America is in Trouble When Rand Paul is a Voice of Reason
by Thom Hartmann,posted Mar 7 2013 2:52PM
After almost 13 hours of a real-live talking filibuster, at 1am Senator Rand Paul yeilded the floor to Senator Dick Durbin. Senator Paul started speaking before noon on Wednesday, blocking the confirmation of John Brennan to CIA Director. The filibuster was a response to Attorney General Eric Holder's statement, that the President is authorized under the Constitution to use drones against Americans within our borders.
During the speech, leaders from both sides of the isle joined Paul's opposition to the drone policy. Democratic Senators Ron Wyden and Dick Durbin came to the floor to support the filibuster, along with Republicans Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Mike Lee, and Jerry Moran. In total, Rand Paul spoke for over 12 hours demanding Holder issue a statement saying unmanned aircraft would not be used to kill US citizens in our nation.
When the filibuster came to an end, at about 1 am, Senator Paul said he had not gotten a response from the Attorney General. It's not often we agree with Rand Paul, but his anger over the violation of our Constitutional right of due process is definitely justified. It's not up to the President to play judge, jury, and executioner of anyone in our nation, let alone a US Citizen. In fact, we shouldn't be using drones against anyone, in any nation.
We're supposed to be the Land of the Free, and the Home of the Brave, but as long as the drone program is in place, we are neither.
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