Posted on 03/07/2025 11:39:16 AM PST by RandFan
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) signaled Thursday that President Trump’s threat to levy tariffs on key trading partners of the U.S. is hurting his constituents.
“Almost every industry in Kentucky has come to me and said, ‘It will hurt our industry and push up prices of homes, cars,’ and so, I’m going to continue to argue against tariffs,” Paul said late Thursday in an interview with CNN.
His concern echoes that of Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), who urged the administration to be “smart” about levying additional taxes and reciprocal tariffs. Tillis argued the U.S. has “more leverage” than any other nation, but not “all the leverage.”
“When we start losing, you back off,” he said, according to a clip highlighted by Mediaite. “There’s such a thing as strategic retreat.”
Their comments come after Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) also criticized the Trump administration’s policies around tariffs, suggesting he is “worried.”
(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...
Rand Paul is dependable- as a complete wing nut
I disagree with you that Rand is right. He is wrong on this, and he is doubly wrong to make a stink about it at this time. He is doing nothing more than providing a leverage point to enemies of this country, foreign and domestic, who see him in exactly that light, as aiding their cause against Trump and his efforts to modify the behavior of countries that are giving us the finger, and I guarantee will exploit Rand whether he likes it or not.
Fentanyl deaths are to top cause of death for Americans between the ages of 18-35, more than 100K a year. Many might say “Well, they took a toke off of a laced joint, they shouldn’t have done that and they deserve what they get.” (Note: Not at all saying YOU say or think that.)
So if we put tariffs on countries who fail to secure their borders and illicit human and drug traffic across those borders, and attach those conditions to the presence or removal of tariffs, it is because we are looking at the cost of 100K dead young Americans, or hundreds of billions of dollars spent on illegals and weighing it against the cost the tariffs may have on our own citizens or economy.
Everyone, including President Trump and his advisors likely have discussed the risk of damaging ourselves by imposing tariffs. But what is the alternative, I ask you, when we get the gigantic middle finger from China, Mexico, and Canada?
Do nothing? Write them nasty letters?
Too effing bad! Trump won suck it.
Suck it up and deal with it
Maybe he should try being Senator for all his constituents not just business interests
These greedy bastard outsourced everything they could to save a few buck. No matter how bad they damage US Citizen and US National Interests in the process. They changed China from a 245 million exporter in 2000 to 3.3 trillion in 2024
Along the way they destroyed the financial future of 10s of millions of working class Americans.
Time to represent ALL your constituents Congress, not just your Lobbyists and Donors.
Tariffs hurt people & businesses dependent on foreign producers. High tariffs would be destructive to a nation with a small amount of resources, but shouldn’t really matter with the natural resources of the United States.
That the squealing from Wall Street is this high in tone, shows how much American Capitalists have put “too many eggs in a foreign basket.”
After they stop focusing on pissing money away on Ukraine, maybe they’ll focus on investing in “non woke America.”
What part of “reciprocal tariffs” do you not understand?
Stop tariffing us, we will stop tariffing you
He’s right, but it’s short-term pain for long-term gain. It hurts to have a broken bone set, but it’s not long until you are glad you did.
Actually, in this case, I don’t believe the tariffs are being used as a stick (rather than a carrot) with respect to the tariffs Canada, Mexico, and China levy on our products. (I could be wrong on this, and if I am, please correct me)
I was under the impression there were two issues, Fentanyl and Illegals coming from Northern and Southern borders, and we want it to stop. With respect to China, it is because they manufacture the precursors for Fentanyl and ship those precursors to both Mexico and Canada for production and insertion across the border into the USA.
Again, I don’t see this round of tariffs being used as a weapon against the Canadian dairy industry (Canada has huge tariffs on American dairy to protect their domestic dairy production) as much as it is borders and Fentanyl. It makes a difference.
If I am wrong, I am absolutely open to correction on this. I am all for free trade, but free trade does not, and has not existed for decades.
Tariffs typically are a bad idea. With Trump he uses them to twist arms during negotiations, usually with good results.
When Rand becomes President with a popular vote mandate, then he can call the shots. Till then he can get on the program or keep his piehole shut.
Trump needs to do a better job articulating to the people what the endgame/goal is. That’s coming through right now.
NOT coming through.
So the USA should just sit doewn and take the existing over 200% tariffs on dairy from Canada and all the other unequal treatment.
No. Time to stand up and show them we are willing to walk away. Temporary dislocation may result but the other alternative is to continue to hollow put America. When the going gets tough the tough gets going.
You are correct about the current tariffs. The ones that go into effect April 2 are the reciprocal tariffs.
Trump has already eased the tariffs on Mexico because they are cooperating, and he has eased some on Canada. The problem for Canada is they think it’s just a small amount, less than 1%. If your child is dead because of fentanyl it doesn’t matter what percent of the total it is.
Shame on Rand!
We’re done for if we don’t get critical supply chains back home again—and his state is one that will really benefit from the reindustrialization of the country.
If he can’t understand and explain that to his constituents, he shouldn’t be in office.
Yes, I believe that you’re correct. The recent tariffs to Canada, Mexico and China were all related to Fentanyl and or Illegals and not a response to their tariffs.
Thank you for that correction. And I am still on board for the prospective tariffs.
I know Thomas Sowell (one of my heroes) believes in “Free Trade”, but...we just don’t have that at this time.
I think we need to support the Trump Administration on this as a way of building back our hollowed out industrial base. Not saying there won’t be times where it is going to hurt, but in the end, I think it will be worth the price, IMO.
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