David Weigel has a good piece in the Washington Independent today on Ron Paul ‘s rising influence in Washington. The articles mentions that Ron Paul has been bringing in some folks to have lunch and discuss ideas with some of his Republican colleagues. The article includes a quote from me: “There’s a growing recognition that the GOP is intellectually bankrupt and morally bankrupt…. I’m glad that Paul is putting together these meetings. I hope the battle of ideas is changing.”
When I was the guest at a luncheon discussion in Paul’s office last Thursday, I spoke primarily about torture and warrantless wiretapping. Apropos the Jane Harman controversy, I asked the members of Congress: “How many of you are confident that your phone calls are NOT being wiretapped?”
I mentioned a comment by congressional leader Hale Boggs in 1971 on the effect of congressional “fear” of the FBI – how the FBI’s boundless surveillance undermined congressional oversight of the FBI in the 1960s and early 1970s. I asked whether the same thing could be happening now regarding congressional oversight of the various law enforcement and intelligence agencies.
The luncheon was off-the-record, so, unfortunately, I cannot disclose the responses to my questions. (Disclosing one’s own comments or questions is not a breach of confidentiality).
Agreed. In the west, many of us follow your deep seated non-stop committment to Federal challenge, especially in these times as we see runaway Socialism, Fascism, and nationalization of everything but the kids’ Kool Aids stands on the sidewalk. Republicans must be leaders and to do so requires more adamant insightful platforms and less emotionalism around this morning’s public opionion poll. The rally to a coherent Jeffersonian defense of the Constitution would be an indisputable place to start, exposing the Non-American nature of the Left as they seek to sell their wares with ever more charasmatic sacharine deceipt. It’s damn encouragaing that what’s cooking on The Hill includes the spice of Bovard.
I trust the attendees were focused upon the lovely sardonic irony of Harmon’s snit over the spying she shilled for. Harmon complaining about wiretapping the sanctity of her Imperial Person is like watching Charles Manson pitching a Steam Cleaner at the Tate Murder Scene. The irony is only slightly outdone by the macabre horror of the scene.
As to Republicans actually developing a prudent core of people capable of reclaiming the party, I have my doubts but weirder things have happened, like the winner in the Derby last Saturday, coming on from dead last at the last turn in a 50 to 1 shot at the glory. Glad to see you’re there making them uncomfortable…Republicanism, properly applied should have a strong element of discomfit otherwise it aint doing its job.
Dirk, good analogy on the Kentucky Derby.
Ron Paul is putting a lot of elbow grease into trying to waken up his fellow congressmen to the perils of Leviathan. And some of them are actually listening…
David – thanks for the comment.
What the hell – it is encouraging that at least some folks on Capitol Hill are willing to consider the dangers of federal power….
1971? I would bet good money that most politicrats don’t remember all their own campaign promises from the last cycle, let alone such ancient history as 1971 … which of course is part of the problem.
I hope you’re right about the tide changing; if so, may the pendulum swing a little higher for freedom on the next cycle.