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Rand Paul’s active spoken filibuster against CIA nominee Brennan

Right now.  Watch on CSPAN live.

I know some of you don’t like the idea of a Senator for President.  Or you’re upset about Paul’s vote on Hagel (despite his having blasted the GOP for maneuvering to ensure that he was passed).

But this guy gets it.  I have some disagreements with the Senator, don’t get me wrong.  But he’s a leader.   And he’s a principled legal conservative / libertarian with a demonstrative fidelity to the Constitution.

An outlaw, in today’s day and age.

So he’s a man I could follow.  And there are vanishing few of them in politics right now.

(h/t sdferr)

122 Replies to “Rand Paul’s active spoken filibuster against CIA nominee Brennan”

  1. JD says:

    Beautiful

  2. leigh says:

    He’s doing a great job. Other than using a few words that I believe are suspect as not actually being English Language words, but hey: It’s a filibuster.

    I heart Rand Paul.

  3. cranky-d says:

    The GOP had better start marginalizing Rand Paul as a kook, because he is going to cause them problems.

  4. By now I think putting distance between him and them would only make him more attractive.

  5. DarthLevin says:

    How many of the nimrods sitting in the Senate well have never heard these concepts before, I wonder…

  6. sdferr says:

    Sen. Lee of Utah steps up to assist.

  7. happyfeet says:

    i suppose one isn’t in a position to be overly picky when one can plainly see the storms clouds gathering in the darkling fascist sky above one’s lil head

  8. DarthLevin says:

    I miss Trollhammer™

  9. sdferr says:

    Sen. Cruz of Texas too joins in.

  10. cranky-d says:

    I’ve had it on since I read this entry. I like what’s happening.

  11. Pablo says:

    This is like the All Star team.

  12. geoffb says:

    There is an old word for what they are doing to the others in the Senate and in the House, shaming. There may even be a few in those bodies on which it will have an effect.

  13. sdferr says:

    Spot on geoffb.

  14. Squid says:

    There may even be a few in those bodies on which it will have an effect.

    I’m betting I could count them all up without taking off my mittens.

  15. Pablo says:

    Ron Wyden? Hmmmm…

  16. DarthLevin says:

    Ron Wyden (D-OR) now speaking.

  17. sdferr says:

    Ron Wyden? Hmmmm…

    He and Paul have worked together before, right?

  18. leigh says:

    I believe so, sdferr.

    Shot across the bow from the Ds?

  19. happyfeet says:

    Jason Bateman could play Rand Paul in the movie I think

  20. DarthLevin says:

    P’raps some of the people from the Legislative Branch are getting tired of being end-arounded by the Imperial Branch.

  21. happyfeet says:

    that opens up all kinds of ironic possibilities

  22. leigh says:

    Boom! Full on praise for The Senator from Kentucky by Wyden.

    Put that in your pipe and smoke it, Bo.

  23. sdferr says:

    I’m betting I could count them all up without taking off my mittens.

    We can hold out the hope we witness the beginning of a cascade, set off by the sort of sound shock that strikes an awaiting avalanche. Or at a minimum, the demonstration “this is the way it’s done” regarding discussion of the philosophical foundations of the American regime (regime in the sense of Republic) takes eventual effect in repetition by members who weren’t certain how to begin, or merely believed themselves isolated or overwhelming outnumbered in their beliefs. It’s a small hope though, sure, but people only have to choose.

  24. leigh says:

    “Language is important.”

    Way to go, Senator Paul.

  25. DarthLevin says:

    Over/under on how many hours before Sen. Maverick shows up?

  26. DarthLevin says:

    RUUUUUUUUUUBIO!!!

  27. dicentra says:

    Two additional things:

    A slew of boy scouts with newspapers in wagons

    A bitchin’ Jimmy Stewart accent

  28. happyfeet says:

    i wonder if roobs will do something zany again

  29. dicentra says:

    This is making me feel soooo much better…

  30. leigh says:

    Over/under on how many hours before Sen. Maverick shows up?

    Probably as soon as he gets up from his nap.

  31. dicentra says:

    “like it’s beneath them to answer questions from time to time…”

    Dude.

  32. dicentra says:

    Is Sen. Rand asking tough questions about the drone program because he’s heard stuff off the record?

  33. leigh says:

    I’m not sure, Di. He’s the one who blind-sided Hills when he asked her about shipping arms to Turkey.

    I believe he knows stuff.

  34. Silver Whistle says:

    Everyone not named Clinton knows Libyan arms are transhipped to Syria via Turkey.

  35. Squid says:

    It’s a small hope though, sure, but people only have to choose.

    I hope he gets enough coverage that some of our sleeping neighbors experience an awakening of sorts, and we can install some proper representatives who actually feel shame when appropriate.

  36. dicentra says:

    Greenwald?

    Sockpuppet?

  37. leigh says:

    Quite true, SW.

  38. DarthLevin says:

    Did Paul just say “That’s why every four years we elect a new criminal”?

  39. leigh says:

    Heh. I don’t believe so, Darth.

  40. DarthLevin says:

    Gleenwald and Young One-N-Conor get shout-outs, and nothing for our Gracious Host?

    I am disappoint.

  41. leigh says:

    Saxby Chambliss is up from his nap.

  42. sdferr says:

    Did Paul just say “That’s why every four years we elect a new criminal”?

    He did quoting someone, I think, Darth. Could that someone have been Greenwald? (Whose name I’d not heard mentioned save by dicentra here, in which case, I missed it while listening to Sen. Cruz questioning AG Holder I reckon.)

  43. DarthLevin says:

    Harry Reid? BOOOOOOO!

  44. sdferr says:

    Short circuit?

  45. cranky-d says:

    Reid is trying to stop the fun.

  46. leigh says:

    Ack! The Crypt Keeper.

  47. sdferr says:

    Poor Harry is incapable of opening his mouth without lying, so nothing is clear when he speaks.

  48. leigh says:

    Oh Noes! Rand Paul wants his questions answered before he yields the floor.

    Take that, Harry.

  49. cranky-d says:

    Does Reid have the authority to declare the debate ended? I doubt it.

  50. DarthLevin says:

    So what was that bit of necrotheater about?

  51. leigh says:

    No he doesn’t, cranky. As long as Paul keeps talking, he’s got the floor.

  52. sdferr says:

    It’s hard to say Darth. In part, it can be seen as mere record setting (for opportunistic use in whatever way at a later date, say). In part to signal other members that they can go home expecting no vote today. In part to signal disapproval of any continued unbounded talk. Other stuff too? Probably.

  53. dicentra says:

    Tomorrow’s Glenn Beck radio program:

    Rand Paul Filibuster porn, with plenty of moans and other disgusting sounds from the hosts.

  54. DarthLevin says:

    “If you believe in the Constitution too much, you might be a terrorist.”

    SNORT!!

  55. leigh says:

    ?”To those who would say it’s a battlefield: to hell it’s a battlefield. This is our country.”

  56. EBL says:

    Ace is commenting how Rand Paul mentioned the legal concept of Outlawry… Where have I heard that before?

  57. cranky-d says:

    I’ve seen it suggested that Reid did what he did to make a soundbite for the evening news. That makes sense.

    He was being “reasonable,” you see.

  58. Squid says:

    I gotta say — if you’re trying to fill time, reading Gren Gleenwald ain’t a bad way to go.

  59. leigh says:

    Paul is stacking up a lot of liberal pundits. Which explains the oversight of mentioning Mr. Goldstein.

  60. dicentra says:

    Paul is citing ONLY liberal pundits.

    That’s a damned good idea.

  61. dicentra says:

    In other news, Hewitt is taking the over/under for when Paul gives up.

    Is he encouraging him? I haven’t listened long enough.

  62. cranky-d says:

    Has he had a pee break yet?

  63. leigh says:

    Paul is citing ONLY liberal pundits.

    Precisely. That’s what I was in-artfully trying to say.

    I never listen to Hewitt so no help here. Sorry.

  64. dicentra says:

    Is he EATING something?

    ROTFL!

  65. dicentra says:

    Actually, Hewitt is on PopeWatch duty for the nonce, so no help there.

    Levin is making his own parallel case against the drone thing, including surveillance.

  66. cranky-d says:

    He had a candy bar, and now he’s eating peanuts I think.

  67. leigh says:

    He asked one of his aides to get him some candy earlier.

  68. dicentra says:

    Vis-à-vis my objection to Rand’s waving Hagel through, I stand corrected: Rand is actually using it as leverage—right there in front of God and everyone—instead of leaving it to us to speculate whether he’s playing 3D chess or no-holds-barred MahJong.

  69. newrouter says:

    i hope rand has time to mention the armadillo

  70. newrouter says:

    hagel is an effin idiot. brennan is a closet muslim like baracky

  71. dicentra says:

    How many times has he cycled now?

  72. dicentra says:

    “Hey, we’re going to have a hearing on drones next week, so we won’t vote on that non-binding resolution.”

    Paul wisely recognizes the ruse for what it is.

  73. Jrez says:

    Paul switches out of shot put mode for a moment to lob the javelin: offering D’s a non-binding resolution vote. Durbin obliges, trotting out to the 83 yard line to catch it and “object.”

    The decathalon continues…..

  74. Jrez says:

    Cruz gets Twitterpated.

  75. sdferr says:

    Anybody know the procedural mechanics of a tag-team filibuster, undertaken sequentially, say, where after a long stint the first Senator would turn over the floor to the next, and so on, not even precluding the reintroduction of a prior filibusterer?

  76. […] Goldstein and many of his commentators are impressed with the Senator’s […]

  77. leigh says:

    This is great. Rand is busting out the sarcasm.

  78. EBL says:

    sdferr, it is like tag team wrestling?

  79. dicentra says:

    No way is O! going to answer his question: He’ll make Paul stay there until kingdom come.

    Prolly laffin his fool head off.

  80. dicentra says:

    On Twitter, Code Pink is supporting Rand.

    WTF?

  81. sdferr says:

    I dunno EBL, but in a simple sense can’t see why not, provided the hand-off is carefully enough accomplished. But then I don’t know the Senate rules, which is why I ask.

  82. sdferr says:

    Maybe Code Pink approved Paul’s readings from Spencer Ackerman ridiculing the imminent danger arguments the Bush Admin used against Saddam?

  83. beemoe says:

    On Twitter, Code Pink is supporting Rand.

    I’ve been getting emails from some of my lefty friends, some of them way way left, who think this is just cool as cool gets.

    Domestic assassination cuts across party lines. If he can keep this going it could snowball into a big problem for Bumblefuck.

  84. newrouter says:

    On Twitter, Code Pink is supporting Rand.

    WTF?

    you have noticed no that media benjamin doesn’t get much media time these days

  85. dicentra says:

    I’d think that before Code Pink got all support-y over a republican it would have to constitute more than a quotation.

    https://twitter.com/thesavvy/status/309453783962886145

  86. dicentra says:

    They hate Brennan.

    Because?

  87. sdferr says:

    It isn’t clear Code Pink would necessarily have a doctrinal answer to hating who they hate, but if Brennan is involved in killing in the interests of the United States, whether gleefully or not, wouldn’t that alone be enough?

  88. dicentra says:

    It isn’t clear Code Pink would necessarily have a doctrinal answer to hating who they hate

    Yes, well, that’s the entire Left in a nutshell.

  89. newrouter says:

    The demonstrators appeared to be members of the activist group Code Pink. One held a sign reading, “Brennan = Drone Killing.” Another yelled out that she was protesting on behalf of mothers in countries including Yemen, Pakistan and Somalia.

    link

  90. dicentra says:

    Oh, twisting the knife on the GM bailout.

  91. dicentra says:

    HAYEK!

    DRINK!

  92. leigh says:

    Hayek. Montesquieu. Mocking the Won’s voice.

    *sigh*

  93. dicentra says:

    INEVITABLE

    #filibustersongs

  94. leigh says:

    Cruz quotes the “St. Crispian’s Day” speech.

  95. sdferr says:

    Haven’t been watching for a few hours now, but just heard Durbin’s voice [“Mr. President, has there been a unanimous consent request?”] as McConnell sought to speak, and wonder whether the Democrats have been seeking to bollix up the works? Or how they’ve behaved the last few hours?

  96. leigh says:

    They’ve been largely absent or silent, sdferr. I think it was just Durbin acting like his nickname.

    The WSJ gets Paul totally wrong on this filibuster. They huff that the AG gave an ‘acceptable’ answer to the question of drone strikes and that Paul is quite obviously a hicktard or words to that effect.

    Wrong on you, WSJ.

  97. SBP says:

    I’ve never been a Paulbot (finding Paul Sr.’s extreme isolationism idealistic, at best) but the facts on the ground are leading in that direction.

    I won’t vote for another “mainstream” GOP candidate for President.

  98. SBP says:

    Ezra “Backpfeifengesicht”* Klein is being Ezra Klein on Twitter.

    * Google it. A literal translation loses the flavor.

  99. happyfeet says:

    if Mr. Paul picked Mr. Dr. Carson as his running mate that would be fun

    Hillary/Castro would still probably win though cause of the propaganda sluts and such

    but that Paul/Carson thing feels like a for reals wild card

    but if Paul picks roobs then bam he just instantly smells like establishment midget pickles

    one thing for sure porky porky chris christie won’t take this lying down on his stomach

    cause he can’t breathe if he lies down that way

  100. sdferr says:

    I kinda wish that if Republicans (understandably) don’t want to attribute bad motives to ObaZma, at least they could forebear attributing salutary motives to him as well.

  101. happyfeet says:

    Mr. Reid, the current Senate majority leader, was the last one to launch a real one-man filibuster blocking action when he spoke for more than nine hours in 2003, halting some of President George W. Bush’s judicial nominees. Mr. Reid spent his time reading from a book he wrote about his hometown, Searchlight, Nev.

  102. SBP says:

    Paul is done. Good job.

  103. geoffb says:

    Video has been uploaded here.

  104. Merovign says:

    Just getting my dander up in advance of the misleading MFM coverage of the next few days, conflating domestic and foreign strikes, citizens and enemy combatants, and pretty much anything else they can conflate.

    They’re nothing but low-down dirty conflators.

  105. SBP says:

    I put SPLC on my list of “fascist goon squads”.

  106. serr8d says:

    OT: this latest Public Discourse essay is worth your time, if you enjoy political – philosophical – linguistic debates concerning our founder’s intentions, and the swirling currents that are tearing our American Dream apart.

    Today I challenge Schlueter’s view that the founders sustained the pre-modern natural law tradition. Even then-contemporary opponents of the founders’ handiwork recognized that they relied too much on social contract theory, thus presuming a false view of human nature that over time would encourage private interest over public weal, and undermine virtue and religious belief. I also respond to Muñoz’s charge that a recognition of liberalism’s internal logic constitutes a form of Marxist determinism. My analysis has a different pedigree, particularly Platonic and Tocquevillian analyses of democracy’s tendencies.

  107. newrouter says:

    mr. lord doesn’t like cucumber sammiches

    Gina McCarthy and the Hell of a Ride Republicans

  108. serr8d says:

    Instead of #StandWithRand, some (R)assholes #SatWithObama…

    It was during a phone call with Graham this week that the president raised the prospect of a group dinner with Republican lawmakers, an Obama aide said. Graham agreed to put together a guest list.

    Along with Graham and Coburn, the lawmakers at Wednesday’s dinner were Sens. John McCain, Kelly Ayotte, Pat Toomey, Bob Corker, Ron Johnson, Saxby Chambliss, John Hoeven, Dan Coats, Richard Burr and Mike Johanns. The two-hour dinner took place on neutral territory – the Jefferson Hotel, a few blocks from the White House.

    Not linking to Huff’n’Blow, srry.

  109. leigh says:

    I put SPLC on my list of “fascist goon squads”.

    Welcome to the club, Spies. I’ve had them on that list for years. They’re right up there with CAIR.

  110. StrangernFiction says:

    FYI Of those that #SatWithObama, all but Coats voted to arm the MB.

  111. Slartibartfast says:

    Jeff’s string of tweets last night are worth looking at, if just for a few giggles.

  112. cranky-d says:

    He left out, “Drone Stop Believing.”

  113. geoffb says:

    The two-hour dinner took place on neutral territory – the Jefferson Hotel

    So Le Duc Tho met with John Kerry and company to negotiate the surrender of the Tea Party eh?

  114. happyfeet says:

    if Meghan’s coward daddy hates Mr. Paul then I’m a hard-pressed not to love him more than midget pickles

  115. happyfeet says:

    but Mr. Paul would be a lot more impressive if you could divorce this display from his presidential ambitions

    why everybody gotta be president I have no idea

    he could just say

    that he’ll never never never never need it I think and just maybe stay where he is and serve as an example of how team r senators don’t for sure for sure have to be cowardly whore trash like Meghan’s coward daddy

Comments are closed.