson, though, was an intentional choice. When Brooklyn General Manager Branch Rickey targeted Robinson, he searched for a man with recognizable talent, unshakable courage, and above all, unrelenting composure.
http://tinyurl.com/b5gt57u
Tea Party Morans?
http://tinyurl.com/aytsr44