A Joint Town Hall with Rand Paul and Bernie Sanders?

[Batman]

It only benefits both candidates. The majority will demand this event.

 

[Cutlerzzz]

Whose views?

The American people. Sanders populist views and appeals to emotion are popular among the masses. Libertarianism isn't. People don't want real conversations, they want their preconceived views confirmed and to feel taken care of.

 

[limequat]

The American people. Sanders populist views and appeals to emotion are popular among the masses. Libertarianism isn't. People don't want real conversations, they want their preconceived views confirmed and to feel taken care of.

Well lets find out. And if we can have a healthy debate, some minds may even be opened.

 

[Cutlerzzz]

Well lets find out. And if we can have a healthy debate, some minds may even be opened.

They won't have a healthy debate. Sanders will demagogue and make appeals to emotion. Rand will pull punches and mention policies. Sanders will consequently appeal to his base. Rand's only chance to win the crowd and refute Sanders will be to go full libertarian (weakening him for the general) and stop playing political games. Rand won't do that and will look weak, angering his base in the process. If he does go full libertarian it will be used against him in the general.

 

[hells_unicorn]

I'm not signing on to this, I'm not of a mind to give socialism any level of validation by agreeing to any sort of dialogue outside of the prescribed RNC and DNC debates, and this WILL NOT HELP anything. Sanders belongs in a punchline on an economics satirical skit, not on a stage being given equal weight to Rand Paul.

 

[Jonderdonk]

They won't have a healthy debate. Sanders will demagogue and make appeals to emotion. Rand will pull punches and mention policies. Sanders will consequently appeal to his base. Rand's only chance to win the crowd and refute Sanders will be to go full libertarian (weakening him for the general) and stop playing political games. Rand won't do that and will look weak, angering his base in the process. If he does go full libertarian it will be used against him in the general.

Not to mention going full libertarian would absolutely kill any chances of winning the primary. There's a reason Rand has directed the focus to medical marijuana...

 

[nikcers]

I'm not signing on to this, I'm not of a mind to give socialism any level of validation by agreeing to any sort of dialogue outside of the prescribed RNC and DNC debates, and this WILL NOT HELP anything. Sanders belongs in a punchline on an economics satirical skit, not on a stage being given equal weight to Rand Paul.

I agree he shouldn't agree unless it becomes something massively televised or with a huge audience like the debates, it definitely might solidify his outsider status and show that he has guts. Other candidates would be afraid to be compared to Sanders or they would be afraid of losing support to him. There are lot of people who would love to hear real arguments against Sanders policies because he has no policies that work in the real world, it even seems like he hasn't had a lot of practice debating his ideas. I inadvertently watched him on the new Colbert show and he seemed to be weak on ideas.

For example Colbert said that capitalism is where the money is It's what makes us rich, what are you going to do raise taxes to 90% to pay for all of these benefits you want to give out? He basically just said well this country is the richest country so we can afford it and these people are suffering so they deserve it but never really told us how he intends to pay for it.

 

[Jonderdonk]

I agree he shouldn't agree unless it becomes something massively televised or with a huge audience like the debates, it definitely might solidify his outsider status and show that he has guts. Other candidates would be afraid to be compared to Sanders or they would be afraid of losing support to him. There are lot of people who would love to hear real arguments against Sanders policies because he has no policies that work in the real world, it even seems like he hasn't had a lot of practice debating his ideas. I inadvertently watched him on the new Colbert show and he seemed to be weak on ideas.

For example Colbert said that capitalism is where the money is It's what makes us rich, what are you going to do raise taxes to 90% to pay for all of these benefits you want to give out? He basically just said well this country is the richest country so we can afford it and these people are suffering so they deserve it but never really told us how he intends to pay for it.

He also said, "I believe we should encourage entrepreneurship and innovation."


Soooooooo......... Lower taxes, right....?


Nope.

 

[Yehudi]

Stupid idea.

 

[PaleoPaul]

Not to mention going full libertarian would absolutely kill any chances of winning the primary. There's a reason Rand has directed the focus to medical marijuana...

Yep. Just like the Democrats had kept the focus on civil unions until 2012 since the nation wasn't ready for gay marriage yet.

 

[69360]

To all the naysayers, it's not like Rand is doing spectacularly in the GOP primary anyway. Pretending to be a neocon isn't working, he is in the low single digits. This town hall really can't hurt him much more and might just help.

 

[limequat]

There's no such thing as bad publicity.

Hold this thing 1 week before Iowa. Pitch it as American Apple Pie against Joseph Stalin's socialist spawn. Rand could come out looking like Mr. Balboa in Rocky IV.

 

[LawnWake]

No, I'd rather not see this happen. Sanders is actually a lot less pro-civil liberties than Rand is, his foreign policy is also more interventionist. We can't afford to have Rand be labeled 'left of Sanders' during a Republican primary.

It would expose Sanders for what he really is, but that's not what Paul's campaign should be about.

 

[Hoax]

They won't have a healthy debate. Sanders will demagogue and make appeals to emotion. Rand will pull punches and mention policies. Sanders will consequently appeal to his base. Rand's only chance to win the crowd and refute Sanders will be to go full libertarian (weakening him for the general) and stop playing political games. Rand won't do that and will look weak, angering his base in the process. If he does go full libertarian it will be used against him in the general.

If Rand can't handle an old fool like Sanders he should hang up the towel and focus on his senate reelection where he can continue to wax eloquent about various policy proposals and then go to lunch.

 

[acptulsa]

No, I'd rather not see this happen. Sanders is actually a lot less pro-civil liberties than Rand is, his foreign policy is also more interventionist. We can't afford to have Rand be labeled 'left of Sanders' during a Republican primary.

It would expose Sanders for what he really is, but that's not what Paul's campaign should be about.

Sure it is. Because he can't expose Sanders without exposing all the RINOs.

Rank and file Republicans would love this. They'd love to get down to cases, and expose the federal government as an ineffectual waste of resources. They'd like nothing better. And they'd love to see someone hold all the other Republicans' feet to the fire, too.

Which is why I sincerely doubt this will be allowed to happen.

 

[65fastback2+2]

signed

bring on the 21st century lincoln-douglas debates!

 

[LawnWake]

Sure it is. Because he can't expose Sanders without exposing all the RINOs.

Rank and file Republicans would love this. They'd love to get down to cases, and expose the federal government as an ineffectual waste of resources. They'd like nothing better. And they'd love to see someone hold all the other Republicans' feet to the fire, too.

Which is why I sincerely doubt this will be allowed to happen.

You're looking at it from your own POV, not from voters in a Republican primary. People won't get their spiritual paleoconservative awakaning from Rand Paul being more pro-civil liberties or less interventionist than Sanders. They will just think that Rand is a liberal RINO.

Rand's views on foreign policy and civil liberties will only be considered 'libertarian' if they're said in the same breath as, say, Cruz's or Bush'. When squared with Sanders, he will appear liberal, not libertarian.

This debate should wait until Rand proved himself the conservative choice.

 

[angelatc]

Uh, no. Just.....no.

For the record, I suspect that the next set of posts will be a "fund the debate!" moneybomb.

 

[specsaregood]

what a bunch of whiny naysaying bitches in this thread.. If Randal wants to do it; then by means hold the forum.

I have no doubt that Sen. Paul would mope the floor with Sanders, no matter the forum. Sanders represents and supports a large, corrupt, inept government that nobody is happy with except those in power. Paul represents a smaller constitutional govt, responsive to people and otherwise leaving them alone.

I say bring it on.

BUT, stop referring to it as a debate. It is not planned to be a debate and we can't have a debate per RNC rules. Forum.

 

[ItsTime]

Rand has already stated he will go toe to toe with Sanders anytime any place. Truth In Media is making a time and a place.

This is a town hall. Not a debate.

http://truthinmedia.com/rand-paul-reportedly-debate-bernie-sanders/

At last Saturday's Republican Party of Kentucky meeting, U.S. Senator and 2016 Republican presidential candidate Rand Paul reportedly told thought-leading libertarian activist Donald Meinshausen that he would debate Bernie Sanders "anytime, anyplace."

As far as the comment about a moneybomb for the event... People have already wanted to donate to this but we are not accepting anything at the moment.

Right now our focus is on creating a town hall where POLICIES are discussed. Not name calling, not mudslinging but a policy forum/town hall. The mainstream media wants to play the "what do you think about how Trump said this" "What do you think about Hillary doing that" We want an adult conversation. One about policies and direction of the country.

That is why we are trying to put together this town hall.