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 ...
If you’re going to push the liberal/RINO agenda you can be replaced.
This is FR! Unabashedly pro-god, pro-life, pro-family, pro-constitution, pro-America. Love it, live it, or leave it!!
Something is going on, because I actually agree with every word of your post.
I think I need sleep. I’ll be better in the morning.
I guess we shall see. I remain skeptical of Paul.
I don’t think the Young Rascals are overtly racist, but I’ve not studied their origins and influences.
Yet.
Sometimes I let slide my opinionated dumbass persona.
Not often, and not soon again. Take comfort in that.
It is small comfort, but I will take it. :)
Agreed. I really cant see how somebody can be a conservative and a libertarian. I know as a Conservative there are many things the Libertarian can accept or sweep under the rug that I can never accept because as a Conservative and my core principles are not negotiable.
I never thought I’d say I want to hear more what a politician has to say but in Rand’s case I do. Is he a Conservative or a Libertarian?
I like what I see of Rand.
It is good to remain skeptical. Ever vigilant.
We have much to learn about young Paul.
Consider Rand for what he is and what he says. Not by his father. I doubt he'll be perfect, but he's the only Republican who talks about the constitution.
Not a bad start.
He's kind of a noobie geek that was raised by a nutcase.
I doubt he'll be perfect, but he's the only Republican who talks about the constitution.
Yeah. Note that talk is not equal to act.
I'm not condemning him, I'm just saying let's wait and see.
Justin Bieber is popular too but he's still a fag.
Seems to me that right now, Rand Paul and Mark Levin are the ONLY two national voices out there who are standing up against both Obama and the GOP-E, with Palin gone dormant for the time being.
So who else do you want? Jeb Bush or Chris "Big Tony" Christie?
It is way too early but:
Alan West or Ted Cruz in 2016
West/Cruz or Cruz/West
Nope. How about you?
Rand Paul and Mark Levin are the ONLY two national voices out there who are standing up against both Obama and the GOP-E
Really? How about you? Are those folks some kind of better than you? Aren't your posts read nationally?
Palin gone dormant for the time being.
Not touching that one today.
Well, you started tearing down Palin in 2009, and here you are now, in 2013, tearing down Rand Paul. Gives one the distinct impression that you’ll never be happy with any potential presidential candidate who actually wants to beat both Obama and the GOP-E.
Well, brer Ridgerunner, I imagine that is reasonably true.
When folks became worshipful and nasty about defending her
I naturally got contrariwise to this embarrassing fawnage.
Gives one the distinct impression that you’ll never be happy with any potential presidential candidate
Kind of like those purist retards that held out for the tease-in-chief?
presidential candidate who actually wants to beat both Obama and the GOP-E.
Name that sucker.
Good to see you posting about Rand Paul Jim.
Rand has that natural charisma and is a STAUNCH conservative.
He will never back down and is serious about limited government and cutting spending.
We must unite and choose one candidate to support, dont like the RINO’s split us and win with their establishment candidate like they have done with McCain and Romney.
That would be disaster.
I advocate for Rand Paul and would like Walker as his running mate as it may put WI in play.
Rand has the appeal to put states in play that others will not.
He has perfect delivery and the message is loud and clear: We’ve come to take our government back!
His libertarian message will resonate across America as he attempts to rebuild the Reagan coalition which included evangelicals, libertarians and common sense conservatives.
He’s the only one who can do it and who can defeat the left.
So you're admitting that you're not a Conservative "purist?" That instead, you're a party first hack who voted for ABO Romney? That makes YOU the sucker.
Name that sucker.
Well, right now, it's looking a whole lot like Rand Paul, and here you are already attacking him.
Reagan quote on libertarians:
“I believe the very heart and soul of conservatism is libertarianism”
Reagan won by a landslide.
Rand is trying to build that Reagan coalition.
You cannot win without the libertarians, they will just sit at home again like they did with Romney after he screwed Ron Paul at the convention in Tampa.
Purity is an impossible goal and expectation.
To surrender in it's absence is foolish and fraught with failure.
Well, right now, it's looking a whole lot like Rand Paul, and here you are already attacking him.
Am I? Is he to be the new chosen one, immune from any question or criticism?
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