Posted on 03/07/2013 6:41:30 AM PST by EXCH54FE
“I will speak until I can no longer speak. 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,” Paul began.
“That Americans could be killed in a cafe in San Francisco or in a restaurant in Houston or at their home in Bowling Green, Kentucky, is an abomination. It is something that should not and cannot be tolerated in our country,” he said. “I don’t rise to oppose John Brennan’s nomination simply for the person. I rise today for the principle.”
The filibuster against the CIA director nomination began at 11:47 a.m. Wednesday, on a Hill sparsely populated because of the snowstorm outside.
Hence, Paul’s effort quickly took on the name “Filiblizzard,” with its own Twitter account. Like Sanders, Paul rapidly was honored with a site tracking his filibuster, IsRandPaulStillTalking.com.
“I will speak today until the president responds and says no, we won’t kill Americans in cafes; no, we won’t kill you at home in your bed at night; no, we won’t drop bombs on restaurants. Is that so hard?” Paul said. “It’s amazing that the president will not respond. I’ve been asking this question for a month. It’s like pulling teeth to get the president to respond to anything. And I get no answer.”
(Excerpt) Read more at pjmedia.com ...
#StandWithRand
I was expecting one of those James Trafficant rants initially. I must say I feel much better about Paul and his passion for the constitution today. I hope it spreads around a little bit to his peers.
More than likely, he put most people to sleep. I watched him for a little while...ho hum...nighty night...zzzzzzz.
To each his own, I guess. I tuned in, thinking I'd watch for only a few minutes. Before I knew it, several hours had passed. Listening to a guy speak eloquently, intelligently, and passionately about the U.S. Constitution was very refreshing.
The important part was it caused at least some bright light of truth to shine on this rather dark plan of Obama’s to vaporize Americans with weaponized drones. The provision in the Senate rules allows for it, so Paul grabbed that opportunity.
I’m amazed at the number of FReepers deriding the guy for taking a nationally televised turn at the podium and FORCING some attention onto an issue that badly needs it.
Bravo, Sen. Paul!
So this is a real filibuster, and not one of those “oh, we’re having a filibuster now” times where everyone goes home and agrees that there’s a filibuster in progress?
Me too...I needed to go to bed to get up early for work, but had to keep watching. Paul was great - as you said - eloquent, intelligent, and passionate - as were Cruz and Rubio. And the Twitter-verse was on fire. I felt like yelling FINALLY!!! Someone is saying what needs to be said!!! And to hear that that squish Lindsay Grahamnesty is making fun of Paul for doing this is just digusting and disheartening...I so wish we had 300 Pauls and that the Grahanesties would fade away. Without people with the passion and courage of Paul we will not save this country.
Yes - this was the real thing. Awesome to see. Like a real live Mr. Smith Goes to Washington...Speaking Truth to Power as the Left likes to say!!!
This is the way the government is supposed to work. With true patriots standing up for the Constitution and for Americans' liberties.
Now that's something that the American Idols or Kardashians aren't going to do for you or your children.
I for one, took names last night of some great individuals in our government and also noted who was not there.
Exactly - and too many were not there. I also felt like I was witnessing an historic moment...I SO hope it leads to more of our Repubican so-called “leaders” standing up to this would-be Chavez punk of a president.
Sadly, he caved also. He should still be speaking. Speak until he collapses like Jimmy Stewart did in “Mr Smith Goes To Washington”.
I read where everyone is praising him for his courage. What courage, he caved in to them after ONLY 13 HOURS!
13 hours is not long enough to get the attention of Americans. Had he spoke till he passed out, then Americans would have stood up and taken notice.
As it is, the vast majority are still clueless of what is happening to our rights.
In the end the filibuster meant nothing but grandstanding by the Chuck Hagel supporting Paul. The White House will not give him an answer about murdering Americans with drones in the United States. Obamagabe knew it was all a joke because he knew in the end nothing would change. Today Mr. Principle Paul will vote to confirm the worthless Brennan as CIA director. Grandstanding Paul is worse than his old man.
If he forces the Constitution and specifically the 4th Amend. into the minds of the American elites, colleges and AP classrooms he’ll have made some difference. My concern is what’s the next step?
Well, at least he did SOMETHING! Really dismayed that so many HERE would criticize him. He can’t do it alone ...many of us sit here day after day at our computer screens, never doing anywhere near as much.
He stood up, spoke out, was inconvenienced. He’s a role model for all to follow.
Can you imagine Bronco trying this? That wimpy freak would collapse in a rumpled heap after 2 hours...he couldn’t do it ..he is nowhere near as CAPABLE of such a thing — and infinitely less principled.
Was heartened by Senator Cruz as well — it’s refreshing to see these men — both prinicpled and articulate, standing up for the American people in this way. And they are standing up to EXTREME evil ... my God ... it’s SICK what is going on. Our rights to due process are being hacked!
Have read the comments many liberals are out there through many outlets commenting on the importance of this — who are in total agreement.
THAT’S leadership!
“...What courage, he caved in to them after ONLY 13 HOURS!...”
Maybe so...but it was HIM that was there, standing up and giving the admin a giant middle finger for the rest of us.
Wasn’t any of us doing it.
It’s easy to say what he should have done, but Rand Paul is the guy who put the crosshairs squarely on himself with that speech.
Him, and no one else.
While some of his colleagues chose to go have dinner with the Prime Cause of most of this mess, Paul stood up and said “No”.
I for one appreciate what it took to do that, and applaud him.
That’s what he’s there to do, and he did his job, while others actively played Vidkun Quisling for the price of a steak dinner and photo op with Ohole.
“...many of us sit here day after day at our computer screens, never doing anywhere near as much.
He stood up, spoke out,...”
Bingo.
Those criticizing Senator Paul aren’t concerned with what was said or done. It’s all about disliking Senator Paul, or his father. Had it been Rick Santorum or Sarah Palin, these same critics would be dancing in the streets, claiming that the conservative movement has been reinvigorated. It’s all about who did it.
Excellent movie, excellent quote. Thanks for posting it.
Yeah, he should have been productive and joined McCain and had dinner with the antiConstitution prick from Chicago.
He made his point. The nomination was going to pass anyway. If he still would’ve been talking today, the left would’ve put the kook-rant lable on it. As it is, he created some divisions on the left and exposed the hypocrisy.
I'm trying to see where Obama has the right to use DRONES on Americans!!! It is not in MY CONSTITUTION!!!
“I for one appreciate what it took to do that, and applaud him.” (Me too)
Great Comments
#standwithrand
Watching Paul, Cruz and Lee last night reminded me of what it must have been like to watch the Patriots turn against and expose the Crown during our nation’s founding.
And how far we have fallen from our Founder’s ideals.
3/6/13
“Homeland Security Drones Designed to Identify Civilians Carrying Guns”
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2994074/posts
I think it’s over. I think he just stopped and stepped awa
There are 100 Senators. Slightly less than half of them are Republicans.
Only ONE of them had the guts to take it to the floor and point out a blatant threat to American citizens. One or two others came to his aid and helped out. But he stood up there in the lights and camera eye.
Another segment, 12 of them, put on knee pads and went to dinner with the chief agent of anti-Americanism.
Their time would have been better spent standing in line BEHIND Rand Paul, waiting their turn to help continue the filibuster into today, tomorrow, whatever.
And we get folks out here busting on the one guy that DID step up to the plate.
Amazing... and then we sit here and wonder why we’re losing the country we love and watching it turn to sh*t...
Just amazing...
Americans on Obama’s enemies list have a 2nd Amendment need for Triple-A.
...Not about automobiles.
That was a movie.
What courage, he caved in to them after ONLY 13 HOURS!
Have you spoken non-stop for "only" 13 hours before? There's no way it's as easy a task as you are proclaiming.
Agreed. He has made many comments as of late that has turned me off of him as much as I am of Rubio.
We as a country are screwed, I am sorry to be so negative, but I need someone to prove to me otherwise before I begin to feel positive about anything political any longer.
Always wonderful to know
“...what it must have been like to watch the Patriots turn against and expose the Crown...”
Imagine what it must have been like to BE one of the Patriots who stood up, and then watch people you’ve known and worked with for years suddenly cower in fear and turn away from you...and still others that you know are actually running up the road to warn the British Regulars that you are standing at Lexington Green waiting for them.
Imagine being a Texican at the Alamo, standing on the ramparts thinking there are allies climbing up next to you, and then you realize “WTF!?! I’m up here ALONE?” as Santa Ana’s Mexicans are swarming towards you.
One guy stood up...and he catches flak... just amazing.
Last time I noticed, I am not a friggin US Senator!
I do what I can.
How dare you challenge me on what I friggin do. You know not what I do.
Hr is a UDS Senator, he has the power to SHUT DOWN THE US SENATE, and he failed to do so.
It was a grandstand to cover for the things he has been saying that make me question his conservative values.
He told us to cave on our principles if we ever want to win again.
That is not a conservative. I do not cave on my principles.
Agree. Many around here wouldn’t be happy if he had stayed until he collapsed because he should’ve crawled out the door too. Never happy. Yet what are they doing besides bitching on a website about how he should’ve done more?
At least he tried to do SOMETHING with is a whole lot of SOMETHING more than any of the other nitwits in the government are willing to do. Where is big and bad Issa now? Haven’t heard a wit about F&F in ages. Where are our congressman DEMANDING answer on Benghazi?
Our liberties are being stepped on one by one and no one gives a flying crap. No one except 10 or 12 people who showed up last night. And I won’t give McConnell props for being there because he’s a tool and not fooling anyone.
Reince...pathetic. Thanks for the call to arms 12 hours too late. He’s worthless.
And this morning they are surrounded by the Brutus who dined while they fought last night.
“...How dare you challenge me on what I friggin do. You know not what I do....”
Wow...Really?
Brother, when you put your opinion out here on an open forum, you’ve got to expect answers from people who disagree with you as well as from those who agree with you.
It’s called discussion and debate, which is the whole point of a forum such as this.
And yes - YOU are not a US Senator. HE is.
You didn’t run for the seat. HE did. And he stood up there to take the spikes that are going to come.
So, whatever. You want to get pissed about it, that’s on you.
It’s not a “challenge”. It’s called the give and take of dialogue. You don’t like the guy, fine. That’s your opinion. There are others who do. It’s just the way it is.
I’ve no quarrel with you - I just disagree with you. That’s not nearly the same thing. You’re a long time Freeper. You should know the difference.
Yesterday was the 177th anniversary of the fall of the Alamo.
“...who dined while they fought last night....”
Hence, we are where we are.
Some of “Our” side thinks it’s no big deal to go sit with this guy at a WH dinner, while he actively builds the DHS army, talks of “the power” to use drone strikes on citizens, bankrupts the country, tries to undermine our rights...
And they go sit with him and smile and mouth platitudes.
If they had any guts, they’d stand up en masse and turn their backs on him every time he steps in the room, speaks, or wants anything of them.
But that’s asking too much, I suppose. For some reason, we have to be “nice”... to people who hate us.
Yes, I know...it’s why I mentioned it.
Out of that defeat came a larger victory - the State of Texas.
The sacrifice of those Patriots there made a free and independent Texas possible.
And they provide a picture of bravery, honor, courage, and duty for successive generations to look up to.
God bless them.
“...the fall of the Alamo...”
Actually, in a way, it wasn’t so much the “fall of the Alamo” as it was the “Rise of Texas”, if you think about it.
Make sure you Texans teach your children about it properly, because there is a segment of our population that wants to erase our heroes... Make sure there is always a Texas for the rest of us look up to... I’ve never been to your state, but I always wanted to live there one day.
You are correct about “the Rise of Texas” because the fall of the Alamo paved the way for San Jacinto. My statement was regarding the actual battle and fall, which occurred on 6 March 1836.
You need to come on down (or over). We need as many conservatives as we can get. Obozo has declared war on Texas through various lawsuits aimed at preventing the State from conducting our own business the way we want, and now he has targeted Texas for takeover by the Demonrats. They will do whatever it takes and we must thwart them. It will be a battle, but we’ve done it before... and we can do it again.
“...he has targeted Texas for takeover by the Demonrats. They will do whatever it takes and we must thwart them. It will be a battle,...”
The stupidest thing anyone can do is mess with Texans. I hope you kick their asses back to whatever hell hole they crawled out of. You’re good Americans, out there. I hope I can get there someday.
Pennsy is a good state; between us and Virginia, we’ve been a thumb in the eye of the Dem gun grabbers. Hope to remain so for some time to come...
I wish I shared the optimism about Texas. It’s being infiltrated by the liberal locusts. Look at Austin. Liberals are actively engaged in taking over once red states and quite effectively turning them blue. Just like here in my state of CO.
“...Liberals are actively engaged in taking over ...”
Of course they are. Because people on our side AREN’T.
Nature hates a vacuum.
Except for the Tea Party folks, there’s NO ONE fighting these jerk-offs. We’re seeing the difference, right now, between “the GOP” (McCain and Graham) and Tea Party (Rand Paul).
Put up firebrand conservatives, actively support and fight for them, and get them into office.
Failing that, YOU run, and be the firebrand. Or convince someone else you know who can do the job.
They’re following Alinsky: “YOU be the Delegate. YOU be the candidate.”
I know, it’s easier said than done. Not everyone can do it.
But your other options are to resist them any and every way you can.
They pass a law trying to strip you of your rights - you ignore it. Period.
It’s a choice. It has consequences, but it’s still a choice. You either choose to obey, or you do not.
If we’re to call ourselves Free People, we need to behave and act and believe like Free People.
Texas
And, every time McCain rises to criticize his party, I’m reminded of the truth behind “resurrection of the dead.”
Personally, I thought what Rand Paul did last night was nothing short of exemplary, and an example of what ALL our Senators and Reps should be doing in defense of the Constitution and our personal liberties.
I sat my two sons ages 15 and 17 down in front of the computer as we watched the c-span feed online. I found the near 8 hours of Paul’s filibuster that I saw very exhilarating. It’s been a long time since anyone defended our Constitution and liberties like Paul did last night.
I suspect our founding fathers might have stopped spinning in their graves last night for just a bit as Paul spoke the words and passion of our freedoms. Just think, Rand Paul actually stood there for 13 hours and told the entire Federal Government that the Constitution protects WE THE PEOPLE from them, not them from us!!!
Thank you Rand Paul, from an Illinois Comservative trapped in this hell hole of a state!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.