Levin Retirement Expands Senate Battlefield

Late this week, MI Sen. Carl Levin announced that he would retire at the end of his term, rather than seek reelection next year. Levin is the 4th Democrat Senator to announce his retirement next year. Senate Democrats already faced a challenging political landscape to retain their majority. Levin's retirement adds to that challenge, making a safe Senate seat competitive. 9 Mar 2013

Obama Budget to Congress 9 Weeks Late

On Friday, Pentagon officials informed a House committee that the President's formal budget proposal wouldn't be delivered to Congress until April 8th, more than two months past the statutory deadline. Under federal law, the President is required to submit his budget blueprint to Congress no later than the first Monday in February. President Obama has met that deadline only once. 9 Mar 2013

Paul, Cruz, Rubio: Loyal Opposition Emerges in Senate

Since the 2010 midterm elections, conservatives have looked to Speaker Boehner and House Republicans to provide a vanguard against Obama's radical agenda. It has been a disheartening experience. In fairness to House Republicans, there is little one legislative chamber can do to affect the direction of the federal government. The tools they do have, however, they have often declined to use. Paul's filibuster of the Brennan nomination on Wednesday, however, showed the emergence of a new opposition to Obama. Based in the Senate, it is providing the American public a stark contrast to Obama's ever-expanding government. 8 Mar 2013

McCain, Graham on Wrong Side of History

John McCain is an American hero. He endured horrors in North Vietnamese captivity that few of us can ever imagine. I have disagreed with him often, but never doubted his commitment to our country. Lindsey Graham is a character out of a Tennessee Williams' play. He would disavow any position he's had if it got him an invite to a Sunday Show. Together, they abet the media complex's campaign to discredit conservative principles. 8 Mar 2013

IL Sen Dems Move Bill Limiting Drone Strikes

Sen. Rand Paul's 13 hour, old fashioned filibuster focused the nation's attention on the Obama Administration's increased use of unmanned drones. Obama has made extensive use of the technology to combat suspected terrorists overseas. There is growing concern, however, that the Administration will use drones to assassinate Americans here. In response to the filibuster, Democrats in the Illinois State Senate, where Obama got his political start, have moved a bill to restrict the use of drones. 8 Mar 2013

Sequester Fail: Economy Adds 236k Jobs in February

The Labor Department reported this morning that non-farm payrolls rose by 236,000 in February. The unemployment rate edged lower to 7.7% as the number of people in the labor force dipped slightly. January job gains were revised downward by 40k jobs, but December's job growth was revised up. 8 Mar 2013

After Holder Caves, Senate Moves Forward with Brennan Nomination

Last night, KY Sen. Rand Paul led an historic filibuster on the Senate floor to block the nomination of John Brennan to be CIA Director. The filibuster was driven not so much by Brennan as by the Administration's ambiguous drone policy. Paul wanted assurances from the Administration that drones would not be used against American citizens on American soil. This afternoon, the Administration capitulated and assured Sen. Paul that it did not have the authority to assassinate Americans here at home. 7 Mar 2013

Where Are the Republicans Defending Civil Liberties?

As I write this, Sen. Rand Paul is entering his 7th hour filibustering the nomination of John Brennan to head the CIA. His filibuster is driven by fundamental constitutional questions regarding due process and the powers of the Executive Branch. His performance is a one-man "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" over a core principle. I've already noted the lack of Democrats echoing his concerns. A perhaps more fundamental question is; Where are the Republicans? 6 Mar 2013

Where Are the Democrats Defending Civil Liberties?

When the cameras are on, Democrats pretend to care about civil liberties. What they actually care about is expanding government's power and identifying wedge issues to use politically against Republicans. If you think I'm overstating the case, look no further than their reaction to Sen. Rand Paul's filibuster today against the nomination of John Brennan to head the CIA. 6 Mar 2013

Rand Paul's 'Rick Santelli' Moment

The most precious commodity in politics today is clarity. The entire process is designed to confuse, obfuscate, or make things seem more complicated than they actually are. In February 2009, CNBC contributor Rick Santelli gave birth to a movement, not because of anything in particular he said, but rather because he gave voice to what millions of people were thinking in their hearts. It was an appeal to a basic principle. On Wednesday, KY Sen. Rand Paul is doing the same. 6 Mar 2013