Alarm Bells!

 "I wanted to sound an alarm bell from coast to coast."
- Rand Paul

In his filibuster on Wednesday March 6, 2013 Sen. Rand Paul stated: "I will speak until I can no longer speak." He stood that day to oppose the nomination of Jim Brennan's nomination to the CIA. But his remarks focused on new policies that allow for the use of drone strikes on American citizens without due process. Rand Paul wanted clarification on these policies. In the link below you can read in Rand Paul's own words the remarkable events that transpired and the elected officials who came to his side in support, to include the "twitter-verse." But the most remarkable events transpired the next day.

Senators John McCain, and Lindsey Graham in reserve, took to the media to impugn the efforts of Rand Paul and his supporters, saying at best, it was a waste of time, that the discussion of drone use without due diligence is ridiculous, and at the worst, calling them school yard names; "wackos" I believe is the term he is quoted as saying. I, like everyone else has, will present the platitudes to Sen. McCain. He is a veteran of unique distinction due to his truly horrific experiences in Asia; something I will never diminish and will always hold as the ultimate in perseverance and bravery. But, could it be that, this formative experience of Sen. McCain's all those years ago, is the same thing that deafens him to the alarm bells of Sen. Rand Paul and his supporters?

When you have truly looked death in the face, and pondered your own demise at the hands of your  enemy, what exactly raises any alarm in your mind? I wonder if Sen. McCain thinks in his mind, when he listens to the travails of anyone, "I've seen worse and this is not it." I question what events might need to play out to bring him to his feet and sound the alarm. I believe it is complacency. As an "old dog" in Congress, this is business as usual; the Game of Thrones (for the lovers of the George R.R. Martin tales). But to fresh and youthful eyes, this is (one of) the dangers of our time. And Sen. Rand Paul is sounding the alarm, lest we wander too far from what our founding documents intended for the citizens of the United States.

There is nothing ridiculous, wasteful or "wacko" about debate, prior to enacting law, or committing persons to positions of control. It is true our Judicial Branch checks and balances our national actions through interpretation of the law, but that is no reason to write vague, incomplete, secretive (we-must-pass-it-to-find-out-what-is-in-it) laws. Sen. Rand Paul not only questioned the administration and the status quo, he started a new dynamic in our Congress. He may be a freshman, but Sen. McCain and other seasoned officials owe the incoming Congressman the respect of individual thought and action. And in my humble opinion, Sen. Paul sounded the alarm on drone strikes, yes. Well and good, but he inadvertently sounded the alarm on "old dogs" left in office too long.

In Rand Paul's Words