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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsGlenn Greenwald defend Rand Paul against "Democratic myths"
Glenn Greenwald: Three Democratic myths used to demean the Paul filibusterhttp://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/mar/10/paul-filibuster-drones-progressives
Let's focus on Greenwald's debunk in stages:
The US government's continuous killing, due-process-free imprisonment, and other rights abuses under the War on Terror banner has affected one group far more than any other: Muslims and, increasingly, American Muslims. Politically, this has been the key fact enabling this to endure. Put simply, if you're not Muslim, it's very easy to dismiss, minimize or mock these issues because you can easily tell yourself that they don't affect you or your family and therefore there is no reason to care. And since the vast, vast majority of Democratic politicians and progressive media commentators are not Muslim, one continuously sees this mentality shaping reaction to these issues.
<...>
Dear Glenn, Rand Paul is a hypocrite and an asshole.
Rand Paul, Supposed Defender Of Civil Liberties, Calls For Jailing People Who Attend Radical Political Speeches
http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2011/05/31/232182/rand-paul-criminalize-speech/
Sen. Rand Paul: Civil Rights Act Was Overreach Because "I Can't Have A Cigar Bar Anymore"
http://politicalcorrection.org/blog/201201090003
I got your "empathy" right here:
by Grizzard
Really? You are?
Well it's nice to have you on the team. Because when I watched Rand Paul's little party, and when I saw the support for "due process rights" coming from all corners of the Internet, I had to shake my head just a little bit. While these people are busy drumming up emotional responses by invoking fear about highly unlikely scenarios involving drones and unsuspecting Americans, thousands of Americans are denied their due process every single day.
They're poor. And they can't afford an attorney. And no, they're not being struck by a fatal shot from an evil drone. But they are put in prison - and in some cases put to death - with a sort of due process that only someone as artificial as Rand Paul could call adequate.
If you think Americans should be given their constitutional rights before the government puts them to death, then we're on the same side. Except, of course, that we're not. You see, Rand - your filibuster was a sideshow and a display of political opportunism. What I and many other people work for every single day is the protection of those rights you're using for political gain.
The situation that led to Rand Paul's filibuster is purely hypothetical as far as we know. But where was he, and where were all of his supporters, when a Texas man named George McFarland was sentenced to death for a robbery-murder in the 1990s? You see, McFarland had quite the dream team of lawyers for his capital trial. When I say dream team, I'm speaking in the most literal sense. His lawyer was dreaming, and not daydreaming. McFarland's appellate lawyers asked for a new trial, arguing that his sleeping lawyer deprived him of the fair trial guaranteed by the sixth amendment. The appeals court callously noted that the constitution guarantees the right to counsel, but it doesn't say that said counsel has to be awake.
Demagogue all you want about black helicopters and unmanned drones. Until you're concerned about the rights of people like McFarland, I'm not impressed.
- more -
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/03/09/1192841/-So-You-re-Offended-by-the-Government-s-Ability-To-Execute-Americans-Without-Due-Process
Greenwald:
The primary means of mocking Paul's concerns was to deride the notion that Obama is about to unleash drone attacks and death squads on US soil aimed at Americans. But nobody, including Paul, suggested that was the case. To focus on that attack is an absurd strawman, a deliberate distraction from the real issues, a total irrelevancy...First, the reason this question matters so much - can the President target US citizens for assassination without due process on US soil? - is because it demonstrates just how radical the Obama administration's theories of executive power are. Once you embrace the premises of everything they do in this area - we are a Nation at War; the entire globe is the battlefield; the president is vested with the unchecked power to use force against anyone he accuses of involvement with Terrorism - then there is no cogent, coherent way to say that the president lacks the power to assassinate even US citizens on US soil. That conclusion is the necessary, logical outcome of the premises that have been embraced. That's why it is so vital to ask that.
<...>
Um, bullshit!
http://twitter.com/SenRandPaul/status/309465276863365120
Greenwald:
Defenders of the Obama administration now insist that this entire controversy has been resolved by a letter written to Paul by Attorney General Eric Holder, in which Holder wrote: "It has come to my attention that you have now asked an additional question: 'Does the President have the authority to use a weaponized drone to kill an American not engaged in combat on American soil?' The answer to that question is no." Despite Paul's declaration of victory, this carefully crafted statement tells us almost nothing about the actual controversy.
As Law Professor Ryan Goodman wrote yesterday in the New York Times, "the Obama administration, like the Bush administration before it, has acted with an overly broad definition of what it means to be engaged in combat." That phrase - "engaged in combat" - does not only include people who are engaged in violence at the time you detain or kill them. It includes a huge array of people who we would not normally think of, using common language, as being "engaged in combat".
<...>
From Goodman's piece:
<...>
What, exactly, does the Obama administration mean by engaged in combat? The extraordinary secrecy of this White House makes the answer difficult to know. We have some clues, and they are troubling.
<...>
Is there any reason to believe that military drones will soon be hovering over Manhattan, aiming to kill Americans believed to be involved in terrorist financing? No.
- more -
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/09/opinion/the-drone-question-obama-hasnt-answered.html
So the answer really is "no," but "no" is not good enough? I mean, people are building straw men on top of straw men.
Still, the leap the Goodman makes is gigantic. He points to a Bush-era list of Guantanamo detainees, and then states:
Does the fact that they were captured offer any clues? The author then goes on to cite Kerry's excellent report to conflate operations in Afghanistan with hypotheticals in the United States. There is a war ongoing in Afghanistan. From Kerry's report:
http://1.usa.gov/XhxUwc
Hey, there's a definition of "engaged in combat": battlefield. I mean, last I checked there is no civil war ongoing in the United States.
Get Kerry's report out to the press. It's got some great information about the war, the ROE, and the next steps in Afghanistan. Of course, these should have been followed when the report was issued. Maybe we'd have been out of there two years ago.
Now, what did Paul's publicity stunt do to change the actual drone policy? The administration answered a strawman question, and as Eugene Robinson put it:
Paul focused narrowly on the simple question of whether the president has the power to authorize lethal force, such as a drone strike, against a U.S. citizen on U.S. soil, and without trial.
<...>
Hours after Paul finished his filibuster, Holder finally closed that door. It has come to my attention, he wrote Paul, that you have now asked an additional question: Does the president have the authority to use a weaponized drone to kill an American not engaged in combat on American soil? The answer to that question is no.
So thats settled. But the overwhelming majority of drone attacks target foreign nationals in foreign countries, and this is where the moral calculus gets harder.
<...>
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/eugene-robinson-rand-paul-makes-the-right-call-with-filibuster/2013/03/07/b66732fc-876a-11e2-98a3-b3db6b9ac586_story.html
Paul's focus was narrow by design. People got roped into this nonsense, and now "thats settled."
Because of Paul's high-profile theatrics, that is what the majority of Americans now believe. The question of whether or not the President approves of targeting and killing Americans is now moot.
His filibuster served absolutely no purpose in terms of the actual drone policy, and no doubt Paul's latest bullshit proposal will garner support from across the spectrum. I look forward to Greenwald's comment on Paul's drone bill:
By Adam Serwer
Not wanting to take Attorney General Eric Holder's word for it that the US government won't be sending deadly flying robots to kill its own citizens on American soil, Senators Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) have introduced a bill that would "prohibit drone killings of U.S. citizens on U.S. soil if they do not represent an imminent threat."
The bill all but disarms the US government, leaving it with few options for lethal force against citizens other than guns, tanks, helicopters, snipers, paramilitary squads, bombs, tasers and blunt force.
Unless you're not in the United States, or you're an "imminent threat." In that case, the government can drone away.
http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2013/03/gop-senators-introduce-bill-banning-domestic-drone-assassinations
Use of drones to kill Americans not OK "if they do not represent an imminent threat."
Killing Americans who don't pose an "imminent threat" OK if the weapons of choice are "guns, tanks, helicopters, snipers, paramilitary squads, bombs, tasers and blunt force."
Use of drones to kill anyone outside the United States OK.
Unfortunately, people are now focused on Paul and his proposal. After all the hype they will believe it's the solution.
Should the Senate pass the Cruz, Paul drone bill?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022480661
Rand Paul's PR Sham
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022476740
Sorry for the deletes, problems posting.
cantbeserious
(13,039 posts)eom
DesMoinesDem
(1,569 posts)that makes well thought out arguments. You're a consistent Obama defender that thinks posting lots of links wins an argument. It doesn't. Greenwald beats you every time... by far.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)"Glenn Greenwald is a consistent principled progressive that makes well thought out arguments. You're a consistent Obama defender that thinks posting lots of links wins an argument. It doesn't. Greenwald beats you every time... by far."
...on the other hand, make claims about Greenwald that are completely unfounded. He supported the Iraq war before he was against it. He supports Citizens United. He supports Rand Paul.
All of those things run counter to "consistent principled progressive."
Also, as the OP shows his argument is far from "well thought out." In fact, it's a fact-free defense of an idiot who supports drone strikes.
DesMoinesDem
(1,569 posts)that kill innocent people and that it is Paul and real progressives that are questioning his murders? You obviously didn't listen to any of the filibuster because he made it clear that he is opposed to what you claim he supports. Just more deflection from you to cover for you master. You are so transparent.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)"You do understand that it is Obama ordering these drone strikes that kill innocent people and that it is Paul and real progressives that are questioning his murders? "
...Paul is a "real" progressive?
But "if you're going to kill non-combatants, people eating dinner, in America, there have to be some rules," he added.
http://www.alternet.org/progressive-wire/senators-filibuster-cia-pick-ends-after-12-hrs
I mean, have you seen the clown's drone bill that opens Pandora's Box?
DesMoinesDem
(1,569 posts)You don't want people to actually think about the people Obama is currently murdering with drones.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)"You don't want people to actually think about the people Obama is currently murdering with drones."
...I want to expose hypocrisy from those who willingly ignore Greenwald's bullshit defense of the idiot Rand Paul even in the face of one of his commentaries that's clearly loaded with fact-free claims.
I look forward to more defense of Greenwald's defense of Paul, but I doubt it will be forthcoming. Let it sink.
He said Paul AND AND AND real progressives, not Paul is a real progressive. Take a few seconds to read before replying
ProSense
(116,464 posts)"He said Paul AND AND AND real progressives, not Paul is a real progressive. Take a few seconds to read before replying"
...seconds have passed. Here's my reply: The notion that Paul is "questioning his murders" is a fantasy.
But "if you're going to kill non-combatants, people eating dinner, in America, there have to be some rules," he added.
http://www.alternet.org/progressive-wire/senators-filibuster-cia-pick-ends-after-12-hrs
Paul isnt going far enough in his criticism. I dont see any difference between killing any human being who doesnt pose any imminent danger to the US without any trial. It is just wrong
brentspeak
(18,290 posts)The question was asked: You are aware that it's Obama who has ordered the drone strikes -- and not Rand Paul, liberal Democrats, Glenn Greenwald, or the Cookie Monster, right?
ProSense
(116,464 posts)"The question was asked: You are aware that it's Obama who has ordered the drone strikes -- and not Rand Paul, liberal Democrats, Glenn Greenwald, or the Cookie Monster, right?"
...no, that wasn't it. Rewind:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=2485789
Rand Paul isn't "questioning" anyone's "murders."
But "if you're going to kill non-combatants, people eating dinner, in America, there have to be some rules," he added.
http://www.alternet.org/progressive-wire/senators-filibuster-cia-pick-ends-after-12-hrs
Rand Paul is having fantasies:
http://twitter.com/SenRandPaul/status/309465276863365120
ProSense
(116,464 posts)"You do understand that it is Obama ordering these drone strikes"
...point to where Obama is ordering "drone strikes" on Americans on U.S. soil, which is what Paul claims?
http://twitter.com/SenRandPaul/status/309465276863365120
SidDithers
(44,228 posts)Sid
patrice
(47,992 posts)His next project will be a Paul & Kucinich presidential candidacy, and the U.S. Greens will just lap it up, because it'll have more money than they've ever seen.
truth2power
(8,219 posts)Glenn doesn't follow blindly,party over principle, or park his sense of a moral imperative at the door.
Explanation of edit>
I originally posted this as "+1000 n/t" in response to DesMoinesDem. But because replies to a particular post sometimes show up far down from the post being replied to, it could appear that one is giving kudos to the poster directly above.
So I clarified to whom I was replying.
Response to truth2power (Reply #20)
BO 08 Message auto-removed
frazzled
(18,402 posts)For instance, his avid support of Citizen's United. He's a fundamentalist first-amendmenter, and stops at the water's edge.
I can see Greenwald and the Pauls, frere et fils, being a perfect match.
kenny blankenship
(15,689 posts)Often I forget to check for his column at the Guardian. These reminders are valuable to me.
Maybe it's not part of a paying gig, but you're his best publicist, I think, at least around here. Keep it up!
ProSense
(116,464 posts)Often I forget to check for his column at the Guardian. These reminders are valuable to me.
Maybe it's not part of a paying gig, but you're his best publicist, I think, at least around here. Keep it up!
I mean, clearly by supporting Rand Paul's drone bill, you've demonstrated Greenwald-like principles.
Should the Senate pass the Cruz, Paul drone bill?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022480661
Waiting For Everyman
(9,385 posts)At Sun Mar 10, 2013, 01:20 PM an alert was sent on the following post:
You're welcome
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=2485801
REASON FOR ALERT:
This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate. (See <a href="http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=aboutus#communitystandards" target="_blank">Community Standards</a>.)
ALERTER'S COMMENTS:
"I mean, clearly by supporting Rand Paul's drone bill, you've demonstrated Greenwald-like principles."
Essentially accusing Blankenship of being a Republican or Tea Bagger -- but Blankenship never even said he supported the bill!
You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Sun Mar 10, 2013, 01:34 PM, and the Jury voted 1-5 to LEAVE IT.
Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: That's an opinion, not an insult. I don't particularly like Prosense, but this post doesn't violate community standards.
Juror #2 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: No explanation given
Juror #3 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: You're trying to hide inferences now? Not just no, but hell no.
Juror #4 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: Sorry alerter, just not seeing the connection. And yes, I read the whole thread. PS and KB seem to be doing fine on their own. Let them hash it out.
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: No explanation given
Juror #6 voted to HIDE IT and said: I agree with the person who alerted. Reading the source article without the commentary of the OP should be encouraged. Why even post a link to the article, if you don't want anyone to read it?
Thank you very much for participating in our Jury system, and we hope you will be able to participate again in the future.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)supports or opposes Rand Paul's bill is not a secret: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022480661
That is why a link was provided.
ljm2002
(10,751 posts)...and lawyers carefully craft their words.
Here is Holder's recasting of the question of whether the President can order a drone kill against an American citizen: Does the President have the authority to use a weaponized drone to kill an American not engaged in combat on American soil? (emphasis mine)
Note the added clause "not engaged in combat". That phrase was not used in any question to this administration about the use of drones, whether the question was from Rand Paul or anyone else.
That phrase was carefully added by Eric Holder, as a sort of sleight of hand, so that he could give a simple "No" answer. But the "No" answer was to a question that was never posed.
Worse, the answer to the question as posed, very clearly implies that the President (any President, not just this one), CAN order a drone kill against an American citizen on American soil. All he has to do is claim the citizen in question is "engaged in combat".
Again with the lawyerspeak: We know, for example, that peaceful activists are sometimes classified as "terrorists". And "terrorists", by definition, are engaged in combat.
I would have been happier if Holder had refused to answer the question. As it is, he has indeed taken the stance that the President can order a drone kill of an American citizen on American soil. And of course we already know the President can order a drone kill of an American citizen outside of this country, since he has done so in a very public fashion.
Look, I don't like Rand Paul any better than you do. Sure he's hypocritical, and sure he's grandstanding on this issue, and sure the fact that Obama is our President has a lot to do with his choice of when to take a stand. All that said, he is still on the right side of this issue, IMNSHO.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)Look, I don't like Rand Paul any better than you do. Sure he's hypocritical, and sure he's grandstanding on this issue, and sure the fact that Obama is our President has a lot to do with his choice of when to take a stand. All that said, he is still on the right side of this issue, IMNSHO.
...but "he is still on the right side of this issue." How exactly? By supporting drone strikes:
But "if you're going to kill non-combatants, people eating dinner, in America, there have to be some rules," he added.
http://www.alternet.org/progressive-wire/senators-filibuster-cia-pick-ends-after-12-hrs
By Adam Serwer
Not wanting to take Attorney General Eric Holder's word for it that the US government won't be sending deadly flying robots to kill its own citizens on American soil, Senators Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) have introduced a bill that would "prohibit drone killings of U.S. citizens on U.S. soil if they do not represent an imminent threat."
The bill all but disarms the US government, leaving it with few options for lethal force against citizens other than guns, tanks, helicopters, snipers, paramilitary squads, bombs, tasers and blunt force.
Unless you're not in the United States, or you're an "imminent threat." In that case, the government can drone away.
http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2013/03/gop-senators-introduce-bill-banning-domestic-drone-assassinations
Use of drones to kill Americans not OK "if they do not represent an imminent threat."
Killing Americans who don't pose an "imminent threat" OK if the weapons of choice are "guns, tanks, helicopters, snipers, paramilitary squads, bombs, tasers and blunt force."
Use of drones to kill anyone outside the United States OK.
ljm2002
(10,751 posts)...and Rand Paul is hardly the ideal person to frame this particular part of the discussion.
However, he is the one who chose to initiate the discussion w.r.t. drone kills, and Holder's answer is hardly reassuring.
Again, Holder carefully crafted a question to which he could answer, simply, "No". But his rephrasing really begs the question.
Yes, in reality drones are just another technology that can be used to kill. They are a "new toy" that have captured our imaginations and have renewed interest in these fundamental questions.
We know that law enforcement already has license to kill, and law enforcement often uses that license inappropriately. Now, with military drones, we are saying that the President can make the call. So if the President is told that an OWS activist is a terrorist, and if he accepts that and makes the further inference that the person is therefore engaged in combat, he can call for that person to be killed. I don't want that particular power of one person to be codified into law or even an internal White House memo for that matter.
Just because there are lots of other ways for the power of government to be misused does not mean we should accept this way. Again, there is a difference between putting this power into the hands of law enforcement or the military, vs. giving the President a singular power to choose who to kill. Especially when the person is a U.S. citizen, where we are supposed to have inalienable rights to due process.
I do trust this President more than the previous President, without any doubt. But I do not trust him completely, nor do I think he is immune to getting bad advice. But the issue is not only about this President, it is about this and all subsequent Presidents. Once this President takes this power, no President after him will relinquish it.
Maybe you are okay with having the power to kill an American citizen being given to one very powerful leader, without consideration of due process. I am not.
"Again, Holder carefully crafted a question to which he could answer, simply, "No". But his rephrasing really begs the question.
Yes, in reality drones are just another technology that can be used to kill. They are a "new toy" that have captured our imaginations and have renewed interest in these fundamental questions. "
..."rephrasing"? The constant asking for an answer to a hypothetical question and then, as Goodman's piece does, stating that it's hypothetical and unlikely is ridiculous. Put another way: He said "no" and we know it's "no," but why can't he give us some hypothetical scenarios in which that "no" would be "yes."
No means no.
ljm2002
(10,751 posts)...please give me a citation, with a link, showing this exact question from someone other than Eric Holder:
Does the President have the authority to use a weaponized drone to kill an American not engaged in combat on American soil?
ProSense
(116,464 posts)...please give me a citation, with a link, showing this exact question from someone other than Eric Holder:
Does the President have the authority to use a weaponized drone to kill an American not engaged in combat on American soil?
...why don't you show me a link to the exact question that was asked.
ljm2002
(10,751 posts)...you can't, because that is not the question that was asked.
Thanks for verifying.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)"...you can't, because that is not the question that was asked."
...the question that was asked? Do you have a link?
White House issues answer after Senators 13-hour speech
Today, following a historic 13-hour filibuster on the Senate floor that ended early this morning, Sen. Rand Paul received correspondence from the White House regarding the legality and constitutionality of the U.S. government using lethal force, including drone strikes, on Americans and in U.S. territory. Sen. Paul's repeated correspondence to President Obama's nominee to be CIA director, John Brennan, was finally answered today, in part, with the following response from Attorney General Eric Holder: "'Does the President have the authority to use a weaponized drone to kill an American not engaged in combat on American soil?' The answer to that question is no."
"This is a major victory for American civil liberties and ensures the protection of our basic Constitutional rights. We have Separation of Powers to protect our rights. That's what government was organized to do and that's what the Constitution was put in place to do," Sen. Paul said. "I would like to congratulate my fellow colleagues in both the House and Senate and thank them for joining me in protecting the rights of due process."
http://www.paul.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=735
ljm2002
(10,751 posts)...addressing the question of whether the President should have the singular authority to order an assassination-by-drone of an American citizen on U.S. soil, without any other due process.
That to me is the essential question here. You also studiously avoid the issue of what is meant by someone "engaged in combat". Again: OWS members, and other peaceful demonstrators, have been classified as "terrorists" by various law enforcement agencies. Who will make the judgment of whether that translates into "engaged in combat"?
Your hysteria seems to be in response to the fact that some leftists are in agreement with Rand Paul on this one, narrow issue. Or, sort of in agreement: he does, after all (as you correctly point out), not want to outlaw assassination-by-drone ordered by the President, he just wants some rules in place. But you seem to think that anyone who believes it is good that he opened up this discussion, is therefore a Libertarian or a Randroid or a Paulbot or, worst of all, a Greenwald-worshiper (Gasp!!!).
You have no faith in your fellow Democrats or DUers to be able to make distinctions. Your tactic is to try and club us into submission with cascades of verbiage, several paragraphs per post taken from whatever link you provide, much of the verbiage not directly responsive at all because for you, if you flood us with verbiage and most importantly, get the last word, then you've won.
Well whoopee. If you get your way, we will have accepted the right of the President of the U.S. to assassinate U.S. citizens on U.S. soil by declaring them "enemy combatants". Gosh, that sounds eerily familiar...
"Well whoopee. If you get your way, we will have accepted the right of the President of the U.S. to assassinate U.S. citizens on U.S. soil by declaring them "enemy combatants". Gosh, that sounds eerily familiar..."
...you couldn't find the link to the alleged "question that was asked" so you're now going to create your own fantasy and attribute it to other people?
ljm2002
(10,751 posts)And while we're at it: since you declined to provide a link as requested, I don't see that gives you any standing to demand a link from me.
See how that works?
Oh, and by the way: I notice you still studiously avoid addressing the question of whether the President should have the singular authority to order an assassination-by-drone of an American citizen on U.S. soil, without any other due process.
I'm actually laughing at you.
ljm2002
(10,751 posts)Really.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)cheapdate
(3,811 posts)The notion that Predator drones will be used to target and kill people inside the United States -- or in fact inside of any friendly, developed country with a stable government and functioning law enforcement system -- is ludicrous.
The United States isn't Yemen - where large swaths of territory are controlled by armed rebel groups.
If it comes to pass that the U.S. government takes to using aerial missiles to fire on people in the United States, as far as I'm concerned we can cross that bridge if and when we get to it.
Good piece, Prosense.
whatchamacallit
(15,558 posts)everyone who has a problem with these policies had them before Rand Paul's stunt, and will have them long after it's been forgotten. Your hollow edifice whistles in the wind...
ProSense
(116,464 posts)"Of course you know everyone who has a problem with these policies had them before Rand Paul's stunt"
...is not about chronology. It's about Greenwald's fact-free bullshit defense of the idiot Rand Paul, who supports drones strikes regardless of where they occur.
LittleBlue
(10,362 posts)Year: 2005
Chimperor: I have the power to wiretap without court order
DU: OMG! How dare he violate our constitutional rights!
Year: 2013
President Obama: I have the power to order targeted killings of Americans without a court order
DU: Well, wait a second let's examine this.
In fairness, a good chunk of DU is rightly outraged by this, possibly a majority. But what about the rest of you? (no one I can recall supported chimpy) How many were for court oversight of wiretaps but against court oversight in death by drone?
ProSense
(116,464 posts)Chimperor: I have the power to wiretap without court order
DU: OMG! How dare he violate our constitutional rights!
Year: 2013
President Obama: I have the power to order targeted killings of Americans without a court order
DU: Well, wait a second let's examine this.
...let's compare oranges to oranges.
Anwar al-Awlaki vs. Kamal Derwish
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x787226
No, OMG an American was killed.
"President Obama: I have the power to order targeted killings of Americans without a court order
DU: Well, wait a second let's examine this."
Comrade_McKenzie
(2,526 posts)And the son of any kook can, too.
Sad that people are blinded by the fact that this is a political tactic to divide the left, because the right knows how emotionally unstable we get about small issues.
Cha
(297,281 posts)Floor.. and "hitler".. Two little pissers in a pod.
Lawrence O'Donnell ✔ @Lawrence
Rand Paul gave a perfect display of the sick paranoia that drives Tea Party and NRA: Obama is coming to get them. With drones.
You see, I was under the impression, wrongly in this case, that all the tea party dude wanted was a note from the AG saying the president could not use drones against non enemy combatants domestically, which he got.
Now that he has garnered that little moment of fame that has his followers swooning, he wants to put into a continuing resolution attached to a spending bill that would prohibit what the AG has already said is illegal.
This is what happens when bad conspiracy theorists get a hold of a notion and get some free
publicity out of it. Is this really what Kentucky sent this guy to the senate to do? Waste weeks prattling on about things that have never happened, that he knows will never happen, and once he gets his little note will prattle on about it forever?
Why does this garbage always get tacked onto bills that have nothing to do with it? Left and right, they both do it, know that a bill will pass so they shove a little chunk of legislation for the nutjjobs that follow them.
Fear not though people! Though he has not made the news for an outrageous statement in almost a week, Ted Cruz is jumping into the mix, getting himself a bit of free publicity out of it.
Hmmm. Cruz and Paul. Two peas in a pod when it comes to pining for the spotlight."
MORE http://www.politicalforum.com/current-events/292932-ted-cruz-rand-paul-want-drone-language-cr.html
Be proud to be a decent American rather than just a wanker whipping up fear.
thanks for the links, ProSense
stupidicus
(2,570 posts)1. Just because Rand Paul might be a grandstanding hypocrite and worse, doesn't detract from the fact that he provoked debate on an issue that is long overdue.
"We are pleased that we now have the access that we have long sought and need to conduct the vigilant oversight with which the committee has been charged. We believe that this sets an important precedent for applying our American system of checks and balances to the challenges of 21st century warfare. We look forward to reviewing and discussing these documents in the days ahead," Democrats Ron Wyden of Oregon and Mark Udall of Colorado, and Susan Collins, a Maine Republican, said in a statement.
They credited Paul with raising the use of drones domestically as a question of "fundamental importance." http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/05/politics/obama-drones-cia/index.html
I'm sure it leaves a bad taste in the mouths of some, kinda like all the negative talk about S, etc cuts does and has to those who've long suffered from a knowledge deficit on such matters. I suspect they'll inevitably find themselves on the wrong side of this issue as well.
2. Just because GG supports the Citizen decision on grounds you likely can't undermine, allegedly supported the war in Iraq before he was against it, and again for reasons you've not articulated (and could be innocent, like an expectation of UN support for example) and likely can't undermine as well, has nothing to do with the merit of what he's arguing for here. Generally speaking most of the garbage I see of the alleged undermining kind is of the "impeach the witnesses credibility" kind, which largely serves only as a transparent dodge of what they are offering of the substantive kind.
3. The Kos piece is nonsense, given the way it refers to an obscure case of an injustice (and the injustices to be found in our two-tiered criminal justice system generally) that those who are objecting to drones, etc, would likely be equally offended by, whether the likes of RP would be or not. I'm sure GG would be. The one has nothing to do with the other other than something to be used as a broad brush that ultimately paints a falsehood -- that those objecting to drone use against US citizens are being hypocrites on grounds that have only been declared, not validated -- and are as guilty as Paul by extension/association. This whole effort is similar to but not to be confused with my charging you with being a McCain supporter, for agreeing with him over Paul's effort.
4. As I see, what this can all be distilled down to is a search for precisely what the definition of "imminent" is as applied to drone use generally, since so many that have died haven't satisfied the denotative definition of the word, whether a citizen or not, which the "combat role" garbage is merely a substitute for.
Defenders of the Obama administration now insist that this entire controversy has been resolved by a letter written to Paul by Attorney General Eric Holder, in which Holder wrote: "It has come to my attention that you have now asked an additional question: 'Does the President have the authority to use a weaponized drone to kill an American not engaged in combat on American soil?' The answer to that question is no." Despite Paul's declaration of victory, this carefully crafted statement tells us almost nothing about the actual controversy.
As Law Professor Ryan Goodman wrote yesterday in the New York Times, "the Obama administration, like the Bush administration before it, has acted with an overly broad definition of what it means to be engaged in combat." That phrase - "engaged in combat" - does not only include people who are engaged in violence at the time you detain or kill them. It includes a huge array of people who we would not normally think of, using common language, as being "engaged in combat".
Indeed, the whole point of the Paul filibuster was to ask whether the Obama administration believes that it has the power to target a US citizen for assassination on US soil the way it did to Anwar Awlaki in Yemen. The Awlaki assassination was justified on the ground that Awlaki was a "combatant", that he was "engaged in combat", even though he was killed not while making bombs or shooting at anyone but after he had left a cafe where he had breakfast. If the Obama administration believes that Awlaki was "engaged in combat" at the time he was killed - and it clearly does - then Holder's letter is meaningless at best, and menacing at worst, because that standard is so broad as to vest the president with exactly the power his supporters now insist he disclaimed.
The phrase "engaged in combat" has come to mean little more than: anyone the President accuses, in secrecy and with no due process, of supporting a Terrorist group. Indeed, radically broad definitions of "enemy combatant" have been at the heart of every War on Terror policy, from Guantanamo to CIA black sites to torture. As Professor Goodman wrote:
All I see here is an effort to dodge the many things like that above in the GG piece, you have no answers for. Maybe you should go to that piece and post this effort on your part, so that we might enjoy the sight of GG carving you up, assuming you could even get him interested in the effort.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)"We are pleased that we now have the access that we have long sought and need to conduct the vigilant oversight with which the committee has been charged. We believe that this sets an important precedent for applying our American system of checks and balances to the challenges of 21st century warfare. We look forward to reviewing and discussing these documents in the days ahead," Democrats Ron Wyden of Oregon and Mark Udall of Colorado, and Susan Collins, a Maine Republican, said in a statement.
They credited Paul with raising the use of drones domestically as a question of "fundamental importance." http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/05/politics/obama-drones-cia/index.html
...of nonsense, the constant asking for an answer to a hypothetical question and then, as Goodman's piece does, stating that it's hypothetical and unlikely is ridiculous. Put another way: He said "no" and we know it's "no," but why can't he give us some hypothetical scenarios in which that "no" would be "yes."
No means no.
Rand Paul's ridiculous hypothetical solved nothing. All he did was focus attention on himself and created the impression that he's the go to guy on the issue.
I mean, look at all the people supporting his crazy drone bill.
Should the Senate pass the Cruz, Paul drone bill?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022480661
stupidicus
(2,570 posts)and "imminent"/"combat role"/etc have retained the same, plain and simple meaning they've always had. Apparently you don't see the direct connection between the ambiguity those two things now possess, and the "NO!" you're harping on that is inextricably intertwined with them. "NO!" is conditional, and applicable if and ONLY if unimaginable or extraordinary circumstances never arise, but who's to say (besides those who wanna give full faith and trust to BHO) that those terms won't undergo changes in definition as the others have, given how malleable meanings have been shown and are now known to be, as the professor in last part of my last post showed. And what will happen should some rightwingnut kook get the pres helm, wanting to engage in further definition revisionisms of their own?
RP's "focus on himself" for whatever self-serving reasons and the fact that all aspects of drone use and presidential power as it is being applied in this phony WOT need to be known, discussed, and debated, that his "stunt" put a spotlight on, are two different things.
It doesn't matter if the driver was an idiot, or the car a junker, only that they arrived at the right destination -- forcing the discussion/debate -- does. That these issues are getting more attention in the wake of his effort cannot be denied, and all the disproportionate focus on the idiot and the junker is counterproductive to those of us that wanna critique the destination, not whether we got here in the fastest or "right" way.
Just because RP's an idiot doesn't make what BHO's doing right, and obviously the focus on the former is designed for and intended to derail or serve as a distraction from any debate on the latter, because that task won't be easy for those determined to defend this president no matter what.
The "american citizen" thing, here or abroad, is just one aspect of drone use one can reasonably find objectionable, and just because one objects, whether it be GG or me, doesn't make us even remotely like Rand Paul in the way it's being conveyed, anymore than my sharing a love of family and friends, and little puppies and kittens too, makes me like the Nazi's that did as well. I suspect we share a few povs on civil liberties, and that's about it.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)...does matter if the "driver is an idiot."
It matters when people start making him their go-to guy on the issue, having to spin bullshit to justify his wackiness: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022485711
It matters when people follow him and believe "they arrived at the right destination":
Should the Senate pass the Cruz, Paul drone bill?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022480661
Rand "Pied Piper" Paul
as long as you misunderstand or change the designated destination, which in this case, is the mere raising of broader awareness of the issue of drone use/s, making discussion and debate on the merits unavoidable. What it isn't is an endorsement of RP's povs in whole or in part, just complete support for having the issue itself raised to such a high profile.
Reposting/linking to your spin on the alleged spin isn't helpful. Efforts to get the WH to define what's what with their potential use of drones, etc, as part of the pres "war powers" domestically, is not a bad thing no matter how "bad" or "wacky" or "hypocritical" the person is that prompts or pursues it, and the focus on the messenger as opposed to the message is always weak if not completely impotent as a rebuttal tool. Getting BHO to let down the veil of secrecy and to provide explanations for this and that, has been like pulling his teeth, starting with as an example, the memo recently put in the public sphere that raised concerns over things like "what does imminent really mean" that RP's effort was regardless of his self-serving reasons for having done so.
ANd no matter what you or I think of RP or the the hack, and generally disgusting individual Cruz, despite the fact that their legislative effort is stupid given that such executions shouldn't be limited to drone use alone, it appears to me as if the effort itself is intended to confine such killings to those circumstances wherein the commonly understood meaning of "imminent" is applied, not one pulled off of the ladder of abstraction or out of the meaning revising machine.
Prior to Wednesday, Paul and others in the Senate asked over and over for confirmation that American citizens were not in danger of being killed on American soil. The question was itself hospitably narrow: There was no challenge to the legality of killing foreigners on American soil, to the kill list, to drone strikes on international soil, to the arbitrary (secretive, procedure-less) executions of foreigners deemed a threat.http://www.salon.com/2013/03/08/the_invisible_shrinking_democrats/
Yet, the White Houses response was silence, evasion from the president himself, or circumspection. On Wednesday afternoon, Attorney General Eric Holder explicitly affirmed that in extraordinary circumstances, the president could indeed authorize drone strikes. One day later, Holder issued another answer, which was falsely framed as confirming the limits of the presidents ability to drone Americans on U.S. soil. In fact, Holder reiterated more precisely that the Obama administration reserved the right to kill Americans engaged in combat on American soil. White House press spokesman Jay Carney appeared to make Holders statement more definitive (watch at 00:20), stating that The president has not and would not use drone strikes against American citizens on American soil.
The only spin I'm seeing here is that being used to undermine everything RP did and said based on things that neither impinge upon the desirability and need for this admin to come clean on all the criteria used in the decision making process, nor does it undermine the fact that it would never be forthcoming absent such efforts no matter by whom or by what the inquiries are motivated. Hell, the whole thing was under a veil of secrecy for years http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=drones%20%22told%20not%20to%20discuss%20them%22%20%20axelrod&source=web&cd=4&cad=rja&ved=0CEsQtwIwAw&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftv.msnbc.com%2F2013%2F02%2F24%2Frobert-gibbs-i-was-told-not-even-to-acknowledge-the-drone-program%2F&ei=ueQ9UauDFOTWyQHFhYGoCQ&usg=AFQjCNHwbB7XTpZhCvIhabSY8n_h9qfosw&bvm=bv.43287494,d.aWc (when you're hiding something, the presumption that you have something to hide is a reasonable and a no brainer) so what better time to apply pressure for more answers than when he's appointing "Mr. Drone" himself to head up drone central?
spin away, I'm done here. RP being a jackass, hypocrite, political opportunist, etc, etc, etc, generally speaking has nothing to do with the need for what he did, and no more invalidates the need for BHO to answer these questions and a debate over the issue, than OBL declaring the sky blue makes it some other color. The biggest crime RP committed in this instance is serving as a distraction as the subject droners wanna focus on and keep the public occupied with. Those of us that have concersn about and objections to the way BHO's been using them, can see right through this crap, as evidenced by many of the responses you've gotten here.
NoMoreWarNow
(1,259 posts)like most people concerned about the runaway national security state and the endless "war on terror". Maybe the fears are overblown, but I don't see the problem with airing these issues.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)"Rand paul is a libertarian douche, but he still has legitimate concerns about drones"
...is that why he introduced a bill condoning drone strikes? Rand Paul is a demagogue.
By Adam Serwer
Not wanting to take Attorney General Eric Holder's word for it that the US government won't be sending deadly flying robots to kill its own citizens on American soil, Senators Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) have introduced a bill that would "prohibit drone killings of U.S. citizens on U.S. soil if they do not represent an imminent threat."
The bill all but disarms the US government, leaving it with few options for lethal force against citizens other than guns, tanks, helicopters, snipers, paramilitary squads, bombs, tasers and blunt force.
Unless you're not in the United States, or you're an "imminent threat." In that case, the government can drone away.
http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2013/03/gop-senators-introduce-bill-banning-domestic-drone-assassinations
Use of drones to kill Americans not OK "if they do not represent an imminent threat."
Killing Americans who don't pose an "imminent threat" OK if the weapons of choice are "guns, tanks, helicopters, snipers, paramilitary squads, bombs, tasers and blunt force."
Use of drones to kill anyone outside the United States OK.
Marr
(20,317 posts)And that's supposed to be a condemnation of those to your LEFT, how, exactly?
For the record, I don't doubt it one bit. He seems like a self-serving charlatan authoritarian demagogue. But that doesn't change the nature of the point he's demagoguing. You say this authoritarian asshole secretly agrees with you and John Bolton on this issue. Frankly, I think you're right.
That doesn't make your position look better.
"So your point is... what? That Rand Paul *actually* agrees with YOU?"
...you're projecting: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=2487756
customerserviceguy
(25,183 posts)and that was to get noticed. He tried that with Hillary in the hotseat a month or so ago, and it sort of fizzled. But I was carefully looking at what the talking head shows had to say about his fillibuster this morning, it was not as negative as I had supposed it would be.
He accomplished his mission, expect him to do more noisemaking things in the next couple of years before he officially announces. I figure one of them is to find and support tea party candidates who can actually win a general election in 2014. He'll bring the power of the Paulbots to the primaries to get his selected candidates nominated, and he'll be on the lookout to avoid the Angles, the O'Donnell's, the Akins and the Mourdocks.
It's how Caribou Barbie managed to raise her profile.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)"He tried that with Hillary in the hotseat a month or so ago, and it sort of fizzled."
...and it "fizzled" because people called him on it. This was different. Instead of calling Paul on his hypocrisy and false claims, the chant became: Stand with Paul. People who were opposed to Brennan jump in even as Paul stated that this wasn't about Brennan.
They could have easily called attention to Brennan during Paul's sideshow instead of given Paul credibility on an issue that he is clearly demagoguing and is clearly a hypocrite.
It's only after the fact that a few people are trying to separate him from the issue, but it's too late. They've given him a platform to continue demagoguing this issue, and people will now defend him whatever he does.
By Joshua Miller
The National Republican Senatorial Committee Wednesday launched a fundraising effort tied to Kentucky Sen. Rand Pauls ongoing talking filibuster.
The organization charged with winning GOP control of the Senate in 2014 set up a special fundraising webpage, headlined STAND WITH RAND!
<...>
NRSC Chairman Jerry Moran and Vice Chairman Ted Cruz went to the Senate floor today to join his filibuster, the NRSC wrote on a fundraising page. Please join them in standing with Rand!
(I)f you want to really help secure a Senate that believes in upholding the Constitution, donate below to help us gain the 6 seats needed for a Republican Majority, the NRSC wrote.
- more -
http://atr.rollcall.com/nrsc-raises-money-off-rand-paul-filibuster/
WINNERS
1) Civil liberties: <...>
2) Libertarianism: <...>
3) Twitter: <...>
4) Ted Cruz: <...>
5) the GOP: <...>
6) Rush Limbaugh: <...>
7) the Fifth Amendment: <...>
8) Glenn Greenwald: <...>
9) Americas image: <...>
10) Bipartisanship: <...>
LOSERS
1) Interventionists: <...>
2) John McCain: <...>
3) Lindsey Graham: <...>
4) Drones: <...>
5) Lincoln: <...>
6) the absentee Democrats: <...>
7) Executive power: <...>
8) Marco Rubio: <...>
9) Eric Holder: <...>
10) President Obama: <...>
http://www.mediaite.com/online/the-filibuster%E2%80%99s-top-10-winners-and-losers/
Should the Senate pass the Cruz, Paul drone bill?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022480661
Cha
(297,281 posts)Rand Paul gave a perfect display of the sick paranoia that drives Tea Party and NRA: Obama is coming to get them. With drones.
SidDithers
(44,228 posts)Sid
Luminous Animal
(27,310 posts)I've been working on one for about 2 hours now. Give me another 5-6 hours and I'm sure to have an adequate (alas, not brilliant) point by point rebuttal.
SidDithers
(44,228 posts)Sid
Luminous Animal
(27,310 posts)a good glass of wine and cherry trees in bloom.
whatchamacallit
(15,558 posts)Glen Greenwald writes a timely and important column for a respected news outlet
SidDithers writes UNREC and for DU
SidDithers
(44,228 posts)Sid
whatchamacallit
(15,558 posts)and doing what you best.
Edit: ok, better?
SidDithers
(44,228 posts)posting a picture of Sean Penn playing a character with an intellectual handicap.
Stay classy.
Nice Edit.
Here's the picture the posted edited out.
Sid
whatchamacallit
(15,558 posts)is the last person who can lecture on class.
SidDithers
(44,228 posts)Sid
whatchamacallit
(15,558 posts)It was an iffy, insensitive move. That said, glad to see you fulfilling your potential.
SidDithers
(44,228 posts)Apology accepted.
Sid
jazzimov
(1,456 posts)Greenwald is not a Progressive, and hasn't been despite how much he's pretended to be one.
I'm just glad he's finally outed himself for what he really is -
a hypocrite.
Marr
(20,317 posts)"You side with John Bolton on this issue, I know."
...you side with Rush Limbaugh in supporting an asshole who supports drone strike everywhere.
WINNERS
1) Civil liberties: <...>
2) Libertarianism: <...>
3) Twitter: <...>
4) Ted Cruz: <...>
5) the GOP: <...>
6) Rush Limbaugh: <...>
7) the Fifth Amendment: <...>
8) Glenn Greenwald: <...>
9) Americas image: <...>
10) Bipartisanship: <...>
LOSERS
1) Interventionists: <...>
2) John McCain: <...>
3) Lindsey Graham: <...>
4) Drones: <...>
5) Lincoln: <...>
6) the absentee Democrats: <...>
7) Executive power: <...>
8) Marco Rubio: <...>
9) Eric Holder: <...>
10) President Obama: <...>
http://www.mediaite.com/online/the-filibuster%E2%80%99s-top-10-winners-and-losers/
By Joshua Miller
The National Republican Senatorial Committee Wednesday launched a fundraising effort tied to Kentucky Sen. Rand Pauls ongoing talking filibuster.
The organization charged with winning GOP control of the Senate in 2014 set up a special fundraising webpage, headlined STAND WITH RAND!
<...>
NRSC Chairman Jerry Moran and Vice Chairman Ted Cruz went to the Senate floor today to join his filibuster, the NRSC wrote on a fundraising page. Please join them in standing with Rand!
(I)f you want to really help secure a Senate that believes in upholding the Constitution, donate below to help us gain the 6 seats needed for a Republican Majority, the NRSC wrote.
- more -
http://atr.rollcall.com/nrsc-raises-money-off-rand-paul-filibuster/
Should the Senate pass the Cruz, Paul drone bill?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022480661
Marr
(20,317 posts)I don't agree with the White House's assertion that they can target Americans for execution without any judicial oversight whatsoever. So on that issue, yes-- I apparently find myself in the same crowd as Rand Paul. I disagree with him on just about everything else, but on that one point, we appear to share some common ground.
YOU, on the other hand, side with John Bolton when he says the White House should be able to target Americans. Does it mean you supported the invasion of Iraq, or bombing Iran, or undermining the UN, or anything else Bolton stands for? No. But it means you side with John Bolton on the drone issue.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)"I don't agree with the White House's assertion that they can target Americans for execution without any judicial oversight whatsoever. So on that issue, yes-- I apparently find myself in the same crowd as Rand Paul. I disagree with him on just about everything else, but on that one point, we appear to share some common ground. "
...to know that you're "in the same crowd" and "share some common ground" with a hypocritical idiot.
But "if you're going to kill non-combatants, people eating dinner, in America, there have to be some rules," he added.
http://www.alternet.org/progressive-wire/senators-filibuster-cia-pick-ends-after-12-hrs
By Adam Serwer
Not wanting to take Attorney General Eric Holder's word for it that the US government won't be sending deadly flying robots to kill its own citizens on American soil, Senators Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) have introduced a bill that would "prohibit drone killings of U.S. citizens on U.S. soil if they do not represent an imminent threat."
The bill all but disarms the US government, leaving it with few options for lethal force against citizens other than guns, tanks, helicopters, snipers, paramilitary squads, bombs, tasers and blunt force.
Unless you're not in the United States, or you're an "imminent threat." In that case, the government can drone away.
http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2013/03/gop-senators-introduce-bill-banning-domestic-drone-assassinations
Use of drones to kill Americans not OK "if they do not represent an imminent threat."
Killing Americans who don't pose an "imminent threat" OK if the weapons of choice are "guns, tanks, helicopters, snipers, paramilitary squads, bombs, tasers and blunt force."
Use of drones to kill anyone outside the United States OK.
"YOU, on the other hand, side with John Bolton when he says the White House should be able to target Americans."
Clearly, it's easy to make up your own bullshit and then agree with it.
Marr
(20,317 posts)Bolton said he agrees with the Obama Administration's stance on this issue. You agree with it as well. Therefore, you agree with Bolton on this issue.
You use this same attack on people very regularly, Prosense. This whole thread is built around it, for crying out loud. You can act like it's just escaping you if you like, but I doubt you'll convince anyone.
Bolton said he agrees with the Obama Administration's stance on this issue. You agree with it as well. Therefore, you agree with Bolton on this issue.
You use this same attack on people very regularly, Prosense. This whole thread is built around it, for crying out loud. You can act like it's just escaping you if you like, but I doubt you'll convince anyone.
...you're pleading with me to accept your fantasy?
I mean, all I did was quote you and provide examples: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=2487783
Marr
(20,317 posts)John Bolton recently stated that he agrees with the Obama Administration's position on drone strikes. So do you disagree with the Obama Administration on this point, or do you agree with Bolton? There is no third option, I'm sorry.
It's a shitty sort of attack, I know-- but you use it a lot.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)It's a shitty sort of attack, I know-- but you use it a lot.
...you're using a "shitty sort of attack" and trying to blame me for your actions.
Own your actions and your words, and don't get mad because you're quoted: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=2487756
Marr
(20,317 posts)I meant that, and I still mean it.
Have you just completely forgotten that long thread from a few weeks back, about John Bolton stating his support for the Obama Administration's drone policy? The Prosense in that thread got very heated about the whole situation, and insisted that they did not agree with Bolton, even while stating complete agreement with the Obama Administration's drone policy. It was bizarre.
Is this not the same person I'm having an exchange with now?
"Have you just completely forgotten that long thread from a few weeks back, about John Bolton stating his support for the Obama Administration's drone policy? The Prosense in that thread got very heated about the whole situation, and insisted that they did not agree with Bolton, even while stating complete agreement with the Obama Administration's drone policy. It was bizarre. "
...I "insisted" that I "did not agree with Bolton"? Is that bad? Bolton is a liar, a hypocrite and all-around asshole. Unlike you, I put no stock in what that cretin says.
There are people validating Rand Paul despite his hypocrisy on the issue.
Marr
(20,317 posts)If Hitler said, "brownies are delicious", I would have to admit that I agreed with Hitler on the subject of brownies. That wouldn't mean I thought Hitler was a super-keen dude and that I'm down with the whole Nazi thing. It would mean that I agree that brownies are delicious.
If you really can't understand that concept, then I'll just save my time.
Actually... now that I think about it... I think you're just feigning stupidity in order to bump your own thread here. I'll stop giving you the excuse now. Have a good night.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)If you really can't understand that concept, then I'll just save my time.
Actually... now that I think about it... I think you're just feigning stupidity in order to bump your own thread here. I'll stop giving you the excuse now. Have a good night.
...go on TV and say: I don't always agree with Hitler, but I have to agree with him about brownies.
I would go on TV and say: I don't care if Hitler likes brownies. He has likely killed millions of people who like brownies. If that evil fucker is looking for validation because he claims to like brownies, he can go fuck himself.
Now who is "feigning stupidity"? I mean, you can't understand that there are alternatives to agreeing with Hitler.
Marr
(20,317 posts)You agree with John Bolton on the subject of Executive authority in killing US citizens via drone strikes. Whether you can bring yourself to say it that way or not doesn't matter.
You agree with the Obama Administration's position, he agrees with the Obama Administration's position, ergo, you agree with John Bolton on the subject. The end.
"You agree with John Bolton on the subject of Executive authority in killing US citizens via drone strikes. Whether you can bring yourself to say it that way or not doesn't matter. "
...now you're going to insist I agree with someone I disagree with?
Does this mean you agree with Limbaugh?
Fuck John Bolton.
Marr
(20,317 posts)This is a waste of my time. Good night.
"More feigned stupidity."
...don't get mad because I rejected your theory about Hitler: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=2497875
whatchamacallit
(15,558 posts)And while I think his praise of Paul is somewhat misplaced, I agree with pretty much everything else he said. So with that you can twist me into a Rand Paul supporter, lover, BFF... whatever your little heart desires.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)"Just read Greenwald's piece And while I think his praise of Paul is somewhat misplaced, I agree with pretty much everything else he said. So with that you can twist me into a Rand Paul supporter, lover, BFF... whatever your little heart desires."
...agree with this, Greenwald:
The primary means of mocking Paul's concerns was to deride the notion that Obama is about to unleash drone attacks and death squads on US soil aimed at Americans. But nobody, including Paul, suggested that was the case. To focus on that attack is an absurd strawman, a deliberate distraction from the real issues, a total irrelevancy...First, the reason this question matters so much - can the President target US citizens for assassination without due process on US soil? - is because it demonstrates just how radical the Obama administration's theories of executive power are. Once you embrace the premises of everything they do in this area - we are a Nation at War; the entire globe is the battlefield; the president is vested with the unchecked power to use force against anyone he accuses of involvement with Terrorism - then there is no cogent, coherent way to say that the president lacks the power to assassinate even US citizens on US soil. That conclusion is the necessary, logical outcome of the premises that have been embraced. That's why it is so vital to ask that.
<...>
You should know that it's complete bullshit. Paul:
http://twitter.com/SenRandPaul/status/309465276863365120
whatchamacallit
(15,558 posts)Your inability (or refusal) to accept that is troubling.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)"I agree with Greenwald *not* Paul
Your inability (or refusal) to accept that is troubling."
...I accept that you agree with Greenwald's false claim.
The primary means of mocking Paul's concerns was to deride the notion that Obama is about to unleash drone attacks and death squads on US soil aimed at Americans. But nobody, including Paul, suggested that was the case. To focus on that attack is an absurd strawman, a deliberate distraction from the real issues, a total irrelevancy...First, the reason this question matters so much - can the President target US citizens for assassination without due process on US soil? - is because it demonstrates just how radical the Obama administration's theories of executive power are. Once you embrace the premises of everything they do in this area - we are a Nation at War; the entire globe is the battlefield; the president is vested with the unchecked power to use force against anyone he accuses of involvement with Terrorism - then there is no cogent, coherent way to say that the president lacks the power to assassinate even US citizens on US soil. That conclusion is the necessary, logical outcome of the premises that have been embraced. That's why it is so vital to ask that.
<...>
I'm just pointing out that it's complete bullshit. Paul:
http://twitter.com/SenRandPaul/status/309465276863365120
whatchamacallit
(15,558 posts)I was concerned about our continually accelerating slide toward authoritarianism long before Rand Paul opened his pie hole. I also believe a lot of democrats are in a total state of denial now that it's being done under a popular democratic president. Those are my views. No matter what you want to believe, they have nothing to do with Greenwald or Paul.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)"I was concerned about our continually accelerating slide toward authoritarianism long before Rand Paul opened his pie hole. I also believe a lot of democrats are in a total state of denial now that it's being done under a popular democratic president. Those are my views. No matter what you want to believe, they have nothing to do with Greenwald or Paul."
...saying you no longer agree with Greenwald?
You were adamant about it: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=2487929
I simply asked if you agree with him on this point: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=2487942
whatchamacallit
(15,558 posts)Yes I agree with him, but (hopefully this is not too hard to understand) I arrived at those conclusions independently of him. Can I help you with anything else?
ProSense
(116,464 posts)"Yes I agree with him, but (hopefully this is not too hard to understand) I arrived at those conclusions independently of him. Can I help you with anything else?"
...doesn't this statement by Paul prove that Greenwald's statement is inaccurate.
http://twitter.com/SenRandPaul/status/309465276863365120
You're saying you agree with Greenwald, but his claim is false:
The primary means of mocking Paul's concerns was to deride the notion that Obama is about to unleash drone attacks and death squads on US soil aimed at Americans. But nobody, including Paul, suggested that was the case. To focus on that attack is an absurd strawman, a deliberate distraction from the real issues, a total irrelevancy...First, the reason this question matters so much - can the President target US citizens for assassination without due process on US soil? - is because it demonstrates just how radical the Obama administration's theories of executive power are. Once you embrace the premises of everything they do in this area - we are a Nation at War; the entire globe is the battlefield; the president is vested with the unchecked power to use force against anyone he accuses of involvement with Terrorism - then there is no cogent, coherent way to say that the president lacks the power to assassinate even US citizens on US soil. That conclusion is the necessary, logical outcome of the premises that have been embraced. That's why it is so vital to ask that.
<...>
whatchamacallit
(15,558 posts)1) I'm not entirely sure what Paul's tweet is trying to say, but on the face of it it could mean Greenwald's underlined statement is false, if and only if Greenwald was aware of the tweet when he made the statement.
2) A lot of what Greenwald says after that I don't disagree with.
struggle4progress
(118,290 posts)green for victory
(591 posts)ProSense
(116,464 posts)"Wyden a 'professional troll'?"
...Wyden actually accepted Holder's first response.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/03/06/democratic-sen-ron-wyden-joins-rand-pauls-filibuster
Wyden simply joined the floor debate and indicated that he planned to vote for Brennan.
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Mark Udall (D-Colo.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) released the following statement after the Department of Justice provided memos outlining the Presidents ability to authorize the targeted killing of Americans during counter-terrorism operations:
The administration has now provided the Senate Intelligence Committee with full access to documents outlining the Presidents authority to conduct targeted killings of Americans in counter terrorism operations. We are pleased that we now have the access that we have long sought and need to conduct the vigilant oversight with which the committee has been charged. We believe that this sets an important precedent for applying our American system of checks and balances to the challenges of 21st century warfare. We look forward to reviewing and discussing these documents in the days ahead.
In our view, the appropriate next step should be to bring the American people into this debate and for Congress to consider ways to ensure that the Presidents sweeping authorities are subject to appropriate limitations, oversight, and safeguards. We are particularly pleased that the administration will provide public, unclassified answers to questions about whether these lethal authorities can be used within the United States. These are obviously questions of fundamental importance, and we are grateful to Senator Paul for the effort he has made to ensure that these questions get answered.
We anticipate supporting the nomination of John Brennan to be Director of the CIA and we appreciate that the executive branch has provided us with the documents needed to consider this nomination. Mr. Brennan will be the principled and effective leader that the dedicated men and women of the CIA deserve and we look forward to working with him in his new capacity. Finally, we thank Chairman Feinstein and Vice Chairman Chambliss for their leadership and patience in managing the committees consideration of this important nomination.
Wyden, Udall, and Collins are all members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.
http://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-udall-collins-statement-on-committee-access-to-targeted-killing-documents
struggle4progress
(118,290 posts)Wyden wasn't engaging in dishonest demagoguery and gross misrepresentation of the sort practiced by Greenwald, Rand, and Turley
freshwest
(53,661 posts)DonCoquixote
(13,616 posts)While I can applaud Greenwald and Paul for being the broken clock that is right, that does not mean I have to let them throw lobs at progressives by making up ideas of "empathy gaps."
Let us not forget that the libertarians want rid of us as badly as the GOP, the main difference being they will let Wall Street act directly:
Or in other words: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Scorpion_and_the_Frog
or as Star trek told the tale:
In short, the libertarians are the ones that, even though they know their actions will bring down the whole country, AND themselves, they cannot help doing what they will do. We can listen to them, but we cannot let them creep on our back.