They tell you he's not the same as his father, despite the fact that we regularly run into him making comments that espouse similar positions on defense, immigration, gay marriage, drugs, et al. He often emends those comments; but suspicions of Rand Paul aren't just entirely due to his last name. They're due to his expressed positions uttered before he gets the chance to gray them up semantically with the help of professionals.
Strangely enough, we hear from his supporters that he's a serious presidential contender because he's already got a national infrastructure. Oh, really? A first-term Senator from Kentucky has a national presidential infrastructure? How is this so? I'll tell you what they mean: they mean Ron Paul's infrastructure. Interesting how Rand can just seamlessly fill in for Ron and not lose any of his father's supporters, despite their supposed major differences.
I really hope Ron Paul runs in 2016. In fact, we need to raise some hell and make some noise and draft him to run! Maybe if both Ron and Rand run, we can have a real discussion about their major issue differences!
Don't be fooled. There's a reason all Ron Paul supporters are behind Rand, and it's not because he's a Reaganite Republican, or because he's so different from his father. It's because they know, just like we know, the differences are miscible.
Rand Paul believes in smaller government, strong military, not building other nations, pro-life.
That is conservative enough for my stomach.
Bingo! On the issues.org even lists him as a Liberaltarian based on his record!