On Fox News, anchor Megyn Kelly just read to Senator Rand Paul a letter from Attorney General Eric Holder (which Sen. Paul had not seen yet) in which Holder says categorically that the president does not have the authority to use drones to kill an American citizen (who is not engaged in combat) on American soil.
Senator Paul’s response:
Hooray! For 13 hours yesterday, we asked them that question. And so there is a result and a victory. So under duress and under public humiliation, the White House will respond and do the right thing. It took a month and a half to get them to admit that the CIA doesn’t operate in the United States. That’s been the law since 1947. So now after 13 hours of filibuster, we’re proud to announce that the president is not going to kill unarmed Americans on American soil. My next question would be why did it take so long? Why was it so hard? Why would a president so jealously guard power that they were afraid to say this? But I am glad. And I think the answer does answer my question.
When was the last time that disgraceful John McCain and Lindsey Graham got this administration to clarify that there is some power it doesn’t have?