How badly does this hurt Rand?

[July]

Well, let's put it this way. Almost every Republican I've talked to since election night, is pretty pissed off at Chris Christie right about now.

So no, I don't think Rand's endorsement and campaigning for Romney hurts him, especially now that Romney lost.

 

[dskalkowski]

Look, the folks who are bitter over the fact that Rand made a moot endorsement simply for the fact that he is trying to help us more than the mainstream Republicans, need to seriously get over it. If they want any hope of actually doing something in 2016 and making our voices heard.. We need to stick to the Republican Party and fix the mess that it is. This is not the time to sit and be bitter over an endorsement. The time to move on is now.

Those who are bitter over Rand need us; but we also need those who are bitter. Rand has a strong voting record, and that should be the true play for his conviction. We will never find a perfect candidate, ever. And it would be unwise for us to separate now, when we really have a chance in 2016. This is a new day. And if you are not going to step up, then you should shut up.

 

[Tod]

This is great for Rand... He tried to help Romney and he did the good soldier work.. and oh well.. Obama won...

He can go into 2016 being quite the team player..

^this.

I heard Rand's name mentioned on the radio as being one of the possible 2016 candidates. Looks like, because of idiotic trivialities like the endorsement, he will at least for now, be considered "electable" for 2016.

 

[Todd]

Rand can only receive the nomination if he accepts the Republican platform , is that what you folks want?

Frankly it doesn't look all that bad on paper. It's never followed to begin with and it can be revised.

 

[itshappening]

Rand doing everything he can to help elect Republicans is good for his position in the party.

I don't see why that's so difficult to understand.

 

[Athan]

Since the situation is what it is, it seems it would have been much better for Rand to have not endorsed Romney at all. He lost a lot of support from Ron's team and his decision simply looks like a very bad call, more now than ever. Whatever hopes he had of gaining greater mainstream support or gaining a cabinet position are moot.

I wonder if this will hurt hurt him in the end or if future supporters will be forgiving.

Why would this hurt Rand? He wasn't on the ballot. If anything this will hurt Paul Ryan.

 

[Slutter McGee]

Rand can only receive the nomination if he accepts the Republican platform , is that what you folks want?

Picard Face Palm.

Thats all.

Slutter McGee

 

[Tudo]

NEVER FORGET!

 

[angelatc]

Since the situation is what it is, it seems it would have been much better for Rand to have not endorsed Romney at all. He lost a lot of support from Ron's team and his decision simply looks like a very bad call, more now than ever. Whatever hopes he had of gaining greater mainstream support or gaining a cabinet position are moot.

I wonder if this will hurt hurt him in the end or if future supporters will be forgiving.

The people who won't support him are ideologues with no real interest in the art of politics. The people who will support him are the people who were enraged when Christie embraced Obama.

 

[A. Havnes]

I don't get why this is bad for Rand. He endorsed Romney and he lost. A lot of people endorsed Romney! If Rand hadn't endorsed Romney, he wouldn't be seen as viable at all.

 

[Agorism]

Where is AJ Spiker up for reelection btw (Iowa GOP chairman) and the central committee members.

Having the party machinery behind us in the next go around would be invaluable

 

[FSP-Rebel]

Rand has prime real estate for 2016. I told peeps not to freak out over the endorsement but hey.

 

[Kregisen]

He endorsed Romney but at the same time voiced his opposition to some of Mitt's policies. Name 1 other republican who did that.

Guys, we've learned from Ron Paul....in order to have a chance at winning, you have to play the game. You do NOT have to change your votes, but the way in which you associate with the party and get along with others has to change. Ron has tried twice and both times was never given the time of day. Our current approach might be more philosophically pure but it will NEVER have any chance of winning. You simply can't alienate the entire party and expect to win.

Rand is trying out a new approach. Vote everything 100% the same as Ron, but don't alienate the party from yourself. Embrace it. Change it from within. Play the "endorse the winner" game. Whatever. In the end, ALL that matters is that he wins and gets our country back on track. It's time we support him and help him achieve it.

 

[Matt Collins]

Thousands of people pouring onto the Rand 2016 bandwagon - https://www.facebook.com/randpaul16?ref=ts&fref=ts

 

[SilentBull]

He endorsed Romney but at the same time voiced his opposition to some of Mitt's policies. Name 1 other republican who did that.

Guys, we've learned from Ron Paul....in order to have a chance at winning, you have to play the game. You do NOT have to change your votes, but the way in which you associate with the party and get along with others has to change. Ron has tried twice and both times was never given the time of day. Our current approach might be more philosophically pure but it will NEVER have any chance of winning. You simply can't alienate the entire party and expect to win.

Rand is trying out a new approach. Vote everything 100% the same as Ron, but don't alienate the party from yourself. Embrace it. Change it from within. Play the "endorse the winner" game. Whatever. In the end, ALL that matters is that he wins and gets our country back on track. It's time we support him and help him achieve it.

Well freaking said.

 

[DeMintConservative]

I don't get why this is bad for Rand. He endorsed Romney and he lost. A lot of people endorsed Romney! If Rand hadn't endorsed Romney, he wouldn't be seen as viable at all.

Obviously. His political career will be over, at least as a Republican ( and he'd have zero chance of starting on as a Democrat, considering his views). He'd need to pull a Lieberman and try re-election as an Indy - and even if he'd manage to win, it'd be a political dead-end.

I think Rand will run for re-election in 2016, not for the President though.

Get ready for Martinez 16 or Rubio 16.

 

[Sola_Fide]

I think Rand will run for re-election in 2016, not for the President though.

Get ready for Martinez 16 or Rubio 16.

Is this what you think or what you wish?

If this is what you think, maybe you haven't been paying enough attention to what Rand has been saying.
If this is what you wish, why are you comfortable with big government racial politics?

 

[AuH20]

Obviously. His political career will be over, at least as a Republican ( and he'd have zero chance of starting on as a Democrat, considering his views). He'd need to pull a Lieberman and try re-election as an Indy - and even if he'd manage to win, it'd be a political dead-end.

I think Rand will run for re-election in 2016, not for the President though.

Get ready for Martinez 16 or Rubio 16.

God. I hope not. The GOP is trying to repackage Dick Cheney as a young, affable Cuban??

 

[DeMintConservative]

Is this what you think or what you wish?

If this is what you think, maybe you haven't been paying enough attention to what Rand has been saying.
If this is what you wish, why are you comfortable with big government racial politics?

It's what I think. At first sight, I wouldn't mind Martinez anyway, I've liked the little I've known.

Maybe I haven't. What has he been saying?

 

[cajuncocoa]

The people who won't support him are ideologues with no real interest in the art of politics. The people who will support him are the people who were enraged when Christie embraced Obama.

I view Christie embracing Obama the same way all of you view Rand endorsing Romney: it was something he had to do. The difference is, Christie is at the helm of a state that has been severely damaged and is wanting Federal funds to help restore it. Rand didn't need anything from Romney.

I'm ready to move on from the endorsement, but if you're going to make a comparison between Christie's embrace and Rand's endorsement, let's at least apply a little consistency.