Rand Paul's Libertarian Crack

sgberman.com ^ | 6/11/15 | Steve Berman

[lifeofgrace]

I know this is going to blow a hole in the Internet as FREEPERs explode in anger that I would say what I am saying, but it's true. Rand Paul's brand of libertarianism attracts radical leftists.

Its just does.

[cripplecreek]

Of course it does.

[dayglored]

> ...as FREEPERs explode in anger that I would say what I am saying...

Content aside, regardless of what you're saying, whether you're right or wrong or otherwise, that's the very definition of trolling. Intentionally provoking a rise out of this crew is like checking your gasoline tank with a match. Best of luck with that. :-)

[simon says what]

I can partially see and understand your apprehension in regards to explosive responses, lifeofgrace. Let me ask you this in all seriousness though... So what? So what that he attracts radical leftists? And what I mean is, if it helps the most libertarian candidate running for president with a legitimate chance of winning, why does it matter who elects him? He is running on principles. Principles that allow conservatives to live freely in a conservative way. Our government is far too large and the reason we fear the radical left is because of the size of the government we have grown. It is not about taming the beast by winning the election, it is about shrinking it so that when the enemies of our individual liberties tame the beast, we smile at their new family pet. We need to reduce government until it is no longer the most powerful entity in our society. Anybody that wants to vote for that; welcome aboard!

[lifeofgrace]

Content aside, regardless of what you're saying, whether you're right or wrong or otherwise, that's the very definition of trolling. Intentionally provoking a rise out of this crew is like checking your gasoline tank with a match. Best of luck with that. :-)

It would be trolling if I didn't regularly post content to FR for the last year or two. If I didn't financially support the site, and engage in constructive conversations here.

But I do.

So I call this challenging the prevailing thought here. I am unabashedly a Republican who believes in Federalist principles. Sometimes they work really well with libertarian principles, and sometimes they do not.

[lifeofgrace]

I can partially see and understand your apprehension in regards to explosive responses, lifeofgrace. Let me ask you this in all seriousness though... So what? So what that he attracts radical leftists? And what I mean is, if it helps the most libertarian candidate running for president with a legitimate chance of winning, why does it matter who elects him? He is running on principles. Principles that allow conservatives to live freely in a conservative way. Our government is far too large and the reason we fear the radical left is because of the size of the government we have grown. It is not about taming the beast by winning the election, it is about shrinking it so that when the enemies of our individual liberties tame the beast, we smile at their new family pet. We need to reduce government until it is no longer the most powerful entity in our society. Anybody that wants to vote for that; welcome aboard!

I question the principles which would hand more power to the "social justice," mob rule crowd under the guise of smaller government. There needs to be a balance between rule of law and efficient government. The federal government absolutely needs to be smaller and less corrupt. But some of the foreign policy and criminal justice reforms Paul is advocating really follow a principle in opposition to a Federalist position and the rule of law.

[Hugh the Scot]

Nevertheless the post is filled with unsupported assertions which display the author’s biases without providing any evidence that they are an accurate reflection of Paul’s policy positions. .

In other words : pure opinion.

[cripplecreek]

Rand Paul’s brand of libertarianism really isn’t.

He talks about the 10th amendment and the powers of the state then turns around and talks about felons voting on a national stage. The states themselves have long held the power to make that decision. He bases his stance on the false premise that there are millions of blacks in prison for minor drug offenses due to racist laws.

[Eric Pode of Croydon]

Decriminalize controlled substance possession (“very small amounts”). This should be up to the states. It's not in the fedgov's job description.

Allow non-violent felons to vote. Agree, after the sentence has been served and after a waiting period.

Provide for a stringent legal process and “clear and convincing evidence” for forfeiture of assets. Agree completely, I would abolish forfeiture absent proof that the asset in question was received as the proceeds of a crime for which a conviction was achieved.

Allow judges to depart from mandatory minimum sentences (essentially removing those minimums).Agree completely

Create a judicial process to seal adult non-violent criminal records.Not sure I like this, need to look into the pros and cons (no pun intended)).

It appears that I agree with some of his positions and not others. Just like Walker, Rubio, Cruz, Perry, Fiorina, Santorum, Bush, Graham, Carson, Jindal, and Huckabee, all to a greater or lesser extent.

[MadIsh32]

I disagree

It helps shrink gov’t and spread liberty.

[simon says what]

Completely agree with you on the size and corruption with regards to the federal government. One of the aspects I find most corrupt since WWII is the corrosion of the process our Founding Fathers put in place for making war. I think many of our foreign policy issues would not be issues today if we had stuck with the Declaration of War process.

I’m not saying there is not some naivety to Paul’s foreign policy prescriptions. Far from it. I am saying, however, that it has been far more naive to trade away our individual rights as we have as a nation over the last several administrations. I am no longer willing to use the foreign policy / terrorism threat reason as an excuse to not make our individual liberties and freedoms at home the number one priority of this election. What good is fighting to defend freedom in foreign lands if we are just going to give it all away right here at home?

[lormand]

Libertarianism is a milder form of Anarchy, but both wind up with the same results. Chaos, destruction, ruin.

Our current foreign policy is the same as any true libertarian; Isolationism. Isolationism eventually will consume us into the sphere of the most aggressive foreign power.

[lormand]

"He is running on principles."

Wait, what?

Hat tip to SunkenCiv for compiling this list.

• Sec. of State Kerry: U.S. Not Responsible for Chaos in Iraq, Libya
• NANCY PELOSI: IRAQ IS NOT OUR RESPONSIBILITY
• Paul Blames Iraq Crisis on Bush Administration
• Rand Paul Defends Obama Against Dick Cheney

Rand Slams Congress for Funding Egypt’s Generals: ‘How Does Your Conscience Feel Now?’

Sen. Rand Paul is hammering his fellow senators for keeping billions in financial aid flowing to Egypt’s military — even as Cairo’s security forces massacre anti-government activists. [by “anti-government activists” is meant church-burning Christian-murdering jihadists]

[Posted on 08/15/2013 5:44:10 PM PDT by Hoodat]

• Paul: We probably can’t get rid of ‘Obamacare’
• Paul: We probably can’t get rid of ‘Obamacare’ - [Sep. 21, 2013 9:56 PM EDT ]
• Paul: ‘Difficult to turn the clock back’ on O-Care
• Rand Paul: GOP ‘probably can’t defeat’ Obamacare
• Rand Paul on abortion: “We’re not changing any of the laws until the country is persuaded otherwise”
• Sen. Paul: ‘We’re Not Changing Any’ Abortion ‘Laws Until the Country is Persuaded Otherwise’

Rand Paul On Shutdown: “Even Though It Appeared I Was Participating In It, It Was A Dumb Idea”

I said throughout the whole battle that shutting down the government was a dumb idea. Even though it did appear as if I was participating in it, I said it was a dumb idea. And the reason I voted for it, though, is that it’s a conundrum. Here’s the conundrum. We have a $17 trillion debt and people at home tell me you can’t give the president a blank check. We just can’t keep raising the debt ceiling without conditions. So unconditionally raising the debt ceiling, nobody at home wants me to vote for that and I can’t vote for that. But the conundrum is if I don’t we do approach these deadlines. So there is an impasse. In 2011, though, we had this impasse and the president did negotiate. We got the sequester. If we were to extend the sequester from discretionary spending to all the entitlements we would actually fix our problem within a few years.

[Posted on 11/19/2013 12:16:51 PM by Third Person]

• Rand Paul: I think Republicans may have over-emphasized voter fraud
• Rand Paul: Republicans Need to Soften on Social Issues

Rand Paul: Time for GOP to soften war stance

...by softening its edge on some volatile social issues and altering its image as the party always seemingly “eager to go to war... We do need to expand the party and grow the party and that does mean that we don’t always all agree on every issue” ... the party needs to become more welcoming to individuals who disagree with basic Republican doctrine on emotional social issues such as gay marriage... “We’re going to have to be a little hands off on some of these issues ... and get people into the party,” Paul said.

[Posted on 01/31/2013 5:08:50 PM PST by xzins]

• Rand Paul Wants Bigger GOP: ‘You Go to a Republican Event and It’s All White People’
• (Rand) Paul: GOP Needs to ‘Look Like the Rest of America’ to Win Again (again)
• Rand Paul slams Cliven Bundy’s racist rant
• Rand Paul: Bundy’s racist remarks are ‘offensive’
• Rand Paul: I’m Open to Voting for Immigration Bill
• Paul: Still hope for immigration reform this year

Rand Paul’s immigration speech

...The Republican Party must embrace more legal immigration. Unfortunately, like many of the major debates in Washington, immigration has become a stalemate-where both sides are imprisoned by their own rhetoric or attachment to sacred cows that prevent the possibility of a balanced solution. Immigration Reform will not occur until Conservative Republicans, like myself, become part of the solution. I am here today to begin that conversation. Let’s start that conversation by acknowledging we aren’t going to deport 12 million illegal immigrants. If you wish to work, if you wish to live and work in America, then we will find a place for you... This is where prudence, compassion and thrift all point us toward the same goal: bringing these workers out of the shadows and into being taxpaying members of society. Imagine 12 million people who are already here coming out of the shadows to become new taxpayers.12 million more people assimilating into society. 12 million more people being productive contributors.

[Posted on 03/19/2013 7:04:07 AM PDT by Perdogg]

---

Rand Paul calls on conservatives to embrace immigration reform

Latinos, should be a natural constituency for the party, Paul argued, but “Republicans have pushed them away with harsh rhetoric over immigration.” ...he would create a bipartisan panel to determine how many visas should be granted for workers already in the United States and those who might follow... [and the buried lead] “Imagine 12 million people who are already here coming out of the shadows to become new taxpayers...

[Posted on 04/21/2013 1:52:42 PM PDT by SoConPubbie]

---

[but he’s not in favor of amnesty, snicker, definition of is is]

Pasted from

Don’t forget that Rand Paul has made multiple appearances on the Alex Jones show and is aligned with Code Pink activist Adam Kokesh http://www.newsrealblog.com/2010/04/23/dear-sarah-palin-it’s-time-to-re-think-that-rand-paul-anti-israel-pro-kokesh-endorsement/ - as well as this scandal with Kentucky Right to Life : http://www.newsrealblog.com/2010/04/24/rand-paul-caught-lying-about-pro-life-survey/ Pasted from

• Rand Paul: End 'welfare' to Israel
• Rand Paul: Iran Wants Nukes Because It "Feels Threatened"
• Rand stands with Obama and Kerry on Iran
• Rand Paul: I don't think we should impose new Iran sanctions while negotiations are ongoing
• Rand Paul: Let's get this straight -- I'm not for containing Iran
• Rand Paul stands alone against Senate's 'preemptive war' resolution for Iran [Sept 2014]
• Rand Paul: It's America's Fault
• Rand Paul clarifies: No containment on Iran

Pasted from

[Servant of the Cross]

Rand Paul's brand of libertarianism attracts radical leftists.

Well ... duh! If you go far enough out to the extreme of the spectrum (think of a rainbow) ... you actually reach the other extreme.

[ansel12]

So what that he attracts radical leftists? And what I mean is, if it helps the most libertarian candidate running for president with a legitimate chance of winning, why does it matter who elects him? He is running on principles.

You are one confused puppy, you think that leftists electing the president of the United States that they want, is what is good for conservatives.

You are on the wrong site.

[lormand]

"You are on the wrong site."

I second that!

[ansel12]

Oh, and WELCOME to freerepublic.

[grumpygresh]

It’s not really left or right.

It’s the government vs the individual. The federal government (in the US) was supposed to be the force that protects individual rights. Now government is only concerned with self preservation and the rapacious oppression of the people.

Recreational drug use is mostly counterproductive and harmful to the individual. That being said, the federal government’s approach to enforcement is tyrannical and more harmful to society than the consequences of widespread drug use. The federal “cure” is much worse than the disease. I don’t see the drug problem getting any better with the world’s highest per capita prison rate. I don’t see the DEA and the FBI doing anything positive in this area. I don’t think that the disgusting and shameful police state is worth it. Why can’t states decide and keep the Feds out of it? We will get 50 different approaches to the problem; some will be good and others not so good, but people will be able to decide, not bureaucratic tyrants.

We need accountable decentralized government more than ever. I don’t think that any conscious citizen can trust the Feds to do almost anything right at this point.

[simon says what]

ansell2, “Welcome to Free Republic?” I’ve been here three years longer than you. I am neither a confused puppy nor on the wrong site. I feel Free Republic is the perfect site to discuss the conservative issue of small government. I see no reason to categorize you or define what you should or should not post. I believe we learn by discussing issues with each other, not from demonizing or dismissing each other.

[ansel12]

Actually you are pushing liberalism.

“”So what that he attracts radical leftists? And what I mean is, if it helps the most libertarian candidate running for president with a legitimate chance of winning, why does it matter who elects him? “”

As far as welcoming you to FR, since you have something of a sleeper account, for instance one post since 2007, until today, I thought that you may have confused us with DU.