The Hill, a decidedly “Decepticon”, yet hailed as conservative, news outlet -showcases the exact reason(s) why patriots are sick and tired of big government Democrats and big government Republicans.
Even the headline screams ‘find my brandy snifter, and make sure the crusts are removed from my aperitif’…. “Rand Paul Walks Fine Line On NSA”
Whiskey – Tango – Foxtrot. Fine line? How about you take some of that subscriber money, buy a vowel and get a clue.
If the Karl Rove Decepticon GOP can’t join patriots in outrage – then SCREW EM’; They too should be dispatched even further toward the land of perpetual irrelevance. It’s issues like this which SCREAM for a third party – a conservative party.
THE HILL – Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has seized on the controversy surrounding National Security Agency surveillance programs, quickly emerging as perhaps their most high-profile opponent.
Government surveillance is an issue that’s near and dear to his libertarian base, and one he’s advocated against for some time now. Following the revelations that the NSA has collected domestic phone records, Paul introduced a bill that would require a warrant before the government could seize such records, and has called the program “an astounding assault on the Constitution.”
But Republican consensus on the issue is still emerging. While Paul’s opposition to the surveillance programs is likely to invigorate the libertarian and Tea Party base that helped him get elected to the Senate, it could ruffle some feathers in the GOP, as most lawmakers have thus far taken a cautious approach to evaluating the programs.
This issue crystallizes Paul’s dilemma heading into 2016: To make it through the Republican primaries, he’ll need to prove he can work with establishment Republicans while managing to avoid alienating his far-right base.
“To the extent that he’s going to get worked up and really use it as something to campaign on, he’s the face of the opposition to this situation,” said Tim Hagle, professor of political science at the University of Iowa.
Hagle said that Paul would have to answer for his position on the surveillance program if it eventually becomes counter to the mainstream, but that it would likely sell well in early primary states like Iowa and New Hampshire.
Iowa, with its conservative leanings and Tea Party faction, and New Hampshire, with its libertarian streak, are likely to be receptive to Paul’s outspoken opposition to the surveillance programs.
But establishment Republicans are walking a far finer line on the programs.
Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) would only go so far as to call for an investigation into the scandal, and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), another potential 2016 contender, was even more tempered in his response, going so far as to say “programs like this have great utility.” (read more)