John McCain and Lindsey Graham Declare War on Rand Paul
The anti-Rand Pauls, Sen. John McCain of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, took to the Senate floor this morning to defend killing American citizens at presidential discretion. Graham is doing so live on C-SPAN2 right now, saying that everything you do is a danger to America no matter who or where you are, as long as the U.S. government has decided you have "joined al-Queda," whatever the hell that means.
Earlier John McCain said, as Business Insider reported:
"Calm down, Senator," McCain said, in an admonition to Paul. "The U.S. government cannot randomly target U.S. citizens."
McCain argued that Paul's warning that the Obama could target would U.S. citizens in "cafes" on American soil, and his related "Jane Fonda" analogy, bring the debate into the "realm of the ridiculous."
"If Mr. Paul wants to be taken seriously he needs to do more than pull political stunts that fire up impressionable libertarian kids," he said. "I don't think what happened yesterday is helpful to the American people."
The Republican Party is at war, folks, and let's hope Rand Paul and his troops win.
UPDATE: Sen. McCain was apparently quoting a crummy Wall Street Journal op-ed in the portion quoted above about "libertarian kids."
Editor's Note: As of February 29, 2024, commenting privileges on reason.com posts are limited to Reason Plus subscribers. Past commenters are grandfathered in for a temporary period. Subscribe here to preserve your ability to comment. Your Reason Plus subscription also gives you an ad-free version of reason.com, along with full access to the digital edition and archives of Reason magazine. We request that comments be civil and on-topic. We do not moderate or assume any responsibility for comments, which are owned by the readers who post them. Comments do not represent the views of reason.com or Reason Foundation. We reserve the right to delete any comment and ban commenters for any reason at any time. Comments may only be edited within 5 minutes of posting. Report abuses.
Please
to post comments
So what brain torture will the liberals go through when they realize the these two are on their Dear Leader's side?
"Responsible Republicans, including the maverick John McCain [who was briefly an extremist in 2008 but went back to being responsible as soon as he lost to Obama] have rejected the extremism of the teabaggers and nihilists who are dragging the Republicans to certain defeat."
You're really Jay Carney, aren't you?
Well done.
They're not Nazis, Donnie, they're nihilists. There's a difference."
We believe in NO-ZING!
Obama takes them out for dinner and now they are his bitches
John and Lindsey got jungle fever!
But, it was such a good dinner.
Why is the Jane Fonda analogy ridiculous? She propagandized in favor of the North Vietnamese, even going to far as to get photographed holding one of their weapons. What did Awlickme do which was worse?
He wasn't an attractive white actress?
He made videos. And he was too difficult to capture (Carmen Sandiego with a beard?).
McCain makes me wonder what the point of fighting World War II was, if little fascists like him are going to sell out their country so cheaply.
He was allowed conjugal visits by a female North Vietnam staffer when he was a POW. What does a guy do to get that privilege? Promise to use their status as a war hero to go into American politics and remember who his friends are, maybe? Nahh, couldn't be. Homeland is just a show.
You finally figured it out. Looks like we'll have to neutralize anyone who's ever seen this comment. We took out half of Reason's readership two years ago the last time some wise guy like you posted this very comment. Now, you're starting to figure out why there are so few libertarians and even fewer Reason subscriptions.
"Calm down, Senator," McCain said, in an admonition to Paul. "The U.S. government cannot randomly target U.S. citizens."
Cite needed, Maverick.
Oh, and one fun thing you can do with this, is tweak lefties by pointing out how they are in league with McCain and Graham.
It's a straw man, anyway. Paul has never said anything about random targeting.
yeah McCain needs to learn to use verbs correctly. "Can not" is not the same thing as "does not". Geez, even Holder got that one right.
McCain needs to go away. He's the press go-to Republican, and he's nothing but trouble. Too much damn ego.
He's already in Arizona, so retirement is easy.
Unfortunately the vast majority of the elderly Sun City "keep your government hands off my medicare" Republican demographic around here would vote for Karl Marx if he had an R next to his name.
I thought that was florida...
Nothing new here. These two fools can't read the writing on the wall and are continuing their descent into obscurity. The ones to watch out for and the bandwagon jumpers like McConnell and Chambliss.
"When you're green, you're good. When you're ripe, you're rotten."
Seems McCain and Graham have been in Washington too long.
You misquote. The quote is:
"When you are green, you will grow.
"When you think you are ripe, you are rotten."
Problem is, there is no writing on the wall. Fucks like this stay in office for decades.
"Calm down, Senator," McCain said, in an admonition to Paul. "The U.S. government cannot randomly target U.S. citizens."
McCain argued that Paul's warning that the Obama could target would U.S. citizens in "cafes" on American soil, and his related "Jane Fonda" analogy, bring the debate into the "realm of the ridiculous."
Argumentum ad lapidem. At least Grampa McCain is yelling at actual people instead of clouds and ducks.
He forgot to say "Now get offa my lawn!"
If it's so ridiculous, why won't Obama or his minions give a straight answer?
Because fuck you?
I only recently registered on this site. I took the time to read to suggestions for comments. The suggestion was to be civil. A more civil response would be, fornicate you. Having said that, what value did your comment have to the discussion?
It's an in-joke around here. It means, "the situation is as it is because (some officious prick) says it's so."
See also: Glengarry Glenross's Alec Baldwin scene
"What's your name?"
Lol, you really are new here, aren't ya? If profanity offends you, you're gonna have a bad time.
There is no requirement to add value to a discussion. Mindless rambling is acceptable.
When i first registered i didn't realize you could swear.. now...
FUCKING TRANNIES IN THAILAND WHILE SNORTING COKE OFF OF THEIR TITS..
EXACTLY!! When Holder was asked by Sen. Cruz about the drones - the simple answer was NO! But he danced around the answer. You have to ask yourself why no one, in this "transparent" administration, can give a straight answer!
This administration is as transparent as a bleeding brick wall.
You impressionable libertarian kids get off my lawn!!!!
/McCain
Yeah, it has been a decade (or so) since anyone referred to me as a kid, and I haven't figured if a qualify as a Libertarian, but when asswipes like McCain start passing themselves off as the voice of sanity count me in as proud citizen of the "realm of the ridiculous."
Yeah it's not helpful at all to defend the civil liberties of this country's citizens. My words for McCain are, go screw. He left the Straight Talk Express a long time ago and is now just a miserable old man who is pissed that he'll never be President.
Exactly. Rand Paul 2016!
OT: Police Chief Opposes Second Amendment; Gets Tank For His "Troops"
I'll just leave this here.
Not that Rance Priebus is reading this little ol' website; but as a registered "R" who finally refused to take my polling day nut-punch, you better start to embrace the "little l" faction of your party. We are out here. We are younger than the Boomers that have wrested control of the GOP. We have no problem voting "L" if we don't like your candidate. You come to us, or you go away. For good.
Choose wisely.
+1
+1
Some of us boomers are also the "small l" libertarians. We are in this together - you for your future and we for our grandkids!
Yep!
Glad to hear it. Now, if you could have a talk with my parents (Boomers), and teach them how to be a true conservative/libertarain I'd appreciate it. Because I can't get through to them.
My mom totally gets it, god I love her for it. My dad unfortunately has more in common with McCain though.
And some of us were small "l" when you were in three cornered pants. Appreciate our pain....and our patience.
Yes and +1 thing
+ 10000
And are you not special? So only you wet behind the ears, no job, rara, living at home youngsters will vote "L"? You are almost as arrogant as the "Boomers" of whom you complain.
False dilemmas are awesome!
At this point I only vote "R" because sometimes the "little l"s hiding as "R" are better at the "big L" than guy with "L" next to his name on the ballot.
More and more of us old R's are converting to L's (not lesbians. OK, yes lesbians) because we don't want to be old and senile like McCain and Lindsay Graham.
+1, even though I'm Canadian. The Conservative Party here is just a cheaper version of The Rethuglicans, with way less entertainment value.
Remember the good old days when conservatives bitches us out for not voting for this piece of shit?
Well, you still have to admit that his position here doesn't make him any worse than Obama on the issue. Voting Libertarian was understandable, but voting for Obama over McCain madness for a libertarian.
Indubitably.
But, but, Nick told us his vote for Bob Barr was the right thing to do!!
The world would be a better place if John McCain had been drawn and quartered in the Hanoi Hilton and if Millie Graham would have thrown his wife Florence down a flight of stairs in early 1955.
Ruh, roh!
Did McCain just say he "would have gotten away with it too, if it weren't for you meddling libertarian kids"?
Nice.
if McCain would have won over those college libertarians, he could have been president. fucking moron still doesn't get it
First they ignore you, then they fight you, then... I can't seem to remember the rest.
then... they establish re-education camps and purges begin.
We already have re-education camps, they are called public schools.
Stop being a deviationist!
First it's purges, THEN it's reeducation camps!
McCain was stupid when he graduated (last in his class) and he got more stupid during his captivity. Respect his service to the US, but he should have retired LONG LONG AGO! The man is a useless idiot.
Thought Graham would have been above criticizing Rand Paul. In fact, ALL 100 Senators SHOULD have been standing with Paul--and defending the CONSTITUTION! We still have laws, damn it! You kill a guy when you finding him lighting the fuse, but not when he's having a coffee and POTUS declares him a "target" without apprehension, without being charged, without a trial. Could anyone actually trust that megalomanic with determining who lives and who dies? Give me a break. The Senators that did NOT support Paul should all be recalled! They are part of the problem in this country.
I wouldn't trust Gandhi with that kind of power. These fascists need to find their way home and stay there.
If McCain didn't like it, then it must be good. McCain is a slithering weasel who bounces around looking for a butt cheek to attach himself to. I trust Rand Paul. I don't trust McCain and the other RINO Republicans. Rand Paul shares many good attributes with our Founding Fathers, notably wisdom and courage.
I would punch McCain right in the balls, but I don't think he's got them any more.
McCain and Graham both have vaginas, and now they have sand in them.
They suffer from penis envy and like many liberal women, find a man like Rand Paul threatening.
Yo McCain, there are some cheap flights back to Hanoi you faggot!
Some day Rand may swing that peace and liberty cock like his dad swings his immense anti-war-state Roan Paoul Cock.
Can McCain prove he hasn't "joined al-Queda"?
Just asking around; the targets are getting a bit thin...
No, he's been a commie since they turned him.
sablegsd| 3.7.13 @ 9:28PM |#
"No, he's been a commie since they turned him."
Pretty sure commies are on the list. Are you listening, Obama?
John McCain needs to spend more time with his family.
Yeah, his dead family at the cemetery.
This is why the Republican party is falling apart and losing ground with the people! They want to spend too much time infighting and trying to take down anyone who is not the next Reagan. This is why the dems and Obama are in control. The current Republican party has lost touch with the American people...period. Politicians now are all alike...no matter their party. They have no clue what we are going thru....$4 gas, food prices going up, unemployment/undermeployment, more taxes taken out of pay checks. When was the last time ANY politician had to fill up their own gas tank? Buy a gallon of milk? Decide which bill to pay and which not to pay so they can feed their families? Stood in an unemployment line? Had to ask for assistance?
Republicans need to loosen up their stuffed shirts and dems need to stop trying to spend money we don't have.
I went to see "Lincoln" this weekend and I told my wife that today's politician would not last five minutes on the House floor in 1865...they would have been eaten alive!
This isn't simple infighting - this will determine what the party stands for. If it stands for McCain and Graham, they have lost me forever.
If the party is for Rand Paul, Lee, Johnson, and Cruz, we can talk.
^^^ Yep ^^^
If Cruz will cut it with the Ayn Rand bullshit.
I have found that most Objectivists (that I know or know of) seem to be neocons. Sad.
McCain and Graham are military lifers. They are establishment drones and will target anything that is a threat to the military-industrial complex.
Yep
It seems the swine are happy feeding at the trough while the new guard are doing their damnedest to kick the trough over. The sooner McCain, Graham, and the other old school Reps are put out to stud, the better.
I don't want those worthless shits reproducing.
Congrats on making Drudge today, Doherty.
The right solution is for Rand Paul to tell both Sen. McCain and President Obama to shut up and pay attention to what he asks, then give him the right answer or get out of this country.
Fuck John McCain and Lindsey Graham. In a just world they would be two of the first to be hund from the lamp posts when the revolution comes.
Dear John: It is more than impressionable college kids that are concerned with the protection of our liberties. If it wasn't for your lame campaign we wouldn't have to worry about this manacle megalomaniac in office trying to shred the constitution. Why don't you pipe down.
The old guard of the Republican Party -- the McCains, Grahams, and other neo-cons, are past due on their expiration date. Time to be put out to pasture.
I voted for John McCain in 2008 and I'm very disappointed with him taking issue with SEN Rand Paul. Maybe it is time for him to look at Retirement and let those of us that will have to deal with this mess created by Obama get to work. When a Government targets it's own citzens when not actively engaged in some type of treason then it has becom Tyrannical.
I'll second each word in that!
Thanks, "my friend", but I voted for Sarah Palin. Today's gesticulation by McCain and his Mini-Me are a great indication of why.
Fuck you John McCain and Lindsey "goober" Graham. Die already.
If an American citizen DID join Al Qaeda, is he a fair target? If you used drones strike known Al Qaeda lairs, he might get killed anyways.
Just to be safe, I would prefer the president not have the power to target American citizens on his whim. But this issue is a bit sticky. If we charged anyone with a crime, then we can't just bomb him with a drone. We would have to grab him the conventional way, which risks American lives. We'd have to cooperate with a bunch of surly middle eastern allies who wants input.
These Two old men need to sit the fuck down and shut the fuck up.
They are Dinosaurs and "traitors of the Constitution" and
it is because of these two old chicken hawks and their ilk,
And Progressives that (sleep together) in a
"perpetual fear of Americans and their own failed Foreign Policy", we now find ourselves living in a "Nazi style Police State".
( wake up and look around People)
Remember it was these two old farts among others that(knowingly)
embraced the lies of WMDs in Iraq and got us into this
"FOREVER WAR" (their words) on Terror. because they love war !
A war on Terror, who's guns now have been turned on the American People, to instil fear in the hearts of Americans to undermine the Constitution of our Republic and take away our GOD given rights to
defend ourselves against ALL TREATS, Period.
GOD bless Rand Paul, and what he did to show the American People the extent of the lawlessness/Treason of this current Administration,
and the contempt they have for our way of life.
These People are Destroying our Nation,
we are running out of options, running out of time,
and running out of FREEDOM.
These People believe they are above the law and make new
freedom killing laws every day with E.O.s.
Pick up your pitch forks and pruning hooks...
It is Time to water the Tree of Liberty.
GOD bless, Faiths Burden.
"GOD given rights to
defend ourselves against ALL TREATS, Period."
It's not treats or pointed sticks you have to worry about, it's fruit.
http://youtu.be/piWCBOsJr-w
Can we send McCain back to Vietnam... gotta be permissible under the NDAA.
Take your medication, Senator McCain, and go back to your playpen while the adults run the country. Under Obama it was not at all clear that the president had unlimited power to kill any American anywhere under any condition, until Holder's letter was published. If you think otherwise, you really must check yourself into a mental institution permanently...
In what way is the Jane Fonda analogy anything other than perfect?
Paul should send McCain and Graham some flowers. They couldn't have done him a bigger favor.
Dinosaur Republicans Shout to Libertarian Kids "Get offa my lawn!"
Yeah, that's a headline that hurts Paul.
"Kid"? Jeezem, that's the nicest thing anyone has called me in many, many years!
until I saw the check 4 $6936, I didn't believe that my father in law was realie earning money part-time on their computer.. there aunt had bean doing this less than eighteen months and at present repaid the depts on there mini mansion and got a great Infiniti. this is where I went, http://www.wow92.com
People like McCain and Graham are fully paid-up members of the War Party. They want US to trust the Government, the same Government that routinely lies to us.
It's important that the War Party loses.
The sad thing? People around here would be surprised how many antiwar progressives are cheering on McCain and Graham.
No, the gop is dead. It's a walker.
The handful of decent gop politicians need to find or start a third party. PRONTO. Because I know I am not the only one who has had enough of their crap. Not one more time will I hold my nose and vote for a spineless, traitorous weasel. Not one more dime will I donate. Not one more minute will I volunteer.
The gop is dead. And they committed suicide.
McCain and Graham can just go back to Barack and resume licking his boney fingers. This 51-year old Libertarian "kid" stands with Rand Paul. The rest of the R's in congress should take note of the groundswell of support Senator Paul is getting from out here in the heartland and then decide where they stand. We have had it up here with politicians who are willing to sell us and the Constitution out to Obama so they can keep a tenuous hold on their dwindling power.
I gotta admit, I had my doubts about Rand. I was a little concerned that he was a sell out, didn't have the cojones of his old man. Boy was I wrong! I have zero homosexual tendencies, but man, yesterday Rand had me sporting wood!
Can the Republican'ts finally get their shit together and become the anti-Big Government party they claim to be? Still too soon to tell, but if it happens, look no further than Mr. Paul to explain how.
Oh, and McCain and Graham can get bent
I started off pretty sketpical, and he's only gotten better. The apple didn't fall far from the tree.
Haven't elderly reptiles like McCain and Graham figured out that it's the age of the mammals? They need to slink away to some dark hole and freeze to death.
People who refuse to straight out say something are hinding something. I voted for John McCain once since he was the better choice, but if he takes offence at someone wanting something clearly spelled out he is being disingenuous.
Most of the comments herein are snide, simply decrying the waffling positions of supposed conservative senators, Graham and McCain. If you are on this site, then you at least consider the notion that perhaps a large, detached federal governments does not act in the best interests of their constituents. But is that really the issue.
The primary issue is one of a failing of character. Are we really surprised that Lindsay Graham is upset with Rand Paul? Mr. Graham is another governmental attorney who has never amounted to anything personally, until he duped his way into taking over Strom Thurmond's decrepit senate seat in 2003. Before that, Graham was elected as a U.S.Rep. after 20-year incumbent Butler Derrick retired. McCain is no different. They are both part of the machine that is the Republican party. These two windbags are as unremarkable as they are incompetent. McCain is still riding the coat tails of an honorable military service. They are shameless self-promoters: no different than the Democrats on the other side of the aisle. Just different pandering to different voters.
Mr. Paul scares the hell out of both parties. The last thing in the world Washington wants is principle driven individuals. This is a pathetic attempt at character assassination. Everyone sees through it. Most people agree with Paul.
It's good when people are finally out themselves as what they really are. Paul's action was a masterstroke on several levels, not the least of which was putting an end to the lie of "establishment Republicans" and getting people to draw their own lines in the sand.
We haven't seen this kind of honesty in politics for a long time.
You have to admit that Rand Paul's suggestion of droning Jane Fonda does sound pretty good.
Hmmm.
Bunch of new handles here sounding pretty stoked by the guy.
til I saw the receipt four $6575, I be certain that...my... friends brother was like they say realey bringing home money in their spare time on their apple labtop.. there sisters roommate started doing this less than fifteen months and a short time ago paid for the morgage on there home and bought a top of the range Citro?n DS. I went here, http://www.wow92.com
"there sisters roommate" is turning tricks.
Get lost, loser.
"Calm down, Senator," McCain said, in an admonition to Paul. "The U.S. government cannot randomly target U.S. citizens."
McCain argued that Paul's http://www.toneweras.com/ warning that the Obama could target would U.S. citizens in "cafes" on American soil, and his related "Jane Fonda" analogy, bring the debate into the "realm of the ridiculous."
"If Mr. Paul wants to be taken seriously he needs to do more than pull political stunts that fire up impressionable libertarian kids," he said. "I don't think what happened yesterday is helpful to the American people."
The Republican Party is at war, folks, and let's hope Rand Paul and his troops win.
"Calm down, Senator," McCain said, in an admonition to Paul. "The U.S. government cannot randomly target U.S. citizens."
McCain argued that Paul's http://www.toneweras.com/new-e.....n-c-3.html warning that the Obama could target would U.S. citizens in "cafes" on American soil, and his related "Jane Fonda" analogy, bring the debate into the "realm of the ridiculous."
"If Mr. Paul wants to be taken seriously he needs to do more than pull political stunts that fire up impressionable libertarian kids," he said. "I don't think what happened yesterday is helpful to the American people."
The Republican Party is at war, folks, and let's hope Rand Paul and his troops win.
Finally we have an issue on which Rachel Maddow and John McCain are in full agreement: giving the President unlimited power to smash the civilian population of the USA.
"Mad Cow and Maverick, sittin' in a tree....."
I'm a fan of John McCain. Hear me out. I'm a fan of his because he engenders political awakenings. I used to work in the sports gaming industry and saw eyes open when they realized this senator from Arizona would rail against online gaming while getting whale treatment in Las Vegas. He made many people question the two-party system (I won't mention a certain sleazy tout who wants to gain Libertarian votes).
Yes, McCain is good for making people realize that there is an alternative.
Alt Text from seeing his invective: Fuck you, John McCain.
"Calm down, Senator," McCain said, in an admonition to Paul. "The U.S. government cannot randomly target U.S. citizens."
McCain argued that Paul's warning that the Obama could target would U.S. citizens in "cafes" on American soil, and his related "Jane Fonda" analogy, bring the debate into the "realm of http://www.toneweras.com/new-era-nfl-c-54.html the ridiculous."
"If Mr. Paul wants to be taken seriously he needs to do more than pull political stunts that fire up impressionable libertarian kids," he said. "I don't think what happened yesterday is helpful to the American people."
my roomate's sister-in-law makes $74 hourly on the laptop. She has been fired from work for seven months but last month her pay check was $16116 just working on the laptop for a few hours. Read more on this site
http://fly38.com