Forum Post: Great Speech - Sen. Rand Paul Objects To Indefinite Detention Language In NDAA - 12/21/12
Posted 11 years ago on Dec. 21, 2012, 3:20 p.m. EST by john32
(-272)
from Pittsburgh, PA
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
I don't care if you like the guy or not - great speech:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=GvuhVu0z9p4
All talk no walk.
He still passed the bill. And that was after supporting Romney and dumping out on most of the ideals he claimed to represent.
98-0? Outrageous.
The NDAA is riddled with terrible foreign policy and overall is a theft from our schools and our infrastructure.
Exactly. On all points.
Anyone can talk the talk.
Here was his excuse for that:
"I have noticed that many are confused by my vote for NDAA. Please allow me to explain.
First, we should be clear about what the bill is. NDAA is the yearly defense authorization bill. It’s primary function is to specify which programs can and can't be funded within the Pentagon and throughout the military. It is not the bill that spends the money—that comes later in an appropriations bill.
Because I think we should spend less, I will offer amendments to cut spending. I will likely vote against the final spending bill. This wasn't it.
This bill also isn’t about indefinite detention. This year's bill did not contain the authorization for indefinite detention.
That provision was in last year's NDAA bill.
The bill this year contained the amendment I supported which sharply limited the detention power, and eliminated it entirely for American citizens in the US. While it is only a partial victory, it was a big victory. Particularly compared to what passed last year. Even so, I will continue to fight to protect anyone who could possibly be indefinitely detained.
I would never vote for any bill, anywhere, that I believed enhanced the government's power to abridge your rights and detain people. This goes against every principle I hold dear and the Constitution I took an oath to uphold and protect.
Government power and the many associated abuses have been piling up for years. We will not win all our liberties back at once. But we did win one battle this year, and we should be pleased that we did while also realizing the fight is really just getting started.
I hope you will keep fighting alongside me."
Buuuuuuuuuut - if you really looked at the bill as it was when he voted for it - it didn't guarantee that we got a trial through our regular court system - but it did give a guarantee for a military tribunal....which is almost as bad as not getting a hearing at all. So I agree with you when it really comes down to it - he could have made a much much better stand - along with everyone else in the senate.
Here is my response to all the mumbo jumbo spilling from Rand Paul's mouth.
Dennis Kucinich on the NDAA for 2013 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYDyXhtKHJc
Like I said, Rand proved he was a fake when he backed Romney. Rand = politician. He is not someone who represents the people. He represents playing politics.
You nailed it right, it was his "excuse." And it's a fake.
The libertarian movement put Rand on a pedestal, and they're slowly finding out it's their own people killing their movement.
Actually the libertarians proved they are full of fakes when the number of Gary Johnson votes was no where comparable to Ron Paul's primary votes. Instead they either didn't vote or they voted for Romney. They didn't even back their own guy.
At least that's my political analysis on the self proclaimed libertarians and the "stars" of their movement.
Yeah i love kucinich...principled politician that cares about the people and can't be bought out by anybody.
The Ron Paul crowd - I think the majority of them were so pissed at everything during the election that most of them actually ended up writing in Ron Paul - even though they knew he couldn't win - to make a statement. A lot didn't consider Gary a substitute for Ron....so they stuck with their guy. Dunno if i agree with the logic - but their choice i guess.
I wish I could do a Q&A with Dennis. He's a great guy!
Sounded like the right wing wacko tea party extremist that he is. But whatever, I guess to each his own.