New leader of the GOP: Rand Paul

CNN ^ | 3 9 2013 | staff

[BarnacleCenturion]

(CNN) -- A few weeks ago, Time Magazine ran its now-famous cover: "The Republican Savior: How Marco Rubio became the new voice of the GOP." Only time will tell if the junior senator from Florida lives up to that billing, and it's entirely possible that Time will be proven wrong in the coming months and years. But there's one cover that the magazine could run now and be entirely confident in: "The Republican Messenger: How Rand Paul became the real voice of the GOP."

That's right. At least for the time being, tea party darling Sen. Rand Paul is the effective leader of the Republican Party. And that's a pretty big deal. The GOP's shellacking in 2012 has thrust a new generation of Republicans -- including leaders like Rubio, Rep. Paul Ryan, Sen. Ted Cruz, and Govs. Bobby Jindal and Chris Christie -- into the spotlight. But it's Paul who has become the clearest voice of the new guard in the Republican Party. And he is effectively driving the entire GOP message right now. Think about it. No one else in the GOP has been able to step into a real leadership position, no matter how hard they try. Paul Ryan? He's back in the halls of Congress trying to figure out how to repackage his failed fiscal approach. John Boehner and Eric Cantor? Congressional Republicans have an approval rating in the low teens.

John McCain and Lindsey Graham? Each day they seem less like elder statesmen and more like Statler and Waldorf from the "Muppet Show."

[Cringing Negativism Network]

Bump.

Adding Sarah Palin.

[Alex Baker]

#1 Rand Paul - Heroic
#2 Ted Cruiz - Close second

[Jeff Chandler]

John McCain and Lindsey Graham? Each day they seem less like elder statesmen and more like Statler and Waldorf from the "Muppet Show."

[bray]

What does he have against Statler and Waldorf?

Pray for America

[FerociousRabbit]

“...including leaders like Rubio, Rep. Paul Ryan, Sen. Ted Cruz, and Govs. Bobby Jindal and Chris Christie”

Let’s play a game. One of these things is not like the others.

[ex-snook]

Paul has a zilch chance to lead a GOP that is bent on one-world and intervention as our future.

[The Sons of Liberty]

Apparently those in “the smoke filled back room” have decided that Rubio should be the heir apparent to the mantle of Dole and McLame. As a Conservative I want someone who represents MY principles and is willing to fight back!

[The Sons of Liberty]

John McCain and Lindsey Graham? Each day they seem less like elder statesmen and more like Statler and Waldorf from the "Muppet Show."

At least Statler and Waldorf are able to make some astute observations. All Graham and McLame do is kiss Hussein's butt!

[Theodore R.]

The heir to GHWB is still Jebbie.

[Beagle8U]

One big slobbie fat thing isn’t like the others.

[TWhiteBear]

Senator Rand Paul counts 14 fellow Senators who helped him in his successful filibuster. Grumpy loser Sen. McCain calls them all ‘whack birds’ and Sen. McCain knows whack birds well, having been one for a long, long time.
The Junta of 15 will be back.
It is a lot bigger than the Gang of Seven.
It would have been priceless to see Sen. McConnals face when he heard that Sen. McCain called him a ‘whack bird’.
TWB

[Paladin2]

Heh, heh, heh....

[familyop]

CNN would like that.

Rand Paul Explains His Surprise Vote For Chuck Hagel (1 of only 4 Republicans to vote for)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2991511/posts

Most Americans Support Right of Jews to Live and Build in Judea-Samaria
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/927783/posts
June 10, 2003
"By a margin of nearly five to one, Americans oppose the Bush administration's demand to halt all further Jewish construction in Judea-Samaria (the West Bank) and Gaza . . . The poll, carried out by John McLaughlin & Associates, surveyed a scientific sample of 1,000 American adults on May 21, 2003.

[mosaicwolf]

...."Chris Christie....? I think The Gov of NJ is nothing more than a typical RINO and future in the Republican Party is very doubtful.

[familyop]

How about a candidate with an America-first voting record on manufacturing and a voting record in favor of Israel instead of Islamist foreign enemies?

[cricket]

No; Forget that he is a ‘Bush’; another ‘Rove boy’ cannot succeed.

[cricket]

And let us not forget; Chris’s Muslim support; where it should not be appreciated.

[Skepolitic]

It really is unfair to compare McCain and Graham to muppets.

The muppet characters are lovable in their own way. There is nothing lovable about McCain or Graham. They are despicable jackasses. With his history of dumping his wife - who by all reports remained faithful during his years of captivity - for an heiress, his corruption evidenced by his Lincoln S&L escapades, and his utter disregard of the Constitution evidenced by his eponymous campaign finance reform act, McCain is particularly odious. He is kind of a Republican John F. Kerry. Of course no analogy is perfect: for example, there’s no evidence that Kerry ever sold his influence as openly and cheaply as McCain.

Occasionally they find themselves on the right side of an issue, but only by accident.

[Georgia Girl 2]

I’ll second that emotion.