Rand Paul Aids Surprise Guantánamo Bay Win for Obama

Time.com ^ | Nov. 20, 2013 | Massimo Calabresi

[SoConPubbie]

In a surprising win on Tuesday night, the White House and top Senate Democrats successfully defended provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would loosen restrictions on transferring detainees out of Guantánamo Bay, advancing President Obama’s goal of closing the facility by a margin of 55-43.

. . . . . .

As recently as early November, Democratic Senate aides participating in the fight to loosen the transfer rules described the politics of the vote as “difficult” but “not impossible” and said those whipping the vote were five or six votes short of the bare majority they needed to defend the provisions. The challenge was to win over swing-state Democrats who had opposed moves to close Gitmo in the past, and to hold supporters facing re-election in 2014.

In Tuesday’s vote, the White House did both. It held Mark Begich of Alaska and Mark Udall of Colorado, two Democratic supporters facing re-election, and won over three former Democratic opponents who are not up in 2014. That allowed Democrats Kay Hagan of North Carolina and Mark Pryor of Arkansas, both of whom are in tough fights next fall, to oppose the bill.

Perhaps most surprising, and most heartening for those seeking to close Gitmo, the White House picked up three Republican votes: John McCain and Jeff Flake of Arizona, and Rand Paul of Kentucky. Paul’s vote suggests potential support among libertarians for the loosened transfer restrictions in the GOP-led House, but the measures still face an uphill battle before they become law. The GOP has strongly opposed measures that could lead to the closure of the prison at Guantánamo Bay, and for many that opposition remains.

[SoConPubbie]

	"If we must have an enemy at the head of Government, let it be one whom we can oppose, and for whom we are not responsible, who will not involve our party in the disgrace of his foolish and bad measures." - Alexander Hamilton "We don't intend to turn the Republican Party over to the traitors in the battle just ended. We will have no more of those candidates who are pledged to the same goals as our opposition and who seek our support. Turning the Party over to the so-called moderates wouldn’t make any sense at all." -- President Ronald Reagan "A thing moderately good is not so good as it ought to be. Moderation in temper is always a virtue; but moderation in principle is always a vice." - Thomas Paine 1792 "It does not take a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men." - Samuel Adams "If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen." - Samuel Adams

[Cold Heat]

Gotta love Libertarians...

They never miss a opportunity to tick off a conservative..

[Don W]

As a libertarian leaning conservative, I disagree.

Left-Leaning REPUBLICANS tend to quite annoy freedom lovers.

Ron Paul is quite simply a nut. His son is a bit better balanced, SO FAR.

Democrats are in a class of their own...

[fortheDeclaration]

Another DOA Bill from the Senate that won’t make it through the House.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks SoConPubbie.

[SunkenCiv]

Exclusive: FBI Video Shows Al Qaeda in Kentucky Handling Heavy Weapons
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3093746/posts

[LibLieSlayer]

rand is now persona non grata with me... he is his daddy’s son and a backstabbing fool.

[kenmcg]

Rand Paul, a snake in the grass, or a lightweight Christie?

[Jim Noble]

I cannot even begin to understand what the remaining purpose of Guantanamo is.

Every single inmate there should have been hanged six or seven years ago.

[grania]

I admire Rand Paul for this. He’s voting according to his pretty consistant anti-globalist view. McCain?....this vote makes no sense for someone with his usual views. Flake?....can anyone figure him out?

[ObamahatesPACoal]

Flake said he hopes the GOP goes back to 60 vote threshhold.

One positive has been the filibuster has helped stopped McCain and Flake’s previous immigration bills when Flake was a member of the House.