I really hate to say it, but it was Democrat Dianne Feinstein who introduced an amendment to exclude US citizens from the NDAA’s detention authority. Of course, that may have been a ploy to deflect political heat from ACLU types who also oppose indefinite detention.
On the NDAA legislation, only 3 Republicans and 3 Democrats and Bernie Sanders voted against. Thus, the yeas had it 93-7.
Of those few Republicans opposing this usurpation — not only of the Constitution, but also the rights of Englishmen under the Magna Carta — Rand Paul stands out as the most vocal.
See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_fv6Nw2jwg for Paul’s Senate debate.
Among those supporting, McCain was enthusiastic, so this isn’t an Obama-only abomination. Instead, it’s fully bipartisan treachery against the Bill of Rights.
— @2:00 Note Lindsey Graham and Carl Levin discussing how much time the Republicans need to debate the usurpation of the Bill of Rights.
— @3:00 McCain cleverly rebuffs Rand Paul’s criticism of the NDAA’s usurpation of basic liberties.
— @4:00 Lindsey Graham uses his intellectual arsenal to expound on why government must be empowered to deprive Americans of their basic liberties.
Forty-four Republican Senators voted for NDAA. Republican leadership said it only needed a few minutes to debate the Act’s indefinite detention language. Rand Paul was one of the dissenting Republicans. I am really surprised that Rush and the Freepers are critical of something opposed by the Pauls and enthusiastically supported by the countryclub Republicans and Democrats alike.
Thanks for your well-presented post. However; when you say:
“I am really surprised that Rush and the Freepers are critical of something opposed by the Pauls and enthusiastically supported by the countryclub Republicans and Democrats alike.”
I am not sure why you would be surprised that Rush came out against this outrageous violation; I guess he surprises people often with his perspicacity.
And I am not sure you have been listening to Rush much lately if you are surprised by his stance against the Republican establishment. He has been ripping them a new one over their Romney machinations.
And I wish Freepers would wake up on this issue. On one thread today it was reported an Occupy Wall Streeter hollered out thanks to one Paul or the other for opposing the NDAA, and immediately all I saw was posts castigating Paul for being supported on this one issue by an Occupy Wall Street protester! Even an Occupy Wall Street protester recognized this abomination and potential for mischief and misuse of the new law.
10 to 1 most of the congress did not read the bill.