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Rand Paul opposes Loretta Lynch's confirmation

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The Kentucky Republican becomes the second of his party's 2016 presidential contenders to publicly oppose Lynch's confirmation as Eric Holder's replacement as head of the Justice Department, joining Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas.

Paul is the first Republican outside the Senate Judiciary Committee to oppose Lynch, the U.S. attorney in Brooklyn who is seeking to become the first African-American woman to serve as attorney general.

"Mrs. Lynch has a track-record of violating the individual freedoms granted to us by our Constitution," he said in a statement. "She considers civil asset forfeiture to be a 'useful tool,' while I consider it to be an infringement on the Fifth Amendment. She remains non-committal on the legality of drone strikes against American citizens, while I believe such strikes unequivocally violate rights granted to us by the Sixth Amendment.

"Mrs. Lynch also supports President Obama's calls for executive amnesty, which I vehemently oppose," Paul said. "The Attorney General must operate independent of politics, independent of the president and under the direction of the Constitution. I cannot support a nominee, like Mrs. Lynch, who rides roughshod on our Constitutional rights."

Republicans grilled Lynch about her stance on Obama's move to forestall some deportations during her confirmation hearing this month. Lynch said she sees the Justice Department's legal analysis backing the president's moves as reasonable.

Cruz has pushed Republicans to hold up Lynch's confirmation as a procedural move to gain leverage against Obama over immigration.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) has said he'll support Lynch. But several of the committee's GOP members -- including Cruz, David Vitter of Louisiana, Jeff Sessions of Alabama and John Cornyn of Texas -- say they'll oppose her.

Marijuana, polygamy, torture: Lynch confirmation hearing

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Rand Paul opposes Loretta Lynch's confirmation

Paul to oppose Lynch for attorney general

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Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky announced Wednesday night that he will vote against confirming Loretta Lynch for attorney general because of differences over civil liberties issues, declaring that her views ride roughshod on our constitutional rights.

Lynch, the U.S. attorney in Brooklyn, would be the first African-American woman to serve as attorney general.

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Paul, a likely 2016 presidential candidate who has made criminal justice reform one of his signature issues, said in a statement: Mrs. Lynch has a track-record of violating the individual freedoms granted to us by our Constitution. She considers civil asset forfeiture to be a useful tool, while I consider it to be an infringement on the Fifth Amendment. She remains non-committal on the legality of drone strikes against American citizens, while I believe such strikes unequivocally violate rights granted to us by the Sixth Amendment.

Mrs. Lynch also supports President [Barack] Obamas calls for executive amnesty, which I vehemently oppose. The Attorney General must operate independent of politics, independent of the president and under the direction of the Constitution. I cannot support a nominee, like Mrs. Lynch, who rides roughshod on our Constitutional rights.

Paul first announced his opposition on Fox News On the Record with Greta Van Susteren.

The Kentucky senator appears to be the first Senate Republican who does not sit on the powerful Judiciary Committee, which is taking up Lynchs nomination to be the nations most powerful law enforcement official, to oppose her confirmation.

Several GOP senators on the committee have indicated they will oppose Lynch based on her support for the presidents executive actions on immigration. They include Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, another potential contender for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination.

Sen. John Cornyn of Texas the majority whip, and a member of the Judiciary Committee announced his opposition earlier Wednesday.

While she has an impressive record as United States attorney, as you know, she will become the chief advocate for the presidents policies as attorney general, the Republican said. Her testimony expressing support for the presidents unconstitutional executive action, and for her support for a number of the presidents other policies, make it impossible for me to vote for her nomination.

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Paul to oppose Lynch for attorney general

Sen. Rand Paul threatens to shoot drones with shotgun

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Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., speaks during the news conference to unveil the Fifth Amendment Integrity Restoration Act (FAIR Act), legislation to 'protect the rights of property owners and restore the Fifth Amendment's role in civil forfeiture proceedings' on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015.

Sen. Rand Paul has a low tolerance for low-flying objects.

Reacting Wednesday to the recent security scare at the White House where a quad-copter drone crashed on the South Lawn earlier this week the Kentucky Republican said he would have never put up with such a situation.

"If they fly over my house," Paul told CNN, referring to drones and drone operators, "they better beware because I've got a shotgun."

"Drones should only be used according to the Constitution," he added.

Paul, who many expect will launch a 2016 bid, made the comments in an interview with CNN conducted over Snapchat the first ever such occurrence with a lawmaker on the up-and-coming social media network.

His comments come just days after a two-foot-long helicopter-style drone crash-landed on the White House grounds, prompting a security lockdown of the premises and raising serious questions about presidential security.

A hobbyist later got in touch with authorities to notify them that it was his device and that he had merely been playing with it when it crashed.

The unnamed man, identified as an employee of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency by The New York Times, had reportedly been drinking before flying the craft later in the evening.

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Sen. Rand Paul threatens to shoot drones with shotgun

New medical marijuana bill revives hope for sick Floridians

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Disappointed by the failure of last years medical marijuana amendment?

Well, it looks like were getting another and more secure chance, thanks to legislation filed Monday that would legalize medical marijuana for patients with certain conditions.

Last November we saw voters approval of medical marijuana in Florida; 57 percent voted in favor of the amendment. But thanks to another amendment to the state constitution approved in 2006, amendments must garner 60 percent of the vote in order to pass. As would only happen in Florida, that amendment passed with a yes from 57 percent of voters. Ironically, that particular majority rubber stamped an amendment ensuring any subsequent majorities of that size would be invalid.

Which is why, with a clear electoral majority, we are still without medical marijuana in Florida.

While we cant rectify our re-election of a man who was able to slither his way out of the largest fraud settlement in history only by invoking the Fifth Amendment 75 times we may have another shot at legal medical marijuana.

Our great green hope, in this case, comes in the form of St. Petersburg Sen. Jeff Brandes.

Interestingly, Brandes belongs to the Republican Party the party that so enthusiastically venerates Ronald Reagan, whose crusade against weed still earns him the ire of activists and stoners everywhere.

Maybe its because the times are changing; maybe its because of the broad support medical marijuana has in Florida. Maybe people saw the 23 states that allow medical marijuana havent yet descended into hellfire and ruin. Or perhaps it has something to do with cannabis proven ability to help the sick.

In fact, there already is a law on the books in Florida which recognizes this fact. Last year, a specific strain of marijuana, Charlottes Web, was legalized to treat seizures. The strain is famous in medical marijuana circles. Web has a potent amount of CBD, one of the two compounds in marijuana, but lacks THC. CBD produces calming, antipsychotic effects while THC is associated with the high. Charlottes Web actually used to be called Hippies Disappointment, before it was successfully used to treat a severely epileptic girl named Charlotte.

Unfortunately, this law hasnt cut the mustard. Its been so tied down by bureaucracy and challenges that the people who need Charlottes Web still arent able to get it. Brandes bill would cut through the obstacles, and provide marijuana to patients with other diseases.

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New medical marijuana bill revives hope for sick Floridians

Police Tell Man He Has No Fifth Amendment Constitutional Rights At Checkpoint – Video

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Police Tell Man He Has No Fifth Amendment Constitutional Rights At Checkpoint
Police Tell Man He Has No Fifth Amendment Constitutional Rights At Checkpoint CHARLOTTE COUNTY FLORIDA SHERIFF CORRUPTION https://www.facebook.com/Charlottec...

By: charlottecountyflcopwatch2

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Police Tell Man He Has No Fifth Amendment Constitutional Rights At Checkpoint - Video

City to pay about $1M to settle suit

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The city of Denton is expected to pay out about $1 million to settle a long-running inverse condemnation case over power lines placed along Bonnie Brae Street in 2009.

Inverse condemnation is defined as government taking private property without fair compensation, which is required under the Fifth Amendment.

The property owners attorney, Charles Orsburn, asked Judge Doug Robison of the 393rd Judicial District Court to dismiss the case during a hearing Friday afternoon. But Robison said that he would retain the case on his docket for another 90 days.

All but three of the property owners have settled with the city in the past few months, according to court records. The city agreed to pay each property owner in exchange for dropping out of the lawsuit.

Orsburn told the judge that he and the citys attorneys have agreed to finish the last three property owners settlements even if the lawsuit is dismissed.

Weve got some subrogation of lien problems with banks out of California, Orsburn told the judge.

The city needs clear title to pay for an easement. Typically, the city works through any title issues in a condemnation case, according to Paul Williamson, the citys real estate manager.

But to settle inverse condemnation, the burden to convey clear title is on the property owners, Orsburn said in an interview after the hearing. Some of the lien holders havent been very cooperative, he added.

Without that condition satisfied, the three properties would end up in regular condemnation hearings, Orsburn said.

As it should have been in the beginning, he said. If I hadnt filed this lawsuit, these people wouldnt have received anything. The 2,000-pound gorilla rule no longer applies.

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City to pay about $1M to settle suit


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