Clown car filling up - Paul running for Pres

[gunnarthor]

http://www.politico.com/story/2015/04/rand-paul-2016-campaign-launch-116723.html?hp=t1_r

 

I guess being "not as crazy" as Cruz counts for something.  Paul should have some support among the libertarian types within the GOP but he might have peaked a couple years ago.  His libertarian bend on issues like restoring voting rights to felons, criminal justice reform (targeting mandatory minimums and asset forfeiture) and legalization of marijuana probably make him a longshot to get the nomination.

 

I think he'd be a very interesting general election candidate but I can't see how he gets there unless he runs as a third party but the Dems/Repub have pretty much destroyed any chance of a real third party choice.

[Zachary]

If he runs as a 3rd party Candidate, he might receive a small percentage of the popular vote, but (like you said) there is not a chance in h*** he gets any electoral votes. He probably wouldn't even get Kentuky's. 

[TheLeviathan]

Yeah, the Republicans will reject him precisely for the reasons they should embrace him.  His beliefs on marijuana, crime, prison reform, war and military spending, and many other issues is a breath of fresh air.  He's also the rare politician in either party willing to stand up and denounce his own party for hypocrisy or stupidity. 

 

He has some issues that I don't agree with him on and I'm not sure he'd make a good president, but dammit we need more people on BOTH sides willing to stand up for some of the things he has made part of his platform.  So in that respect I hope he hangs in there as long as he can.

[kydoty]

Maybe Rand Paul isn't like this, but from what I've seen, Libertarians are what Republicans call themselves when they don't want to be labeled Republican while still voting down the party line.

[TheLeviathan]

 

Maybe Rand Paul isn't like this, but from what I've seen, Libertarians are what Republicans call themselves when they don't want to be labeled Republican while still voting down the party line.

 

See I couldn't disagree more.  Libertarian is considered a dirty word in many Republican circles.  They consider it in the vein of Rhinos or Blue Dog Democrats that can't be trusted.

[Willihammer]

Maybe Rand Paul isn't like this, but from what I've seen, Libertarians are what Republicans call themselves when they don't want to be labeled Republican while still voting down the party line.

They'll vote against anything guaranteed to pass, just to say they did, but with anything close they will toe the party line every time. Everyone wants committee appointments and their pet bills put on any dockets and to do that you have to make nice with party leadership. And they'll sellout shamelessly for pork. If you want a fun read, google Ron Paul or Rand Paul pork spending. Their districts bring/brought in a lot more than they contributed to the pot.

[Willihammer]

Or they'll vote against a particular spending bill guaranteed to pass, then mysteriously a bunch of money will get earmarked for their district in conference committee. Hmmmm

[Mike Sixel]

Paul "believes in small government", until he says stuff about how doctors interact with female patients, gay marriage, and other social issues that are actually what libertarians should be about.....

[Hrbowski]

 

See I couldn't disagree more.  Libertarian is considered a dirty word in many Republican circles.  They consider it in the vein of Rhinos or Blue Dog Democrats that can't be trusted.

So is Tea Party.

[Hrbowski]

 

 

I think he'd be a very interesting general election candidate but I can't see how he gets there unless he runs as a third party but the Dems/Repub have pretty much destroyed any chance of a real third party choice.

I wish that they wouldn't label themselves as a certain party, instead of Republicans, Democrats, and Independents it should be conservatives, liberals, and moderates, because I know liberal Republicans and conservative Democrats.

[Hrbowski]

I think that Paul is fine, and I would probably vote for him over any Democrat except maybe Jim Webb, but I think that marijuana should be illegal nation wide. 

[TheLeviathan]

 

So is Tea Party.

 

Given some of the absolute whack jobs the Tea Party has elevated, that's who they SHOULD be wary of.

[Willihammer]

I'm torn on pot. The financial argument for legalizing is compelling but I don't think its as harmless as the left makes it out to be. The stuff is pretty insidious, especially what's being sold these days by guys in their basemen. I can only imagine what a billion dollar pharmaceutical company would produce.

[Hrbowski]

 

I'm torn on pot. The financial argument for legalizing is compelling but I don't think its as harmless as the left makes it out to be. The stuff is pretty insidious, especially what's being sold these days by guys in their basemen. I can only imagine what a billion dollar pharmaceutical company would produce.

I know people who's blood stopped working because they smoke pot.

[biggentleben]

 

I know people who's blood stopped working because they smoke pot.

 

Um, wow.  Just wow.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I'm a big fan of his dad. Rand hasn't sold me yet. I think the sentiments on the Libertarian movement in this forum are a bit off here. I was always a small gov. Republican until I realized that the Republican party wasn't a small gov. party like they claim they are. I've been voting mostly Libertarian ever since. Most people in that vein just stopped voting. But as Levi said, he's rejected for precisely the reason he should be supported. If Republicans relooked at a few of those items (gay marriage, pot, military spending, prison reform), I could see a lot of Dems and independents switching sides.

 

Paul's dad was pretty consistent on a lot of this stuff, which is why I liked him. As for Rand, he hasn't sold me yet. It will be interesting to watch.

[Mike Sixel]

I think Rand just wants to be something.....and is more interested in being elected than really leading a new Libertarian world.....but I could be wrong.

 

I worked tirelessly for the moderate party of the 80s and even sort of early 90s....but once the religious right took hold, and the party decided defunding education and basic infrastructure was cool, I jumped ship. Heck, Pawlenty asked me to move to Minnetonka and they'd make sure I was elected to the House in the early 90s. But man, that party has moved so far from what I believe about freedom and education, I can't see ever going back.

 

To me, the issue with voting Republican for president is that all the really really really bad ideas in the House/Senate might get passed.....

[TheLeviathan]

 

I think Rand just wants to be something.....and is more interested in being elected than really leading a new Libertarian world.....but I could be wrong.

 

His first day on the campaign sure backed this up.  From comments about keeping the government out of people's churches (where the hell is that happening?) to blasting reporters for tough questions....the guy basically took all the air out of the limited scope of what I thought he could accomplish.  (Basically, ruffle feathers)

 

Well, looks like I'm writing in Tyrian Lannister this year.

[diehardtwinsfan]

His first day on the campaign sure backed this up.  From comments about keeping the government out of people's churches (where the hell is that happening?) to blasting reporters for tough questions....the guy basically took all the air out of the limited scope of what I thought he could accomplish.  (Basically, ruffle feathers)

 

Well, looks like I'm writing in Tyrian Lannister this year.

I cannot speak for Peter D., but Tyrion Lannister would be a great candidate for Pres

 

As for Rand, yeah, I think there's truth to that. Not sure I agree about the government out of the churches... It's there, not to the extent is elsewhere, but it's there. Lest we forget, not that long ago the government was telling churches that their medical plans had to pay for abortions.

 

But all politics these days is about ruffling feathers, which is why I hate it so much. I swear politicians actually enjoy doing it. Ruffle the feathers on stupid issues to disguise the real problems. I hope Rand isn't that guy, I really want him to be like his dad. Problem is that part of me doesn't think he is.

[TheLeviathan]

I want him to ruffle the feathers of the Republican party.  To expose where they claim to be small government but ride the big government gravy train almost as much as the Dems.  

 

Your example about abortions is a pretty small one and was quickly rectified.  The church and state are pretty damn separate.

[diehardtwinsfan]

To be clear, I want him to ruffle the feathers of the establishment. Too much politics these days though is nothing more than ruffling the feathers of Joe and Jane voter to get him/her to run to the polls and vote for a really bad candidate. It's stirring the pot without fixing the problems. That is something I'm tired of.

 

If Rand can ruffle some feathers promoting real solutions while sticking to his guns on them, I'll be happy... But like I said, I don't know if he's a true Libertarian or just another politician looking to get some votes.