Rand Paul after filibuster: Drone debate "isn't over"

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., during what turned out to be a nearly 13-hour filibuster that ended at 12:39 a.m. ET March 7, 2013. / AP Photo/Senate Television

Sen. Rand Paul lit up the political world this week with his epic, 13-hour filibuster of John Brennan's nomination to be CIA director. The Kentucky Republican objected to the Obama administration's use of targeted drone strikes. Although Brennan was eventually confirmed, Paul wants everyone to know that "this debate isn't over."

In an op-ed for The Washington Post, Paul says he took his stand "to sound an alarm bell from coast to coast. I wanted everybody to know that our Constitution is precious and no American should be killed by a drone without first being charged with a crime.

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Sen. Rand Paul filibusters for nearly 13 hours

"As Americans, we have fought long and hard for the Bill of Rights," he says. "The idea that no person shall be held without due process, and that no person shall be held for a capital offense without being indicted, is a founding American principle and a basic right.

"Most of my filibuster was off the top of my head and straight from my heart," Paul says.

He thanked the senators and House members who lent assistance and support to his effort, saying, "I was flagging for a while, but these senators kept me going." Paul recalled a particularly powerful moment when Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., brought him "an apple and a thermos full of tea - the same sustenance Jimmy Stewart brought to the Senate floor in the movie 'Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.'

"That was a moment I will never forget," he says.

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"By the end of the night," he says, "I was tired and my voice was cracking ... and finally, at 12:40 a.m., I yielded the floor."

Paul noted Brennan's confirmation less than a day later. But, he promises, "This debate isn't over.

"The Senate has the power to restrain the executive branch - and my filibuster was the beginning of the fight to restore a healthy balance of powers," he says.

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Rand Paul's filibuster: What you may have missed

After his filibuster, Paul received a letter from Attorney General Eric Holder in which Holder clarified, "No," the president does not have the authority to "use a weaponized drone to kill an American not engaged in combat on American soil."

But Holder's letter, Paul says, was too little, too late: "The administration took too long, and parsed too many words and phrases, to instill confidence in its willingness or ability to protect our liberty.

"I hope my efforts spur a national debate about the limits of executive power," Paul says, adding he was overwhelmed and heartened by the outpouring of support for his filibuster.

Still, he did come away from the experience with one regret. "If I had planned to speak for 13 hours when I took the Senate floor on Wednesday," Paul jokes, "I would've worn more comfortable shoes."

[rouse2]

arizona can be proud of jeff flake, not so much mccain. although anonymous joining a revolution that hasn't even started yet would make any wireless computer driven weapon useless against the american people, that is not the point. the point is, what kind of dictatorial regime would take 13 hours to answer this question? strip away the 'race card' and all you have left with obama is a tyrant, and that is unacceptable. there are a plethora of reasons to impeach, it is time to pursue them. thank you senator paul, and thank you senator flake.

[Mike239239]

I thought all you misinformed and lied to right wing nuts were moving to texas and suceding? What happened ? I was starting to have hope for the USA

[rouse2]

misinformed? woodward and davis and even a lot of obama's former propagandists at abc nbc and cbs are turning against this dictator wanna-be. only msnbc is continuing to hide the truth of this anti american regime. i doubt if what the obama cult really wants is for americans to become informed but it's beginning to happen, and it will surely bring this false messiah down.

[sandydunn30]

Worry about G W Dummy and he not know n about 9-11 look at Rice teeth a big ass gap between them there's an old say n a person with a gap between their through their teeth

[sandydunn30]

lie n through them

[Choons]

I agree there should be more scrutiny on the ethics and legality of drones, but Rand Paul is being a huge hypocrite on this. If he and his cronies were in The White House, they'd be running the program the same way if not more aggressively. The only reason he decided to stump on the issue is because he wants to make Obama look bad.

[rodnsue55]

I just want to know is this how our government runs countless hours of Rand Paul? Ridiculous Can You tell me how high the electric bill was and how many bathroom calls were used during this. And did our Democrat and Republi_cons get paid to listen to this. I can Google the Bill Of Rights and lower our Debt Without barking for 13 hours. Rand Paul get REALISTIC . One thing I do Think is Our President should get Realistic and appoint Rand Paul to investigate The 1950s Roswell aliens Because I do not think they belong on American Soil.

[ScottHaley]

Who benefits from drones over American land? The militarized Police State and the manufacturers of drones & their components, that's who. Such an arrangement is called Fascism. Both FDR and Mussolini defined Fascism as the marriage of the power of the State to the power of Big Business. The only Capitalists left in this country are small businessmen. The transnational, mega corporations are Fascists through and through. So are their cronies in the Fed Gov't. Regardless of who is in power in DC, no one seems to care that the Republic of the United States of America exists in name only. We have lived in a Fascist State for years & years. Shame on us for not being vigilant; our servant government has become the master.

[1pheasant1]

It seems like only yesterday millions of Americans were concerned that their right to launch a drone from their rifle barrel was being restricted.

[Lawyers-Guns-n-Money-5]

beachshoe says:
NO Drones in US skies. Period.

============================================

No government drones or no drones at all?

[businessowner1958]

What I see here is absolutely reprehensible. Drone strikes on American soil is a total disregard for the bill of rights. Those that oppose Rand Pauls efforts are the ones that will be crying the hardest when collateral damage takes their family members. The 16 year old young man had absolutely no choice as to whom his father was going to be, yet the young man chose to take a stand against his father for the betterment of the world and his death should way heavy on those that made the decision to kill him.

In as much as I hear the touting of the "Republi-cons" "right-whiners" remarks, I simply ask that you doubting Thomas Dems take a look at what is going on around you. Your Liberties are being slowly taken away. You have a Commander in Chief that wields a pen,"executive orders" instead of sitting down and working out what is best for the people. His dinner with Republicans was too little to late. He should have been approaching this 4.5 years ago when he first took office as he promised.

Add to all the above the fact that this President has added Trillions to our debt and deficit that we the people have to pay back, as do our grandchildren, and you have a bunch of liberal idiots that are not paying attention. Now before you get your Democratic and liberal panties in a bunch, I am a registered Democrat, I simply choose to look and pay full attention to what is going on in our little corner of the world.

When this finally hits home, and it will, right in your pockets maybe then you too will see what in the world is going on. He just gave away 250 Million of your tax dollars to the very people ( The Muslim Brotherhood) that helped to bring down the twin towers and kill 3200 Americans. The Muslim Brotherhood also attacked Benghazi. He armed those in Mexico ( The fast and furious inquiries) that eventually moved the guns to Benghazi. I don't know about you but this seems to be a full out disregard for the lives of Americans.

Maybe he did not know about the voter fraud that is currently being investigated. People will do things without others knowledge, but, if any of it is true then prosecute those that did it and those that knew. If you say things that are derogatory then at least have the courage to post who you really are and take pride in what you believe.

[RobertVBrand]

There haven't been any drone strikes on American soil. Nor any bombings or nuclear hits. Which in why McCain and Graham called him ridiculous

[Lawyers-Guns-n-Money-5]

businessowner1958 says:
What I see here is absolutely reprehensible. Drone strikes on American soil is a total disregard for the bill of rights.
===============

Tempest in a teapot.

Worrying about drone strikes ordered on behalf of our government should be way down on your list of worries. However, some other nefarious entity that cares not a whisker about our bill of rights should concern you.

We can't put that genie back in the bottle.

[knsn_for_cmn_sense]

Well. I dont think citizens should be summarily executed from the skies here.

I am finding myself a bit confused on the opposition to it. People who were for the Patriot act. And defended it with vigor. Seem to be against this.

Wonder what has changed...

[Tink1159]

This administration issuing, then retracting a DHS memo from 2009 stating who they believed to be "the enemy". It was very broad and included many law abiding tax paying citizens with a traditionally American, constitutional viewpoint. We don't want to be droned.

Not to mention the countless times this administration has lied; inflicting maximum pain to the people with sequestration; regulatory bombardment; Executive Order bombardment; all out assault on the Bill of Rights; refusal to admit we have a spending problem; Ask yourself, who is the DHS planning on shooting with the 1.6 BILLION rounds they just purchased?

Bush went to war against Al Qaeda and supporters of terrorist organizations.

It feels like this President has gone to war against the American people and calls the enemy those that disagree with him and his over reaching government; that is what has changed.

You know, I was for the Patriot Act, but that is the beauty of our form of government, there were enough people against it that it serves as a very healthy check and balance. Just as Paul was checking Holder. That is the way it is supposed to work. In the end, the people win.