Posted on 05/31/2015 7:28:19 AM PDT by jimbo123
Hours before the Senate’s PATRIOT Act standoff hit its peak this month, Republican leaders thought they had Rand Paul figured out. He would object, rail on the matter on the Senate floor — and then let at least a temporary extension through.
“I don’t agree with Sen. Paul on this issue, but I think he’s been a constructive guy,” Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn of Texas said just before the week-long recess.
A day later with the clock past midnight and the Senate in a standstill largely because of Paul’s objections, Cornyn wasn’t nearly as generous.
“I’m a little surprised,” a perplexed Cornyn said. “Sen. Paul is asking for something that nobody will agree to.”
Paul’s handling of the PATRIOT Act issue has caught many of his GOP colleagues by surprise — and he now plans to drag the fight days past a midnight Sunday deadline, forcing the sweeping surveillance law to expire. Despite repeated cajoling by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell over the Memorial Day recess, Paul plans to block his fellow Kentuckian’s efforts to expedite debate, he told POLITICO Saturday.
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
The man has a plan and a mission...
[“I’m a little surprised,” a perplexed Cornyn said]
I’ll bet you are.
So the domestic surveillance law is vital for the survival of the nation, but not so vital as to cancel or delay yet another Congressional vacation. Just imagine if a recess had been scheduled starting on December 8, 1941.
Our political system is bankrupt. The crowned heads who run this country will do whatever they want, whenever they want, whether it needs to be done or whether Americnas don’t want it.
Bring on Jeb and Hillary. What difference does it make, indeed?
People will say “let them collect, I have nothing to hide.”
That may be true, but remember that a government with the authority and ability to collect also has the ability to ALTER what they collect.
Till they nail you for something stupid like taking out slightly less than 10K from your bank account one to many times...
Even if it happens one day after expiration of the PA, Obama now has a way to deflect responsibility from his own miserable failed presidency.
Yes what difference does it make?
And who am I to judge?
Bingo.
Besides, I may have nothing to hide but I still don’t want strangers going through my papers and personal effects without just cause.
I applaud Paul’s efforts! I only wish the others in the GOP field had the courage to do the same. I don’t barter my rights away and have no respect for those that do.
I stand with the EFF and the Church Committee on this. The intelligence community was caught abusing their power and violating rights for political and unethical reasons in the 70’s.
“In the mid-70s, in response to revelation that the government was engaging in systematic domestic surveillance on domestic targets—including anti-war activists, academics, and government critics like Martin Luther King Jr., John Lennon and Daniel Ellsberg—the distinguished Senator from Idaho, Frank Church, convened a Senate investigative committee that ultimately put a stop to large scale domestic spying for decades.”
The Church Committee reigned in these unconstitutional acts until the opportunity was seized after 9/11 to reintroduce them in the name of national security.
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2013/06/response-nsa-we-need-new-church-commission-and-we-need-it-now
We need not only to let the Patriot Act expire, but we need to bring back the Church Committee for the good of the nation!
“Just imagine if a recess had been scheduled starting on December 8, 1941.”
That would not have happened because men of both parties were patriots back then and politics stopped at the water’s edge. If WWII happened today ( like WWIII may), these chicken$hits in Congress would have taken the time off.
The only change that Cornyn likes is the change that jingles in his pocket.
Best post of the day! Right on. !!
Best post of the day! Right on. !!
Perhaps this wouldn't be so bad during a time of war if the gubbamint was transparent with it's citizens and not try to deceive us. If the gubbamint wasn't attempting to suppress citizen voices by attacking them with the IRS, ATF, OSHA, EPA and the rest of the alphabet agencies.
If the gubbamint didn't constantly lie to it's citizen to give the impression the economy is better than it is. Bold face lying about border security, trade...you name it. Can't believe a thing coming out of the gubbamint.
Might be the only time I say it, Go Rand Paul.
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