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Remember I didn't say they were going to dominate politics, just play a big role. The reason I say that is because it was clear to me yesterday when Paul took
by DanielBMarkham 14y ago
Remember I didn't say they were going to dominate politics, just play a big role.
The reason I say that is because it was clear to me yesterday when Paul took the floor that millions of people both Democrat and Republican were with him. It was the establishment that was going bonkers. Partisans on both sides of the aisle didn't know what to do.
That means there is a place in the center for some kind of pragmatic libertarian movement to challenge the old guard in both parties. I won't lie to you -- the odds are extremely long that it amounts to anything. But it's the best chance I've seen in 20 years or more, and that's worth spending some energy recording, sharing, and encouraging it.
- anigbrowl 14y agoIt was the establishment that was going bonkers. In what way, by failing to agree with him?
- DanielBMarkham 14y agoLinsday Graham: “I do not believe that question deserves an answer.” John McCain: "...if Mr. Paul wants to be taken seriously he needs to do more than pull political stunts that fire up impressionable libertarian kids in their college dorms..." http://freedom-or-safety.com/blog/rand-paul-receives-response-criticism/ http://freedom-or-safety.com/blog/rand-paul-receives-respons...
- anigbrowl 14y ago2 comments hardly seems like the entire establishment 'going bonkers'. While I think his question deserves an answer, I agree with McCain that it's nothing more than a stunt. If Rand Paul were really serious about this, why not introduce a bill to amend the AUMF, which is what the President such broad authority to determine who is a combatant and deploy force accordingly? As a US Senator, Rand Paul is among the most powerful individuals in the country. He can introduce legislation to add an oversight or reporting requirement to the AUMF, or to make determinations of enemy combatant status subject to legislative or judicial review, even posterior review...or any number of other variations. Of he can craft new legislation definingthe acceptable scope (if any) of drone deployment within the US by military or civilian authorities. Either would be more productive and more actionable than grandstanding demands for answers to questions that the Attorney General has answered already. It's a funny sort of libertarian that wants to amend the Constitution to forbid abortions and prevent some people born in the US from becoming citizens, instead moving to a regime where citizenship is inherited.
- DanielBMarkham 14y agoSorry. Looks like you wanted an argument. I just thought you were asking for examples. Have a good one.
- anigbrowl 14y agoI wanted you to back up your rhetoric with something substantial.