Rand’s grand plan: An inside look at the senator's presidential rollout

Politico ^ | 11/10/2014 | Mike Allen

[GIdget2004]

Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul has made key decisions about how to launch his presidential campaign for the 2016 Republican nomination, including a plan to headquarter his effort in Louisville and opting to run for re-election to the Senate at the same time he moves forward with the national race.

Coming off a midterm campaign blitz in 35 states, Paul has summoned a few dozen advisers – a mix of veterans of his father Ron Paul’s insurgent campaigns and more mainstream GOP leaders — for a closed-door summit at a Washington hotel on Wednesday to discuss his future plans.

In a POLITICO interview, the 51-year-old senator talked unblinkingly about the possibility of a run, and sought to draw a sharp contrast between himself and Hillary Clinton — none too subtly raising the issue of her age. At 67, she is 16 years older than he is.

“I think all the polls show if she does run, she’ll win the Democrat nomination,” he said. “But I don’t think it’s for certain. It’s a very taxing undertaking to go through. It’s a rigorous physical ordeal, I think, to be able to campaign for the presidency.”

Paul, who will face a much more crowded field on the Republican side but starts out as a slight front-runner in public polls, has begun an aggressive early campaign against Clinton. In the interview, he argued that her hawkish position inside the Obama administration for military intervention in places such as Libya will stack up unfavorably against his views.

[SoConPubbie]

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]

[struggle]

It will be Cory Booker, Deval Patrick, Julian Castro, or Fauxcahontas, depending on who the DNC money operators think will bring the biggest return.

After all the donator’s money got flushed in the 2014 elections, the DNC needs someone very different to attract money, and Hillary! is too close to Obama. I’m thinking the two big contenders will be Warren for the socialist side of the DNC and Castro for the money side of the DNC.

[BRL]

For all you folks who dont like paul, look at his senate voting record. My dream choice is cruz, but i think paul can get lots of votes that cruz cannot get.

[Servant of the Cross]

Rand Paul .... take a hike! No Sale!

RAND PAUL: IT'S AMERICA'S FAULT

Rand Paul: Let’s face it, it’s going to be difficult to repeal ObamaCare at this point

Rand Paul Touts GOP Unity, Endorses Susan Collins 'Wholeheartedly' in Maine

Rand Paul Wants Bigger GOP: ‘You Go to a Republican Event and It’s All White People’

Rand Paul: Amnesty Legislation Could Pass This Year

Rand Paul seeks new allies among Romney 2012 team

McConnell: Rand Paul can 'count on me' for 2016

[BRL]

The other thing i like abour paul is his no hesitation attacks on hillary. At least he will campaign against the democrat nominee instead or going milk toast.

[Cheerio]

I’m thinking the two big contenders will be Warren for the socialist side of the DNC

The socialists will be in full force the next two years - Zero has NOT DONE ENOUGH for this contingent, that is what the RAT party is upset about.

The RAT party has been hijacked by the commies and dumbed down couch loving Americans do not even understand what has occurred primarily because they get their news from the commie networks.

[SoConPubbie]

The other thing i like abour paul is his no hesitation attacks on hillary. At least he will campaign against the democrat nominee instead or going milk toast.

Too bad lately he has been failing on so many other fights.

[Viennacon]

I have said many times before, my choice is Ted, but if Rand wins the nomination, I will both vote for him and work my butt off for him. I can not say the same about Jebby and Krispy who I REFUSE to vote for.

However I am worried that Rand seems to be surrounding himself with a lot of advisors from FAILED campaigns. Why the heck would you employ John Yob who oversaw McLame’s defeat?

If he was smart, he would hire the genius behind the Dave Brat campaign in Virginia. I have never seen such a stunning upset as that one.

[Servant of the Cross]

Yes, it is very telling that Ron Paul, Jr. goes to Pollutico to get his puff pieces on his 2016 run ....

[Viennacon]

I cannot disagree there. Paul came out swinging, ignoring the moron in the WH and going straight for Hillary’s jugular. Obola is irrelevant. Paul has the right idea that it is time to start irradiating Hillderbeast now.

[EternalVigilance]

Meh.

[struggle]

>>The socialists will be in full force the next two years - Zero has NOT DONE ENOUGH for this contingent, that is what the RAT party is upset about.

The socialists aren’t the money arm of the Democrat party. All the techie execs, etc. want capitalism, but constrained capitalism so their investments aren’t taxed heavily, the small and mid sized competitors get shut down, and they can stay on top of regulations. Same with Wall Street, same with Hollywood.

Obama was the perfect combination of the two, because he was all things to all people, heck, during the 2008 and 2012 races many times he sounded like a Republican.

The great thing about this dynamic is that if they run Hillary! they face the double edged sword of an almost 70 year old woman with definite health issues and a disinterested electorate. Warren will do great with the socialists, but will the tech execs throw money at a woman that doesn’t like them? Doubtful.

They’ll pick Cory Booker, Julian Castro, or a total nobody like Anthony Foxx just so they have the racial angle and a squishy pro-business Democrat.

[DJ MacWoW]

41 Days
48%

Donate

[ansel12]

We don’t like Paul because he is too liberal and generally a floundering idiot that comes off as oily and dishonest.

There is a reason that he is such an enthusiastic supporter of rinos like Romney and McConnell.

[conservaKate]

I think you may be on to something. I’ve wondered how the heck Hillary would inspire the D crowd to come out and be excited about her campaign. I just don’t see 20-30 year old D’s being excited about a 70 year old. What I thought would happen is that Hillary would run and chose Booker or Castro for a running mate. BUT....how does she get any sort of traction TO get to the picking a running mate?

I do think it would have to be Hillary deciding not to run before too many of the D’s would throw their hat into the ring.

As for Rand...please, he’s been such a whackadoodle...I certainly hope the R’s can come up w/ someone w/ a bit more going on upstairs.

[Beagle8U]

Just say no to Libtardian turds like Runt Paul!

[Dr. Sivana]

This would be a great time for Evan Bayh to get organized. He knew when to bail, and can present himself as a Bill Clinton style centrist.

[stephenjohnbanker]

I can’t believe there are FReepers who support Rand. Jim Rob got this fraud pegged some time ago.

[struggle]

I hope Biden seriously thinks it’s HIS TURN to be President and WON’T TAKE NO for an answer.