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Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly told Sen. Rand Paul Wednesday that he would look into reports that U.S. border agents are demanding cellphone data from U.S. citizens and legal residents when they are trying to return home after traveling abroad.

Paul, R-Ky., told Kelly in a Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing that there are reports of thousands of these searches, which he said set an "extraordinarily unreasonable standard."

"We're denying people entry who are citizens or green card holders who are coming back home, and your department is saying to them, you cannot return to your home without giving us your fingerprint, and giving us all of the data on your phone, access to all the data on your phone," Paul said.

Kelly responded by saying he's not aware of any significant increase in searches against U.S. citizens, and said these would normally take place under "very, very, very critical circumstances."

"I would say that an American citizen ought to be able to come back in and not have their electronics searched," Kelly said.

Paul persisted, and said reports say these kinds of searches have increased.

"Let me take that on, senator," Kelly said. He said press reports can often be inaccurate, and that "there's always more to the story."

Kelly later said he believes attempts to download phone data from returning U.S. citizens is "not happening." He said it is "certainly happening to foreigners coming in, "but not routinely."

Paul asked Kelly to get back to him with more information. "Will do," Kelly said.

Also from the Washington Examiner

Derek Kan is general manager for Lyft's Southern California region.

04/06/17 9:41 PM

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DHS promises Rand Paul to probe reports of 'unreasonable ... - Washington Examiner

POTOMAC FALLS, Va. President Donald Trump brought Sen. Rand Paul to his Virginia golf course on Sunday, planning to discuss health care with the outspoken critic of the failed plan to repeal and replace so-called Obamacare.

The outing to Trump National Golf Club came hours after Trump tweeted that talks on replacing the law have been going on and "will continue until such time as a deal is hopefully struck."

He added that anyone who thinks the effort is dead "does not know the love and strength in R Party!"

White House spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said Trump would be golfing and talking policy, including health care, with Paul, a licensed ophthalmologist, and budget director Mick Mulvaney.

Trump vanquished Paul in the 2016 Republican presidential primary. The Kentucky senator came out strongly against the House GOP legislation, and its collapse humiliated Trump in the early days of his administration.

After the outing, Paul said that "I think the sides are getting closer and closer together, and I remain very optimistic that we will get Obamacare repealed."

Trump and aides had argued for a vote in the final hours of negotiations around the bill, but Trump and House Speaker Paul Ryan ultimately agreed to pull it, rather than face a loss if it had been put to a vote.

In an interview with the Financial Times published online Sunday, Trump said the bill was pulled because "I didn't want to take a vote. It was my idea."

Still, Trump said that "one way or the other, I promised the people great health care. We are going to have great health care in this country. Now, it will be in one form or another. It will be a repeal and replace of Obamacare which is the deal that is being negotiated now."

It is not clear how a new health care bill will come together, with deep divides among Republicans and little interest in cooperation from Democrats. Since the bill went down, Trump has repeatedly lashed out at members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus who contributed to the defeat.

On CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday, a member of the caucus, Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, responded to those attacks. He said "tweets and statements and blame don't change facts. And the facts remain the same. When you look at the document, when you look at the legislation, it doesn't repeal Obamacare."

A Secret Service agent opens the door of the presidential vehicle for Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky, left, on the South Lawn driveway at the White House, April 2, 2017. Manuel Balce Ceneta / AP

Trump told the Financial Times that members of the caucus were "friends of mine." But he added: "if we don't get what we want, we will make a deal with the Democrats and we will have in my opinion not as good a form of health care, but we are going to have a very good form of health care and it will be a bipartisan form of health care."

The Sunday golf outing was not unusual for Trump, who has visited his golf courses in Virginia and Florida repeatedly since taking office. Sometimes these rounds incorporate official business, like when he played with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Florida.

For years, Trump railed against Obama when he was in office for golfing. Candidate Trump said if he won the election he'd probably be too busy to golf and would only play with people with whom he was looking to make deals.

And specifically regarding golf and Sen. Paul, Trump has been even more vitriolic:

"Recently, Rand Paul called me and asked me to play golf," Trump told

"Senator Paul does not mention that after trouncing him in golf I made a significant donation to the eye center with which he is affiliated."

Follow this link:
On Golf Course, Trump Talks Health Care With Dr. Rand Paul - NBCNews.com

I mean, maybe? But the reality is that Trump said a lot -- and I mean a LOT -- of nasty things about Paul during the 2016 presidential campaign.

Here's a brief walk down memory lane, ranked in order of my favorites. (All GIFs courtesy of the remarkable Brenna Williams.)

Trump tweeted this gem in August 2015 following a conference call by Paul's campaign in which the Kentucky Senator described the real estate mogul as a "fake conservative." (More on Paul's greatest hits on Trump below!)

Undermine Paul's very presence on stage? Check. Note his low poll numbers? Check.

Trump put out this statement on Aug. 12, 2015, following Paul releasing a negative ad that called into question Trump's Republican credentials. The cherry on the top of this quote? Trump noting that he had made a "significant donation" to an eye center with which Paul is affiliated.

Ouch.

Knowing condescension is the best kind of condescension.

Paul doesn't have as many amazing putdowns on Trump as the President has on him, but he may have the single best one of their "relationship."

"Donald Trump is a delusional narcissist and an orange-faced windbag," Paul said during an appearance on Comedy Central in January 2016.

"A speck of dirt is way more qualified to be president."

A speck of dirt!

Continue reading here:
The long, strange and totally nasty history of Donald Trump and Rand Paul - CNN

Being Libertarian

The Third Largest Political Party: Why the LP Fails Being Libertarian The Libertarian Party often boasts of being the third largest political party in the United States, and seems to think that fact alone is something earned or worth being proud of. But I see it as merely a circumstance, and one that actually bodes ...

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The Third Largest Political Party: Why the LP Fails - Being Libertarian

Well I knew it was bound to happen sooner or later, dozens of goodhearted frustrated Americans descending on my Island seeking refugee from the insanity of political activism in America and in my home state of North Carolina.

Just a few days ago while visiting Libertarian Island, my friend Eddy Blackman suggested that we need a second bench. Eddy loves the island but doesnt really love the notion of having to share a bench, which is understandable. But space is limited, and with the American people rapidly drowning in the sea of big government, overcrowding is going to become an issue and I was here first.

Just last week my progressive friend Lenny informed me he was coming for a visit and challenged me to debate the now famous HB2. Lenny assumes because I have left this issue alone for months that I am ill prepared and this will be an easy victory. Well, Lenny, we all know how that will turn out for you if thats how you want to spend your afternoon, but I will gladly humor you while you smoke your cigar and enjoy the scenery of my newly overcrowded Island of freedom.

Since we are on the subject and I have been challenged, lets kick back, open a bag of popcorn and bruise Lennys ego a bit. When it comes to HB2, when a city council within the state oversteps its legal authority to pass legislation reserved only for the state legislator, then the governor and the state legislator not only have the right but the constitutional obligation to slap them down. Can the governor and state legislator overreact and overcorrect the situation? Well certainly they can.

What many refuse to realize is that the governor of any state is responsible for enforcing all laws and all regulations written in the state.

A governor, much like a judge, must interpret and enforce state law as written. A governor simply doesnt have the option of ignoring a law or mandate he doesnt like or agree with. Former Gov. Pat Mc-Crory and the state legislature did not ask to be put into the situation they were put in, but they had the courage and conviction to take a stand and honor the oath of office. You see, when the heavy hand of political activism meets the heavy hand of government we all suffer. And we have all been affected by the economic impact of this pathetic attempt at political activism whose only true agenda was to destroy the political career of a governor who actually had an ounce of courage and conviction.

For as sad and pathetic as this whole experience has been for the good people of North Carolina, sadder still is the fact that we have people in this country who actually believe that inviting the state or federal government into our public restrooms and locker rooms will actually improve the quality of life for any of us.

Heres a dose of harsh reality for you: Once you invite the government into your restroom and locker rooms you will never get them out. As my dad always said, we get the government we deserve, so be very careful what you wish for.

So debate me if you must, Lenny, I always have and always will respect individual liberty and freedom of expression. I understand and respect your right to privacy, same as you respect mine. However, there is one big difference between you and me. When it comes to political activism or the infamous HB2, I have never needed the Charlotte City Council or the state legislature to define morality for me. But sadly, you do. Thats why I live on an Island with a nice bench, a great view and a growing population while you still swim in a sea of sheep.

Nice try, Lenny, but you lose again my friend. Mr. Parker lives in Erwin. Contact him at jimmyprmg@gmail.com.

JIMMY PARKER

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Overcrowding On Libertarian Island - The Daily Record (registration)