Posted on 01/22/2013 4:16:44 PM PST by Jim Robinson
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), son of the recently-retired libertarian Congressman Ron Paul (R-Texas), was recently announced as a featured speaker for this year’s Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC).
CPAC is essentially a litmus test for the Republican Party; it provides a general sense of the party’s direction. Backed by tremendous Tea Party support, Rand Paul is eyeing a 2016 bid to take the reigns of the country, and he doesn’t care if you know it: "I am different than some in that I'm not going to deny that I'm interested," said Paul.
The GOP finds itself in an identity crisis. Among others attending CPAC are Sen. Marc Rubio (R-Fla.), Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), and Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.). Throw in Chris Christie, the Republican governor of New Jersey, and you have all the heavy hitters chomping at the bit for the 2016 GOP bid.
With disciplined libertarian Ron Paul retiring, there is some expectation that Rand Paul will succeed his father in spearheading libertarian causes. After Romney’s mystery campaign many await what a reinvigorated GOP will entail. Does Rand Paul’s rise represent anything transformative in the GOP?
Rand Paul is a rare breed: He is a self-described libertarian, but envisions a world where the government controls matters regarding basic women’s rights, even in cases of rape and incest. The libertarian affection for choice, freedom, and minimalist government gains an interesting meaning for Paul: “I think the answer really is that we need to somehow find our way back to God.” Despite the continued moral decay noticed by some after the Newtown tragedy, government imposition of religious morality hardly defines any libertarian worth his salt.
Rand Paul might be characterized by tea party sentiment, “Get the government out of my life!”
(Excerpt) Read more at policymic.com ...
You’re grooving on Rand Paul today.
Consider his father. You know he grew up listening to that nutcase.
Everyone says what they think folks want to hear when seeking a job.
He may spout good points, but he was taught the trade by a froot-loop.
Just sayin’...
In the last Month the left has really started to attack Rand Paul, they are going to increase their attacks in the next 6-9 months, Rand Paul scares the HELL out of the left.
I’m going to have to study up on young Mr. Rand Paul.
How much of his father does he have in him? I just initially recoil at the thought of the the elder having some, any or too much sway with the younger.
Christina is DONE, TOAST...etc.
Paul Ryan / Rand Paul?
To cute with the names being so similar?
Go Ravens!!
G
whether I like the guy or not, anyone candidate that starts talking about god, rape or abortion is DOA. The SOP for the GOP should be...this election is not about that and I’m not going to be making it about that.
Actually wants to substantially shrink federal government and federal power. That’s all I need to know.
Disagreeing with someone does not equate to fear.
I dislike Lima beans. Do you imagine I'm afraid of them?
Personally, I think he the offspring of a truther kook who is spouting crap you want to hear in order to further his career.
I may be wrong, but I'll not be falling for showmanship and kookism.
Grooving? On a Tuesday afternoon? Actually, the press release on his “Default Prevention Act” suddenly popped up in my email box this afternoon. While searching for more info on it (which I didn’t find) I found this report and thought it was interesting. CPAC is a springboard for campaign kick offs.
The ones who don’t talk about God, Life, family as well as small (constitutionally limited) government, fiscal sanity, strong defense, etc, are DOA in my book.
Social liberals are liberals. Hello Arnie!!
It could happen, don't be so racist.
CPAC is a springboard for campaign kick offs.
Didn't they invite a bunch of homos to attend the last couple times?
Young kooklet Rand spouts a good line that many can agree with.
Fact is he's a noob who has the highly questionable history
of being brought up by a nut job. Anybody can SAY things you agree with.
Question is what'll he DO? And can we afford to take a chance on that?
He's working on making a name for himself and mayhap using marketing to do it.
I remain skeptical. His dad is a kookwad and Rand grew up with that.
He has to do some ‘splaining to prove he has fallen far from the tree of nuts known as his father..
Rand and Scott Walker seem to be the only two in the GOP who are willing to fight. I would vote for a Paul/Walker or Walker/Paul ticket in a heartbeat - and Walker brings executive experience.
How is Rand Paul not seen as being too libertarian by many conservatives? And, everybody who doesn’t accept Ron Paul, for a finite number of reasons, will, probably, not accept Rand Paul, either.
Rand Paul, Ted Cruz, Scott Walker...
Those are probably my three favorite conservatives at the moment.
I’m not adverse to Rubio or Paul Ryan, but I don’t want either at the head of the ticket. Ryan has voted for too much government expansion, while Rubio is pushing the amnesty legislation.
If Christie touches the ticket, either as the president or the VP, I’m not voting.
Damned right the government should stay out of our lives. And that means not dictating to the states and the people that abortion or homosexual marriage should be legal. The people in the states clearly had these things illegal for over 200 years until the feds got involved. And taboo for eons before that. The feds should stay the hell out of areas that are not delegated to them by the constitution.
Racist? The Young Rascals are racist?
I think CPAC got their eyebrows singed on the homo issue and backed off (so to speak). Or, at least, I hope they’ve backed off.
candidates that lose elections can’t do much to help their cause
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