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Political theater is rarely entertaining but Senator Rand Paul stole the show when he forced an early curtain call on senators pushing a phony whistleblower resolution. Paul introduced a bill that retroactively protects Edward Snowden and applies the Sixth Amendment to the president.

On October 30, Senate Democrats showed that they will support or reject legislation based on a single factor of whether or not it helps impeach President Donald Trump, even if its a symbolic gesture.

Thats why Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and Senator Mazie Hirono of Hawaii were so perturbed when Paul blocked their move to reach unanimous consent to pass a resolution that purports to honor the contributions of whistleblowers.

Not one of these people who fake outrage over this whistleblower and President Trump and the impeachment, not one of them will stand up for Edward Snowden, Paul stated. They would still put him in jail for life if they could.

In response, Hirono didnt dare name Snowden but instead called Pauls bill laughable because it restored the Sixth Amendment of the Constitution to the president, who under current rules is being prevented from facing his accuser, an ex-CIA agent who worked for Vice President Joe Biden on Ukraine.

This whistleblowers name, Eric Ciaramella, is known widely in Washington, D.C., and has been printed in RealClearInvestigations, but he is both closely guarded and highly praised by many in power who hypocritically turned their backs on Snowden or even favored the death penalty in his case.

Paul educated a reporter from The Hill on the legality of naming the whistleblower last week. The whistleblower is also a key witness to the alleged corruption of Biden, and his son Hunter, who received $50,000 a month from a Ukrainian energy firm under investigation by a Ukrainian prosecutor who Biden had removed in a quid pro quo arrangement.

Its always a good time to remind the U.S. government and the American people of the injustice done to Snowden, the greatest whistleblower of our time, who revealed illegal mass surveillance conducted on virtually all Americans.

Tired and debunked shameful smears against Snowden erupted on Twitter after Paul invoked his name. Snowden isnt a true whistleblower, they claim because he didnt go through proper channels.

Forget that Snowdens peers other whistleblowers charged under the Espionage Act, like Thomas Drake, did go through proper channels and were still denied an opportunity to present their case to a jury. Snowden, as a government contractor, didnt have access to even the same protections that people like Chelsea Manning or Daniel Hale had.

Pauls brilliant move left the Democrats openly choosing style over substance. The Trump-Ukraine whistleblower, a Democrat himself, is held up as a hero while Snowden is left exiled from the country he served with honor, all because the political show must go on.

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Rand Paul Exposes 'Fake Outrage' Over Trump Whistleblower With Bill to Protect Snowden - The Liberator Online

Impeachment has dominated the news cycle in recent weeks. As Republicans continue to defend President Trump and other administration officials, many conservatives have gone on the offensive and attacked the whistleblower that started it all.

Recently, Senator Rand Paul demanded that the whistleblower come forward under threat of public exposure of his or heridentity.

But this isnt the first time whistleblowers have made waves in American politics. Since the whistleblowers revelation came to light, historians have discussed the parallels between the Ukraine whistleblower and informants from past scandals.

In September, President Trump publicly condemned the DOJ whistleblower as close to a spy and insinuated that he or she should be executed. The article Whistleblower or spy? What the history of Cold War espionage can teach the US contrasts this modern controversy and the history of espionage in Cold War America.

According to Cold War historian Marc Favreau, Trumps accusation of treason is of particular note due to its inherent irony. Instead of serving as a conduit of information in conjunction with a foreign regime, the whistleblower merely followed established executive branch protocols in order to alert government officials that the president himself was doing just that. The article argues that this methodology precludes the use of the term spy, as an operative engaging in espionage would never risk exposure in this way.

Favreau continues with a critique of Trumps allusion to execution as a potential punishment, citing the controversy surrounding Americas only instance of spy executionthat of Soviet operatives Ethel and Julius Rosenberg in the 1950s. The death sentence served to the Rosenbergs was unprecedented in American history, and the decision remains controversial today. Although the Soviets were quick to execute citizens accused of espionage after holding them captive in the KGB dungeon in Moscow, execution was rarely an option for spies discovered in America.

Favreau concludes that Trump and his supporters clearly have an agenda in condemning the whistleblower in such a dramatic way, the president and his administration will find no support for their cause in the history of espionage.

Another piece, published in The American Prospect in October, presents a broad history of whistleblowing in America. Brittany Gibson writes in her piece All the Presidents Whistleblowers that the history of government whistleblowing is fraught with charges of espionage, inadequate protections, and real hardships for those who speak out. She cites scholar Allison Stanger to highlight the Obama administrations abuse of the Espionage Act of 1917 as a means of harshly punishing government whistleblowers.

Gibson uses individuals such as John Kiriakou, who blew the whistle on waterboarding practices perpetrated by the Central Intelligence Agency, and Edward Snowden, who highlighted abuses of power in the National Security Agency, as examples of this. Although both were charged under the Espionage Act, she explains that they also changed the national conversationand in some cases changed laws on these respective government actions.

To Gibson, these high-profile cases are a far cry from the Ukraine scandal. Unlike Snowden and Kiriakou, who braved government retaliation in order to make their disclosures through non-protected channels, Trumps whistleblower stuck to protocol established by the Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989 (WPA) and the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2012 (WPEA). The individual in question was also careful not to release any classified information in his statement, which was specifically meant for public consumption. Gibson concludes that while the whistleblower should not be subject to retaliation through the Espionage Act, history suggests theres no guarantee that they wont be.

A third article recently published in the Washington Examiner points out a likely parallel between Trumps whistleblower and FBI Associate Director Mark Felt (otherwise known as Deep Throat of Watergate fame). In the piece, whistleblower attorney and Watergate historian Mark Zaid argues that the DOJ whistleblower will likely follow in Felts footsteps and remain anonymous for decades to come.

Our ideal ending, Zaid told the Examiner, is that the identity of the whistleblower is never known and the individual continues on with their personal and professional life. Later on in the article, Zaid expounds upon Deep Throats commitment to privacy: Basically his identity remained secret until he decided otherwise. That was his right.

It is unclear whether, like Deep Throat, the Trump whistleblower will be able to maintain his privacy. If the past is any indication, however, his disclosures have the potential to alter the course of American history.

Excerpt from:
The History Briefing on Whistleblowers: Historical Perspective on the Ukraine Scandal - History News Network (HNN)

You wouldnt think a book like this would be necessary but it is, and thank God we have it. Pay special attention to chapter 19, Socialism Becomes Authoritarianism. It does, every time. (Tucker Carlson)

Anyone who loves Americaour freedom, our Judeo-Christian tradition must read this book. Thanks to Rand Paul for reminding all of us of the perils of todays faddish belief that more government control will make us happier. (Laura Ingraham, Fox News host, The Ingraham Angle)

No U.S. senator in the modern era can rival Senator Rand Pauls fidelity to the first principles of the free market. In this no-holds-barred and fun-to-read broadside, Paul shows why and how he stands alone in defending your right to engage in economic activities free from government intrusion and your constitutional right to a federal government that spends less than it takes. He also demonstrates how everything the central planners touch turns into dust. (Judge Andrew P. Napolitano,senior judicial analyst, Fox News Channel, and bestselling author)

I grew up in China during one of historys darkest eras: Maos socialistic Cultural Revolution. I appreciate the freedom that I have now in America so much because I used to not have it. All Americans need to read The Case Against Socialism, so that we will be reminded just how precious our freedom and our country are. (Ming Wang, MD, PhD, Nashville, TN)

Communists in Russia killed my father. My mother experienced socialism up close and personal. Ive lived under socialism while working in Cuba and South America. This book explains concisely and historically how state violence and poverty is not an aberration of socialism, but rather its inevitable consequence. (Jon Basil Utley, publisher, The American Conservative)

Read this article:
The Case Against Socialism: Rand Paul: 9780062954862 ...

The View audience hooted and jeered Sen. Rand Paul for attacking Sen. Bernie Sanders and socialism in a contentious panel discussion.

The Kentucky Republican was promoting his new book, The Case Against Socialism, but he didnt find a receptive audience for his claims.

Bernie Sanders form of socialism is actually unpopular, and he would never get elected to anything in Denmark, Paul said. In fact, the prime minister of Denmark, when he heard Bernie was going around saying hes a socialist, he said, No, no were not socialists, we have private property, and we dont have a minimum wage.'

Paul argued that Scandinavian countries paid massive taxes to pay for free stuff thats given out by the government, and Hostin said Americans paid high taxes but had poor health care and public education.

We have a different form of taxation in our country, Paul countered. Its much more progressive. Weve taken the poor off of the rolls, they dont pay income tax anymore. Most people below $50,000 dont pay any income tax, the top 1 percent in our country pay 40 percent.

The audience began laughing at the senators claims, and Hostin called him out.

Our audience says thats not true, she said, and the crowd continued laughing.

Paul insisted that IRS statistics show the top 1 percent paid a 40 percent income tax rate, and the laughter cascaded loudly over the GOP lawmaker.

Donald Trump doesnt pay any income tax, Hostin said.

Guest host Ana Navarro asked whether Paul agreed with the president that voting for Democrats would turn the U.S. into a Venezuela-style socialist country, and Paul didnt disagree.

Well, if you vote for a socialist, you might get socialism, Paul said.

Navarro erupted, arguing that president Nicols Maduro Moros was a corrupt, murderous thug who is starving his people but Paul said thats not true.

Thats not true? Navarro shot back. Maduro is not a thug and murderer who is starving his people?

Paul gestured for her to calm down, and argued that Venezuelans had voted for socialism, but Navarro cut him off.

Thats kleptocracy, not socialism, Navarro said, as Paul objected. I cant let you finish if youre not going to say Maduros a murderous thug.

The audience went wild, and Paul turned his back to Navarro and waved his hands in her face.

Dont do this to me, Navarro said, mimicking his gesture as audience continued cheering. Dont mansplain, Im 47 years old.

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then let us make a small request. Like you, we here at Raw Story believe in the power of progressive journalism and were investing in investigative reporting as other publications give it the ax. Raw Story readers power David Cay Johnstons DCReport, which we've expanded to keep watch in Washington. Weve exposed billionaire tax evasion and uncovered White House efforts to poison our water. Weve revealed financial scams that prey on veterans, and efforts to harm workers exploited by abusive bosses. We need your support to do what we do.

Raw Story is independent. You wont find mainstream media bias here. Unhinged from corporate overlords, we fight to ensure no one is forgotten.

We need your support to keep producing quality journalism and deepen our investigative reporting. Every reader contribution, whatever the amount, makes a tremendous difference. Invest with us in the future. Make a one-time contribution to Raw Story Investigates, or click here to become a subscriber. Thank you.

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Rand Paul gets laughed off the stage by The View crowd: Our ...

Meghan McCain skipped out on Sen. Rand Pauls (R-KY) appearance on The View Friday morningciting personal reasonsdespite accusing the GOP senator of having Kurdish blood on his hands in Syria the day before.

In her place was frequent guest host Ana Navarro, who Whoopi Goldberg noted at the top of the show was filling in for both McCain and Joy Behar. One for the price of two, the Republican strategist joked.

Paul was ostensibly on the show to promote his new book, simply titled The Case Against Socialism, but they began the interview with his support for President Donald Trumps controversial decision to let Turkey wipe out Americas Kurdish allies in Syria.

Sporting a white turtleneck and blue plaid jacket, Paul compared Trump to former President Barack Obama, arguing that both men knew we were overextended, that the Iraq War was a mistake, adding, if anything, Syria is more complicated than Iraq.

In an attempt to break through Pauls abstract theorizing about the cost of war, Goldberg asked him, I'm sorry, so if you have allies and they are working with you and fighting with you, and in 24 hours, somebody wakes up and says, No. we're out, is that the right way to do this? When he started to answer a different question, she repeated, No, no, is that the right way to do it?

When Paul said we should never have been in Syria in the first place, Goldberg shot back, That's not the question. That's all good, but we're in there. When the senator said that the left used to agree with him on regime change, Goldberg told him, I am not left or right, I'm just American. And I want to know, should we be walking out on them?

As the rest of the co-hosts started jumping into the conversation, Paul grew more and more agitated. There's a difference in having a strategy and leaving the Kurds there to die, which is where they are now, Abby Huntsman told him. They were left there to die. And now its the GOPs problem.

When it was Navarros turn to speak, she pressed Paul to defend America breaking our word to allies, asking, What message does that send internationally to other allies if we abandon them?

The only duty we owe, and the only oath I take is to the Constitution, Paul replied. I didn't promise to take the country to war, I promised not to take the country to war. So did President Trump by the way. He added, Anyone who tries to make the argument someone in Syria is a danger to our country, is not paying attention.

Well, I think Assad is in Syria and a danger to our country and our world! Navarro responded before Paul attempted to explain the very complicated Middle East to the panel, shouting, Dont interrupt! when Huntsman tried to get a word in. He was still talking when Goldberg threw to commercial.

The tension only ratcheted up after the break when the crew started talking to Paul about his book. Again, it was Navarro who got under Pauls skin by asking if he thinks its fair for Trump and the Republican Party to run ads that say, If you vote for Democrats, they will turn the United States into Venezuela.

Well, if you vote for a socialist, you might get socialism, Paul answered with a smirk.

Come on, don't do that! Navarro said. Maduro is not a socialist. He's a corrupt, murderous thug who is starving his people. When Paul denied those facts, Navarro added, Thats not true? Maduro is not a thug and murderer who is starving his people?

As Paul attempted to argue his point, Navarro interrupted him with, I can't let you finish. If you are going to say Maduro is not a murderous thug, Im not letting you finish because that's a damn lie! While Goldberg was trying to end the segment, Paul literally waved his hands in Navarros face.

Dont do this to me, dont mansplain, she told him. Im a 47-year-old grown woman!

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Rand Paul Goes to War with Ana Navarro on The View: Dont ...