'Nobody in the Republican Party Has Dared Take This President On'
WND EXCLUSIVE by Garth Gant — Talk radio icon Rush Limbaugh today called Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., a hero for facing off against the Obama administration and surviving.
Limbaugh told Paul today: “Nobody in the Republican Party has dared take this president on. You did last night, and you’re alive today to talk about it, and nobody’s calling you names.
“You are, in certain ways, a hero to a lot of people today, and I hope this kind of thing continues.”
Limbaugh noted Paul has received criticism, but he called the filibuster “a seminal event last night that could change the direction that we are all heading, particularly in terms of educating and informing the American people about what actually is happening in their country.”
Paul’s filibustered President Obama’s nomination for CIA director. His move was declared a victory today when Attorney General Eric Holder issued a terse response to the question the senator raised during nearly 13 hours of talking on the Senate floor.
“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,” Holder responded.
Holder previously told Paul the U.S. never has carried out a drone strike against a U.S. citizen on American soil and it would be “unlikely.”
However, Holder said he could not rule it out entirely.
“It is possible, I suppose, to imagine an extraordinary circumstance in which it would be necessary and appropriate under the Constitution and applicable laws of the United States for the president to authorize the military to use lethal force within the territory of the United States,” Holder’s letter said.
He said Obama “has the power to authorize lethal force, such as a drone strike, against a U.S. citizen on U.S. soil, and without trial.”
Limbaugh interviewed Paul after his marathon filibuster over Obama’s nominee for CIA director, John O. Brennan, who was affirmed in a vote late today. The senator wanted the administration to affirm it won’t kill non-combatant Americans in the U.S. It was the ninth-longest filibuster in Senate history, lasting 12 hours and 52 minutes, and ending early Thursday morning.
Republican Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who were among a group of Republican senators who had dinner with Obama at a Washington, D.C. hotel while Paul filibustered, were combative toward their Republican colleague.
McCain said, “If Mr. Paul wants to be taken seriously he needs to do more than pull political stunts than fire up impressionable libertarian kids.”
McCain charged Paul’s warnings that the Obama administration could target American citizens on U.S. soil puts the debate into the “realm of the ridiculous.”
“Calm down, senator,” McCain said. “The U.S. government cannot randomly target U.S. citizens.
“What we saw yesterday is going to give ammunition to those who say the rules of the Senate are being abused,” the Arizona Republican said.
Graham took it a step further. He said he was leaning toward opposing the Brennan nomination, but now he’s changed his mind.
“I am going to vote for Brennan now because it’s become a referendum on the drone program.”
Paul was diplomatic when Limbaugh asked about the attacks on him and his filibuster, declining to attack his critics. But, he pointed out, there is little difference between the administration’s views on the subject and those of McCain and Graham.
The senator said: “You know, I think we’ve struck a nerve, and there is a little bit of a difference within the Republican caucus and a growing sort of division on some of these issues.
[...] see full article
A liberal celebrity wondered where the other Democrats were.
Actor John Cusack tweeted: “For gods sake where are democrats ?? “@democracynow: Rand Paul: Obama Admin Response Drones ‘More Than Frightening’”
He added: “Up to 8 Senators now joining the Rand Paul #filibuster. Where are the so-called progressive Democratic senators?”
Cusak summed up his thoughts with slams against the attorney general and the president, tweeting: “AG say its ok to kill us citizens–and other bad guys- but trust us we’re the good guys…how’d that play out through history mr hold…pay no attention to the man behind that curtain…the great and powerful O has spoken.” » Full Article
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