Mitch McConnell hires Jesse Benton to run his 2014 re-election bid

[orenbus]

Well as I see it from reading this site and others, there are two divergent paths that are taking place. We see Rand and the rest building bridges with others within the GOP, and then we see folks who prefer to take an absolutist position and only want to work with those whom they agree with 100%. As time goes on, and with each new news story that comes out I think you will see that Rand and company are moving further away from the strategy that is promoted here by most. As I mentioned earlier, it seems that every thing that has taken place outside of the Ron Paul campaign this year has been harshly criticized by folks on here. Which I why I concluded that maybe a place like the LP or CP might be better suited for some people, so that you can take a more dogmatic approach to things.

Not sure why you are suggesting those that have a different opinion splinter off into third party groups, some of us are going to stay in the Republican party, but have a different opinion and perspective of what is happening vs. what your perspective may be. You need to at least consider the possibility that your suggestion of fitting neatly into two separate groups is not necessarily correct, usually real life is not as black and white and there are shades of gray. I would suggest trying not to be upset if there are those around you in the liberty movement that have a differing opinion, this has been and will continue to be the reality.

 

[thoughtomator]

This pretty much confirms to me that Benton was a saboteur all along. McConnell is about as non-Ron Paul a candidate as you can get.

Hope Benton enjoys the taste of his 30 pieces of silver.

 

[green73]

 

[CaptLouAlbano]

The principles of liberty are not negotiable. Neither are the tenets of the Constitution and if you think compromising either of those is a good political move then yes a schizm will form. Supporting someone who has repeatedly voted against those things we hold dear is not acceptable. How dare you tell people who have been part of the Ron Paul movement for years which party they should belong to? That is not your call. What is our call though is to reject these Borgian maneuvers and thinly disguised propaganda meant to try and co_opt the RON Paul supporters into mainstreaming.

And you are free to choose the course of action that you wish to pursue. My point being though that this stuff will continue to happen, and folks like yourself will continue to cry foul. Rand is working to build bridges with the rest of the GOP. The moves he takes to do that are going to piss a lot off in here, as is evidenced by the comments I have seen on this site.

I'm not telling people what party they should belong to, my suggestion was simply that if folks are looking for a more dogmatic approach then the LP and CP are more suited to that. You can maintain principles and still work within the GOP, but in order to do so elected officials will need to stand alongside of people that they do not agree with all the time like McConnell.

I have spent the better part of my life in elected office at the local level, and I can tell you from experience taking a hard and fast dogmatic approach does not result in gaining any ground. You have to bend here and there to get what you want in the long run. We will continue to see that from folks within the liberty movement, and as I stated that is not going to be pleasant for those who wish to see a more dogmatic approach.

 

[orenbus]

You're right. I'd say that letting this come to pass is the best option - there's really not much to do if we are going to allow Jesse and MM to fail while putting efforts into a positive outcome elsewhere.

WHAT?!? LOL

 

[CaptLouAlbano]

The strategy promoted here by most is what got us involved in the first place. Do you think Ron Paul could have ever inspired young, apathetic people to join up if he had adopted the 'strategy' of, "let's just go along to get along and see what happens"? What if Ron Paul had just 'blended in' with the 5 or 6 neocons surrounding him on stage in 2007-08? I wouldn't have noticed him, for certain. We didn't get a $15 trillion debt because of people who refused to compromise, or were stubborn, or simply "dogmatic." We got a $15 trillion debt because people were "pragmatic" and mistakenly believed that by 'going with the flow', they could somehow reverse the direction of the river.

We need a dam. Stop the river. Some people will get swept away by the current, it will happen. So, we'd better be ready to find more to replace them.

That river's got McConnell. Who wants to plug the gap?

But we are in a much different position than we were over the last decade or two. We actually have people elected into office that are promoting libertarian positions. We did not have that in years past with the exception of a few obscure Congressmen here and there. It has really been since Goldwater that we have had a strong, nationally recognized libertarian voice in the Senate. So the landscape is a lot different today.

 

[orenbus]

The strategy promoted here by most is what got us involved in the first place. Do you think Ron Paul could have ever inspired young, apathetic people to join up if he had adopted the 'strategy' of, "let's just go along to get along and see what happens"? What if Ron Paul had just 'blended in' with the 5 or 6 neocons surrounding him on stage in 2007-08? I wouldn't have noticed him, for certain. We didn't get a $15 trillion debt because of people who refused to compromise, or were stubborn, or simply "dogmatic." We got a $15 trillion debt because people were "pragmatic" and mistakenly believed that by 'going with the flow', they could somehow reverse the direction of the river.

We need a dam. Stop the river. Some people will get swept away by the current, it will happen. So, we'd better be ready to find more to replace them.

That river's got McConnell. Who wants to plug the gap?

+Rep

 

[kylejack]

Hahahahahahahahahahahaha

Newsflash: Benton is about his own career at any cost, not about liberty. Few should be shocked.

 

[angelatc]

Well as I see it from reading this site and others, there are two divergent paths that are taking place. We see Rand and the rest building bridges with others within the GOP, and then we see folks who prefer to take an absolutist position and only want to work with those whom they agree with 100%. As time goes on, and with each new news story that comes out I think you will see that Rand and company are moving further away from the strategy that is promoted here by most. As I mentioned earlier, it seems that every thing that has taken place outside of the Ron Paul campaign this year has been harshly criticized by folks on here. Which I why I concluded that maybe a place like the LP or CP might be better suited for some people, so that you can take a more dogmatic approach to things.

I'd be in agreement here if Benton had joined DeMint's staff, or Mike Lee, or maybe even Ted Cruz. But McConnell has no interest in anything liberty related - this is a move to protect himself from the likes of us.

 

[kylejack]

Well as I see it from reading this site and others, there are two divergent paths that are taking place. We see Rand and the rest building bridges with others within the GOP, and then we see folks who prefer to take an absolutist position and only want to work with those whom they agree with 100%.

This is so bogus. I don't even agree with Ron Paul 100%, but I support him. People like McConnell are basically anathema.

 

[wrestlingwes_8]

Alright, who wants to be the first to eat their crow??

If ANYONE is still defending Benton, they have no brain at all. You should have seen this coming a loooong time ago; but nooo you morons were too busy playing Ron Paul groupie to see what was happening right in front of your fucking face. Shame, shame, shame on all of you; you make me sick..

 

[thesnake742]

This is what happens when you give up.

 

[July]

//

 

[nobody's_hero]

But we are in a much different position than we were over the last decade or two. We actually have people elected into office that are promoting libertarian positions. We did not have that in years past with the exception of a few obscure Congressmen here and there. It has really been since Goldwater that we have had a strong, nationally recognized libertarian voice in the Senate. So the landscape is a lot different today.

Sure. The message is ripe for the times, or the times are ripe for the message. All the more reason why I see no need to back-pedal and try to win over a dwindling neoconservative base, which is what I think some folks are advocating.

Makes no sense to me. 'No-compromise' is what tripled the size of the liberty movement since 2008, and might triple it again in 2016* (edit). Why start compromising now?

 

[specsaregood]

//

 

[realtonygoodwin]

This a great thing no matter what your perspective.

If you hate Jesse Benton and blame him for the failure of Ron's campaign, then you can have hope that he will torpedo McConnell's campaign as well.

If you find value to working within the GOP, a Senate Majority Leader McConnel who is friendly with Rand Paul and has a family connection through Jesse Benton can give you hope that Rand's issues will come up for votes in the Senate easier.

 

[CaptLouAlbano]

I'd be in agreement here if Benton had joined DeMint's staff, or Mike Lee, or maybe even Ted Cruz. But McConnell has no interest in anything liberty related - this is a move to protect himself from the likes of us.

McConnell is the type of politician who will bend whichever way the wind is blowing. If liberals we suddenly gaining ground in the party he would do that way, if it was social-cons he'd be talking about abortion and prayer in schools non stop. As I see it, he sees which way the wind is blowing nationally and particularly in his home state and wants to do whatever he can to reach out to that wing.

 

[ninepointfive]

Also, Congratulations Jesse! I look forward to you showing us how this advances the cause of liberty.

It advances the cause of the liberty movement just as a bowel movement provides relief to the host.

 

[ScotTFO]

McConnell is the type of politician who will bend whichever way the wind is blowing. If liberals we suddenly gaining ground in the party he would do that way, if it was social-cons he'd be talking about abortion and prayer in schools non stop. As I see it, he sees which way the wind is blowing nationally and particularly in his home state and wants to do whatever he can to reach out to that wing.

Sounds like....dare I say it? Romney?

 

[wrestlingwes_8]

I don't get why some here are pretending to be upset by this. You all wanted to kick Benton off the liberty island. Ok, he's out. Shouldn't you guys all be celebrating now?

Ohhh yeah, we are sooo excited! Ron's campaign was completely ran into the ground and now after the nomination process is over with, the fox leaves the hen house. Ohh joy, what a victory for liberty