Anwar al-Awlaki killed

[Xiahou]

Rand Paul is doing a good ole-fashioned talking filibuster over Brennan's nomination to CIA director- he says its until he gets clarifications about the power of the POTUS to kill Americans on US soil. He's attracted a few supporters to help him, including at least one Democrat senator. Rubio is speaking at the moment.

Watch it here while you can- I've never seen a "real" filibuster before this. Apparently it's been going on for over 11 hours already....

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Rand Paul is doing a good ole-fashioned talking filibuster over Brennan's nomination to CIA director- he says its until he gets clarifications about the power of the POTUS to kill Americans on US soil. He's attracted a few supporters to help him, including at least one Democrat senator. Rubio is speaking at the moment.

Watch it here while you can- I've never seen a "real" filibuster before this. Apparently it's been going on for over 11 hours already....

I wish all filibusters had to be conducted in this fashion. If an issue is important enough to block the Senate from doing anything, then you ought to have to go out and blather it to death personally -- not via some sub-rosa pseudo-vote.

[Ironside]

This is when you use spin doctors.

Holder did declare either that:
A: US military security isn't competent enough on it's own soil to twart a threat that can be resolved by a drone.
Or B: It's not a last resort.

Or if it's already spun, what's the status of using military as police in the US during a crisis?

[a completely inoffensive name]

This is one of those moments where people should actually get upset, but they won't.

[ICantSpellDawg]

The correct Presidential response would be to absolutely deny the legitimacy of killing US citizens without due process. In the event of another 911, a decent President would break the law and take down a jet on its way into a tower and deal with the consequences. If he can expect a jet full of individuals to die so that others may live, he should be willing to face his own criminal indictment and rely on the wisdom of a jury of his peers to nullify conviction. Sense would prevail without leaving the door open to arbitrary extra-judicial killings of US citizens on US soil.

[Ironside]

The correct Presidential response would be to absolutely deny the legitimacy of killing US citizens without due process. In the event of another 911, a decent President would break the law and take down a jet on its way into a tower and deal with the consequences. If he can expect a jet full of individuals to die so that others may live, he should be willing to face his own criminal indictment and rely on the wisdom of a jury of his peers to nullify conviction. Sense would prevail without leaving the door open to arbitrary extra-judicial killings of US citizens on US soil.

I'm more or less agreeing. Shocking.
Any such move should never be done with anything less than the presidency on the line. The question is not about resignation or worse, it's about justifying staying on the post. Guilty until proven otherwise so to speak.

[drone]

Or if it's already spun, what's the status of using military as police in the US during a crisis?

Congressional approval is necessary. Since they are talking drones in this theoretical discussion, this might imply Christians In Action involvement, which is a whole different can of worms on US soil.

[Vladimir]

Another problem with Theory meets Reality.

Yes, you can have an academic discussion that this kind of targeted killing is justified but so many things would need to be true to make it even a remote possibility. It's only disturbing when people take steps to implement it. This is along the lines of shooting a passenger plane down to prevent a terrorist attack but requires a much more elaborate infrastructure and set of statutes and circumstances. This is post-911 style talk you'd expect to hear out of the Bush administration.

Remember Federal and State governments legally kill U.S. citizens all the time: Either after due process or in response to an imminent threat.

[Lemur]

I wish all filibusters had to be conducted in this fashion.

Agreed. Two weird things happening here:

1. A Republican says Obama is ignoring the Constitution, and is correct.
2. A filibuster is not only being performed correctly, but for a legitimate reason.

Consider my gob well and truly smacked.

[Greyblades]

Agreed. Two weird things happening here:

1. A Republican says Obama is ignoring the Constitution, and is correct.
2. A filibuster is not only being performed correctly, but for a legitimate reason.

Consider my gob well and truly smacked.

Even the insane parties like the Republicans get things right occasionally.

[Papewaio]

I take it no other of the anti terrorist laws have been broadened to be used on other criminal cases.

No chance that the mobsters will be taken out by drones in the future...

[Greyblades]

I take it no other of the anti terrorist laws have been broadened to be used on other criminal cases.

No chance that the mobsters will be taken out by drones in the future...

The Republicans arent crazy enough to bomb themselves yet.