‘Fear and complacency allow power to accumulate’
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., staged a “filibuster” on the Senate floor to draw attention to the need to rein in the Patriot Act and the National Security Agency’s surveillance powers, but 10 hours and 30 minutes in, he quit.
Paul’s effort came two-plus years after he launched a 13-hour filibuster against drones.
“My voice is rapidly leaving, my bedtime has long since passed,” he said, in the final midnight moments of his speaking marathon. “The bulk collection must end and I think we have the votes to do it now.”
He thanked his colleagues and supporters.
“Thank you for staying and not throwing things,” he said, ABC News reported. “We will try not to do this but every few years. I want to thank the American people for considering the arguments and hopefully for helping us push this towards a reform where we all respect the Fourth Amendment and the Bill of Rights all again. Thank you Mr. President, and I relinquish the floor.”
Paul kicked off his speech by reminding of the perils of the Patriot Act and its massive data collection powers for the federal government.
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