Rand Paul To Place ‘Hold’ On Brennan’s CIA Nomination

[DonViejo]

Source: TPM

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) said on Wednesday that he intends to block President Barack Obama's nomination of John Brennan as director of the Central Intelligence Agency over concerns about the administration's expanded use of drones.

"I have asked Mr. Brennan if he believed that the President has the power to authorize lethal force, such as a drone strike, against a U.S. citizen on U.S. soil, and my question remains unanswered," Paul said in a statement. "I will not allow a vote on this nomination until Mr. Brennan openly responds to the questions and concerns my colleagues and I share."

If the administration refuses to respond, Paul says he will place a hold effectively preventing the scheduling of a vote on Brennan's nomination unless 60 senators wish to proceed.

"These issues must be discussed openly so that the American people can understand what constraints exist on the government's power to use lethal force against its citizens. Before confirming Mr. Brennan as the head of the CIA, it must be apparent that he understands and will honor the protections provided to every American by the Constitution," he added.

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Read more: http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/rand-paul-to-place-hold-on-brennans-cia

[Hard Assets]

2. Reid should ignore the hold and declare nuclear option

and the Republicans have to sit on their corners while we pass meaningful laws.

[sinkingfeeling]

3. I think Reid said he wouldn't accept holds.

[pscot]

4. On the Hagel nomination

Much as I despise Rand Paul, I think his questions need to be answered.

[think]

7. It is a valid question with little room for ambiguity.

Brennan should just answer it and tell us all what we already know.....

[kiranon]

13. There's always room for ambiguity. n/t

[Blue Idaho]

5. Thanks Harry

Due to Harry's awesome negotiating skills we have another year of filibusters and privileged holds to look forward to from republicans who simply do not believe in the constitution and a functional national government.

Way to go Harry.

[truebrit71]

6. He's about as useful as the Pope's balls...

....

[Blue Idaho]

8. +1

[Fuddnik]

12. Ooooh that's good.

And correct.

[lordsummerisle]

17. LOL!

[TwilightGardener]

9. It's a fair question, though, and related to CIA function going forward.

Brennan has been the Drone Guy. Now, if they were asking him to surrender 5 years worth of speeches and financial documents he doesn't control in order to gin up a reason to deny him confirmation (like with Hagel), I'd say it's bullshit.

[onehandle]

10. 'Blip moon motorcycle underwear, handyman incubator monkey pancakes?'

What the Hell does that mean?

[ReRe]

14. The whole document needs to be...

.... fucking released. Period. We should allow nothing, including Brennan, if the entire document can't at least be released to the Intelligence committees in Congress.

[bucolic_frolic]

15. Suddenly the GOP

is a civil rights organization.

This after years of forcing employees to pee in cups, but no concern of
drug use and assault rifle ownership, of limitless searches and seizures

now they're concerned about American's civil rights.

Rand is the laughing stock of the Senate

[Hulk]

16. This is what happens when tea-jadists infiltrate our government.

You end up having the functions of our government sabotaged by lunatic radicals. What a sorry piece of crap.

[truthisfreedom]

18. Prolly not, Rand. Ayn gonna happen.

[mimi85]

20. Good one!

I'm not quite sure who annoys me the most, Rand or Cantor. Or Ryan. Gotta go with Rand.

[geek tragedy]

19. Then sponsor legislation establishing standards, dillhole.

Where has Congress been the past decade on the issue of overseas use of force against individuals?

Waving pom-poms.

[Lions_fan]

21. He should also ask Brennan when did he have his come to Jesus meeting

and oppose torture? Even during his Senate confirmation he refused to answer whether waterboarding is torture or not. This man was complicit in torture and covering it up. Andrew Sullivan wrote a good piece on this back in 2008, which he is now backing away from.

Of course people would wish these questions were coming from Bernie Sanders instead of Rand Paul but regardless of who's asking the questions they still need to be answered. I don't care about the motives behinds his questions, I just want them answered.

[jonthebru]

22. Thanks to Harry Reid.

[blkmusclmachine]

23. .