Drone Filibuster, the NRA 500 and Bye-Bye ChavezDear Mark: Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul is an idiot for filibustering the nomination of John Brennan to head the CIA. It came across as a childish response from a party that doesn't have the votes to defeat Brennan. Even Republicans John McCain and Lindsey Graham negatively remarked on the rookie senator's stunt. We don't need theatrics, we need action. — LB in NC Dear LB: Not only was Rand Paul's "stunt" awesome, it was an example of how Washington should work. Paul's 13-hour filibuster was in response to Attorney General Eric Holder's memo in which he stated that under "extraordinary circumstances" the U.S. military could technically use drones to kill American citizens thought to be terrorists while here at home. Wouldn't any sane person want just a smidgen of clarification to the threat of getting mowed down by a drone? Much to the chagrin of many of his Republican and Democrat colleagues, the filibuster was effective, as Paul finally received confirmation from the White House that it was not constitutional to use drones to kill American citizens on American soil. Paul's filibuster also shed light on the controversial domestic drone program that is flying in the gray area of violating all of our civil rights. Dear Mark: I can't believe that the NRA is going to sponsor a NASCAR race. After all the mass shootings, it is reprehensible that any professional sport would allow such a powerful and violent lobbying group to affiliate with it. Surely you don't approve of such a tasteless promotion. — No Annie Oakley Here Dear No Annie: You darn right I approve. Like it or not, there are millions of Americans who believe the right to keep and bear arms is every bit as important as the freedoms of speech and the press.
The race you're referring to is the NRA 500, coming up in April down here in Texas, and I'm betting that 99.9 percent of those in attendance own a gun if not an arsenal. So why not have the NRA sponsor this race? Contrary to all of the negative press, the NRA has been protecting the rights of millions of gun owners while promoting the responsible use of firearms for almost 150 years. The NRA and NASCAR is a perfect marketing match, as stock car racing is not some namby pamby sport. Don't expect to see the Ben & Jerry's 500 from Talladega or the Starbucks Duals at Daytona. NASCAR has brought us macho names like Awesome Bill from Dawsonville, Ironman, Smoke, Fireball Roberts, The Intimidator and, my favorite, Buckshot Jones. I bet you every one of them owns a gun and knows how to use it. Dear Mark: I know that I shouldn't dance on anyone's grave, but I am glad that Venezuelan President, or should I say dictator, Hugo Chavez has passed. He was an evil leader who stole from his people, nationalized businesses and forged unholy alliances with villains like Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. His final words, according to one of his generals, were even cowardly, "He couldn't speak, but he said it with his lips: "I don't want to die. Please don't let me die." Am I wrong for my feelings? — Big Ted Dear Big: Sean Penn might disagree with your feelings, but you're all right in my book. The crack staff at the Dear Mark Empire did uncover that Chavez's final words were actually, "That Cuban universal health care ain't quite as good as Michael Moore claims." Dear Mark is a public platform for your enrichment and entertainment. E-mail your questions to marklevy92@aol.com. To find out more about Mark Levy, and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit www.creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2013 CREATORS.COM 
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