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In reply to the discussion: The leak was an attempt to bolster the libertarian brand. [View all]"Well there used to be another political faction in favor of civil liberties you know"
...let's compare.
Here's Where Rand Paul Can Find 'Objective Evidence' of Vote Suppression
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023476402
Sen. Rand Paul: Civil Rights Act Was Overreach Because "I Can't Have A Cigar Bar Anymore"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023065177
Rand Paul, Supposed Defender Of Civil Liberties, Calls For Jailing People Who Attend Radical Political Speeches
http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2011/05/31/232182/rand-paul-criminalize-speech/
And from the OP: Rand Paul: Im Not A Firm Believer In Democracy It Gave Us Jim Crow
Compare:
Holder Stands Up for the Right to Vote
Todays excellent New York Times editorial rightfully praises Attorney General Eric Holders efforts this week to highlight the sanctity of the right to vote in America. In his speech from the Lyndon Baines Johnson presidential library in Austin, Texas, the attorney general said, The right to vote is not only the cornerstone of our system of government it is the lifeblood of our democracy. And no force has proved more powerful or more integral to the success of the great American experiment than efforts to expand the franchise.
But this year, weve seen a coordinated effort to shrink our democracy and push voters out of the electorate as legislatures across the country have passed laws that will make it harder for Americans particularly African-Americans, the elderly, students and people with disabilities to exercise their fundamental right to cast a ballot. The Department of Justice plays a critical role in fighting back against these voter suppression laws. The agency can challenge discriminatory voting laws and stop them from going into effect.
Take action and tell Attorney General Holder you agree with his efforts to protect the right to vote.
http://www.aclu.org/blog/voting-rights/holder-stands-right-vote
Todays excellent New York Times editorial rightfully praises Attorney General Eric Holders efforts this week to highlight the sanctity of the right to vote in America. In his speech from the Lyndon Baines Johnson presidential library in Austin, Texas, the attorney general said, The right to vote is not only the cornerstone of our system of government it is the lifeblood of our democracy. And no force has proved more powerful or more integral to the success of the great American experiment than efforts to expand the franchise.
But this year, weve seen a coordinated effort to shrink our democracy and push voters out of the electorate as legislatures across the country have passed laws that will make it harder for Americans particularly African-Americans, the elderly, students and people with disabilities to exercise their fundamental right to cast a ballot. The Department of Justice plays a critical role in fighting back against these voter suppression laws. The agency can challenge discriminatory voting laws and stop them from going into effect.
Take action and tell Attorney General Holder you agree with his efforts to protect the right to vote.
http://www.aclu.org/blog/voting-rights/holder-stands-right-vote
Smarter Sentencing
By THE EDITORIAL BOARD
You know a transformational moment has arrived when the attorney general of the United States makes a highly anticipated speech on a politically combustible topic and there is virtually no opposition to be heard.
That describes the general reaction to Eric Holder Jr.s announcement on Monday that he was ordering a fundamentally new approach in the federal prosecution of many lower-level drug offenders. What once would have elicited cries of soft on crime now drew mostly nods of agreement. As Mr. Holder said, its well past time to take concrete steps to end the nations four-decade incarceration binge the result of harsh sentencing laws enacted in response to increased violent crime in the late 1960s and 1970s.
The statistics have been repeated so often as to be numbing: 1.57 million Americans in state and federal prisons, an increase of more than 500 percent since the late 1970s, at a cost of $80 billion annually. In 2010, more than 7 in 100 black men ages 30 to 34 years old were behind bars. The federal system alone holds 219,000 inmates, 40 percent above its capacity, thanks to strict sentencing guidelines and mandatory minimum sentences. Of these inmates, nearly half are in prison for drug-related crimes.
In Mr. Holders words, too many Americans go to too many prisons for far too long, and for no truly good law enforcement reason. Many criminal-justice experts have long felt the same way. What made Mr. Holders speech timely and important was that it reflected a fundamental shift in thinking about crime and punishment at the highest levels of government.
- more -
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/14/opinion/smarter-sentencing.html
By THE EDITORIAL BOARD
You know a transformational moment has arrived when the attorney general of the United States makes a highly anticipated speech on a politically combustible topic and there is virtually no opposition to be heard.
That describes the general reaction to Eric Holder Jr.s announcement on Monday that he was ordering a fundamentally new approach in the federal prosecution of many lower-level drug offenders. What once would have elicited cries of soft on crime now drew mostly nods of agreement. As Mr. Holder said, its well past time to take concrete steps to end the nations four-decade incarceration binge the result of harsh sentencing laws enacted in response to increased violent crime in the late 1960s and 1970s.
The statistics have been repeated so often as to be numbing: 1.57 million Americans in state and federal prisons, an increase of more than 500 percent since the late 1970s, at a cost of $80 billion annually. In 2010, more than 7 in 100 black men ages 30 to 34 years old were behind bars. The federal system alone holds 219,000 inmates, 40 percent above its capacity, thanks to strict sentencing guidelines and mandatory minimum sentences. Of these inmates, nearly half are in prison for drug-related crimes.
In Mr. Holders words, too many Americans go to too many prisons for far too long, and for no truly good law enforcement reason. Many criminal-justice experts have long felt the same way. What made Mr. Holders speech timely and important was that it reflected a fundamental shift in thinking about crime and punishment at the highest levels of government.
- more -
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/14/opinion/smarter-sentencing.html
ACLU: How to Process Eric Holders Major Criminal Law Reform Speech
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023451453
You see, the attempts to portray Rand Paul as somehow filling a gap left by Democrats is simply designed to hype Rand Paul. It has no basis in reality.
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Well there used to be another political faction in favor of civil liberties you know
NoOneMan
Aug 2013
#1
So, if I agree to allow a third party, for example a house cleaner, to enter
Warren Stupidity
Aug 2013
#112
That poster will not respond to actual questions. The meme he pushes is frightening, consent is the
Bluenorthwest
Aug 2013
#122
Yes, but that was not the claim that was made. Have I ceded my 4th amendment rights?
Warren Stupidity
Aug 2013
#128
If the housekeeper is in possession of my information the government needs a
Warren Stupidity
Aug 2013
#221
No constitutional violation? What constitutes a violation of the Constitution for you?
RC
Aug 2013
#133
Why are you still paying attention to the obsessive reframer behind the curtian?
L0oniX
Aug 2013
#188
To convince people to not care about government spying on us because that helps ron paul.
L0oniX
Aug 2013
#107
If true, it is only because Democrats have ceded the ground on protecting civil liberties.
hlthe2b
Aug 2013
#16
As I said, virtually no DUer I know is in support of Rand Paul. But many of us are horrified at Dems
hlthe2b
Aug 2013
#54
...and then there's the Dems going right along with the Bush/repuke NSA DHS cause.
L0oniX
Aug 2013
#124
But we already knew all about these programs since 2006 or 1996 or 1776 or something?
Fumesucker
Aug 2013
#36
"the quickest way for Obama to make this go away is to be candid and forthright about it." No, see
stevenleser
Aug 2013
#85
That's nice. I even mostly agree. But it doesn't address your point to which I responded.
stevenleser
Aug 2013
#119
Look, we all know for a fact Obama is lying about one major aspect of domestic policy
Fumesucker
Aug 2013
#143
Personally, I thought the leak was a Benghazi-esque part of the Rand Paul campaign.
Coyotl
Aug 2013
#39
A Ratfuck from start to finish. And just look at how many fools swallowed it whole.
MjolnirTime
Aug 2013
#42
or that one doesn't know that Clapper was placed in a lying position but fuck facts, best to chase
uponit7771
Aug 2013
#62
...or that more than enough know to NOT ask certain questions in public of secret agencies but again
uponit7771
Aug 2013
#75
So The Excuse Is That American Citizens Do Not Need To Know - Hello, Democracy
cantbeserious
Aug 2013
#90
Labels and Propaganda. Misinformation and Disinformation - From the Toolkit of the Ruling Class.
Octafish
Aug 2013
#189
They have a brand? You mean those anti tax banner carriers and the 1% of primary voters Paul
Bluenorthwest
Aug 2013
#91
If you feel the need, you should do so. I'm telling it to you, the DUer claiming this 'brand' exists
Bluenorthwest
Aug 2013
#117
"The brand is Republican Brand." So Assange and Greenwald support Republicans?
ProSense
Aug 2013
#123
This post violates the Statement of Purpose for the General Forum - NO Conspiracy Theories -
Douglas Carpenter
Aug 2013
#100
No, it doesn't. It's an opinion, but I can see why it's important to deflect from
ProSense
Aug 2013
#102
Not to mention the ACLU brand, the Anmesty International Brand, and a few others.
Tierra_y_Libertad
Aug 2013
#130
The Pauls are like clockwork: They'll instantly leap upon the outrage of the day
Fire Walk With Me
Aug 2013
#136
As was the Iraq war which Libertarians oppose as well!! Damn Libertarians!!! nt
Demo_Chris
Aug 2013
#152
I support an America that sticks to its principles, cares about its people...
AZ Progressive
Aug 2013
#190
Who cares who leaked the information and for what theoretical ulterior motive?
Maedhros
Aug 2013
#167
as sure as the sun appears to rise in the east, avoid the message by attacking the messenger nt
msongs
Aug 2013
#171
It would take a true idiot to buy the pile of shit you're trying to sell.
DisgustipatedinCA
Aug 2013
#187