The drones are another phase of Obamacare´s death panels. Big Brother really is watching you and now wants to get close up and personal.

Every day I see evidence that massive, bloody civil war is coming. The reason for the drone question - note Brennan failed to take his oath on a Constitution that had a Bill of Rights attached - the Left´s insistence on ´Gun Control´, and their open war on traditional values are all pointing toward a day where the Government issues decrees and enforces them with deadly force. If we won´t obey them they will kill us.

I also believe they are rapidly gaining control of the voting process. I don´t believe 4 million conservative voters stayed home. I saw the lines in both conservative and liberal voting districts, due to my job and the liberal precincts were often empty while conservative voting sites were out the door and around the corner. I believe the votes were erased or flipped, and the only reason for the exit polls matching the results was due to media collusion with the Administration. It´s easy for polls to confirm numbers that have been predetermined.

Hammer your state governments for changes in the voting laws to protect yourselves, because our only hope at this point is to have state governments able, and willing to secede when the time comes. If we are reduced to ´objecting´ on an individual basis, or small ´militias´ made up of friends and neighbors, it will be like Stalin´s Russia, where the dissenters disappear in the night, never to be seen again.

This Administration scares me like no other has before.

I know it may be hard to believe, but there are actually good people on the left who are just horribly misguided. (I´m referring to mostly young people who are indoctrinated by Marxist professors. I witness the most ridiculous misrepresentations of our nation twice a week at a local college.) Great Ldotters promptly listed the most recent abuses of government (Waco, Elian Gonzalez, Ruby Ridge) during the last week that many of our youth simply do not know about. What McCain and Ms. Graham did was inexcusable and their apologists on this site may eventually get me booted for being uncivil. We ask (even pray) that someone like Rand Paul arrive on the scene to make a stand and then have to watch our own representatives take shots at him. Call me crazy, I really don´t give a damn at this point, but McCain and Graham are more of an enemy to me than any 13th century caveman in Afghanistan. Our local TEA party group is showing signs of life again. Thank you, Senator Paul.

The possibility of the government using technology against the citizens of their own country is something about which we should all remain vigilant.

Poster 3, I appreciate your gracious sentiment that leftist are good-natured but misguided.
That is an attitude we can no longer abide, however. A driver who slams on the brakes to avoid hitting a squirrel on the highway, with a tailgating driver behind him, can cause a fatal wreck, and not only for the squirrel. Virtually all the inept, incompetent things we encounter in laws and regulations were born of good intentions. But we see where that´s landed us.

Socialism murder between 100 and 150 million people in the last century. What makes anyone think Obama´s crowd will be different. Their only stumbling bock is Americans are armed and will fight. Don´t think it can´t happen here. Just listen to hate that is spouted on MSNBC. Bill Ayers our Presidents buddy and former Weatherman Underground Bomber stated they would have to eliminate 25 Million Americans who would not except reeducation after the revolution (quote is easily found). Paul new where to strike the beast and Vichy John McCain and "Lap dog Boy for McCain" Lindsy Graham need to go.

I found the article rather snarky. I should have expected as much from the Slimes. Their bankruptcy cannot come soon enough.

I agree that many of us have been hoping for a Rand Paul with courage to speak out and alert the people who still care about freedom. And, if getting booted from Lcom is the worst that can happen to you, #3, please keep speaking up. Many apologists who want unity among the Republicans really mean for us to shut up and let the McCains/Grahams et al be the way of the Party. Not sure why but we have many appeasers in the Repub party. Don´t even know if they believe in anything but the party brand. But the rest of us need to speak out as long as possible.

#6 love "Vichy John McCain" looks like a great hash tag to use...let´s watch it go viral!

#VICHYJOHNMCCAIN

During the Bush administration, the people in my state were very angry about warrantless wiretaps, security searches at the airport (the very airport from which the terrorists launched their attack). They did embrace, however, the microphones the authorities placed on their streets in order to enable the police to HEAR the gunshots. The cameras quickly followed with no objections. Because THOSE intrusions were placed in their neighborhoods by the democrats who, we all know, only have the very best of intentions. The drones, even the militarized, shooting drones, will be welcomed in my state because father obama ordered it.

Last night Lindsay Graham was discussing Benghazi with Hannity. When asked how they could get away with such a massive coverup, he responded that the media was not doing their job. The SENATORS and Reps are to do the job of checks and balances and impeach when needed but the media is to report not govern. Or did I miss something?

"McCain" is "Quisling" spelled sideways.

You´ve packed your AK in cosmoline, wrapped it, a Bible, and 5,000 rounds of ammo in multiple garbage bags and sealed them with duct tape, put them in a Rubbermaid tub and sealed it with gabage bags, packing tape, and duct tape, and are just about finished digging the hole to bury them in, hidden in the trees ON YOUR OWN LAND. Look up. Up in the sky. Wave. They may have been watching the whole thing, without a warrant.

This argument is being positioned wrong.

You have to argue against technology like drones because they give someone the opportunity to be tyrannical. This is an argument that should concern the left also but they´re busy circling the wagons around Obama. It doesn´t matter who is president. If it exists, someone will use it at some time in the future.

Self-proclaimed defenders of the Constitution have shouted their approval on Twitter,...

Snark.

...and declaring him to be a welcomed member of their less-is-better-government club.

More snark: It isn´t a "club" -- it´s a fundamental movement that addresses government´s proclivities to take as much as it can get away with.

Mr. McCain dismissed Mr. Paul and the other critics of drones as “the wacko birds on right and left that get the media megaphone.”

I think McCain will regret saying that; it only cements his image as an Greybeard establishment Republican who doesn´t see that things have changed and who refuses to believe his day on the national stage is over. Ditto Graham. Good riddance.

Who gets to define what a terrorist is?

At last, the sheep are starting to wake up and realize what they and non-voting pubbies put into office last November. And a Paul stood up to be heard - for 12 hours without taking a single break to hit the can.

I hate to do this broken glass thing, but, wondering if the gummint´s real motive here is to prepare for an uprising by its own citizens against the gummint and drone strikes against leaders of an uprising is/was one part of the plan.

Cameras watch us as we drive down the street. Government watches our purchases. Planes in the sky to watch our every movement.

Isn´t it wonderful to be in the Land of the Free?

It is my belief that the hollow cartridges purchased by the administration plus the tanks will be used in the 2016 election for the occupier in the white hut to be used when he steals a 3rd term against the impending revolution of we the people.

Despite the brilliance of the Obama collaborator, McCain, the government has already used the military against innocent civilians. Of course, according to Clinton, all the dead women and children at WACO were simply collateral damage.

Using a military tank was clearly against the posse commitatus act.

Does anyone really doubt that Obama would do the same if he chose that path.

Thank you, Senator Paul.

#19 owes me a new keyboard.
"White Hut". Indeed!

"The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government, lest it come to dominate our lives and interests." Patrick Henry 1736-1799
Rand Paul is not the first to think about the risk posed by a government with unbridled power. The men who set up this Republic incorporated the balance of powers for a reason! The unadjusted history books are full of reports of governments turning against their people.
As Paul stated, it is not just about how much you trust this president, but it is about how much you will trust all future presidents that might choose to use this tool to take out their enemies. Without holding firmly to the Constitution, we could easily degenerate into a banana republic with military rule, machine guns at the mall, drones flying over your property, bloody coups....

The sad part is I really believe obama and his tribe are quite capable and willing to subject the USA to martial law to enact his socialism policies. His lackeys will admire him for it like they admire mao, pot, and stalin. He wants to do this from the "white hut" (thanks) with the help of people like "vichyjohnmcain" (thanks again!).

Dittos #8. Those "apologists who want unity among the Republicans" are easy to see through. Not one word against their darlings is to go unchallenged & unadmonished, but they feel free to snark away about Republicans who don´t tickle their fancy for whatever reason, Sarah Palin being chief among them. Pot, meet kettle.

No Technology goes unused
No moral dilema goes untested

Won´t read past the opening line "deeply rooted American suspicion." Clearly, the NYT is going to report about us "bitter clingers" who won´t believe in the socialist utopia that would be so wonderful for everyone if we would just get over our primitive fear of the government.

A Tea Party, NRA or "potential right-wing terrorist meeting" version of the phony Gulf of Tonkin incident, to give them an excuse. Would they (e.g., Obama, Holder, Napolitano) do it? Damn right they would.

Let´s not be so hasty. This sudden turnaround by the liberals in approving homeland surveillance and drone assassinations, and the buildup of domestic government weaponry may yet have an upside. Imagine the shock on their faces, for example, when they watch the evening news someday in the future during the administration of President Cruz, and they see Nancy Pelosi´s limo fleeing across the Golden Gate Bridge only to be taken out by a Cruz missile fired by a Liberator drone.

Unintended consequences sometimes warm your heart.

#11, think about how many heroes there must be, of whom we have all never heard due to the fact there was no one there to tell their tale. Jefferson knew damned good and well that without a functioning, unbiased Press, the United States could not survive. Hopefully, as with so much else, we simply no longer need
the ba-----s.

Vichy John McCain is upset because he was caught out having a very expensive dinner with Obama instead of doing his job supporting Rand Paul. When he found out the next day about all the bipartisan support across the nation for Rand Paul, and the disgust for Vichy for not doing his job, he just couldn´t take it. Hence the attack on Rand Paul.

We see through you Vichy John. Rand Paul has done more for this country in 13 hours of talking than you or even Rand´s own father have done in your entire careers. I truly hope that the voters of AZ have finally come to their senses and will vote out the collaborator for evil.

#16 -- Who gets to define what a terrorist is?

That is exactly what I thought when the Patriot Act was passed. The freedom to define who a terrorist is, and what a constitutes a terrorist act is huge! And if you have noticed in local news papers people are being charged with making "terroristic threats" not just old fashioned intimidation or menacing. According to government, terrorism is everywhere. ANYONE could be a terrorist - from the newborn on an airline flight to the granny in a diaper trying to see family before they die.

I love NCIS. Yet, there is something telling about government and law enforcement thinking in those scripts. The protagonists consistently threaten suspects with the terrorist tag in order to get the information they want. Civil liberties of American citizens are threatened with a simple tag in order to coerce information. How long until this happens at the state and local level.

We have become a surveillance state. The government will not back down on drones. Local government - especially confiscation crazy law enforcement departments (remember, they get to keep any property that is gained from illegal activities like drug related offenses) will employ them as well. All in the name of safety, security, and the warm blanket of protection. Freedom, that´s just another word for terror in this new Orwellian state.

Imagine John Ashcroft announcing that George W Bush had the absolute legal authority to order the execution of American citizens anywhere in the world, including on US soil.

Imagine Donald Rumsfeld announcing that military drones were being equipped with Hellfire missiles, and used to incinerate terrorist targets that the President designated in weekly meeting.

Imagine Dick Cheney announcing the US would initiate military drone flights within the borders of the US.

Imagine Tom Ridge announce the Department of Homeland Security was purchasing 2700 armored military vehicles, and 1.6 billion rounds of ammunition.

Imagine George W Bush announcing that he had authority to shut down the internet in times of national crisis.

Imagine George W Bush personally villifying (by name) the publishers and op/ed writers of the Washington Post and the New York Times.

Imagine George W Bush, smiling, and announcing at a press conference "I´m not a Dictator".....


what would the Left do?

#2 You are so right. 4 million Republicans did not stay home....their votes were stolen and flipped. Exactly.
DHS is a monstrosity created by Osama Bin Laden with his 9/11 attack. He got help from Bush and both parties in America and now we have a Marxist in the WH who will use this bureaucratic military style police force to destroy America.
Bin Laden won, and now we have Hussein Obama in the WH. And a muslim, John Brennan at CIA.
Who really wanted to take his oath on the Quran.

I agree the article is snarky - just look at the title Visions of Drones Swarming... It is not about the technology it is about the real conservative principles. Check Andrew McCarthy´s other column on NRO about what Rand Paul missed. McCarthy´s two columns today together are magnificent and have something for everybody.

The significance of this event is its dramatic demonstration that "we had to go through root canal" to get Obama to admit that there is even the most obvious, least controversial, constitutional limitation on the power of the presidency. I suspect Rand has other illustrations of this disturbing, authoritarian mindset in store. Each time he forces the President to grudgingly concede a limitation that all others would agree is beyond dispute will underscore the reality we are dealing with in this White House.

A series of movies that has appealed across generations is the Terminator Series. Arnold aside, it´s easy to now picture a future struggle of man against the machines. In the Terminator movies, however, the machines had become self-thinkers and there was no hint that the govt. had turned against the people. The way this administration has been grabbing the rights of free Americans right and left (pun intended) - has opened our eyes to such a possibility that was only science fiction a few years ago. This is an issue that not only crosses party lines, but also generational lines. Young, uninformed voters, through the movies and their video games, already have a mental picture of the coming conflict. Perhaps God is using the evils of this administration to herd the young and the liberals into a more conservative outlook on basic human values such as life and privacy.

I have no doubt that Obozo and his cohorts would attack American citizens if they thought it would futher their ambitions and that they could get away with it. And it looks like they´re leading up to just that. What in he$$ does DHS need 2700 armored vechiles for and a couple billion rounds of hollow point ammunition? Something is in the wind and it needs to be sniffed out. And I´m not your typical conspirity freak either. It´s time for we freedom loving citizens to rise up and re-take our country.

Viva la revolucion!

Wow, how many times has there been a NYT comment thread that you mostly agree with? Rand Paul did a lot more than just stand up and talk for 13 hours.

Govt raids like Waco, Ruby Ridge and others to come will be conducted by remote control: as in Afghanistan.
It will be over before the news cameras get there.
God help us.

#2 is right: ´Every day I see evidence that massive, bloody civil war is coming.´

# 2 Four million Republican voters did not stay home.
Limbaugh keeps saying that ..
and he is completely wrong..
In fact, Romney had a bigger Republican turn out than McCain-by almost a million votes.
In fact , Romney got the second highest number of Republican votes in US history .
It was Obama who lost votes-3,591,303 less Democrats voted in 2012 than 2008.
Even so, he got the second highest number of votes in history -almost 66 million votes compared to his 69 million votes in 2008.
Why is it perfectly acceptable to call McCain juvenile names like Quisling, McQueeg , McVain, McNutso and on and on for years , but, when
he responds with equal puerility-once-- the right becomes apoplectic ?
The majority media soundbites are now hellfire drones attacking Jane Fonda , Alice in Wonderland and right wing whacko birds.
Too much is at stake for Republicans of all persuasions , from the conservatives and Tea Party
to the libertarian and liberal to continue
engaging in these distracting
and juvenile food fights.

As always in the NYT, if you are liberal, you are an activist; if you are conservative, you are a right-wing conspiracy theorist.

Many mistakes, well-intended or not, have been made in our nation´s history. These mistakes demonstrated either blind ignorance or willful disregard of the inevitable progression of tyranny that was set in motion. Among the most damaging of these are:

- The income tax, that opened the door to government intrusion on everyone´s finances

- Government-to-individual welfare - first enacted by Teddy Roosevelt for widows and orphans

- Obamacare

- Department of Homeland Security - Established by George W Bush. It provides the vehicle for Obama´s "National Security Army"

#2: You are so right. I could have never imagined that I would someday truly believe that I would see a bloody civl war. I hear story after story of families literally torn apart because of Obama. His numerous disgusting character flaws set my teeth on edge, and when I hear people in my own (extended) family defend him I have to leave the room. I do not doubt for one second that if Obama were to die in office-no matter what the apparent cause--there would be blood in the streets before sundown. It scares the daylights out of me.

Thank You Dr Paul for stepping up where others stand by and gripe.

Then the newly minted CIA director takes his oath of office on a DRAFT copy of the Constitution which notably does not include the Bill of Rights or any of the other amendments that are in the current in-force document. What´s up with THAT????

#40 never disappoints. Quisling and Vichy had their supporters, too.

Pray tell, other than appeasment to the "progressive" socialist agenda, what does the Republican brand stand for? Please explain and give examples.

Does it really matter what the appointee took his oath upon when we know darn well that the oath isn´t pledging a sacred duty to honor freedom and respect for people?
To kill the Hydra of Greek myth wasn´t it necessary to cut off the head.
The reaction to Rand´s stand proves even the liberals can be shocked into rejecting a cold determined mind set of accept anything their out of control leaders gin up to achieve their agenda?
The common goal used to be live free in decency it is now live my way and how dare you disagree with me.Both factions are guilty of that transgression.

All great comments...the only thing is I don´t remember seeing anyone being an apologist for McCain or Graham here. Maybe I missed something.

Anyway, did you notice how they reference "liberal activists" and "civil libertarians" but then there are the "right wing conspiracy theorists"? No, no bias in the media... ugh

I live near Ft.Dix, McGuire AFB ( NJ). Every so often planes ( grey in color, tranports) will come into the base from the east( Atlantic Ocean). During February the air traffic was almost non stop.Last year, two friends and myself saw a drone . It went over the road we were on,, changed direction, then vanished. I know what a plane looks like, this was no ordinary plane.

Btw, #31...I remember a few years ago that people were getting charged with terrorist threats simply for having a verbal argument in public. I was even told not to verbally argue out in public because anyone can now call in to the police and they WILL arrest me for making terrorist threats. You know, regular arguments that people sometimes get into....nothing violent or physical--just loud talking. We don´t have a free country at all anymore.

Ruminations:

Picture a Tea Party Tax Day rally next month that is being monitored overhead by Homeland Security. They have heard over captured cellphone conversation from below that Randy Weaver’s more violent “but uncharged” brother is attending. The cellphone conversation revealed that “Johnny” Weaver still blamed the Justice Department and Treasury for Randy’s death. He also said if he ever got a chance he’d seek revenge by using violence against the government.

The drone had been ordered to fly across state lines to get there. As it slowly whirred above they turned on its scanners to detect faces and weapons in the crowd. When a face matching Johnny´s was found he was seen to have a holstered hand gun. He’s armed with a legally purchased gun and holds a State issued CC permit.

So far we have violated the other innocent Tea Partier’s 1st Amendment rights to assemble and their 4th Amendment rights against unreasonable search. By scanning for their legal weapons they also violated their 2nd Amendment right to bear arms. Then by crossing state lines and usurping State authority they have violated the 10th Amendment.

What about “Johnny”? Johnny was immediately determined to be a terrorist and an imminent threat. Therefore Obama paused his golf game and gave the order to vaporize him with a Hellfire missile. This lead to a violation of poor Johnny’s 5th (due process), 6th (confront his accuser) and 8th Amendment rights (cruel and unusual punishment).

Johnny’s small son was also in his arms and was killed. When Obama was asked for comment, just as he had said earlier about the 16 year old kid in Yemen, "we are always sorry for collateral damage but make no mistake, it’s his own fault though for having a terrorist as a father".

Rumination over. Back to work.

Many Conservatives were really turned off by the Primary battle and the Republican
leadership in the last election and did stay home. We remember how the Republican Establishment called Ronald Reagan that right wing cowboy actor from California Luckily, Reagan had the charm and intelligence to win the hearts of the people. Rand Paul probably does not and it is too bad Cruz was not born in the USA because he does have charm and intelligence in spades.

Remember the Reichstag.

The time is now to get preventative legislation passed. No president, especially this one should have the power of life and death without due process.

Pardon a second post, but we need to have a little more information about Ted Cruz and the possibility that he might run for President in 2016 if he is eligible.

He was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. His mother is/was an American at the time of his birth, and his father, a Cuban immigrant, supposedly, did not become an American citizen until 2005. Unless his father was naturalized before Ted´s birth, Ted would not be considered "natural born" - having two American citizen parents at the time of his birth.

The LSM is already trying to gin up his birth statistics and trying to put down the right on their stance regarding Obama´s eligibility.

I think Ted Cruz knows enough about his parents to determine his eligibility. Unlike Obama, he really does know the law. His bio in Wikipedia states the following impressive information:
Cruz served as a law clerk to William Rehnquist, Chief Justice of the United States, and J. Michael Luttig of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Cruz was the first Hispanic ever to clerk for a Chief Justice of the United States.

Cruz has authored more than 80 United States Supreme Court briefs and presented 43 oral arguments, including nine before the United States Supreme Court.

I believe he will be honest and will not run if he isn´t truly eligible according to the "natural born clause" of the Constitution. There would be no reason why he couldn´t be the Attorney General - I think he would be one of the best AG´s that America has ever had, if he were appointed.

We don´t need this

We don´t need this

I think we had gone from those "crazy cabby" theories to really believe in the commie/fascist conspiracy in our government!
#1 - about elections - I suspect that the commies/fascists threatened with street riots if obozo won´t win the elections.
#2 - I very strongly suspect that mccain, graham, boehner, roberts, have very dirty secrets the commies know about; and do what they are told to do by the regime.
I don´t have any other rational explanation for both, ##1, 2.

Thank you Sen. Paul for taking a brave stand when others just bent over. The real concern here is that We cannot count on Congress to control Zippy or even fight for US.

BTW I never feared Nixon.

Glenn Beck´s fictional book on "Agenda 21" may end up being true. Think about that.

#40 has staked out some tough ground here: "Why is it perfectly acceptable to call McCain juvenile names like Quisling, McQueeg , McVain, McNutso and on and on for years, but, when he responds with equal puerility-once-- the right becomes apoplectic?"

What we say in blog posts about John McCain isn´t the issue. McCain said it in an interview with the Huffington Post. He called his fellow Senator Rand Paul a "wacko bird." There is no corresponding example of similarly insulting abuse of John McCain by Rand Paul.

McCain´s conduct and his comment are indefensible.