Rand Paul alone against spying, aka Why I am not a Republican

Just like with the NDAA and indefinite detention he tried to have removed, just like his filibuster with 3 or so friends, just like the don't give weapons to AQ...the Republicans leave him hanging again.

This is why I do not, will not support Republicans. I will continue to vote for individuals because parties disappoint.

~Oh and Al Franken is a lying POS, double standard assmuch, too. Thanks jerkoff.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/sen-rand-pauls-lonely-crusade-nsa-spying/story?id=19385167

Sen. Rand Paul has sponsored a bill that would curb the National Security Agency's ability to search phone records. Not a single other U.S. senator has signed on, and that's good news for Rand Paul.

While the Washington establishment is fleeing a direct confrontation with the Obama administration over a slew of secret surveillance programs that raise questions about privacy, the Senate's resident Tea Party libertarian aggravator is reveling in the relative solitude.

Now that both political parties have a hand in supporting national security policies that appear more aimed at catching terrorists than protecting privacy, the NSA scandal is the perfect playing ground for a senator with presidential ambitions who is building a brand as an equal opportunity agitator.

"The revelation that the NSA has secretly seized the call records of millions of Americans, without probable cause, represents an outrageous abuse of power and a violation of the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution. I have long argued that Congress must do more to restrict the Executive's expansive law enforcement powers to seize private records of law-abiding Americans that are held by a third-party," Paul, a Republican, said when introducing his bill, the "Fourth Amendment Restoration Act of 2013."

The strategy keeps intact Paul's reputation as a "disruptive" politician, as conservative pundit Erik Erickson has coined it.

"With the exception of Sen. Rand Paul, the GOP has left the playing field on this vital issue," wrote one contributor to the conservative online community Red State. "They are afraid of being called hypocrites over '!GEORGE W. BUSH'S USA PATRIOT ACT!' And for evil men to triumph, the good men have to only do nothing."

Few in Washington are running to the defense of NSA leaker Edward Snowden, even if they harbor concerns that the government may have overreached.

Democrats are hesitant to criticize policies advocated by a president of their own party. And even the ones who have raised questions about the scope of the policy aren't clamoring in outrage.

Remember Al Franken, now Democratic senator from Minnesota, and author of the liberal manifesto "Lies and the Lying Liars who Tell Them"?

As recently as 2012, Franken raised concerns that it was "too easy" for companies to hand over their customers' personal information . Now, he says he is comfortable with the program.

"This isn't about spying on the American people," Franken told Minnesota station WCCO. "I have a high level of confidence that this is used to protect us. And I know it has been successful in preventing terrorism."

 

As I noted to a ignorant leftist in another thread, this isn't even a partisan issue. We have seen Republicans and Democrats come out to defend this spying on Americans. Both parties are run by deranged, power-hungry freaks who value the ability to gather information on political adversaries far too much to let something as trivial as the Constitution get in the way. I would venture to guess most of the Republicans pretending to be against this are only running the clock out until it's their turn to take advantage of Obama's "innovations" in our fundamentally transformed country.

 

If they all voted for the NDAA, then what makes you think that this issue will move them?

I've become so cynical that I almost think that Rand Paul is the voice of opposition simply to give the illusion that those who also oppose the NSA violations also have a voice in government, much like his father was.

There is no overcoming this with the establishment. Once powers are given to them they historically secure such powers and seek more. My guess is that the next step will be implants, but then, the way people are addicted to their cell phones it does seem redundant. The other day I drove past a bus stop and not one person looked up out of about 15 people. I could have dropped my trousers and thrown hundred dollars bills out them and they would have been none the wiser.

 

It is this type of crap from the alleged small government and patriot types that make me glad I didn't vote Romney. They totally deserve Barak Obama.

Yes. You. Deserve. Barak.

 

I'm thinking that when the GOP passes the new immigration bill and gives them amnesty, the GOP will go bye bye forever.

No tears shed here.

 

http://epic.org/2013/05/senator-paul-introduces-bill-t.html

Senator Paul Introduces Bill to Protect Fourth Amendment, Abolish "Third Party Doctrine"
Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky) has introduced the Fourth Amendment Preservation and Protection Act of 2013, which would prohibit the warrantless collection of information about individuals held by third parties. The law would overturn the "third party doctrine," which has been widely criticized by courts and legal scholars. The bill has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Senator Paul will receive a 2013 EPIC Champion of Freedom Award in Washington, DC on June 3. For more information, see EPIC: Awards Dinner and EPIC: Electronic Communications Privacy Act.

**********************************************************

Hopefully this will get more people on board with it out there.

 

I like Rand, but we can't make exceptions.



Fire

everyone.

 

I'll make an exception for him since he's been the only one standing for liberty in the past two years. Everyone else can go after the populist trials.

 

I wouldn't call Rand Paul the only politician in Washington
with the guts to consistently stand up for the people's rights but I really am hard pressed to think of another right now.
Of course that means the republican wizards that run the party will try their best to isolate and ignore him. I would vote for him as president in an instant!

So true. And if men are doing nothing to stop this unconstitutional power grab are they truly good?

Franken is the poster boy for the liberal zeitgeist in this age of Obama. A former jester from the left who would bark and yap at all sorts of outrages (Bush's war on terror and loss of liberties primarily) now he is a comfortable lap dog snoozing quietly on his master's lap and he only wakes occasionally just long enough to lick his master's hand when Obama puts Bush's programs on steroids.
He is the very embodiment of a sell out!

The ONLY protection, ultimately, put in place in these programs that spy on their own citizens is a child like trust that government will never abuse their power. And when you see people like James Clapper get up before Congress and lie about the very existence of these programs you see how misplaced that trust is.
Franken would have been very comfortable in East Germany.

 

No one is with him on this.

Huzzah!

 

It cannot work if people make exceptions.

No seniority... like the first congress. Reboot. Hire 200 Paulian thinkers if you want. Can't keep him.

 

We're not getting a reboot without a) a revolution, b) mass abduction experience, c) natural disaster.

 

This would be a much preferable option.

It just has to catch on. It has to get some media attention. Really just need some celebrities. You wanna be a republican and run against an incumbent republican? Just need to have never held a seat in congress. You want to run independent... if you are not given debate time, you get default votes.

All we have to do, is start over. Revolution without firing a shot. I need that to fail first.

 

Lol at you clowns. Even in the Republican primaries the conservatives/libertarians stood no chance. The majority of people are not extremists like you guys. Rand Paul will stand absolutely no chance in a general election just like his loser father.

 

I'm sorry you're so bitter from being pwned by everyone on here with at least a high school education, but please quit stalking me and go post about more stuff you know nothing about with Dujac.

Thanks much.

 

Well it isn't a government reboot...but its at least using our voices...Rand has begun the largest class action law suit in history alleging misconduct by the NSA and a breech of the 4th amendment. He needs all people affected (that would be basically everyone) to sign onto the lawsuit and if you use any of the affected companies, e.g. Google, Verizon, contact them and tell them you are MAD that your info was compromised. Tell them you want them to do the right thing and stand with Rand. There are already over 250,000 participants and the goal is 10M or more. Go here http://www.randpac.com/ and sign up and let them know we are not going to stand for our rights being taken any more. Get this out there!! Stand with Rand!!

 

I wouldn't say 'he's been the only one standing for liberty in the past two years', I'm sure I can think of one more, as I'm sure you can as well.

 

I think Rand's head is in the right direction. My only concern is that most of America will be turned into capturing Snowden and how the government needs to prevent more folks, like him, from obtaining a security clearance. Thus, the Republicans aren't jumping on board because it's too soon to figure out where the direction is. Meaning, they are more so concerned with keeping votes than defending liberty.

Just like the folks on this forum, you've discussed many times with those I speak of, they'd rather allow the government keep tabs on everyone because it makes them feel safe. They truly believe that this is how the government is protecting us from terrorists. Most of them are so blind to see that Obama is even creating a war in Syria. Talk about smoke & mirrors, 'Don't worry about what I'm doing to you in the US, HOLY CRAP!! Assad is using chemical weapons against his citizens. We have a duty to protect those innocent lives from such heinous attacks. We're working with the Syrian Rebel faction to ensure that more innocent lives are protected. These actions won't go unpunished, and Assad will pay for his actions'. Sound about right?

 

Maybe one day there will be better choices, but at the moment, we have two parties, and destroying the one that can get us closer only helps the enemy...

 

You mistake me greatly if you don't think that I believe Republicans are my enemy at this point, too. You don't get 99% of them agreeing for indefinite detention and expect to feel some love from me.

 

Hmm. Rand Paul and Al Franken in the same paragraph. Yeah, I can see both as a mirror images in their own party. Parodies of actual politicians that just happened to get elected. Makes perfect sense. I must say that Frankens humor is much more subtle than Paul's though. And ole Randy will never be as funny as his daddy.

 

What makes them parodies? That they're not attorneys? That they actually came to Washington as populists?

People who make fun of Rand have no credibility with me because they neglect his voting record as being the most pro-freedom at the federal level.

Anyway, haters gonna hate.

 

If Rand Paul were to run for president, I would likely support him over any other person the GOP is likely to bring forward.

The mainstream media with the assistance of Democrat opposition research groups would of course set out to destroy Rand Paul.

Rand and his toupee would get the Saturday Night Live treatment that Palin got.

 

Okay, just when I was starting to like you again...not a toupee. You've yet to see his thick curls move in the wind as I have.

((sigh))

He's relatively clean tho. What are they gonna say about him? He's put it all out there. If they were gonna do a hit piece on him it would have been during his father's campaign. They smeared Palin's family during her bid, Ron got hit all around.

Rand's record is good. He even has a charitable nonprofit. Had great grades at Duke.

What could they smack him with except his states rights thing in regards to solving social ills and even then he's good at articulating why he believes it.

 

So in 2016, Obviously Rand Paul is not a viable GOP candidate for the nomination, he'll inherit Ron's support (our Republican version of the Kims of North Korea), but that just leaves him in the high single digits, but he could be a third party spoiler, he'd gut the GOP candidate, and insure the Democrat victory, (although I believe there is a natural Democratic majority that will be in place in 2016 anyway), but destroying the GOP's chances also means he gets his issues addressed to lure him back into the fold.

If he does go Libertarian, he might have enough coattails to cost the GOP the House, if the LP could put congressional candidates in place.
That might be enough to reboot the GOP.