Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson explains why the point the Republican was making about drones was worth supporting — even for those who rarely agree with him.
The Republican senator from Kentucky, whom I've ridiculed as an archconservative kook — because that's basically what he is — was right to call attention to the growing use of drone aircraft in "targeted killings" by staging a nearly 13-hour filibuster on the Senate floor.
Paul did it the old-fashioned way, by talking and talking until exhaustion or the call of nature compelled him to cease. There are easier ways for a senator to hold up a piece of business — in this case, the nomination of John Brennan as CIA director — and Paul knew that a rare "talking" filibuster would be hard to ignore.
Was he trying to boost his national profile? Was he trying to embarrass President Obama? The answer is probably yes on both counts. But I cannot argue with the basic point Paul was making: There must be greater clarity about how and where our government believes it has the authority to use drones as instruments of assassination, especially when U.S. citizens are in the cross hairs.
Read Eugene Robinson's entire piece at the Washington Post.
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