Paul on Trump's decision to boycott debate: 'Good riddance'

CNN ^ | Updated 5:03 PM ET, Wed January 27, 2016 | Eugene Scott

[WhiskeyX]

Washington (CNN)—Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul on Wednesday welcomed Donald Trump's announcement that he was skipping the upcoming Fox News debate, saying the "IQ of the debate went up."

"It's an improvement to the debate. The IQ of the debate went up a couple dozen points, I would say," he told Fox News Wednesday morning.

"He thinks he's already elected himself king. I say, good riddance. We're going to have a much better debate," Paul added.

[skimbell]

He really is.

The other day he took off on Trump again about his hair. That shows me how shallow Paul really is. He did this before during one of the debates and Trump almost bich-slapped him off the stage.

It's funny to see Paul get into this personal sort of stuff considering, as Trump said, his (Paul's) obvious vulnerability in this area.

I've always thought that Paul's hair was a mess, and that little gay-boy speech pattern of his is a pretty easy target to anyone looking to lay into him.

[uncitizen]

Agree.

[WhiskeyX]

“It’s interesting that Trump can call people names and insult them all day long and no one cares. But, Paul does it and everybody gets upset.”

That just goes to show whose insults most people appreciate for their truth and/or their humor.

[Cowgirl of Justice]

More like, Jeb couldn’t hit his way out of a greasy bag of tacos.

[elhombrelibre]

When Trump says nasty, insulting, vile things, he’s just being defensive. //Sarcasm Off///

[mazda77]

It is not interesting that the whole world goes ballistic when Trump decides not to show up but when Paul did the at the last debate . . . . .

[elhombrelibre]

Trump would never go after people about their appearance, their handicap, their religion, or any other topic not germane to the discussion.

[odawg]

“It’s interesting that Trump can call people names and insult them all day long and no one cares.”

It may have something to do with the fact that multitudes of people call Trump names and insult him all the day long.

[Vic S]

Rand SKIPPED the LAST DEBATE! People called Rand Paul the winner for not showing up.

The only difference between Paul and Trump is that Paul did it because he wasn’t on the main stage (PRIDE) and Trump is doing it because he’s been attacked by the moderator and President of the company.

[Lion Den Dan]

Why does Rand Paul or anyone, for that matter, think that his opinion has any merit? Both Pauls are rattle brained radicals who probalby belong in a different institution than a legislative body.

[SunkenCiv]

• 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's excuse for avoiding the 'religious freedom' law controversy doesn't add up
• Why Won't Rand Paul and Chris Christie Take a Position on Indiana's "Religious Freedom" Law?
• Heartache: It's over, Rand Paul lost
• Sam Youngman: A critical look at Rand Paul and 'winnability'
• Rand Paul's Big, Risky Bet on YouthRand Paul to GOP: It's Time to Move Beyond the Second Amendment
• Rand Paul: Christie Win Shows GOP Has Room for Moderates
• 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: Confederate Flag "Inescapably A Symbol Of Human Bondage And Slavery"
• Rand Paul: I think Republicans may have over-emphasized voter fraud
• Al Sharpton has breakfast with Rand Paul; [2014]
• Al Sharpton: 'Rand Paul Is Right' [2014]
• 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 promised to help Mitch McConnell pass amnesty [2014]
• 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]

• Rand Paul: End 'welfare' to Israel
• Rand Paul: Iran Wants Nukes Because It "Feels Threatened"
• Rand stands with Obama and Kerry on Iran
• Rand Paul: I don't think we should impose new Iran sanctions while negotiations are ongoing
• Rand Paul: Let's get this straight -- I'm not for containing Iran
• Rand Paul stands alone against Senate's 'preemptive war' resolution for Iran [Sept 2014]
• Rand Paul: It's America's Fault
• Rand Paul clarifies: No containment on Iran
• Rand Paul Calls for a Formal Declaration of War Against ISIS
• 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 Paul: Ask Dick Cheney about Iraq War [2014]
• Rand Paul Defends President Obama From Dick Cheney
• Casting a Paul on American Strength: In defense and foreign policy, Rand Paul is a menace.
• Rand Paul Sounds Like a Democrat Criticizing GOP Rivals' Foreign Policy
• Rand Paul's Brother: "No Difference" Between Rand And My Dad On Ideology

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]

• Ted Cruz trumps Rand Paul
• Why is Ted Cruz slaying Rand Paul on Facebook?
• Rand Paul's excuse for avoiding the 'religious freedom' law controversy doesn't add up
• Rand Paul walks out on live interview in third testy media exchange this week
• Rand Paul Campaign Sends Cease-And-Desist To Stations Running Iran Attack Ad
• Keith Ellison: 'Proud to Stand' with Rand Paul
• Rand Paul: Rubio's Cuba remarks 'rude'
• Flip-Flopping Rand Paul Attacks Savannah Guthrie
• MSNBC's Favorite Republican Can't Win
• Why I fled libertarianism -- and became a liberal

Audit the Head!

Audit the Head!

[Gaffer]

Don’t know about interloper. The only one I wouldn’t consider and interloper is Ted Cruz right now. I wouldn’t give a plugged nickel for the rest of them on the docket for tonight.

[Cboldt]

Trump is an interloper in that he was never part of the Republican Party "insider's club." All the others were and are.

Cruz is a non-conformist to the GOP orthodoxy, but he is an insider.

[Hulka]

“that little gay-boy speech pattern of his is a pretty easy target to anyone looking to LAY INTO HIM. “

Hmmmm. . .

[Gaffer]

And an “insider club” is exactly what? Besides “what is it?” How does one join that club? Is there some kind of hazing or vote count where a certain number of constituent backstabbing votes are counted? Is it being an elected politician? Enquiring minds want to know.

[Gaffer]

I’m not upset at what Rand said. I personally believe it won’t make a hill of beans what any of them on that stage say tonight except that they may succeed in changing the down slate relative positions amongst themselves. The one with the biggest potential loss is Cruz because he’d be the lead dog in the debate with Trump off not caring.

[Cboldt]

-- And an "insider club" is exactly what? --

The GOP and DEM parties have chapters and umbrella organizations, like RNC for the GOP. One joins by attending their meetings and doing whatever they require. Registering as an R or D for voting purposes is not enough to "join the club." Winning an election is not required to join the club.

If you are sincerely curious, research what it takes to become a member of the political party, for purposes of participation in the party's decision making. I'm not saying it is difficult to get in, although it is difficult for an unorthodox member to elevate to a position of influence within the party.

[Gaffer]

Oh, I realize what the internal hierarchies, jockeying and manipulations of the political party system are. You have to pander to all sorts of egos and established local mini dynasties to get ahead from within.

It doesn’t make a difference what the wishes, wants and dreams of what the legal American voter wants; it’s all about power, structure and control. In the case of the GOP, makers of the bureaucrat elite politicians that lie to us, betray us for their devices and then come back home and lie some more about what they did.

So if it’s “the insider” is what is most important here, I want no part of it.

[JEDI4S]

You'd be bitter too if you were named after a book that contained maps.

Rand McNally.

:-)

[Cboldt]

-- So if it's "the insider" is what is most important here ... --

I didn't mean to attach any degree of importance. I think my point was only that Trump isn't an insider, in that sense, so his presence as a candidate is an interloper. All the others are insiders. Cruz is unorthodox, and resisted for that reason. Same with Paul.

Thinking about it, Carson may be an interloper too. But he's not doing well in the polls, so the party needn't have much concern beyond keeping a watchful eye.