Senator Rand Paul – Historic Defense of Civil Liberties – Spans Party Lines – Lessons in Civics - #Standwithrand Still Trending on Twitter

The Man one might want to Stand With - Senator Rand Paul - image Reuters via Breitbart

It goes without saying, that far too many American’s have had no education as to basic civics, especially how our government and the separation of powers brilliantly installed in the U.S. Constitution provide the people with a safety net against that government. Today, most people in this country, otherwise known as “low information voters”, have a concept of the body politic that is more “entertainment”, by which, a politician becomes a “rock-star”, rather than a servant of the people. It also goes without saying that those who do serve, from the Congress, to the Senate to the Office of the President, deserve the nations respect; for these Offices, and the intent to serve, are not undertaken lightly. The people and those that serve may have differing opinions; however, the entire body politic in these United States is one that is built on laws and oversight. In 1939, a feature film, ”Mr. Smith Goes To Washington”, became one of the most enduring films of our time. The Oscar winning film is described in brief: “A naive man is appointed to fill a vacancy in the US Senate. His plans promptly collide with political corruption, but he doesn't back down.” (Watch Trailer with links to film at www.imdb.com. It is the story of the filibuster and how that tool is used to bring attention of a situation viewed as untenable to the general population, and to hopefully, change a wrong to a right.

This was a fictional piece, yet, it is doubtful that many who are over the age of 50 have not seen the film at some point in their lives. It was a rare occurrence indeed, when on March 6, 2013, the nation was treated to the “real deal”. Senator Rand Paul, (R-KY), stood on the floor of the Senate and spoke for almost 14 hours. As one watching C-Span, desperately trying to stay awake to watch this event continue, the film from 1939 came to mind. Obviously, Paul is not naive when it comes to the ways of the world, nor the U.S. Constitution which he swore to uphold, and to watch as the hours wore on, his ability to maintain a clear, concise message, and stand firm in his convictions, was truly inspiring.

In brief, the Administration (White House and its various agencies) has considered the use of drones (a weapon) against individuals whom they feel might be a threat to the nation. These individuals would be U.S. citizens on U.S. soil. The law of the land allows all U.S. citizens due process, and obviously, if one were thought to be an enemy of the State (with no clear indication of what the criteria would be for such a finding), the U.S. government would have the ability to blow them to smithereens, whether they were in their swimming pool, a coffee house, the grocery store, etc. These weapons are used in the theatre of war, to protect our armed forces, and there has been the consequence of unavoidable civilian deaths. In the theatre of war, it is an unfortunate expectation. However, it should not be an expectation at all in the confines of the boundaries of the United Sates of America. Rand Paul was asking the Administration (Attorney General, Eric Holder) if they felt the President had the authority to use drones as describe on American Citizens. The answers were vague in the extreme, thus Senator Paul took to the floor and spoke for thirteen hours.

At first, the Senate Majority Leader, Democrat Harry Reid attempted to limit the ability of Senator Paul to speak – He failed. Rand Paul did not do this alone for 13 hours. In the process of the filibuster, one might not yield the floor (keep the discussion alive) and entertain a question from a college (another Senator). At the early hours, it was Sr. Ted Cruz of Texas, who stood to give Senator Paul a respite from standing and speaking, with authority on the subject at hand. Senator Mike Lee entered and, as a Constitutional Authority, joined in supporting Paul’s filibuster. Democrat Senator, Ron Wuyden of Oregon, joined in support. (Mediate.com) There was a dinner at the White House, with the majority of the Republican Senators’ in attendance, several of those who attended the dinner, apparently felt compelled to join Paul on the Floor, including the senior senator from Kentucky, Mitch McConnell. Senator Dick Durbin came to the floor to agree on principle with Senator Paul, but compared the use of drones on Ben Ladin, to the potential to use drones on American Citizens, he also suggested that this type of debate take place within Committee, instead of a forum that allowed the public to watch the proceedings.

What took place as a rare event, as this body, the Senate, does little in the way of protecting the interests of the American people. It is not for lack of trying, however, these Senators, regardless of party affiliation are often found blocked by the Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid, who holds the power to bring a bill (law) to the floor for a vote – or not. He is the main reason that the U.S. has had no budget since 2009, using “continuing resolutions” instead to keep from confining the Federal government to do what ordinary households must do – stick to a budget. This government is run, and operates, of course, with monies supplied by the very same ordinary households.

To watch part or all of these proceedings, C-Span has the entire video – which is embedded below. What the Senator was requesting was simple. A statement from the Administration noting yes, or no, regarding whether they (the Administration) believed the President has the authority to use drones to kill American Citizens within the boundaries of the United States – a simple Yes or No response would have ended the filibuster in hour 1.

It was not forthcoming.

Thus the almost 13 hour (12 hours and 54 minute) debate on the Senate Floor.

This is the type of occurrence that truly makes one feel that this is truly the best nation on earth in which to reside.

The twitter hashtag #standwithrand maintains the top trending topic on Twitter (as of 6:22 am est) (Twitter.com) When “Code Pink” #standswithrand, the issue is crossing ideological lines, and is one in which the entire nation should be vested (as is the world.)

The entire filibuster, video via Cspan.org.

The Reading of the U.S. Constitution: 10:30 AM January 6, 2011, From the U.S. House Floor – The Law of the Land in it’s Entirety.

Much has been made of the reading of the U.S. Constitution from the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives as the Republican Party has now taken a majority in that body and has pledged to the American People a leaner, Constitutionally correct government. From the opening words to the last of the amendments, the reading (C-SPAN coverage) might be viewed as symbolic, and by some even highly partisan in nature, the blog politicsdaily.com calling the Constitution a “weapon” of the GOP. There are those journalist who just don’t understand the document calling it either arcane due to its age and the language used, or a “sacred secular text”, which underscores how deeply the lack of civics classes taught from an early age in the U.S. has given a large majority of the nations citizens, no understanding of the document.

The Constitution, simply put, is the foundation of our government, the document on which all laws of the United States of America are to be based, how our government is to be apportioned and how it operates, and it includes instructions for the three separate bodies (Executive, Judicial and Legislative) on how to conduct their duties. Guidelines, certainly, the law of the land, absolutely, which, the reading from the floor of the House where all laws of the land are generated, makes this reading more necessary than symbolic. The necessity arises from very lack of understanding on the part of the populace, which extends to lawmakers themselves, and certainly to those who hold position in the media who are viewing the reading as a “stunt” of sorts.

In the 1950’s and before, by the time a student was in the 4th grade, they were able to cite the Bill of Rights, and indeed had, in most instances, read the U.S. Constitution as part of the curriculum. Those who are of that generation as well as those who have, out of either curiosity, or alignment with the Tea Party Movement, taken to reading and discussing the intrinsic value of the document as it relates to our daily lives are the millions who have driven the nation to take a long second look at what it is that defines each of us.

The founding fathers, although hardly clairvoyant, were far-seeing in their establishment of a government that would be by and for the people, limiting the powers of the Federal government and deferring to the States more frequently than has been the case in recent years. The Constitution, simply put, is not always convenient in instances where political party aspirations are trumped by a 300 year old document. Historically, the one President who is lauded at once as a hero was also one who “played fast and loose” with that same document: one Abraham Lincoln, and who also, incidentally, was the first Republican President.

For one, the nation should be proud of the Congress, regardless of party affiliation, as they take up the task of reminding both the U.S. citizens, and the world, the reason why our nation has stood for centuries, and will continue to stand by a set of laws that was haggled over by the founding fathers for over a decade before it was finally signed and put into practice. Therefore, today is historical in once sense whereby newly elected Speaker of the House John Boehner, will go where so many before him have failed to go, back to the basics of what made our nation a magnet for those who were seeking relief from oppression. It is perhaps why, those who are desperate for an opportunity to grow within the boundaries of a land that guarantees its citizens rights beyond those found in any other word government, will take any measure, and face any hardship to gain citizenship within the boundaries of the United States.

Therefore, this first generation American extends gratitude and thinks to the members of the 112th Congress for reading the Document and further, for the promise (rather rule) that insists all future Bills before the Congress of the Unites States must cite the proposed laws Constitutional Authority. It is, perhaps, one of the greatest moments in the history of the modern Congress, and for those who don’t’ understand, or politically feel constitutionally challenged (how’s that?), perhaps it is an opportunity to embrace this unique set of laws, and to learn more about this document that holds us, all American’s, regardless of where we come from, or where we stand in society or politically, to a higher standard of protection from the very body (as well as the other two that complete the systems of checks and balances incorporated within) that will read the document.

Suggested reading: The Constitution of the United States
and to understand the making of this document
The Federalist Papers