12 GOP senators back Rand Paul on gun-control filibuster

POLITICO ^ | JONATHAN ALLEN

[JohnPDuncan]

Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul’s threat to filibuster any new gun restrictions is gathering steam, as a dozen of his Republican colleagues have now signed onto his plan.

The Kentucky Republican and Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) first wrote to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid late last month to warn him of their intention to try to tie up the Senate if, as planned, Reid moved forward with legislation that would expand background checks and attempt to crack down on interstate gun trafficking.

Reid is expected to bring a gun-control bill to the floor as early as next week, or perhaps the following week, and Paul is renewing his vow to try to block the measure. Paul’s follow-up letter, obtained by POLITICO, bears Monday’s date and is signed by 13 Republicans, including fellow potential 2016 presidential aspirant Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) — who signed on shortly after Paul’s first threat was issued — and National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Jerry Moran of Kansas.

While Paul gained a new measure of fame among libertarian-minded voters on the right and left during a recent filibuster sparked by the administration’s policy of targeted drone strikes, Reid has an ace in the hole. A new Senate rule would allow him to circumvent a filibuster on the motion to proceed to the gun bill by promising each party two amendments on the legislation. Under that scenario, Paul and his allies would still get a chance to raise their objections on the floor for hours on end, but they couldn’t stop the Senate from starting debate on the bill.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) has said he won’t support a filibuster if Reid promises to allow for amendments on the floor.

[JohnPDuncan]

ACTION ALERT: Contact your senator's TODAY and TELL THEM to STAND WITH RAND and oppose the motion to proceed on ANY gun control bill:

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

[trebb]

Alternate headline: One in four "Republican" Senators are conservatives who believe in the Constitution.

[JohnPDuncan]

Lindsey Graham must be primaried and defeated!

[Gaffer]

ANY so called Republican that even hints at working out a ‘common sense’ approach to gun control, or whatever they want to call it, has violated my PRIMARY test for future support - Second Amendment Rights. This even includes appeasement on Universal Background Checks.

Voting for this or anything else that abridges the Second Amendment is concomitant with voting to give illegals amnesty and citizenship (future or not).

Both are actions of a traitor. They are the equivalent to a declaration of war against freedom, and the consequences of such should be so appropriate.

[ecomcon]

crack down on interstate gun trafficking.

Utterly biased; implies illegal activity.

[Road Warrior ‘04]

A real filibuster with what looks like 13 Senators. 2 hours a piece, keep rotating, and it could go on for years!

[Road Warrior ‘04]

Oops! Failed to add: FU Grahamnesty!

[GoldenPup]

Lindsey Graham must be primaried and defeated!

Absolutely!! One way or another, this pansy has to GO!!

[GoldenPup]

ACTION ALERT: Contact your senator's TODAY

Both of my senators are communists, so it wouldn't do any good...

[Viennacon]

Yes. A good, long filibuster.

Also: Linseed Graham’s gotta go

[Hoodat]

Three in Four 'Republican' Senators are Really Democrats with 'R's After Their Names

[Hoodat]

Get started now. The only hope we have of replacing Graham rests on convincing Jim DeMint to un-retire.

[KansasGirl]

Sounds like a plan. They should keep it going until Obama is out of office.

[LiveFreeOrDie2001]

Right.

I STAND with RAND!!

[struggle]

Rand Paul almost has the Patrick McGoohan "Prisoner" look down pat with that half-turtleneck.

[SunkenCiv]

• ...by softening its edge on some volatile social issues and altering its image as the party always seemingly "eager to go to war... We do need to expand the party and grow the party and that does mean that we don't always all agree on every issue" ... the party needs to become more welcoming to individuals who disagree with basic Republican doctrine on emotional social issues such as gay marriage... "We're going to have to be a little hands off on some of these issues ... and get people into the party," Paul said. [Rand Paul: Time for GOP to soften [immigration, gay marriage] stance]

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• One day after announcing on his radio show that he is "truly considering" running in 2014 for the U.S. Senate seat now held by New Jersey's Frank Lautenberg, Rivera amped up his message today in a television interview and a column on the Fox News Latino website... a moderate Republican who is fiscally conservative but also supports gay marriage and Roe v. Wade... [Geraldo Rivera declares himself a 'moderate Republican' as he eyes U.S. Senate run]

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[Pollster1]

Rand Paul is not my top choice for Republican standard bearer, but if he’s willing to make this a habit, I’ll take him. He’s already one of my top three choices for 44th President of the United States. It would be nice after these eight years under the usurper to have someone who will repeal socialism and not just let our losses stand.

[Still Thinking]

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) has said he won’t support a filibuster if Reid promises to allow for amendments on the floor.

Surprising. Graham's usually so stalwart in defense of our liberty. (Probably actually has a contest going with Juan "Lettuce" McBackStabbingAisleReachingRINO to see who can sell out their superior (us) the worstest, the firstest)

[Pride in the USA]

ping!