Rand Paul "pro Israel" bill is opposed by AIPAC
My book https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/428057 Rand Paul is Not Ron Paul get over it.
By: Ry Dawson
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Rand Paul "pro Israel" bill is opposed by AIPAC - Video
A Yemeni man looks at a drone model in a show organized by the Shiite Huthi movement on April 19 , 2014 in the capital Sanaa. MOHAMMED HUWAIS/AFP/Getty Images
Before the Senate confirms David Barron to a lifetime spot on the First Circuit Court of Appeals, it should insist on the public release of redacted memos that Barron helped write, authorizing the killing of an American on foreign soil, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., wrote in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.
Barron's nomination could come up for consideration in the Senate as early as this week, but Paul said that he will object to any attempts to speed up Barron's confirmation until his concerns are satisfied.
Paul noted that last month, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals ordered the Justice Department to release a redacted version of the memo that authorized the killing of Anwar al-Awlaki, an American citizen who joined al Qaeda, in Yemen. As a lawyer in the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel, Barron helped author at least two such memos, the New York Times reported last year.
"It would be irresponsible for the Senate to move forward on this nomination" until the Justice Department complies with the order, Paul wrote to Reid, in a letter dated April 30. "The constitutionality of this policy has been the subject of intense debate in our country since it's implementation... The disclosure of this document will not only clarify that debate it will also allow the Senate to gain critical insight into David Barron's judicial philosophy."
The Justice Department has yet to release the memo, as the government is still considering whether or not to appeal the Second Circuit decision.
Should Barron's nomination come up for a vote this week, it would only need a simple, 51-vote majority to pass. However, Paul's objections could draw out the vote for several days. Furthermore, some Democrats may side with Paul on the matter.
Last year, Paul staged an old school, 13-hour filibuster over John Brennan's nomination to lead the CIA over President Obama's drone policies. Ultimately, Brennan was confirmed, but three members of the Democratic caucus -- including Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt. -- voted against the confirmation. Two other Democrats didn't vote.
The ACLU on Monday sent a letter to senators, urging them to delay Barron's confirmation until all senators have had an opportunity to read the legal opinions that authorized "an unprecedented killing."
"The OLC opinions represent the administration's view of the law on when a person can be killed away from a battlefield," the ACLU letter says. "There are few questions of greater importance and consequence to Congress."
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Rand Paul threatens to hold up nominee over drone policy
After the mogul called him his least favorite 2016 candidate.
One of the saddest stories of the 2012 election was Mitt Romney's unsuccessful attempt to win over Rupert Murdoch. Ultimately, the nicest thing the 83-year-old owner of Fox News, The Wall Street Journal, and the New York Post could say about the Republican presidential candidate was that Paul Ryan was an "almost perfect choice" for VP. Of the potential Republican 2016 presidential candidates, Rand Paul is the least coy about his presidential ambitions, so it's no surprise that he's already started publicly courting the News Corp. boss by parading him around at Saturday's Kentucky Derby.
Paul and Murdoch have already met at least once, but it didn't sound like their private chat in November was very successful. In an interview with Fortune magazine last month, the media mogul lavished praise on several potential 2016 candidates; he called Jeb Bush a "man of very fine character," said Paul Ryan is "the straightest arrow I've ever met" and "the natural leader," and even predicted Chris Christie "could recover" from Bridgegate. However, he put Paul dead last in his loose ranking of the candidates, describing him as a man "whom I agree with on a great number of things but disagree strongly on some things too strongly perhaps to vote for him."
According to the New York Times, Murdoch was much kinder to the Kentucky senator during their metaphor-rich trip to the horse races. The pair downplayed their outing as just a casual get-together, with Paul explaining that he "thought it would be fun to have him come down" to his state's biggest annual event. Murdoch said Paul invited him about a month ago, and he responded, "absolutely," since he's never been to the Derby. "Its a good thing for me. Hes a very interesting man," he said. Murdoch also remarked, "I'm very open-minded."
Murdoch praised Paul for endorsing fellow Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell, calling it "a smart move ... for everybody," and the pair bonded over their attempt to use a self-service betting machine. However, there were also signs that Paul still has his work cut out for him. The Times reports that as Paul described his background as an eye doctor in a town of 50,000 people, Murdoch said, "Oh," while "waving his hand without seeming impressed." Then there was this awkward exchange:
Mr. Murdoch asked Kelley Paul if she wanted a drink and then inquired about her three children.
Do you have children? she asked.
Yeah, he said. But Ive been married too often. But I have two boys and four girls.
You have one son who is involved in the media business? Mr. Paul asked.
Two, both of them. They were going to form a team, he said, his voice trailing off.
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Rand Paul Woos Rupert Murdoch at the Kentucky Derby
WASHINGTON (AP) In the latest prep work for a presidential campaign, Rand Paul is conspicuously courting moderate and establishment Republicans while Ted Cruz keeps up a travel schedule that has 2016 written all over it.
Jeb Bush is stirring from something of a political snooze and a half-dozen other credible prospects are getting their voices heard in the din.
As for Democrats, a Hillary Rodham Clinton book coming out in June is about as exciting as it gets these days.
The suspense of a Democratic nomination race is in suspension until the party's dominant figure decides whether to run or someone goes for the prize without waiting for her to make up her mind. She sounds and acts a bit more like a candidate by the month, which doesn't necessarily mean she'll be one.
In both parties, potential contenders are best judged by what they do and where they go, like Iowa and New Hampshire not by what they say. Most are keeping up with the fiction that they are not really thinking about running for president even as they transparently position themselves to run for president.
Cruz has visited Iowa four times in the past eight months, and New Hampshire and South Carolina three times each, and claimed that's got nothing to do with presidential campaign politics, which no one believes. "I think it's too early to worry about 2016," the Texas senator said with a straight face.
For months, many prospective 2016 presidential candidates have been networking with party leaders, donors and activists. They've published or announced books. They're using TV appearances to become household names, at least in households tuned to the Sunday or cable news shows.
With a few notable exceptions, their preparations have accelerated since The Associated Press began broadly tracking their activities last summer. Yet even as most march through a precampaign checklist, they are keeping their options open should they decide to sit out the race.
Aside from Clinton, the former secretary of state, senator and first lady, potential Democratic contenders include Vice President Joe Biden, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley. Among Republicans in the mix: Bush, the former Florida governor; New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie; Cruz; Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal; Kentucky Sen. Paul; Texas Gov. Rick Perry; Florida Sen. Marco Rubio; Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan; former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker.
A look at who's doing what:
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Cruz, Clinton Campaign by Pretending Not To
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) -- possible GOP candidate for president
joins Steve to discuss the failed Middle East peace deal and his calls to have the United States divest foreign aid to the Palestinians More Related Videos: ...
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Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) -- possible GOP candidate for president - Video