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During an appearance on ABCs This Week, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) expressed deep concern about government surveillance and the intelligence community leaking information to the press.

With discussion among conservatives shifting more and more towards the deep state in recent weeks, Paul told host George Stephanopoulos that itsknown that the Obama administration spied on former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn. He was referring to transcripts of pre-inauguration phone calls between Flynn and the Russian ambassadorbeing discussed with the press, as the envoy was being surveilled by the U.S. Those calls led to Flynns resignation.

It is very, very important that whoever released that go to jail, Paul said. Because you cannot have members of the intelligence community listening to the most private and highly classified information and then releasing that to The New York Times.

The Kentucky lawmaker also noted there areonly be a handful of people who could have done this. Therefore, he wants them all to come in and take lie detector tests to get the the bottom of this all.

Paul appears to be parroting much of what weve heard from the Trump administration and other top Republicans, like House Intelligence Committee Chair Devin Nunes,in terms of leaks to the media being the real issue at play. The presidenthas taken to Twitter and utilized press conferences to rail against leaks.

Watch the clip above, via ABC News.

[image via screengrab]

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Rand Paul: It is 'Very Important' That Whoever Released Flynn ... - Mediaite

Sen. Rand Paul talks healthcare in St. Matthews

Bethanni Williams, WHAS 6:03 PM. EDT March 20, 2017

LOUISVILLE (WHAS11) -- Senator Rand Paul and President Donald Trump missed each other in Louisville by just hours.

Senator Paul spoke to the St. Matthews Chamber of Commerce on the hotly debated topic of health care.

Paul highlighted the issues he sees with the President's repeal and replace proposal.

He says he thinks the most effective legislation would get rid of an individual marketplace which would foster competition ultimately lowering insurance rates and prices.

Senator Paul left immediately after the event to head back to Washington DC.

When asked why he wasn't sticking around for the President's visit he said he simply has to get back to work.

The House will vote on the proposed health care bill on Thursday.

Senator Paul said he hopes it does not pass and vows he'll continue to search for solutions with the consumer's best interest in mind.

2017 WHAS-TV

Continued here:
Sen Rand Paul talking about health care - WHAS11.com

Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, speaks during a press conference at the U.S. Capitol Feb. 5, 2015, in Washington, D.C.

Win McNamee/Getty Images

Last Updated Mar 15, 2017 10:53 PM EDT

Updated with statement from Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky.

Sen. John McCain accused fellow Republican Sen. Rand Paul of working for Vladimir Putin on Wednesday.

The fireworks came as McCain spoke in support of a Senate unanimous consent request in support of Montenegros bid to join NATO. The libertarian-leaning Paul, who has often advocated for a less interventionist foreign policy, opposes the resolution.

You are achieving the objectives of Vladimir Putin...trying to dismember this small country which has already been the subject of an attempted coup, McCain said, in an apparent reference to Paul.

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Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, says the House Republicans' healthcare bill will not pass through the Senate. "If we get what we got from Ryan - Obam...

McCain then asked that the resolution be passed unanimously, prompting an objection from Paul who then exited the room. McCain then reiterated his accusation.

I note the senator from Kentucky leaving the floor without justification or any rationale for the action he has just taken. That is really remarkable -- that a senator blocking a treaty that is supported by the overwhelming number, perhaps 98 at least of his colleagues, would come to the floor and object and walk awayThe only conclusion you can draw when he walks away is he has no argument to be made.

He has no justification for his objection to having a small nation be part of NATO that is under assault from the Russians. So, I repeat again, the senator from Kentucky is now working for Vladimir Putin.

Later Wednesday evening, in a statement to CBS News Alan He, Paul argued that U.S. resources are being stretched by multiple commitments.

Currently, the United States has troops in dozens of countries and is actively fighting in Iraq, Syria, Libya, and Yemen (with the occasional drone strike in Pakistan), Paul wrote. In addition, the United States is pledged to defend 28 countries in NATO. It is unwise to expand the monetary and military obligations of the United States given the burden of our $20 trillion debt.

McCain and Paul have battled over foreign policy issues in the past. In a February interview with ABC News, for example, Paul said that McCain has advocated for war everywhere and that the U.S. would be in perpetual war if McCain were in charge.

CBS News Alan He contributed reporting to this story.

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John McCain says Rand Paul is "working for Vladimir Putin ...

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., on Wednesday accused Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., of "working for Vladimir Putin" after Paul blocked consideration of a treaty that would allow Montenegro into NATO.

McCain tried to call up the treaty and warned that anyone blocking it would be helping Russia maintain its influence over the small country across the Adriatic Sea from Italy.

"If there's objection, you are achieving the objectives of Vladimir Putin," McCain warned. "If they object, they are now carrying out the desires and ambitions of Vladimir Putin, and I do not say that lightly."

But as predicted, Paul quickly objected with McCain asked for consent to call up a resolution that would have the U.S. ratify the treaty if approved.

"I object," Paul said before quickly leaving the Senate. Paul's move shocked McCain, who said Paul didn't appear to have any good reason for objecting.

"That is really remarkable," McCain said. "That a senator, blocking a treaty that is supported by the overwhelming number, perhaps 98 at least of his colleagues, would come to the floor and object, and walk away."

"The only conclusion you can draw when he walks away is he has no argument to be made," he said.

"The senator from Kentucky is now working for Vladimir Putin," McCain concluded.

Paul released a statement after the incident that said the huge and growing national debt is why the U.S. should not take on any additional commitments around the world.

Also from the Washington Examiner

"We need to repeal all 12 insurance mandates," Cruz said.

03/19/17 10:49 AM

"Currently, the United States has troops in dozens of countries and is actively fighting in Iraq, Syria, Libya, and Yemen (with the occasional drone strike in Pakistan)," Paul said. "In addition, the United States is pledged to defend 28 countries in NATO."

"It is unwise to expand the monetary and military obligations of the United States given the burden of our $20 trillion debt," he said.

A spokeswoman for McCain said Paul's explanation isn't enough, and that he should have offered one to the chamber as he objected to McCain's request.

"The overwhelming majority of senators who support this treaty, and certainly the people of Montenegro, deserved an explanation from Senator Paul on the Senate floor as to why he sought to prevent this small, brave country from joining in the defense of the free world," said spokeswoman Julie Tarallo.

This story was corrected to note that the issue is Montenegro's admission into NATO, not the United Nations.

Also from the Washington Examiner

"That is not something that the president is willing to do."

03/19/17 10:35 AM

See the article here:
John McCain accuses Rand Paul of 'working for Vladimir Putin'

Sen. Rand PaulRand PaulPaul predicts GOP healthcare plan will fail Price shoots down clean repeal of ObamaCare Sunday shows preview: Healthcare, White House budget in spotlight MORE (R-Ky.) on Thursday shot back at Sen. John McCainJohn McCainWhat two GOP senators get right and dangerously wrong about Afghanistan Shutdown politics return to the Senate Overnight Defense: Trump seeks B more for 2017 defense spending | Boeing VP tapped for Pentagon post MORE after the Arizona Republican accused Paul of working for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"I think he makes a really, really strong case for term limits," Paul said on MSNBC's "Morning Joe." "I think maybe he's past his prime; I think maybe he's gotten a little bit unhinged."

McCainmade the claimsWednesday from the Senate floor.

"The senator from Kentucky is now working for Vladimir Putin."

The comments came after McCain asked for unanimous consent to set up a vote on a treaty on Montenegro joining NATO, but Paul objected.

Under Senate rules, any one senator can object to a unanimous consent request. McCain warned before asking for consent that any senator who objected was "carrying out the desires and ambitions of Putin."

Paul said the U.S. military is already stretched thin.

On Thursday, the Kentucky Republican said there can be a "rational discussion" about the pros and cons of expanding NATO.

"We currently have ... combat troops in about six nations. We have troops actively just stationed in probably a couple dozen others," he said.

"We have a $20 trillion debt."

Paul said McCain's foreign policy would "greatly endanger" the country and "greatly overextend us."

"And there has to be the thought whether or not it's in our national interest to pledge to get involved with a war if Montenegro has an altercation with anyone," he said.

"Another argument is that, when you ask the people of Montenegro, only about 40 percent or slightly less are actually in favor of this," he said, adding there are a lot of considerations.

"But to call someone somehow an enemy of the state or a traitor might be considered by most reasonable people to be a little over the top."

Read the rest here:
Rand Paul: 'Unhinged' McCain makes 'strong case for term limits' - The Hill