Years ago back when Reagan was President I met an unknown Texas Congressman – slender, quiet, fearless, Ron Paul was cut from a rare bolt of cloth. I never met his son, Rand, but father and son seem a lot alike: Both doctors, both outspoken but soft-voiced, both polite but fearless. You seldom see men like that in Washington anymore.

Last week Senator Rand Paul tackled Trump head on, saying the Constitution doesn’t give a president the power to kill someone – that even a murderer has the right to a fair trial.

Touching a dangerous nerve he pointed out a speedboat with 11 people on board had just been blown to smithereens off the coast of Venezuela – and Vice President J.D. Vance had said ‘killing cartel members who poison our fellow citizens is the highest and best use of our military.’

Voice calm, Paul pointed out that – when Vance was told killing citizens without due process was a war crime – he snorted he ‘didn’t give a shit.’

Paul laid a challenge in front of Vance: Let’s see the evidence the people bombed to smithereens were guilty – were terrorists.

Vance didn’t offer a shred of evidence.

Paul laid a challenge in front of Trump, pointing out no president can just say someone’s a terrorist and have the army kill him – unless he can use the War Powers Act. And first, before he can use that act, he needs Congress’ approval.

Paul introduced a motion to make Trump get Congress’ approval before blowing up any more boats in the Caribbean – only one other Republican Senator voted for the motion. It failed 51 to 48.

Trump slammed Paul. And blew up two more boats.

But, still, you have to give Rand Paul credit: Putting politics aside he stood up for what he believed is right, even though it landed him in a ditch. That’s a lost virtue – we could use more of in Washington these days.