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Rand Paul Explains Why John Bolton Should Be 'Nowhere Close' to the State Department
Townhall ^ | 12/11/2016 | Cortney O'Brien

Posted on 12/11/2016 8:34:24 PM PST by SeekAndFind

Former Republican presidential candidate and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul has a strong opinion on John Bolton's candidacy to serve in Donald Trump's State Department. The former UN ambassador is being considered for the No. 2 spot in the agency, yet Paul argues that Bolton's endorsement of the Iraq War disqualifies him from working in the administration.

“John Bolton doesn’t get it. He still believes in regime change. He’s still a big cheerleader for the Iraq War,” Paul said. “John Bolton is so far out of it and has such a naive understanding of the world.”

Bolton should get "nowhere close" to the State Department, Paul concluded. He is preparing to block Bolton's nomination. 

As for the top role in the agency, Trump is likely to tap Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson, who's facing his own opposition from lawmakers concerned about his business ties with Russia's Vladimir Putin.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: amnesty; johnbolton; paul; paulbots; randpaul; rino; state
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To: nopardons

I bet Rand is just pissed because Bolton won’t bow down to his Aqua Buddha.


21 posted on 12/11/2016 8:58:42 PM PST by shibumi (Cover it with gas and set it on fire.)
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To: PGR88

“Rand Paul is the best “limited government” conservative I have seen.”

I think he has been very effective in a Senate which is completely hostile to the Constitution and limited government...meaning he has been able to bring attention to a number of important issues that the establishment would like us to ignore.


22 posted on 12/11/2016 8:59:08 PM PST by SecAmndmt (Arm yourselves!)
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To: SeekAndFind

Rand Paul is right about Bolton. A country with $20 Trillion national debt has no business starting foreign wars. But then every super power in history met it’s demise by going in debt with foreign adventures. History repeats again and again.


23 posted on 12/11/2016 8:59:16 PM PST by entropy12 (Please Mr President, I am already tired of winning too much! Can we lose just 1, appoint Mitt?)
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To: PGR88
Then YOU need glasses!

Trump is the for real CONSERVATIVE and he shall get the job done; unlike the damned RINO Pauls; both of whom are absolutely NOT whom you imagine they are.

24 posted on 12/11/2016 9:05:11 PM PST by nopardons
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To: SanchoP

“Bolton will be for whatever President Trump instructs him. Why is that so hard to grasp?”

Some of you seem to forget that the folks who have been in government for years, who know how the swamp looks - and how to live in the swamp - ultimately answer to the political establishment (CFR and the like). Years ago, conservatives used to always say “personnel is policy”. Well?

Bring in neocons to Dept of State, and you will get a neoconservative foreign policy.

If Trump does not do what the more powerful, well-connected members of his entourage want him to do, they will stick a knife in his back.

Why is that so hard to grasp?


25 posted on 12/11/2016 9:06:21 PM PST by SecAmndmt (Arm yourselves!)
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To: SeekAndFind
But we have FReepers who say Bolton is the only one who isn't a “globalist” who can do the job right.
26 posted on 12/11/2016 9:06:49 PM PST by ConservativeMind ("Humane" = "Don't pen up pets or eat meat, but allow infanticides, abortion, and euthanasia.")
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To: SecAmndmt

Rand and Ron Paul are BOTH RINOS, rather pathetic at what they were elected to do, and you’re projecting, in calling others, who support Trump, “idolators”.


27 posted on 12/11/2016 9:07:57 PM PST by nopardons
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To: shibumi

No doubt about that! :-)


28 posted on 12/11/2016 9:08:33 PM PST by nopardons
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To: JohnBrowdie

“the nutty acorn doesn’t fall far from the nutty tree.”

Man, isn’t that the truth. Ron Paul’s “career” was marked by virtually no substantive legislation. They are just a couple of $hit disturbers. Rand doesn’t understand that “Advise and Consent” doesn’t mean you should hold up a nomination because you don’t like a person’s ideas. It should be about whether or not he’s qualified. It remains for the President to lay out basic policy. When Bolton was with Boosh, he followed what Boosh wanted, not what he wanted anyway.


29 posted on 12/11/2016 9:09:55 PM PST by vette6387
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To: SecAmndmt; PGR88

Get a room, you two; nobody else here agrees with your beliefs about either/both of the Pauls...who are idiots and totally useless POS.


30 posted on 12/11/2016 9:10:11 PM PST by nopardons
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To: nopardons
The GOP doesn't mean anything anymore. You can say they aren't 'conservative', whatever that means these days. But, calling someone RINO means nothing.

Paul can run his mouth because Bolton has to go through the Senate. Bolton is CFR and still maintains the Iraq invasion wasn't a mistake. Those are two cases against him, imho.

31 posted on 12/11/2016 9:14:08 PM PST by Theoria (I should never have surrendered. I should have fought until I was the last man alive)
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To: nopardons

“rather pathetic at what they were elected to do”

You mean keep their oath of office? LOL!

Even though I am not a libertarian, it is amusing to listen to Republicans attack libertarians, paleos and constitutionalists while defending Trump, who up until recently was a liberal Democrat.

I support Trump, but folks who tell me I should not even question him are NUTS, and the Republic is finished if that concept ends up being put into practice.


32 posted on 12/11/2016 9:18:19 PM PST by SecAmndmt (Arm yourselves!)
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To: SecAmndmt
Sec, I notice you continue to not offer an example of a non-tainted SOS, but you love to throw bombs at Trump's picks.

You are still completely clueless of any example of a “good” SOS?

33 posted on 12/11/2016 9:20:14 PM PST by ConservativeMind ("Humane" = "Don't pen up pets or eat meat, but allow infanticides, abortion, and euthanasia.")
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To: nopardons

“nobody else here agrees with your beliefs about either/both of the Pauls”

We must all agree or leave? LOL!


34 posted on 12/11/2016 9:20:56 PM PST by SecAmndmt (Arm yourselves!)
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To: ConservativeMind

“you love to throw bombs at Trump’s picks”

What bombs has anyone thrown? Has anyone been picked for SOS yet?


35 posted on 12/11/2016 9:23:45 PM PST by SecAmndmt (Arm yourselves!)
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To: vette6387

“virtually no substantive legislation”

That would be a badge of honor in D.C., considering the environment (swamp?).


36 posted on 12/11/2016 9:25:32 PM PST by SecAmndmt (Arm yourselves!)
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To: SecAmndmt
"Each of these government divisions is headed by someone nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate. The lesson is clear: Personnel is policy."

Elizabeth Warren in the NYT

37 posted on 12/11/2016 9:26:07 PM PST by SanchoP
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To: Theoria

Exactly


38 posted on 12/11/2016 9:27:21 PM PST by SecAmndmt (Arm yourselves!)
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To: nopardons; SecAmndmt
nobody else here agrees with your beliefs about either/both of the Pauls...who are idiots and totally useless POS.

Thanks for your rational and well-reasoned comments.

39 posted on 12/11/2016 9:28:41 PM PST by PGR88
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To: SecAmndmt
Of Trump's possible pick of Rex, you said:

“[W]e don’t need globalists in *any* positions in a conservative administration. How about a real conservative, with conservative views, diplomatic experience...and not someone who is most comfortable operating in the swamp. I don’t have a name, but surely someone like Trump, Pence and Bannon can come up with a name???”

So, if you can't dream up a name, stop complaining. Can't you even offer Rand?

How clueless are you?

40 posted on 12/11/2016 9:29:09 PM PST by ConservativeMind ("Humane" = "Don't pen up pets or eat meat, but allow infanticides, abortion, and euthanasia.")
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