Friday, March 8, 2013

Rand Paul's filibuster: We’re seeing a profile in courage, properly understood, that could prove transformative

Via Daily Timewaster




For hours throughout the course of Wednesday, Rand Paul created a political earthquake. In the presidential sweepstakes, which even a political writer really doesn't want to think about for another three years, Paul Ryan and Marco Rubio now have serious competition in Rand Paul. In the meantime, Senator Paul has made the strongest case yet, and perhaps one of the strongest cases possible, for why voters must not give Barack Obama greater power in 2014. 
A senator can make an occasional impact with a filibuster, but if Democrats take control of the House of Representatives in 2014, the damage done not just to our economy but to the very fabric of our republic may be impossible to repair. It is a message that was not stated on Wednesday, but was nonetheless absolutely clear.
Over the course of Wednesday, watching Senators Rand, Lee, and Cruz, I was left wondering whether I had witnessed an interesting but fleeting moment in history, or a profile in courage that will be remembered as a catalyst for the transformation of the Republican Party.
Nearly 11 hours into the filibuster, Senator Cruz said to Rand Paul “The heart of what you’re standing for is liberty.” 

24 comments:

  1. If communicated correctly and plainly (which it was) Sen Paul's speech and and defense of the Constitution could be like a snow ball rolling down hill growing larger as it goes.

    The security of peoples families, and the freedoms they currently have which are being chipped away by things like the Patriot Act and NDAA, presented clearly and honestly appeal (as we have seen) to people of both sides of the political spectrum.

    Social issues aside for a moment, because if those freedoms are gone those social issues are moot. The people will get whatever the grand high Presidente decides that morning depending on how he feels.

    We can only hope this was the begining of an awakening, for if it was the bloodshed we all hope to avoid may actually be in our grasp as a people. If not or something like it doesn't awaken the people as a whole I see dark days ahead.







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    1. But then again what the hell do I know? I am just one of the Vets Feinstein thinks is a nut.

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    2. If not or something like it doesn't awaken the people as a whole I see dark days ahead.

      Well said and the entire comment was right on.

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    3. I am just one of the Vets Feinstein thinks is a nut.

      Speaking of nuts, boy does she take the cake. She and Biden really make a pair.:) Good Lord, how far our representatives have fallen since the days of yore. It's just unbelievable when you think about it.

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    4. Think of the founding fathers, the brevity, the eloquence, the clarity of the writing. Imagine how smart and wise they had to have been.

      Now look at our current crop of congress, one could almost loose their dinner.

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    5. Lets hope Rand's plea is more successful in the long run than Jefferson Davis'.

      “Events, with a current hurrying on as it progresses, have borne me past the point where it would be useful for me to argue the question of rights.

      What, Senators, today is the condition of the country? From every quarter of it comes the wailing cry of patriotism pleading for the preservation of the great inheritance we derived from our fathers. Tears are now trickling down the stern face of man; and those who have bled for the flag of their country, and are willing now to die for it, stand powerless before the plea that the [Republican] party about to come into power laid down a platform, and that come what will, though ruin stare us in the face, consistency must be adhered to, even though the Government be lost.

      Why should not the garrison at Fort Sumter be withdrawn, if it would ease the tension and save bloodshed? And as for the flag:

      Is there any point of pride which prevents us from withdrawing that garrison? I have heard it said by a gallant gentleman that the great objection was an unwillingness to lower the flag. To lower the flag!

      Can there, then, be a point of pride so sacred a soil as this, where the blood of the fathers cries to Heaven against civil war? Can there be a point of pride against laying upon the sacred soil today the flag for which our fathers died? My pride, Senators, is different.

      My pride is that the flag shall not set between contending brother; and that, when it shall no longer be the common flag of the country, it shall be folded up and laid away like a vesture no longer used; that it shall be kept as a scared memento of the past, to which each of us can make a pilgrimage, and remember the glorious days in which we were born.

      I have striven to avert that catastrophe which now impends over the country, unsuccessfully, and I regret it. If you desire at this last moment to avert civil war, so be it; it is better so.

      If you will not have it thus; if the pride of power, if in contempt of reason and reliance on force, you say we shall not go, but shall remain as subjects to you, gentlemen of the North, a war is to be inaugurated the like of which men have not seen.

      Is there wisdom, is there patriotism in the land? If so, easy must be the solution to the question. If not, then Mississippi’s gallant sons will stand like a wall of fire around their State….”
      http://www.namsouth.com/viewtopic.php?t=4906&highlight=davis

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    6. I can not imagine a greater honor than being favorably compared to Jefferson Davis, an unknown hero in my school years.

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    7. I thought you went to school down here.....?

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  2. A glimmer of hope in a rapidly deteriorating situation . I sincerely hope this is the beginning of the separation of the wheat from the chaff . No one in their right mind want's to see a massive bloodletting in this country . Anyone left or right who will sit back and honestly asses the situation can plainly see , it is NOT " We The People " who are threatening the country's existence . W. Russell.

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    1. No one in their right mind want's to see a massive bloodletting in this country.

      See above, we are both on the same track today.
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      it is NOT " We The People " who are threatening the country's existence.

      Precisely.

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  3. I preach "One Day At A Time" and "Each Day Is A New Beginning." In that light, having previously switched my voter registration from Republican to Independent, after only 50 years of being an R, and having watched Colorado Republican State Senators debate all these gun bills for the last twenty-four hours, I intend to switch back to Republican. Men and women, these Colorado Republicans are in full faith mode with the Founders. I cannot ask for more. I am both humbled and proud. Every one of them was better than I could now be. Of course, it was futile, but I am a dreamer. I live by, and have seen totally proved the validity of, page 164 of the book Alcoholics Anonymous which says, "See to it that your relationship with Him is right and great events will come to pass for you and countless others."

    It is impossible, and certainly not by merely counting votes, to gage the outcome of this unprecedented defense of the Second Amendment that these CO Republican State Senators, men and women, have put up in this last 24 hours, and still going strong. Like my hero Rand Paul's 13 hour effort, we will see good things come from such service.

    They have all shown John McCain up as the Manchurian Candidate that he is and L. Graham must serve a purpose that I can't write about.

    Lest you think I am exaggerating the greatness of these CO (R) speakers, I tape recorded several hours of the Colorado Channel and am recording a young Republican man right now who would thrill all of you. I will let you see it and may just make some copies for 2A lovers.

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    1. Please do and congratulations are due your referenced senators.

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    2. what exactly is going on in Colorado? I was expecting to hear news on the vote last night but nothing. Are the Republican filibustering or what is happening? This could be a pivital battle.

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    3. Here from Horace in Colorado last night. More later.


      http://freenorthcarolina.blogspot.com/2013/03/day-of-resistance-denver.html

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  4. The Republican are simply making the most civilized debate that this old debater has ever heard. Their logic, history, and reasoning are perfect, both men and women. Right now Comcast channel 165, the Colorado Channel, is replaying some from last night so I don't know if it (the Senate) is still debating. No Democrat has risen to debate while I was watching but they stood to vote NO on several bills and amendments as I watched. I have been watching off and on for over 24 hours and wish I could hug all these Patriots. They are not filibustering, merely debating. Freedom is not dead in Colorado, merely threatened with death, so far. As long as I am alive and armed (A&A) it is not dead. My father, an uncle, and I are/were named Horace Smith, just like Dan Wesson's partner. I own four S&W revolvers which will only be taken from my cold, dead hands, hopefully by my family.

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    1. merely debating.

      A lost art these days, though we had debating societies at school when I grew up.

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    2. Senator after Senator is making the point that any self-loading magazine may be extended with a part made by printing one (which I don't start to understand) so that the magazine limit bill will effectively make all semi-autos illegal. They also keep saying that the criminal justice system will plead any gun charge down to a misdemeanor and follow the "Dismiss and Destroy the weapon" practice. I have heard no Democrat challenge these assertions.

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    3. Thanks and they can make magazines off a printer now as well as guns, believe it or not.

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  5. I didn't get my usual 10 hours sleep last night. Put an "s" on Republican. There's more than one talking and as a guy who voted for Eisenhower all Republicans through to W, except for my Ross Perot rebellion, I call them "Real Republicans."

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    1. Ross Perot

      Too bad he dropped out. A real disappointment.

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  6. I wanna know the secret of how Rand Paul went for 12 hours without peeing?

    Michael-- Deo Vindicabamur

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    1. Damn good question. No way here.:)

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    2. I believe he had 3-4 senators step up to take his place for 10 minutes each. Of course neither of my scum Senators, Toomey, R-PA or Casey, D-PA had the decency to spell the man. BTW....Songbird McCain and Lipsey Graham, traitors both, were not at the Senate during the Paul filibuster. Instead they were dining with the illegal
      and unconstitutional soetoro-obama. And as most know, the following day both Lypsey and Songbird verbally attacked and ridiculed Mr. Paul.

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    3. McCain and Lipsey Graham

      Need to go. If we are plodding along when they come up for re-election, it should be very interesting.

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