Rand Paul
“I will not let the Patriot Act, the most unpatriotic of acts, go unchallenged,” Mr. Paul declared. He conceded he might not have the votes to prevail, but said he would keep reminding the public of abuses like the government’s secret phone-data sweeps of American households that were finally declared illegal this month in federal court. Continue reading the main story Recent Comments CathyZ 3 minutes ago
I am a Democrat but twice now I am in support of Rand Paul-with his first filibuster and this time with his latest quasi-filibuster.I am... Pat 3 minutes ago
Thank you for your efforts, Mr. Paul. Raymond 3 minutes ago
Don't count this guy out. He's got more appeal than MSM give him credit for. He's also, on domestic policy, especially vis-a-vis women,...
The focus of the senator’s alarm, and rightly so, was a pair of bipartisan renewal bills in both houses that fall short of remedying the problem. The bills would cut back, but not end, the domestic phone-data sweeps that eroded individual rights while accomplishing little in protecting the nation. They avoid the issue of bulk collection of overseas calls, which could include information about Americans. And they fail to create an advocate to represent the public’s interest when the government seeks fresh approvals from the secretive Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, which has proved far too passive in protecting Americans’ civil liberties.
Mr. Paul was not alone in demanding something better from Congress. Ten senators dropped by to show support at different times, seven of them Democrats. This is an issue the public must hear more fully. Mr. Paul warned that the renewal law was likely to be a failed and rushed compromise that would continue to allow abuse of civil liberties. “Are we going to accept that without any debate?” he asked, reaching beyond the Senate to the nation.