Rand Paul: I oppose both Rudy Giuliani and John Bolton for secretary of state

The Guardian ^ | 11/16/2016 | Ben Jacobs and Spencer Ackerman

[SeekAndFind]

Senator Rand Paul reiterated his opposition to both former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani and former UN ambassador John Bolton as secretary of state in an interview with the Guardian on Tuesday.

The interview follows an op-ed in Rare, an online conservative publication, where Paul condemned Bolton as “out of touch”.

The Kentucky senator grounded his opposition in the importance that Donald Trump “pick people who agree with his foreign policy”. Trump repeatedly argued on the campaign trail that the Iraq war was a mistake and condemned what he saw as an overly interventionist foreign policy from Democratic rival Hillary Clinton. As Paul phrased it, Trump was “standing up not just to Woodrow Wilson” but also “a whole line of neocons in both parties”, and the senator believed such policies were “a big part” of Trump’s campaign.

Paul, who serves on the Senate foreign relations committee, insisted “there is no way I could vote for someone who is an unrepentant supporter of the Iraq war and regime change. I think that is a disaster for the country. It has made us less safe and so categorically I can’t support anybody that supports regime change.”

He noted in particular that Bolton, who wrote an op-ed in support of bombing Iran in 2015, was one of the biggest cheerleaders for the Iraq war and pointed out that Giuliani agreed with the former UN ambassador on Iran.

Instead, Paul suggested Senate foreign relations committee chair Bob Corker as an alternative. He’s “much more of a realist, not likely to be loading the bombs to go to Iran tomorrow”. In contrast, he suggested that Bolton’s hawkish stance was perhaps because he was trying to “assuage guilt” over “not serving in combat”.

[fortes fortuna juvat]

That was the punchline of the joke.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
That gave me my first hearty laugh of the day! Thanks.

[Psalm 144]

I would like to see Giuliani as SoS for a very specific reason.

He is a prosecutor. The willful, malicious acts undertaken by government actors of various nations, including ours, and of the ubiquitous and pernicious “NGOs”, to undermine peaceful states, stir dissent, revolution, civil wars and atrocities, needs a keen and unflinching prosecutorial eye.

There were Nazis hanged at Nuremberg for less than those who have nurtured, supplied and encouraged ISIS, as one easy example. The actions in Libya are another. In the case of Americans, putting our troops in harm’s way of paramilitary proxies of our own making must be answered for as well. So should the protection some military chain of command extended to “allies” whose “customs” include chaining little boys to beds and using them as sexual toys.

Soros, Clinton and McCain come to mind immediately as people whose actions, encouragement and support have led to appalling atrocities and strife.

Build the cases, bring the charges, and let them be judged.

America will never recover international trust or respect if vicious rogue agents like these get a pass.

[Mr. Douglas]

I live in KY. I had to vote for him. But it’s clear the nut doesn’t fall far from the tree.

[Mr. Douglas]

Paul suggested Senate foreign relations committee chair Bob Corker as an alternative. He’s “much more of a realist”

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Which is why he didn’t suggest himself.

[FreeReign]

Instead, Paul suggested Senate foreign relations committee chair Bob Corker as an alternative.

LOL.

[b4its2late]

Who cares what he thinks?

[samantha]

Quite frankly,I do not give a crap what brillo head says about anything. He should have never ran for president,what an idiot. I feel sorry that trump has to deal with these dufus cretins,but that is all part of the job,and he is up to it I am confident.

[pgkdan]

Instead, Paul suggested Senate foreign relations committee chair Bob Corker as an alternative. He’s “much more of a realist, not likely to be loading the bombs to go to Iran tomorrow”.

Corker??? He's the backstabbing POS that gave away the Senate's right to Advice and Consent on the Iran Nuclear 'Treaty' by agreeing to call it a simple 'deal'. NO WAY!

[New Jersey Realist]

I do as well. We need a business man in that position, someone who knows how to make deals.

[9YearLurker]

I’m not too much with Rand on foreign policy, but I am with him on this.

Rudy’s got to get his ego in check and focus himself on where he can best serve his country. (As AG)

Bolton is too much of the neocon establishment to be right for it.

[nikos1121]

Go with Rudy. You need to trust the man in that position.

[9YearLurker]

I am confident that Pence and Trump can come up with someone good for it and I don’t trust Paul on foreign affairs.

But I agree that Rudy and Bolton are not the answer.

And Paul at least is a Senator—they need someone they can get confirmed there.

[Chickensoup]

I agree with Paul, Giuliani for AG, Bolton for advisor.

[ontap]

Someone explain exactly why I should give a sh!t what he thinks!!!

[Chickensoup]

never thought of that perspective.

Thanks.

[TakebackGOP]

Doesn’t the Sec of Def have more to do with wars than the SOS?

[angcat]

NO NO Rand I love you but Bolton is my pick!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[sarge83]

Corkhole is a walking, talking idiot who is an embarrassment to the state of Tennessee. Nuclear Iran is due to Obama and corkhole.

[SeekAndFind]

RE: Someone explain exactly why I should give a sh!t what he thinks!!!

You don’t have to, but the man is entitled to his own opinion. And By the way, he has a vote in the Senate.

[kiltie65]

Me, too.