This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2015/may/20/rand-paul-senate-filibuster-nsa-spying-patriot-act-live
The article has changed 17 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Rand Paul declares 'filibuster' in bid to derail Patriot Act extension – live | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 5.51pm ET22:51 | |
| Paul’s presidential campaign has called a rally to the Capitol building tonight to support the senator. They’re just arriving it sounds like. | |
| Grassroots supporters of Rand Paul will be convening at the United States Capitol building to show their support for the Senator as he filibusters the Patriot Act. | |
| 5.50pm ET22:50 | |
| Senator Daines pops up too. | |
| Montana Republican Steve Daines has also now joined Rand Paul on the Senate floor for his anti-NSA marathon. The back-up acts are backing up | |
| 5.37pm ET22:37 | |
| Patriot Act extensions used to run a lot more smoothly. | |
| Then came Edward Snowden, and this was one of the reasons why. https://t.co/ShTVpNyimt | |
| 5.32pm ET22:32 | |
| Guardian Washington bureau chief Dan Roberts spies Senator Christopher Coons, Democrat of Delaware, taking the Senate floor. He looks to become the fourth to support the big Paul speech. | |
| Update: “Rep Raúl Labrador also just wandered into the Senate chamber to lend support to Paul’s ‘Ben Franklin caucus,’” or less kindly “wingnut coalition,” Dan writes. | |
| Updated at 5.34pm ET | |
| 5.29pm ET22:29 | |
| Paul is running through amendments he said he would propose to the Patriot Act. They include one to “end bulk collection and replace it with nothing” and one to create a permanent advocate on the Fisa court, which has the power to approve bulk collections in secret. | |
| 5.27pm ET22:27 | |
| Paul passes four-hour mark | |
| Paul: | |
| Some would ask, why am here today, what do I hope to get out of this, is there an end point when I will go home and be quiet and quit talking about the bill of rights? | |
| I think there could be. I think if the leadership of both parties, and the Senate would agree to have a debate on the Patriot Act. If they would agree to have amendments and to have votes. | |
| 5.14pm ET22:14 | 5.14pm ET22:14 |
| Seconding Paul’s call for a debate: | Seconding Paul’s call for a debate: |
| Ran into @justinamash and @RepThomasMassie after they watched some of Rand's ongoing speech. They're hopeful he forces some amendment votes | Ran into @justinamash and @RepThomasMassie after they watched some of Rand's ongoing speech. They're hopeful he forces some amendment votes |
| How long will Paul go? | How long will Paul go? |
| So: Rand Paul could speak until NOON Thurs, but no later. If he speaks past midnight tonight he would have an actual effect on the calendar | So: Rand Paul could speak until NOON Thurs, but no later. If he speaks past midnight tonight he would have an actual effect on the calendar |
| 5.02pm ET22:02 | 5.02pm ET22:02 |
| Now here’s Senator Martin Heinrich, Democrat fron New Mexico. Heinrich is a member of the intelligence committee. He has relieved Paul for the moment. | Now here’s Senator Martin Heinrich, Democrat fron New Mexico. Heinrich is a member of the intelligence committee. He has relieved Paul for the moment. |
| 5.01pm ET22:01 | 5.01pm ET22:01 |
| Paul says he’s been working for a year on five or six amendments to the Patriot Act, and he wants time to introduce them and debate them. | Paul says he’s been working for a year on five or six amendments to the Patriot Act, and he wants time to introduce them and debate them. |
| But this is still one of those occasions where we’re butting up against a deadline. And my fear is, that without extraordinary measures – which I’m hopefully trying to do today, that we may not get vote on amendments, and we may not get adequate time to debate this I think important issue.” | But this is still one of those occasions where we’re butting up against a deadline. And my fear is, that without extraordinary measures – which I’m hopefully trying to do today, that we may not get vote on amendments, and we may not get adequate time to debate this I think important issue.” |
| 4.48pm ET21:48 | 4.48pm ET21:48 |
| Our latest news story on Senator Rand Paul’s stand-and-deliver has just been published. Here’s a key bit on how Paul’s speech could affect the Senate calendar: | Our latest news story on Senator Rand Paul’s stand-and-deliver has just been published. Here’s a key bit on how Paul’s speech could affect the Senate calendar: |
| While it remained unlikely that Paul’s delaying tactics would succeed in blocking the Patriot Act, they raised pressure on McConnell given the limited time on the clock. Under a compressed schedule by a House that is slated to adjourn on Thursday until after Section 215 expires, McConnell has to not only bring surveillance legislation to the floor, but also a highway funding bill and trade promotion authority before Congress goes on recess until the beginning of June. | While it remained unlikely that Paul’s delaying tactics would succeed in blocking the Patriot Act, they raised pressure on McConnell given the limited time on the clock. Under a compressed schedule by a House that is slated to adjourn on Thursday until after Section 215 expires, McConnell has to not only bring surveillance legislation to the floor, but also a highway funding bill and trade promotion authority before Congress goes on recess until the beginning of June. |
| South Dakota senator John Thune, the third-ranking Republican in the Senate, told reporters that at least after its first several hours, Paul’s talkathon would not affect leadership’s plans to advance trade legislation and resolve differences over the Patriot Act. | South Dakota senator John Thune, the third-ranking Republican in the Senate, told reporters that at least after its first several hours, Paul’s talkathon would not affect leadership’s plans to advance trade legislation and resolve differences over the Patriot Act. |
| “It’s just a reality we have to deal with. We’ve got people who are in different places,” said Thune, who also suggested that the House version of the USA Freedom Act lacked the 60 votes required to clear the Senate. | “It’s just a reality we have to deal with. We’ve got people who are in different places,” said Thune, who also suggested that the House version of the USA Freedom Act lacked the 60 votes required to clear the Senate. |
| Read the full piece here. | Read the full piece here. |
| 4.37pm ET21:37 | 4.37pm ET21:37 |
| Paul can’t sit down. Literally. He can’t sit down or he loses the floor. Luckily he’s all laced up: | Paul can’t sit down. Literally. He can’t sit down or he loses the floor. Luckily he’s all laced up: |
| what you can't see on CSPAN is Paul, who has to keep standing to hold the floor, is wearing a comfy pair of sneakers with bright neon laces | what you can't see on CSPAN is Paul, who has to keep standing to hold the floor, is wearing a comfy pair of sneakers with bright neon laces |
| Update: you’ll recall Paul’s previous high-water-mark in jacket and tie. And shorts. | Update: you’ll recall Paul’s previous high-water-mark in jacket and tie. And shorts. |
| Updated at 4.39pm ET | Updated at 4.39pm ET |
| 4.35pm ET21:35 | 4.35pm ET21:35 |
| Everybody get comfortable. Guardian Washington bureau chief Dan Roberts at the Senate: | Everybody get comfortable. Guardian Washington bureau chief Dan Roberts at the Senate: |
| 4.29pm ET21:29 | 4.29pm ET21:29 |
| Utah Senator Lee joins Rand Paul on floor | Utah Senator Lee joins Rand Paul on floor |
| Republican Senator Mike Lee of Utah joins the conversation. He says he disagrees with Paul’s view on letting Section 215 retire, he agrees with the senator that “the American people deserve better than what they’re getting.” | Republican Senator Mike Lee of Utah joins the conversation. He says he disagrees with Paul’s view on letting Section 215 retire, he agrees with the senator that “the American people deserve better than what they’re getting.” |
| 4.27pm ET21:27 | 4.27pm ET21:27 |
| Three hours for Rand Paul | Three hours for Rand Paul |
| In his 2013 filibuster of John Brennan’s nomination to head up the CIA, an anti-drone-warfare speech, Paul hit 13 hours. | In his 2013 filibuster of John Brennan’s nomination to head up the CIA, an anti-drone-warfare speech, Paul hit 13 hours. |
| He’s currently reading from the January 2014 Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board report on the bulk phone records collection program. | He’s currently reading from the January 2014 Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board report on the bulk phone records collection program. |
| 4.23pm ET21:23 | 4.23pm ET21:23 |
| Paul offers a paean to bipartisanship, taking back the mic from his Democratic colleague. | Paul offers a paean to bipartisanship, taking back the mic from his Democratic colleague. |
| Then he says he’s not in it for the money: | Then he says he’s not in it for the money: |
| I didn’t come to the floor today because I want to get, you know, some money for one individual project, for one person. I came because I want something for everybody. I want freedom for everybody, and I want protection against the government’s invasion into your privacy. | I didn’t come to the floor today because I want to get, you know, some money for one individual project, for one person. I came because I want something for everybody. I want freedom for everybody, and I want protection against the government’s invasion into your privacy. |
| 4.17pm ET21:17 | 4.17pm ET21:17 |
| Wyden: I will block any move to extend Patriot Act | Wyden: I will block any move to extend Patriot Act |
| Wyden vows to “use every procedural tool’ to block any future attempt to extend provisions of the Patriot Act used – wrong-headedly and illegally, the 2nd circuit has ruled – to conduct bulk phone records collection. | Wyden vows to “use every procedural tool’ to block any future attempt to extend provisions of the Patriot Act used – wrong-headedly and illegally, the 2nd circuit has ruled – to conduct bulk phone records collection. |
| “As long as the senator from Kentucky holds the floor, no one would be able to offer a motion to consider an extension of the USA Patriot Act,” Wyden says: | “As long as the senator from Kentucky holds the floor, no one would be able to offer a motion to consider an extension of the USA Patriot Act,” Wyden says: |
| But at some point in the near future, whether it’s this weekend or next week or next month, my analysis is the proponents of bulk phone record collection are going to seek a vote in the senate to continue what I consider to be this invasion of privacy of millions and millions of law-abiding Americans. | But at some point in the near future, whether it’s this weekend or next week or next month, my analysis is the proponents of bulk phone record collection are going to seek a vote in the senate to continue what I consider to be this invasion of privacy of millions and millions of law-abiding Americans. |
| When that happens, I intend to use every procedural tool available to me to block that extension. And if at least 41 senators stand together, we could block that extension and block it indefinitely. | When that happens, I intend to use every procedural tool available to me to block that extension. And if at least 41 senators stand together, we could block that extension and block it indefinitely. |
| And finally after something like 8 years of working on this issue, we will be saying no on bulk phone record collection. | And finally after something like 8 years of working on this issue, we will be saying no on bulk phone record collection. |
| 4.12pm ET21:12 | 4.12pm ET21:12 |
| Wyden is not sympathetic to last-minute defenders of the legal framework for surveillance. | Wyden is not sympathetic to last-minute defenders of the legal framework for surveillance. |
| .@RonWyden: For 8 yrs, multiple reauths, we see same pattern. Those in favor of bulk collection wait until VERY LAST MINUTE..(1/2) | .@RonWyden: For 8 yrs, multiple reauths, we see same pattern. Those in favor of bulk collection wait until VERY LAST MINUTE..(1/2) |
| .@RonWyden:...and then they say "oh my goodness! it is a dangerous world! we've got to continue this program to protect us." (2/2) | .@RonWyden:...and then they say "oh my goodness! it is a dangerous world! we've got to continue this program to protect us." (2/2) |
| 4.08pm ET21:08 | 4.08pm ET21:08 |
| Will McConnell catch blame from surveillance hawks for botching the endgame of Patriot Act renewal? Will Sens Paul and Wyden share praise or blame for its failure? Or perhaps the majority leader will yet find a trick to pull? | Will McConnell catch blame from surveillance hawks for botching the endgame of Patriot Act renewal? Will Sens Paul and Wyden share praise or blame for its failure? Or perhaps the majority leader will yet find a trick to pull? |
| For a Senate old-timer, McConnell's done a terrible job managing the endgame on 215 surveillance. Must be he's not used to legislating. | For a Senate old-timer, McConnell's done a terrible job managing the endgame on 215 surveillance. Must be he's not used to legislating. |
| 4.05pm ET21:05 | 4.05pm ET21:05 |
| There’s a petition in the House to ask the Senate not to renew provisions of the Patriot Act. The author of the petition, Justin Amash, a libertarian-leaning Republican from Michigan, was one of 88 House members to vote against the USA Freedom Act last week. | There’s a petition in the House to ask the Senate not to renew provisions of the Patriot Act. The author of the petition, Justin Amash, a libertarian-leaning Republican from Michigan, was one of 88 House members to vote against the USA Freedom Act last week. |
| Today, 59 representatives joined my bipartisan letter to the Senate opposing any reauthorization of the #PatriotAct. pic.twitter.com/kq5v2uAcQW | Today, 59 representatives joined my bipartisan letter to the Senate opposing any reauthorization of the #PatriotAct. pic.twitter.com/kq5v2uAcQW |
| 4.03pm ET21:03 | 4.03pm ET21:03 |
| Wyden’s second question for Paul: “Is the senator from Kentucky troubled that a number of high-ranking intelligence officials have not been forthright in recent years on the topic of bulk collection?” | Wyden’s second question for Paul: “Is the senator from Kentucky troubled that a number of high-ranking intelligence officials have not been forthright in recent years on the topic of bulk collection?” |
| Wyden on Clapper lies. Drink. | Wyden on Clapper lies. Drink. |
| Updated at 4.06pm ET | Updated at 4.06pm ET |
| 4.01pm ET21:01 | 4.01pm ET21:01 |
| Wyden has suggested that he and Paul plan to extend their Senate floor chat indefinitely. That could amount to a promise to block McConnell whichever way he tries to move. | Wyden has suggested that he and Paul plan to extend their Senate floor chat indefinitely. That could amount to a promise to block McConnell whichever way he tries to move. |
| 3.56pm ET20:56 | 3.56pm ET20:56 |
| Wyden hits Paul with a question: “Does the senator from Kentucky agree that dragnet surveillance now makes America no more safe?” | Wyden hits Paul with a question: “Does the senator from Kentucky agree that dragnet surveillance now makes America no more safe?” |
| Paul takes the mic back, after about 10 minutes of standing downtime. | Paul takes the mic back, after about 10 minutes of standing downtime. |
| 3.50pm ET20:50 | 3.50pm ET20:50 |
| Paul is not taking the opportunity of Wyden’s relief speech to sit down, our bureau chief reports: | Paul is not taking the opportunity of Wyden’s relief speech to sit down, our bureau chief reports: |
| Rand Paul remains standing despite being relieved by Wyden's arrival. He is flicking through a binder containing clippings from @guardian | Rand Paul remains standing despite being relieved by Wyden's arrival. He is flicking through a binder containing clippings from @guardian |
| 3.45pm ET20:45 | 3.45pm ET20:45 |
| Wyden takes the mic from Paul, about 140 minutes in. Paul continues to hold the floor, however, retaining the integrity of his faux-libuster. | Wyden takes the mic from Paul, about 140 minutes in. Paul continues to hold the floor, however, retaining the integrity of his faux-libuster. |
| Wyden is speaking against the FBI seeking to require tech companies from building surveillance “backdoors” into products. | Wyden is speaking against the FBI seeking to require tech companies from building surveillance “backdoors” into products. |
| Updated at 3.46pm ET | Updated at 3.46pm ET |
| 3.43pm ET20:43 | 3.43pm ET20:43 |
| Senator Ron Wyden, the intelligence committee member and staunch opponent of surveillance overreach, has joined Rand Paul on the floor of the Senate. | Senator Ron Wyden, the intelligence committee member and staunch opponent of surveillance overreach, has joined Rand Paul on the floor of the Senate. |
| 3.41pm ET20:41 | 3.41pm ET20:41 |
| Paul accuses President Barack Obama of allowing dragnet collection of phone records to continue despite an appeals court ruling that it is not legal under section 215 of the Patriot Act. | Paul accuses President Barack Obama of allowing dragnet collection of phone records to continue despite an appeals court ruling that it is not legal under section 215 of the Patriot Act. |
| The second-highest court in the land says this is illegal, and the president does nothing. | The second-highest court in the land says this is illegal, and the president does nothing. |
| “The authors of the Patriot Act had no idea this was going on. And the Patriot Act, according to the court, doesn’t even justify this.” | “The authors of the Patriot Act had no idea this was going on. And the Patriot Act, according to the court, doesn’t even justify this.” |
| 3.29pm ET20:29 | 3.29pm ET20:29 |
| Paul hits 2-hour mark | Paul hits 2-hour mark |
| Paul crosses the two-hour line. He’s still on topic. Only one reading from a transcription. One Hitler reference. One instance of incorrectly referring to Edward Snowden as “Eric.” | Paul crosses the two-hour line. He’s still on topic. Only one reading from a transcription. One Hitler reference. One instance of incorrectly referring to Edward Snowden as “Eric.” |
| 3.26pm ET20:26 | 3.26pm ET20:26 |
| Paul is reading a transcript of a Frontline interview with NSA whistleblower Bill Binney. He reads this bit: | Paul is reading a transcript of a Frontline interview with NSA whistleblower Bill Binney. He reads this bit: |
| Q: But they say they’re computers, and in Utah they’re going to be able to take all this stored data, and they’re going to be able to go through all of it, and they’re going to be able to connect the dots. Connect the dots -- that’s what everybody wanted them to do after 9/11. | Q: But they say they’re computers, and in Utah they’re going to be able to take all this stored data, and they’re going to be able to go through all of it, and they’re going to be able to connect the dots. Connect the dots -- that’s what everybody wanted them to do after 9/11. |
| A: See, that’s always been possible. Before 9/11 we were doing that. That was already happening. We already had that program. That wasn’t an issue at all. That’s why we should have picked this out from the beginning. We should have implemented it, the ThinThread, connect-the-dots program on everything in the world, but we didn’t. That’s why we failed. It wasn’t a matter of not having the program; it was a matter of not implementing the program we had. | A: See, that’s always been possible. Before 9/11 we were doing that. That was already happening. We already had that program. That wasn’t an issue at all. That’s why we should have picked this out from the beginning. We should have implemented it, the ThinThread, connect-the-dots program on everything in the world, but we didn’t. That’s why we failed. It wasn’t a matter of not having the program; it was a matter of not implementing the program we had. |
| 3.21pm ET20:21 | 3.21pm ET20:21 |
| Paul: 'the bill of rights is for oddballs' | Paul: 'the bill of rights is for oddballs' |
| Paul: | Paul: |
| The bill of rights isn’t for the prom queen. The bill of rights isn’t for the high school quarterback. The bill of rights is for the least among us. The bill of rights is for minorities. The bill of rights is for those who have minority opinions. The bill of rights is for those who are oddballs. Those who aren’t accepted. Those who have unconventional thinking. | The bill of rights isn’t for the prom queen. The bill of rights isn’t for the high school quarterback. The bill of rights is for the least among us. The bill of rights is for minorities. The bill of rights is for those who have minority opinions. The bill of rights is for those who are oddballs. Those who aren’t accepted. Those who have unconventional thinking. |
| 3.18pm ET20:18 | 3.18pm ET20:18 |
| On the theme of the right to a fair trial, Paul ties Richard Jewell, the security guard falsely accused of bombing the 1996 Atlanta Olympics complex, to a 1920s lynching victim. | On the theme of the right to a fair trial, Paul ties Richard Jewell, the security guard falsely accused of bombing the 1996 Atlanta Olympics complex, to a 1920s lynching victim. |
| “About ten years ago [sic], Richard Jewell was thought to be the Olympic bomber... He fit the profile. He wore glasses. He had a backpack and was an introvert. | “About ten years ago [sic], Richard Jewell was thought to be the Olympic bomber... He fit the profile. He wore glasses. He had a backpack and was an introvert. |
| “I think to myself, if he’d have been a black man in the south in 1920, what would’ve happened to him?... | “I think to myself, if he’d have been a black man in the south in 1920, what would’ve happened to him?... |
| “Because the thing is that Richard Jewell was innocent... | “Because the thing is that Richard Jewell was innocent... |
| “Think of what would’ve happened if Richard Jewell were a black man in the 1920s. He might not’ve lived the day. Think of what would have happened if Richard Jewell were a Japanese-American during World War II.” | “Think of what would’ve happened if Richard Jewell were a black man in the 1920s. He might not’ve lived the day. Think of what would have happened if Richard Jewell were a Japanese-American during World War II.” |
| Then he riffs on Stanley Milgram’s 1960s experiments on obedience to authority figures or “shock experiments.” Then, for the first time, he mentions Hitler. | Then he riffs on Stanley Milgram’s 1960s experiments on obedience to authority figures or “shock experiments.” Then, for the first time, he mentions Hitler. |
| Updated at 3.30pm ET | Updated at 3.30pm ET |
| 3.06pm ET20:06 | 3.06pm ET20:06 |
| Paul crosses 100-minute mark | Paul crosses 100-minute mark |
| Paul began speaking at around 1.26pm ET, 100 minutes ago. He’s still talking and has stayed exactly on topic. He’s currently talking about credit card records and how “it should worry us that the government has access to all our records, all the time.” He’s begun to pace a bit, walking in front of his chair. No calisthenics yet. | Paul began speaking at around 1.26pm ET, 100 minutes ago. He’s still talking and has stayed exactly on topic. He’s currently talking about credit card records and how “it should worry us that the government has access to all our records, all the time.” He’s begun to pace a bit, walking in front of his chair. No calisthenics yet. |
| Senator Tim Scott, the freshman from South Carolina, is currently presiding in the chamber. | Senator Tim Scott, the freshman from South Carolina, is currently presiding in the chamber. |
| Updated at 3.23pm ET | Updated at 3.23pm ET |
| 3.03pm ET20:03 | 3.03pm ET20:03 |
| Paul calls Edward Snowden “Eric Snowden.” He’s warning about great American companies being destroyed by “forcing surveillance into their products.” | Paul calls Edward Snowden “Eric Snowden.” He’s warning about great American companies being destroyed by “forcing surveillance into their products.” |
| He says creating surveillance backdoors in products weakens products and companies to attacks of cybersecurity. “So there is a danger to letting the government in,” Paul says. | He says creating surveillance backdoors in products weakens products and companies to attacks of cybersecurity. “So there is a danger to letting the government in,” Paul says. |
| 2.59pm ET19:59 | 2.59pm ET19:59 |
| The Guardian’s Spencer Ackerman (@attackerman) reports on a justice department memo laying out the “effect of a Patriot Act sunset,” should McConnell fail to procure an extension by 1 June. | The Guardian’s Spencer Ackerman (@attackerman) reports on a justice department memo laying out the “effect of a Patriot Act sunset,” should McConnell fail to procure an extension by 1 June. |
| “As legislative shadowboxing continued ahead of this week’s Senate votes on surveillance, the Obama administration, which favors the USA Freedom Act, sent word to Capitol Hill that it has barely 24 hours to resolve the impasse before it begins mothballing its controversial domestic bulk phone data collection,” Spencer writes: | “As legislative shadowboxing continued ahead of this week’s Senate votes on surveillance, the Obama administration, which favors the USA Freedom Act, sent word to Capitol Hill that it has barely 24 hours to resolve the impasse before it begins mothballing its controversial domestic bulk phone data collection,” Spencer writes: |
| A memo sent Wednesday by the administration warned that the National Security Agency could find itself in legal jeopardy if it continued surveillance on Americans’ phone data after Thursday – what the Justice Department described as a prudential matter ahead of the looming expiration of the base legal authority for the program. | A memo sent Wednesday by the administration warned that the National Security Agency could find itself in legal jeopardy if it continued surveillance on Americans’ phone data after Thursday – what the Justice Department described as a prudential matter ahead of the looming expiration of the base legal authority for the program. |
| “After May 22, 2015, the National Security Agency will need to begin taking steps to wind down the bulk telephone metadata program in anticipation of a possible sunset in order to ensure that it does not engage in any unauthorized collection or use of the metadata,” states the memo, circulated on Capitol Hill on Wednesday and first reported by National Journal. The Guardian independently obtained a copy. | “After May 22, 2015, the National Security Agency will need to begin taking steps to wind down the bulk telephone metadata program in anticipation of a possible sunset in order to ensure that it does not engage in any unauthorized collection or use of the metadata,” states the memo, circulated on Capitol Hill on Wednesday and first reported by National Journal. The Guardian independently obtained a copy. |
| While the claimed legal authority for the program, Section 215 of the Patriot Act, expires on 1 June, the memo notes that the next 90-day order from a secret surveillance court necessary to gather the bulk data must be filed by Friday – after the House of Representatives, which has already voted overwhelmingly to stop the program, is in recess. | While the claimed legal authority for the program, Section 215 of the Patriot Act, expires on 1 June, the memo notes that the next 90-day order from a secret surveillance court necessary to gather the bulk data must be filed by Friday – after the House of Representatives, which has already voted overwhelmingly to stop the program, is in recess. |
| “For these reasons, after May 22, 2015, it will become increasingly difficult for the government to avoid a lapse in the current NSA program of at least some duration,” the memo states. | “For these reasons, after May 22, 2015, it will become increasingly difficult for the government to avoid a lapse in the current NSA program of at least some duration,” the memo states. |
| 2.51pm ET19:51 | 2.51pm ET19:51 |
| Orthopedic shoes: $59.95 | Orthopedic shoes: $59.95 |
| Male comfort catheter: $33.99 | Male comfort catheter: $33.99 |
| Drudge headline: priceless | Drudge headline: priceless |
| pic.twitter.com/L1Enygi8yu | pic.twitter.com/L1Enygi8yu |
| 2.41pm ET19:41 | 2.41pm ET19:41 |
| “We should be in rebellion saying ‘enough’s enough, we’re not going to take it anymore,” Paul says on the Senate floor. | “We should be in rebellion saying ‘enough’s enough, we’re not going to take it anymore,” Paul says on the Senate floor. |
| Do we want to live in a world where the government knows everything about us? ... The danger is too great to let government collect your information. | Do we want to live in a world where the government knows everything about us? ... The danger is too great to let government collect your information. |
| 2.38pm ET19:38 | 2.38pm ET19:38 |
| Rand Paul has produced an exceptionally low-quality presidential campaign ad-slash-explanation for why he has taken the Senate floor this afternoon. | Rand Paul has produced an exceptionally low-quality presidential campaign ad-slash-explanation for why he has taken the Senate floor this afternoon. |
| “I won’t stand for the Senate to shove us aside and not let us debate this important issue,” he says. | “I won’t stand for the Senate to shove us aside and not let us debate this important issue,” he says. |
| Exclusive VIDEO from a couple of hours ago about the filibuster>>> https://t.co/LZ9OnHy14c #standwithrand | Exclusive VIDEO from a couple of hours ago about the filibuster>>> https://t.co/LZ9OnHy14c #standwithrand |
| 2.33pm ET19:33 | 2.33pm ET19:33 |
| Before Paul decided to take up an unknown proportion of the hours remaining for the Senate to do business before Memorial Day, majority leader Mitch McConnell’s strategy for extending the Patriot Act or otherwise preserving laws meant to support government surveillance was unclear. | Before Paul decided to take up an unknown proportion of the hours remaining for the Senate to do business before Memorial Day, majority leader Mitch McConnell’s strategy for extending the Patriot Act or otherwise preserving laws meant to support government surveillance was unclear. |
| McConnell on Tuesday said he would hold a vote on the USA Freedom Act, which would eliminate a dragnet phone records database held by intelligence agencies, distributing the data among telecoms and tech companies. The Freedom Act passed the House of Representatives last week with a vote of 338-88. | McConnell on Tuesday said he would hold a vote on the USA Freedom Act, which would eliminate a dragnet phone records database held by intelligence agencies, distributing the data among telecoms and tech companies. The Freedom Act passed the House of Representatives last week with a vote of 338-88. |
| In addition to running down the clock on a potential Patriot Act extension, Paul appears to be delaying vote on the USA Freedom Act, too, writes Trevor Timm (@trevortimm): “He voted against it last time, calling it a stealth reauthorization; he probably wants to delay a vote on either until [Patriot Act section] 215 officially expires.” | In addition to running down the clock on a potential Patriot Act extension, Paul appears to be delaying vote on the USA Freedom Act, too, writes Trevor Timm (@trevortimm): “He voted against it last time, calling it a stealth reauthorization; he probably wants to delay a vote on either until [Patriot Act section] 215 officially expires.” |
| Updated at 2.43pm ET | Updated at 2.43pm ET |
| 2.21pm ET19:21 | 2.21pm ET19:21 |
| Paul tweets links to his campaign web site, which is hosting a petition to “end NSA spying.” | Paul tweets links to his campaign web site, which is hosting a petition to “end NSA spying.” |
| The current legislative showdown over government surveillance comes at a favorable time for Paul, who six weeks after declaring his presidential candidacy is looking for ways to distinguish himself from a crowded field of Republican hopefuls. On the question of government surveillance, Paul is an unmistakable standout, with potential opponents in recent weeks delivering full-throated defenses of NSA surveillance programs. | The current legislative showdown over government surveillance comes at a favorable time for Paul, who six weeks after declaring his presidential candidacy is looking for ways to distinguish himself from a crowded field of Republican hopefuls. On the question of government surveillance, Paul is an unmistakable standout, with potential opponents in recent weeks delivering full-throated defenses of NSA surveillance programs. |
| “All these fears are exaggerated and ridiculous,” New Jersey governor Chris Christie said on Monday of concerns about privacy abuses. “There is not a single documented case of abuse of this program,” Florida Senator Marco Rubio wrote in USA Today last week. “The debate has gotten off track,” former Florida governor Jeb Bush said earlier this year. | “All these fears are exaggerated and ridiculous,” New Jersey governor Chris Christie said on Monday of concerns about privacy abuses. “There is not a single documented case of abuse of this program,” Florida Senator Marco Rubio wrote in USA Today last week. “The debate has gotten off track,” former Florida governor Jeb Bush said earlier this year. |
| Paul has taken a polar opposite stance. | Paul has taken a polar opposite stance. |
| #standwithrand at http://t.co/lpzLQCfz0F pic.twitter.com/QuHrLpGPo3 | #standwithrand at http://t.co/lpzLQCfz0F pic.twitter.com/QuHrLpGPo3 |
| I see no reason why you can’t have security and the constitution at the same time. We cannot let our fear win. | I see no reason why you can’t have security and the constitution at the same time. We cannot let our fear win. |
| 2.17pm ET19:17 | 2.17pm ET19:17 |
| “The collection of records that is going on is beyond your imagination. And we need to know about it. It’s time for a national debate. | “The collection of records that is going on is beyond your imagination. And we need to know about it. It’s time for a national debate. |
| “The fact that the director of national intelligence would come to Congress and lie... this is a big problem.” | “The fact that the director of national intelligence would come to Congress and lie... this is a big problem.” |
| Paul says that Congress is out of step with public opinion on the question of dragnet phone records surveillance. | Paul says that Congress is out of step with public opinion on the question of dragnet phone records surveillance. |
| “I be that 20% of the people here would vote to stop this. Whereas 50-60% of the public would stop these things. It’s not representatives. | “I be that 20% of the people here would vote to stop this. Whereas 50-60% of the public would stop these things. It’s not representatives. |
| “[Lawmakers] get up here, and we stay too long, and we get separated from the people. The people don’t want bulk collection. And we need to hear that.” | “[Lawmakers] get up here, and we stay too long, and we get separated from the people. The people don’t want bulk collection. And we need to hear that.” |
| 2.15pm ET19:15 | 2.15pm ET19:15 |
| A long and leisurely Memorial Day weekend lies just ahead. Or at least it did. | A long and leisurely Memorial Day weekend lies just ahead. Or at least it did. |
| Paul tells donors that he’s ready to filibuster PATRIOT Act even if it ruins his colleagues’ weekend pic.twitter.com/ExTBuK4Y5j | Paul tells donors that he’s ready to filibuster PATRIOT Act even if it ruins his colleagues’ weekend pic.twitter.com/ExTBuK4Y5j |
| 2.12pm ET19:12 | 2.12pm ET19:12 |
| Rand Paul: 'clock management' | Rand Paul: 'clock management' |
| The Guardian’s Spencer Ackerman (@attackerman) writes that “Rand Paul’s gambit on the Senate floor right now is familiar to anyone who’s been watching the NBA playoffs: clock management”: | The Guardian’s Spencer Ackerman (@attackerman) writes that “Rand Paul’s gambit on the Senate floor right now is familiar to anyone who’s been watching the NBA playoffs: clock management”: |
| Paul, the privacy hawk and GOP presidential candidate, wants the wholesale expiration of Section 215 of the 2001 Patriot Act, the controversial surveillance provision that the NSA uses to justify the ongoing bulk collection of Americans’ phone records. (A federal appeals court earlier this month ruled that the provision does not in fact authorize the NSA program.) If absolutely nothing happens, the whole Patriot Act provision expires on 1 June 1. | Paul, the privacy hawk and GOP presidential candidate, wants the wholesale expiration of Section 215 of the 2001 Patriot Act, the controversial surveillance provision that the NSA uses to justify the ongoing bulk collection of Americans’ phone records. (A federal appeals court earlier this month ruled that the provision does not in fact authorize the NSA program.) If absolutely nothing happens, the whole Patriot Act provision expires on 1 June 1. |
| Functionally, however, the clock is even more severe than that. After Thursday at mid-day, lawmakers in the House of Representatives – who last week voted overwhelmingly to junk the bulk phone metadata collection – leave for a vacation through 1 June. | Functionally, however, the clock is even more severe than that. After Thursday at mid-day, lawmakers in the House of Representatives – who last week voted overwhelmingly to junk the bulk phone metadata collection – leave for a vacation through 1 June. |
| Paul’s opposite on the surveillance debate and fellow Kentucky Senator, GOP leader Mitch McConnell, is trying to pass a wholesale reauthorization of Section 215. He may or may not have the votes for it in the Senate, and he has to get it through the House. A coalition of surveillance reformers are trying to pass an end to the bulk phone records collection, called the USA Freedom Act, that would re-up Section 215 for four more years. They may or may not have the votes for it in the Senate. | Paul’s opposite on the surveillance debate and fellow Kentucky Senator, GOP leader Mitch McConnell, is trying to pass a wholesale reauthorization of Section 215. He may or may not have the votes for it in the Senate, and he has to get it through the House. A coalition of surveillance reformers are trying to pass an end to the bulk phone records collection, called the USA Freedom Act, that would re-up Section 215 for four more years. They may or may not have the votes for it in the Senate. |
| But instead, here’s Rand Paul, on the court, dribbling the ball where he stands, as the game clock winds down. All Paul needs to do to win is keep talking, and perhaps to get some like-minded Senators to relieve him when he tires or needs to use the bathroom. He doesn’t even necessarily have to keep talking all through the next day. He just needs to talk for as long as he can, thereby snarling the rest of the Senate calendar and leaving that much less time for any surveillance measure to wind its way through the Senate – when, perhaps, an outright filibuster by Paul or others could begin as well. | But instead, here’s Rand Paul, on the court, dribbling the ball where he stands, as the game clock winds down. All Paul needs to do to win is keep talking, and perhaps to get some like-minded Senators to relieve him when he tires or needs to use the bathroom. He doesn’t even necessarily have to keep talking all through the next day. He just needs to talk for as long as he can, thereby snarling the rest of the Senate calendar and leaving that much less time for any surveillance measure to wind its way through the Senate – when, perhaps, an outright filibuster by Paul or others could begin as well. |
| Paul has been here before: his 13-hour filibuster of John Brennan’s nomination to head the CIA became a reputation-making disquisition on the downsides of drone strikes and endless war. Then, however, Brennan’s confirmation was assured, since the votes to entrench him in Langley awaited once Paul sat down. This time, Paul is making the clock work for him. | Paul has been here before: his 13-hour filibuster of John Brennan’s nomination to head the CIA became a reputation-making disquisition on the downsides of drone strikes and endless war. Then, however, Brennan’s confirmation was assured, since the votes to entrench him in Langley awaited once Paul sat down. This time, Paul is making the clock work for him. |
| 2.07pm ET19:07 | 2.07pm ET19:07 |
| The first rollback of US government surveillance in a generation may be looming, but Senator Rand Paul has taken the floor of the US Senate to, he says, “begin a filibuster of the Patriot Act renewal”. This could be epic – or at least set the tone for a final showdown over spy reform after the Edward Snowden disclosures that could satisfy the likes of Paul … or not so much. | The first rollback of US government surveillance in a generation may be looming, but Senator Rand Paul has taken the floor of the US Senate to, he says, “begin a filibuster of the Patriot Act renewal”. This could be epic – or at least set the tone for a final showdown over spy reform after the Edward Snowden disclosures that could satisfy the likes of Paul … or not so much. |
| The Patriot Act renewal is not actually on the Senate floor at the moment; Paul – a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination and a longtime surveillance critic – is not technically filibustering the renewal of that law. But with key provisions of the Patriot Act set to expire on 1 June, this speech might be seen as a run-out-the-clock strategy to snarl the Senate and give majority leader Mitch McConnell a minimum of time to pass any surveillance-related bill. | The Patriot Act renewal is not actually on the Senate floor at the moment; Paul – a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination and a longtime surveillance critic – is not technically filibustering the renewal of that law. But with key provisions of the Patriot Act set to expire on 1 June, this speech might be seen as a run-out-the-clock strategy to snarl the Senate and give majority leader Mitch McConnell a minimum of time to pass any surveillance-related bill. |
| Paul appears prepared to speak for quite some time. For days he has filled his speeches and Twitter feed with breathless language forecasting a showdown with “the surveillance state.” “I’ve thrown down my marker,” Paul tweeted Monday. “I’m prepared to fight tooth & nail to END NSA spying on Americans.” | Paul appears prepared to speak for quite some time. For days he has filled his speeches and Twitter feed with breathless language forecasting a showdown with “the surveillance state.” “I’ve thrown down my marker,” Paul tweeted Monday. “I’m prepared to fight tooth & nail to END NSA spying on Americans.” |
| I've just taken the senate floor to begin a filibuster of the Patriot Act renewal. It's time to end the NSA spying! | I've just taken the senate floor to begin a filibuster of the Patriot Act renewal. It's time to end the NSA spying! |
| “We shouldn’t be so fearful that we’re willing to relinquish our rights without having a debate,” Paul said at the start of his speech, criticizing the Senate leadership for trying to skip debate on the Patriot Act extension. | “We shouldn’t be so fearful that we’re willing to relinquish our rights without having a debate,” Paul said at the start of his speech, criticizing the Senate leadership for trying to skip debate on the Patriot Act extension. |
| The Patriot Act, I’m not sure… that we’ll have any debate over it,” Paul said. “It’s been set to expire for three years. The question is, is there not enough time that we just don’t care enough?” | The Patriot Act, I’m not sure… that we’ll have any debate over it,” Paul said. “It’s been set to expire for three years. The question is, is there not enough time that we just don’t care enough?” |
| Settle in, because it could be a long day of political theatrics. We’ll also have live updates on the state of the reform vote from inside the Congressional chamber and analysis from across the web. | Settle in, because it could be a long day of political theatrics. We’ll also have live updates on the state of the reform vote from inside the Congressional chamber and analysis from across the web. |
| Updated at 2.13pm ET | Updated at 2.13pm ET |