Sen. Rand Paul (R – KY) has blocked a motion by majority leader Mitch McConnell (R – KY) to advance the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the massive military spending bill, saying that the bill should instead face debate and possible amendments. This sets the bill back for 6 weeks, at least.
In particular, Sen. Paul is seeking two amendments, one which ends NDAA authorization for indefinite detention of suspects,and another related to the Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF), something that was added to the House version but later quietly removed by the Speaker.
Paul’s protest is expected to delay the NDAA vote through at least the August recess, meaning a vote is unlikely until September. While this gives plenty of time for amendments to be debated, it’s not clear the Senate leadership will allow that no matter how much time they’re given.
Indeed, Senate Armed Services Committee chairman Sen. John McCain (R – AZ) was critical of any delay on any grounds, insisting the bill and its huge spending increase are a “solemn obligation” for the Senate to pass without delay. Other Senators have repeatedly been angry with Sen. Paul for not getting their way on bills, but the military spending bill is such a large one it’s likely to be particularly unpopular to debate, as quietly slipping it through is the way these things usually go.
It’s a big F U by Paul to McCain.
Oh, and most definitely McConnell.
Maybe Paul is hoping MCCRAZY will be with Satan by the time they come back from recess!
Satan will probably reject his a**.
Too fing evil for Satan!!!
I hope Satan shoves it up his ass …NO Devils lube!
Finally Sen. Paul does something right. But the jury is still out on his non-interventionist credentials.
He has been the best senator by far since he lost the primary election. His campaign was completely idiotic. Hopefully he learned not be a typical GOP clown anymore.
I’m guessing this is one of those ‘we have to pass it so we can see what’s in it’ moments. We spend so much on ‘defense’ and for what? So we don’t feel threatened by anything? Guess what- I have NEVER felt the US has been threatened in my lifetime.
I was a total cold war kid, right? I grew up in the 60’s, in the Appalachian Mountains of western North Carolina, just east of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (i.e. “downwind”). I was one of those little kids that huddled under his desk with his head between his knees and waited for the shock wave. One day, I knew, it would be for real … I just never knew which one it would be.
We were brought up in fear. I was brought up to think the Russians were aggressive expansionists. They wanted to rule the world!
I held that notion, in fact, until quite recently. I’m embarrassed to admit how recently. Propaganda cuts deep and it takes a firm hold.
I was very surprised to learn how untrue that belief really was.
It was all a lie; the whole thing was sold with a relentless campaign of propaganda. “Well, the Russians were telling their kids the same lies!” Oh, yes, I’m quite certain of that, but I really don’t care; I only know the lie that was told to ME; I no longer believe that lie; and I certainly wasn’t guilty of propagating it by telling it to my daughter.
You are not alone – I started to wake up in the 1990’s.
We spend so much on offense because that’s how the robber barons amass huge fortunes. It has nothing at all to do with defense.
God Bless Rand Paul for standing up to the warmonger scum.
Can we turn back the clock and elect Rand for Pres? I’m starting to believe the Ron Paul genes are finally taking hold.
His campaign was horrible. He has actually been pretty good since he lost
Thanks again, Rand Paul. As for McCain, well…don’t want to be blocked from this site.
There was an article about McCain at The Intercept. The comment section was merciless in their hatred towards McCain despite his brain tumor. I loved it and participated.
McCain cannot bear anything useful to happen.