But if he puts his money where his mouth is and actually filibusters the bill he claims to hate, I may have to reconsider.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) wrote to colleagues Tuesday voicing objections to the PATRIOT Act as it heads to the Senate for reauthorization, warning that it could turn America into a "police state."
Paul, a tea party favorite who was first elected last November, expressed opposition to warrantless searches and surveillance, questioning their constitutionality and their necessity to protect the United States from terrorist acts.
"I object to these warrantless searches being performed on United States citizens," he wrote. "I object to the 200,000 NSL searches that have been performed without a judge’s warrant. I object to over 2 million searches of bank records, called Suspicious Activity Reports, performed on U.S. citizens without a judge's warrant."
"It is not acceptable to willfully ignore the most basic provisions of our Constitution—in this case—the Fourth and First Amendments—in the name of 'security,'" Paul added.
Colleague letters are easy, aynrandpaul: Let's see you actually stand up and fight this abomination with a real, old-fashioned, non-stop filibuster.
After that, you can apply your newly-discovered love for civil liberties to defending U.S. citizens' right to medical privacy. Even female citizens.
The night it was passed in the House, Senate leadership tried to get a 3 year extension by unanimous consent. Rand Paul objected, which is all it takes to make it have to go through a recorded floor vote. He spoke out against it but a 3 month extension was passed (he voted no) with over 80 votes to pass it, so he knew it would easily overcome a filibuster.
ReplyDeletePut YOUR money where YOUR mouth is, progressive. We have something less than 3 months to generate support for repealing it and the NSLs (not in what is being extended, but Rand is going to try to get them into the mix.) Meanwhile, McConnell wants to make them permanent.
Is it principles, or parties, with you?