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Rand Paul and the principle principle

Casino67

By Casino67
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Casino67

Casino67

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?wprss=rss_the-fixWashingtonPost:

 

Rand Paul proved on Wednesday that a filibuster can be very good politics. In speaking for over 12 hours in opposition to the Obama Administration’s drone policy, Paul did more to boost his prospects as a 2016 presidential candidate than anything he has done since coming to the Senate from Kentucky in 2010.

Rand.jpg

Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul filibusters the nomination of John Brennan to head the CIA. AP photo

What Paul proved during his “filiblizzard” — it hurts so good to write that — is that he is a politician with a) a core set of beliefs and cool.png a willingness to stand up for them.

 

That’s a rare thing in modern American politics where the tendency is to find where the public — or the primary electorate — is on a given issue and then find a way to get there.

 

“People of all backgrounds yearn for leaders who believe in what they say and will stand strong for their convictions,” said Jesse Benton, who managed Ron Paul’s 2012 presidential campaign and is now serving as campaign manager for Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell’s 2014 re-election race. “Senator Paul is one of those leaders, and the list of others is short.”

 

While the issue Paul chose — drones and, specifically, the possibility of strikes against American citizens in the U.S. — isn’t a high-profile one, it became clear as the Kentucky Republican talked (and talked) that he was creating a major moment for a party that hasn’t had very many of those since Nov. 6, 2012.

 

“It was one of the first examples in a long time of messaging that made the base feel like we had control of the day,” said Rick Wilson, a Florida-based Republican strategist. “Rand Paul’s stock price rose sharply today, and being the guy who set Obama on his heels — even for a day — will pay dividends for Paul in the short term, at least.”

 

Need evidence that Paul’s filibuster was paying political dividends? Florida Sen. Marco Rubio — a frontrunner for the 2016 GOP presidential nod — joined Paul on the Senate floor in both a symbolic show of support, and an acknowledgment of the power of the moment his colleague had created.

 

By the time the 2016 Republican presidential race rolls around, the Paul filibuster will be a distant memory — even to the grassroots of the party. But, the motivation behind the filibuster — a combination of genuine conviction and a sense for the dramatic — will still burn strongly in Paul.

 

It’s why we continue to believe no one should underestimate Paul’s ability to have a major impact on the 2016 race. While his beliefs — particularly on foreign policy — are outside the mainstream of current Republican thought, Paul will get points among the base for actually believing what he says.

 

“The public is looking for leaders with principles and conviction, even if they differ from some of their own views,” said Jon Downs, who did the television ads for Ron Paul’s 2012 campaign. “Nobody has to question whether Rand Paul is authentic, or what his core beliefs are.”

 

Call it the principle principle.

//END//

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Valin

Valin

Posted
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?wprss=rss_the-fixWashingtonPost:

 

Rand Paul proved on Wednesday that a filibuster can be very good politics.

 

Oh the politics of this are fascinating.

Rand Paul, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio made their bones last night.

Heck even Mitch McConnell showed up....finally.

 

 

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Draggingtree

Draggingtree

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Do You Stand with Rand? Let Him Know…An Interactive, Open Letter to Rand Paul

 

Posted on March 7, 2013 by Dean Garrison

 

On Wednesday March 6, 2013 I feel that the momentum of a nation in distress started to reverse course. One Patriot stood tall and launched a 12-hour filibuster that was not about party lines. It was about millions of Americans who have been begging for answers. It was about Patriotic Americans who love the constitution.

Tonight it became apparent to millions of Americans that one man in Washington D.C. still cares about the people. I am so proud of Senator Paul for having the guts to stand up and demand the truth.

Scissors-32x32.png I came up with a simple idea. Let’s all tell Senator Paul what we think in the form of an open letter. But unlike most open letters I want this to be interactive. In other words, I am going to write a personal message and I want you to do the same. Make it as long or as short as you would like.

After we get a good number of comments I will forward everything to Senator Rand Paul by email Scissors-32x32.png

WE STAND WITH RAND.

Senator Paul,

I am nothing more than an obscure blogger that not many people have heard of. I only became a blogger because I have too much free time on my hands lately. I am a metal worker by trade, but twice in the last two years I have had bankrupt companies close their doors and leave me unemployed. I am a frightened father of three with twins on the way. It’s not the best timing for two more.

I am not frightened because of financial stresses, nearly as much as the stress of watching the country I love fall to pieces. I am sick of Scissors-32x32.png http://dcclothesline.com/2013/03/07/do-you-stand-with-rand-let-him-know-an-interactive-open-letter-to-rand-paul/

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Valin

Valin

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Posted

 

What happened was The Obama administration gave the Republicans an opening, and (for a change) some Republicans were smart enough to take the gift and run with it.

It was Great Political Theater.

 

 

I was going to post this separately, but this will work better.

 

John Yoo helps Eric Holder out on drones

Paul Mirengoff

3/7/13

 

The prospect of drone attacks on American citizens here in the U.S. is at or below the bottom of the list of things we should be worried about. But Eric Holder bears a share of the blame for this silly sideshow because of his failure to provide cogent answers to questions about the subject.

 

For some sorely needed clarity on this matter, let’s turn to John Yoo at Ricochet:

 

(Snip)

 

So even when Holder is right, he’s wrong. Can anyone think of a worse cabinet member in a top-tier post? I can’t.

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Draggingtree

Draggingtree

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Stand With Rand!

 

By Ross Kaminsky on 3.7.13 @ 6:25AM

 

We’re seeing a profile in courage, properly understood, that could prove transformative not just for the GOP.

I don’t use Twitter very often, but late Wednesday morning, after watching half an hour of Senator Rand Paul (Tea Party/Republican–KY) filibustering the nomination of John Brennan to head the CIA, I felt compelled to send out the following:“Watching @SenRandPaul, @SenMikeLee, and @SenTedCruz filibuster John Brennan gives hope for America.”

 

Senator Paul was, and is, objecting to the Obama administration’s pathetic response to questions regarding federal authority to use drone strikes against American citizens on American soil. In the senator’s view — and it’s hard to reasonably disagree – Attorney General Eric Holder’s March 4, 2013 letterin response to Sen. Paul’s questions about this authority is deeply troubling. Scissors-32x32.pnghttp://spectator.org/archives/2013/03/07/stand-with-rand

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