Unless you’ve been living on the dark side of the moon for the last 48 hours, you are well aware that it has been one of the most interesting whirlwinds of politics in Washington that we’ve seen in modern times.
House Republicans were busy Wednesday rolling out the red carpet for the implementation of Obamacare by stripping away language that would defund Obamacare out of a proposed rule on whether to vote for a continuing resolution to fund the government for the next few months. Only 16 House members had the intestinal fortitude to vote against the rule, and NOT ONE member of the SC delegation voted against it, and even Michele Bachmann towed the party line.
But to their credit they did insert some very strong language which forces all ball bearings purchased by the US government to be made in the USA… So it seems that according to GOP House values, insuring the purchase of domestically manufactured ball bearings is far more important than defunding a government mandated monstrosity which forces all Americans, including religious institutions to pay for the genocide of the unborn, as well as contraceptives for any and all who want them – a monstrosity which effectively puts an end to personal liberty and religious freedom. Not to mention one that will bankrupt the US. But at least we can rest assured that tough our tax dollars are being used to fund babies being brutally ripped from their mother’s wombs and then tossed into a bin of medical waste, whichever GOP Congressman who owns a ball bearing factory will now have assured contracts through this ailing economy…I feel better already.
After the passing of the rule, the GOP controlled House then passed the CR with a huge majority. This of course comes after they, led by John Boehner have been swearing to by any and all means defund Obamacare ever since it was signed into law. Oh, and did I mention the CR increases the overall spending level of the federal government as well? But what’s another few pounds to an elephant?
Of course Jeff Duncan, Mick Mulvaney, and Trey Gowdy are claiming that they did it as a strategic move in order to move the fight over Obamacare funding to a time and context where they will be able to have enough “leverage” to win the argument. I’ve had nothing but the utmost respect for those three men, and I’ve worked hard to help put them into office. But the idea that by not even attempting to block the first funding for Obamacare implementation, but instead giving it their full seal of approval will somehow put them into the position that they can go on to defund it at some unknown abstract time in the future; to me is like taking a sow’s ear and telling me it’s a silk purse, taking a crap in it, and then trying to sell it to me for a million dollars. Sorry boys, not buying it.
Fortunately Senators Ted Cruz and Mike Lee are promising to try and block the CR on its way through the Senate until the Obamacare funding is removed.
But while Boehner and his posse in the House were further solidifying the GOP House as the official party of Benedict Arnold, a fella from Kentucky by the name of Rand Paul went old school in defense of our basic liberties in an act reminiscent of Jimmy Stewart in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and staged a filibuster over in the Senate.
Jimmy Stewart ~ Mr. Smith Goes To Washington
Paul said he had no plan going into the day to make the filibuster and said the fact the “I’m wearing the wrongs shoes” attested to that. But nonetheless he stood on the Senate floor for nearly 13 hours never being able to sit or even take a bathroom break, the entire time speaking eloquently about the Constitution, American values, and freedom. In so doing he was blocking the confirmation of CIA Director John Brennan. Paul’s goal in temporality blocking the confirmation was not so much to stop Brennan, but try and use it as a means to force the Obama administration to give a clear and decisive answer as to the constitutionality of potentially carrying out drone strikes against US civilians on US soil at the point of which they would pose no imminent threat.
The move came after Paul had submitted a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder in which he asked for clarification on the government’s policy. But Holder’s original response was very vague and did not speak to the constitutionality of the matter. Senator Ted Cruz had also severely grilled Holder on the very same point asking him in simple and no uncertain terms if the US government had the right according to the Constitution to carry out such a strike. But Holder, seeming totally incapable of even understand the simplest of questions repeatedly cited having to decide on a case by case basis the “appropriateness” of carrying out such a strike.
What Senator Paul was doing through his filibuster was voicing was a growing concern that many Americans have as to whether the government would act against its own citizens by using deadly force just because someone is suspected of being a threat. But what took place was an even greater symbolic stand against an administration and government that seems for more concerned about disarming Americans and arming our enemies than in protecting our very basic civil liberties.
In response, social media has lit up and has been flooded with posts and pictures featuring Paul and expressing support for his stand. Ralph Drees, a grass-roots conservative in Georgia said that he even took no bathroom breaks himself for the duration of the filibuster in and act of solidarity with Paul.
Some Senators including one democrat stayed in the chambers with Paul and a handful of House members even joined near him to show their support after the House concluded business for the day.
But by contrast, several other Senators including John McCain and our own Lindsey Graham had better plans for the evening. President Obama had asked Graham to hand select a guest list of other Senators to have a lavish private dinner at taxpayer expense. The agenda for the evening was to build support for several pieces of Obama’s proposed pieces legislation which Graham is staunchly backing including what the Daily Caller reports as “several Obama-pushed projects, including new curbs on guns, a tax increase and the immigration reform that could bring at least 11 million low-skill illegal immigrants — and eventually, their relatives —into the country.”
But to ad insult to injury, Graham then slammed Paul and his filibuster by saying during a television interview that “this idea that we are gonna use a drone to attack an American citizen in a café in American is ridiculous!” McCain followed suit by saying basically the same thing on the Senate floor on Thursday.
At just a few minutes shy of the 13 hour mark Paul yielded the floor by saying that he would love to go on for another 12 hours and beat Strom Thurmond’s filibuster record. But in a genteel way he eluded to a full bladder by saying that he realized that filibusters do have their “limits” and that he was going to have to take care of that in a few minutes.
Brennan was confirmed by the Senate as the new CIA Director on Thursday by a vote of 63 – 34
But Senator Paul’s stand proved to not be in vain, but quite the contrary. On Thursday, Attorney General Holder issued an official letter addressed to Senator Paul stating that:
It has come to my attention that you have now asked an additional question: “Does the President have the authority to use a weaponized drone to kill an American not engaged in combat on American soil?” The answer to that question is no.
Sincerely,
Eric H. Holder, Jr.
I have been cautiously optimistic over Rand Paul since he took office hoping that he would not follow the extremes and what were at times downright idiotic positions taken by his father. So far he seems to be doing that and becoming far more effective than his father ever managed to be.
Rand Paul Filibusters on Senate Floor
With all the dumbfounding actions of the vast majority of the GOP, not to mention Obama and the left, it’s extremely refreshing to see a handful of statesmen like Paul, Cruz, and Lee take tough stands in spite of all odds and opposition from without, and from within.
Rand Paul managed if only for one day to unify and inspire America and give us a glimmer of hope on an otherwise dark political horizon. He demonstrated that one person, unplanned and unscripted can make a big difference and serve to inspire a nation in defense of its foundational values.
By: Javan Browder
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