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The Current Crisis
Senator Rand Paul Comes of Age
The Tea Party senator has raised the nation’s awareness.
WASHINGTON — When Senator Rand Paul took to the floor of the United States Senate the morning of March 6 he really — as they say — may have made a difference. It is a difference in our awareness of the issues facing the country. It is a difference in our perception of the man who is leading the country, President Barack Obama. It might even have been a difference in the direction the country will go. Will it continue on its melancholy way toward statism or will it follow the course of freedom as laid out by the Founding Fathers?
Senator Paul rose ostensibly “to begin to filibuster John Brennan’s nomination for the CIA.” Yet he aimed higher. As he explained it in the Washington Post on March 10, “I wanted to sound an alarm bell from coast to coast. I wanted everybody to know that our Constitution is precious and that no American should be killed by a drone without first being charged with a crime. As Americans, we have fought long and hard for the Bill of Rights. The idea that no person shall be held without due process, and that no person shall be held for a capital offense without being indicted, is a founding American principle and a basic right.” Thus he filibustered for 13 hours, and his views redounded around the Internet, on Tweeter, on Facebook. Everywhere!
Senator Paul is a Tea Party senator. He does not tailor his message to the pollsters’ wise counsel. His staff does not include handlers with political antennas. Frankly I doubt there was much advance notice to his filibuster. He just went out and did what he thought was called for by events and the result was astounding. Millions of people, many who had never thought much about drones and due process, listened and took his side. My guess is that this moment is going to last. Senator Paul has come into his own, and what I know about him suggests that he will be a major figure in the Republican Party for years to come. He has his mind on the issues that matter.
This is what the Tea Party does so well. It raises awareness around the country about the slovenly way government is dealing with finances. It focuses attention about shoddy government in Washington and about constitutional issues that are being ignored. The Tea Party cares about those issues because they are essential to our freedom. Senator Paul believes that American rights as embedded in the Constitution are being endangered. After his performance on the floor of the Senate, millions of other Americans now share his concern. He may just possibly have given the Tea Party movement a digitalis. He may lead us into 2014 midterm elections not unlike the 2010 midterm election. There is a frisson of excitement about his performance that is not going away.
It would be a mistake to read too much into Senator Paul’s triumph at this stage. Senator John McCain and Senator Lindsay Graham went way too far in denouncing him. But the jury is out as to how Senator Paul will perform on the world stage. The Libertarian worldview flirts a little too closely with isolationism, for my money. But Senator Paul has plenty of room to grow there, and he made a very successful trip to Israel that indicates he wants to grow and maintains an open mind.
We will see if President Obama does as well. He just installed at the Pentagon the most anti-Israel cabinet official in memory, and at the State Department a secretary who, two generations ago, carried the arguments of our communist enemies into the Vietnam War debate. He also installed as head of the CIA a director who, in John Brennan, is closer to the Arab line than any recent top spymaster has ever been.
It was Brennan on whom Senator Paul focused his now famous filibuster. On February 20 Senator Paul inquired of John Brennan 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.” On March 4 Attorney General Eric Holder answered Senator Paul’s inquiry with an inconclusive statement of boilerplate. Holder’s letter opened more questions than it resolved. He should have answered “no.” That Senator Paul knew to focus his attack this way suggests he is a shrewd player and that the old guard who have stood so firm in our long war against Islamist terror would be wise to spend less time denouncing him and more time trying to win him as an ally.
Photo: UPI
About the Author
R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr. is the founder and editor in chief of The American Spectator. He is the author of The Death of Liberalism, published by Thomas Nelson Inc. His previous books include the New York Times bestseller Boy Clinton: the Political Biography; The Impeachment of William Jefferson Clinton; The Liberal Crack-Up; The Conservative Crack-Up; Public Nuisances; The Future that Doesn’t Work: Social Democracy’s Failure in Britain; Madame Hillary: The Dark Road to the White House; The Clinton Crack-Up; and After the Hangover: The Conservatives’ Road to Recovery.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (45) | Leave a comment
More Articles by R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr.
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Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 3.14.13 @ 6:42AM
While the political establishment and the Extractor Class fought publicly over the Sequester, Rand Paul fought for something even more precious and universally ignored by the political establishment inside the beltway. He fought for personal liberty.
That concept is flushed down the toilet each and every day by the political extractor class in D.C. From the EPA to the Department of Education to the Department of Energy no facet of your personal life from food to the amount of taxes you owe escapes the attention of the drones in government.
Now, our government has the audacity to claim it can extinguish you with the touch of a button, the Constitution be damned.
Rand Paul is the canary in the Congressional coal mine, warning you that the fight for your personal liberty is far from over. In fact, we are at a new threshold where a new army of diabolical liars and evil politicians would sell you and yours down the road in the blink of an eye.
Don't blink.
Jack in Wi| 3.14.13 @ 8:24AM
I was just watching a western on the boob tube. In the movie Eddie Albert is trying to stave off a lynch mobb. He quotes the 5th amendment about due process. it was quite good. it is time to get rid of the Patriot Act, rendition, torture, drones, spying on everyone, x-ray machines at airports etc. This country has to return to the Constitution and civil liberties.
Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 3.14.13 @ 8:48AM
That's a good point.
Hitting an American citizen within our own shores with an automated drone is the high tech equivalent of a western lynch mob. No justice.
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Rhoetus| 3.14.13 @ 9:55PM
Yes, bravo!
Anthony| 3.14.13 @ 9:42AM
.....And they have billions of rounds of ammo at their disposal as well....
So Bill is right, don't blink, and stock up!!!
Gary B| 3.14.13 @ 7:25AM
It would be even better if Paul's votes were consistent with his rhetoric. That said, I sure hope he keeps the Constitutional pressure on the old gas bag Republican traitors who denounced him. They sure let slip the truth about themselves, didn't they?
TLP| 3.14.13 @ 2:43PM
Indeed.
He voted For Hagel AND the Muslim Convert - Brennan.
Words and Deeds.
Words and Deeds.
Von Mises Jr| 3.14.13 @ 7:37AM
Rand Paul's filibuster was probably an instantaneous stroke of genius. McLame and Lindsay Grand were preening with Dear Leader at that moment talking a grand bargain, or perhaps better classified a grand sodomy of the American people. So while the GOP Establishment and the Democrat Socialist were deciding how much of their money we could be allowed to keep, Rand Paul made a horse's ass out of them telling the people there was still someone left in DC who read the Constitution and understood it.
The liable against libertarians about being doves is nonsense. Because many, including the TEA Party types do not think that we should be nation building across the Middle East and North Africa does not mean we do not believe in defending the homeland. If that were true, then the TEA Party would not be the leaders in defending the 2nd Amendment along with the NRA.
In fact, Obama's interventionist policies that mirror the Neocons could get us in a war not of our choosing. We are not doves, and we certainly are not warmongers like the leadership of both DC Establishments.
Gary B| 3.14.13 @ 7:57AM
Hear, hear...
Connection Not Compromise| 3.14.13 @ 11:32AM
Yes!
Neocons want to impose freedom and democracy on countries that have no cultural tradition or infrastructure for it.
Liberals want to impose economic prosperity on those who have no will or experience to maintain it.
Defending the homeland and coming to the aid of one's allies at their request is one thing.
Nation building is quite another.
Dodd2| 3.14.13 @ 7:46AM
America needs a health dose of isolationism if that means not starting wars to 'build' nations or trying to civilize Muslims and drag them into the modern era.
Also, let's stop squandering money on foreign aid like that $250 million GIVEN to Egypt.
OP4| 3.14.13 @ 7:48AM
I like Rand Paul a lot. In 1988 I voted for Pete DuPont in the primary because he seemed to be a true fiscal conservative who believed in small government. (As opposed to Bush who proved to be the opposite.) In 2016, I will probably vote for Rand Paul for the same reasons.
Paul seems to have inherited his father's good ideas without the crazy ones. And this old Marine agrees with Von above - we can have a strong defense without nation-building half the third world - and without defending Germany against... the Russians?
R Martin| 3.14.13 @ 5:10PM
“In 1988 I voted for Pete DuPont in the primary because he seemed to be a true fiscal conservative who believed in small government.”
He seemed to be a true fiscal conservative because he was. DuPont lowered the personal income tax rate three times, put constitutional constraints on operating and capital spending, created the Delaware Economic and Financial Advisory Council and saw job growth in the state exceed three percent per annum.
While he was governor, state economic growth was 9.3 percent compounded, while it averaged just 5.9 percent under the liberal governors who followed him. Per capita personal income growth was 7.2 percent, twice as robust as it has been under the progressives since DuPont.
Yes, he was a fiscal conservative and he proved yet again conservatism always works whenever it is tried
Joellen| 3.14.13 @ 8:02AM
Yesterday, a black American man called Rush and informed Rush and 20+ million listeners that he has awoken from his slumber. Then this American informed us he made sure his family was fully awake to the illness that Obama and co are causing in our country.
You see, the sleeping giant, with the likes of Rush, Rand Paul, The Tea Party, Mark Levin, and many here who comment at TAS, is stirring.
Keep it up Senators Paul, Cruz, Toomey, Thune, Rubio, Barrasso, Scott, Cornyn, Kirk, Wyden, Chamblis, Moran, Johnson, Falke (all but one Rep). The battle has just begun.
Anthony| 3.14.13 @ 9:46AM
Sadly, Rush didn't ask this man the key question, which was, how is it that this man is so sure of a sea change in America, when the election was just 4 months ago???
vtwin| 3.14.13 @ 11:01AM
The Democratic candidate for President won the popular vote five out of the last six elections might be a good indicator.
Warrior| 3.14.13 @ 12:49PM
That's so true. Black Panthers were on the cusp of conviction for voter intimidation. In some precincts, 110% of the population voted. One women openly admits to voting 6 times. Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Smokey Bear and many other fictional characters are registering and voting. Many active voters have been dead for decades. When needed, ballots that were not counted can be found in car trunks. All this while military votes are treated like toilet paper and some states actually missed deadlines to ensure their votes would not count. Guess which party benefitted from all the fraud?
vtwin| 3.14.13 @ 1:03PM
Republicans?
TLP| 3.14.13 @ 2:44PM
Contest tomorrow at Monday's Wes Welker Story.
Anthony| 3.14.13 @ 2:32PM
Having D precient poll workers vote 6 times, along with illegal aliens, might just tend to skew your good indicator, might it, vtwin?
TLP| 3.14.13 @ 2:48PM
You left out all of the Republican Poll Watchers who were Physically Removed from the Voting Places in Philadelphia, and then Physically Removed AGAIN, after a Court had put them back.
Or, the NAACP running the Voting Stations in Houston, with a Huge Poster of Obama inside the building.
Grzmlyk| 3.14.13 @ 8:42AM
Wait a sec: When Tyrrell asks, "Will it continue on its melancholy way toward statism?" he seems to be admitting that the direction of our politics has been ever leftward. Strange admission for someone who so boldly wrote an entire book about the imminent death of liberalism barely a year ago.
No, I will NEVER let go of that; I'm tired of pundits cynically making outlandish predictions only to sell books (you can't even find Dick Morris's "Condi vs. Hillary," his book confidently predicting the nominees for the 2008 election, on remainder shelves).
Due to the fact that Tyrrell has forever tarnished his credibility, I look askance at his assertion that Paul will become a major player.
As a Tea Party favorite, the MSM will destroy him - the toupee alone will be a deal breaker (the mainstream media is nothing if not, like, super deep).
Grzmlyk| 3.14.13 @ 8:43AM
(cont'd)
And if you think they're having buyer's remorse over Obama, I submit that any pangs of conscience a liberal has when it comes to contemplated apostasy are short-lived; people like Rachel Maddow and Soledad O'Brien and Brian Williams (not to mention rank-and-file-cogs like Purp, Vtwit, Arnie, et al) will go to their graves believing the Obama administration was the apotheosis of cool, hip, compassionate leadership. So close to the Marxist dream, and with a crisp crease in his pant leg to boot. Sigh.
Besides, Ann Coulter would say that, since Rand Paul is under six feet tall, he is forbidden from running run for president. I guess I missed that part of the Constitution.
Yes, I know, Ann also had teeny-bopper swoons over Chris Christie; as a result, she herself is forever relegated to the island of broken toys in my mind.
But if Rand Paul seriously contemplates a run at the Oval Office, like any other principled non-statist, he will simply become road kill on the superhighway to serfdom.
It is too late in the game, and we have ceded too much ground, to avoid the inevitable.
SUBVET| 3.14.13 @ 10:16AM
Mr. G............where's your faith ?
Take some more ZOLOFT......
Grzmlyk| 3.14.13 @ 11:08AM
My faith in the economy to right itself died about four years ago, when I realized not only the extent to which the game is rigged by both Republicans and Democrats, but the extent to which the Fed is willing to inflate the currency and lie about it in service of playing the game.
It is too late to unring the bell of the collapse of the dollar. It is a fait accompli that even Mitt Romney couldn't have stopped had he been elected.
My faith in the American people - already on life support - expired for good on election day 2012. A critical mass of people in this country are too foolish, too ignorant, too greedy or too malevolent to to save ourselves from ourselves.
Also, I believe that human nature, and entropy, are such that all systems, be they thermodynamic, academic, institutional or organizational, tend toward disorder.
We are going the way of every empire before us. It's going to hurt. A lot. And not just "right wingers," but also the left-wing whacko, greedy, corrupt, lying Democrats.
After all, when the host organism dies, so does the tumor.
Job| 3.14.13 @ 1:36PM
Also, I believe that human nature, and entropy, are such that all systems, be they thermodynamic, academic, institutional or organizational, tend toward disorder.
After all, when the host organism dies, so does the tumor.
brilliant!
CrackerHound| 3.14.13 @ 4:16PM
Grzmlyk..you are 100% correct...could not have been said any better.
Those who do not see this critical truth are in deep denial, lying, or blinded by ideology. It is no different than slapping a 50 million dollar debt on someone making $30,000 a year and telling them it must be paid. It ain't happening. 16-20 TRILLION dollars is unpayable. When you say we are well past the tipping point, that's it in a nutshell. You cannot bring a dead man back to life no matter how much you wish it were so. Soon this reality will sink in and that is when the real troubles begin.
Combine that fact with the political climate and lack of courage or even basic caring in Washington with the mentality of the American people and the inevitability of it all becomes that much more clear
Grzmlyk| 3.14.13 @ 8:23PM
One of the trolls on this site yesterday was braying a new tax code "he'd" figured out (but it was probably the thinking of any one of a number of clueless liberal pundits - Ezra Klein or maybe Krugman or Maddow or Austin Goolsbee) - if you make over $40 million, you get taxed 85%; I forget the rest, but it was ludicrous. Apparently the troll (I forget which one - does it matter?) thought he should be the arbiter of the definition of the term "enough money."
What's even more amazing is that he thought this would make a dent in our debt. Just punish success more and everything will be ok. As many have pointed out, you could confiscate ALL the wealth in this country and you'd only be able to run the government for a few months.
When interest rates rise - as they must - that will be the end this delusion. Once the Titanic hit the iceberg, the first-class passengers could only continue smoking their cigars and playing cards for so long.
They might not have noticed any change in their situation five minutes after the collision, but within three hours, the "unsinkable" ship was at the bottom of the ocean and most of those guys were dead.
It can't happen here? Why not? It already HAS!!!
c. j. acworth| 3.14.13 @ 8:48AM
Of all the people who cheered for Sen. Paul, I would bet that only a small percent could tell you much about the man or his positions. They cheered because he stood up and with no shame or weasel-words defended the founding document of our country and articulated a call to get back to the meaning of the original text. Does no-one in the so-called leadership of the Stupid Party understand this? Why was it necessary for Grahm an McCain to abuse him so badly? If McCain has any doubts about why he lost to Obama, he should look no further. Conservatives are desperate for someone, anyone, to unapologetically hold out the ideas and values on which this country was built. Will we all agree on everything? Of course not. But for heavens' sake can't we rally around someone with the courage of his convictions? Shame on Grahm and McCain and all their ilk.
Anthony| 3.14.13 @ 9:13AM
"Senators John McCain and Lindsay Graham went way too far in denouncing him."
With all due respect Emmett, have you lost your mind???
McLame and Graham had no business condemning Paul at all. He was doing what these two morons were elected to do, but have become way to corrupted by Washington.
Protesting the use of drones on American soil, against Americans, without due process of law, was at one time a no -brainer, even for McLame.
McLame, who couldn't abide by the use of waterboarding against Muslim fanatics, seems to be indifferent to the killing of Americans without any warning.
But of course, this is our same lame-brain, roll over presidential nomineee of the Rs, who proclaimed in 08 that America had nothing to fear from an Obozo presidency.
The R party is going the way of the Whigs, thanks to the corruption of Washington; may I suggest Emmett, that under your leadership, you do not allow TAS to go the same way of Newspeak and the New York Times.
CJW| 3.14.13 @ 5:26PM
Anthony
Great point. I like Emmet but he assumes it was ok to denounce Rand, he just disagrees that McCain went too far.
McCain appears unhinged, but we should not be surprised with his criticism of conservatives. He said his favorite president was Teddy Roosevelt, the first progressive who believed in big government and intruding in the affairs of other nations.
RAM| 3.14.13 @ 9:58AM
Other than his position on the remaining US involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq, what exactly distinguishes a Rand Paul foreign policy from Obama's? To me, it seems that US withdrawal from the world stage is the ultimate goal for both men.
loulou| 3.14.13 @ 10:34AM
The only thing I'd denounce Rand Paul for is the fact that he did not mention John Brennan's conversion to Islam.
Other than that--thank you Rand Paul. Game changer.
TLP| 3.14.13 @ 2:49PM
Contest tomorrow at Monday's Wes Welker Story.
Kaminsky bailed.
William R| 3.14.13 @ 10:58AM
Emmett writes: ". The Libertarian worldview flirts a little too closely with isolationism, for my money."
Emmett, buy a dictionary. There is nothing isolationist about Rand Paul. We'd be talking and trading with Cuba and Iran in a Rand Paul administration.
The new definition of isolationism is, if you don't want to fight endless war in the Middle East you're a isolationist.
RAM| 3.14.13 @ 11:38AM
In a world where we'd not be active in a war, wouldn't there still be countries we'd shun because they hate us?
7-08| 3.14.13 @ 11:44AM
Rand Paul states:
“I’m an old-fashioned traditionalist. I believe in the historic and religious definition of marriage,” said Paul. “That being said, I’m not for eliminating contracts between adults. I think there are ways to make the tax code more neutral, so it doesn’t mention marriage. Then we don’t have to redefine what marriage is; we just don’t have marriage in the tax code.”
Is this "coming of age," how old will he be by 2016?
John Navratil| 3.14.13 @ 3:54PM
7-08,
It's more than the tax code, it's powers of attorney, parental responsibility and joint property laws, as well. Paul plays the crowd well be ignoring the complexities. Solving these inequities was the reason for civil unions.
That said, the push for gay marriage began with the AIDS epidemic and a cash-grab for spousal insurance benefits.
At some point it will become clear to the U.S. that a next generation is important. When that happens, the solution which supports children as opposed to providing tax benefits for marriage, per se, will reduce the pressure to redefine marriage. The tax benefits of marriage, today, only really accrue to a family with a stay-at-home mom, or a gay couple where only one works.
Rhoetus| 3.14.13 @ 10:26PM
The Tax code destroys private wealth and corrupts society and government institutions.
N8tivTxn| 3.14.13 @ 1:29PM
Paul's moment in the spotlight was amusing. Sustaining the chain reaction resultant of it, will be more so.
Thus far, the best part has been Prissy-sissy Lindsay and McLoon's flailing attempt at preempting any new media related advantage Paul and Cruz may have gained.
Despite the entertainment factor though, Brennan will sell us out to the world. When the Chicongo crew is done, our technological superiority will be a distant memory. And we thought Carter was destructive? Pfttt!
soljerblue| 3.14.13 @ 8:15PM
I'm Tea Party, and I stand with Rand. Let's see the bumper stickers!!
Rhoetus| 3.14.13 @ 9:58PM
I voted for Ron Paul in Nov. 1988.
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The idea that no person shall be held without due process, and that no person shall be held for a capital offense without being indicted, is www.shoxinfr.com/nike-air-max-91-c-26.html a founding American principle and a basic right.” Thus he filibustered for 13 hours, and his views redounded around the Internet, on Tweeter, on Facebook. Everywhere!