Now is the time for Rand to rescind his McConnell endorsement

[mosquitobite]

If Mitch loses, he should start campaigning for Bevin the day after the primary.

This. Why does he need to change before the primary?

I do not see any benefit to do so at this point.

It's not like there are thousands of people that are currently for McConnell that will suddenly switch to Bevin if Rand campaigns for him. Rand is not someone who will shift the election in Bevin's favor, imo.

If Bevin wins, then yes - I think he will help against Grimes.

 

[Crashland]

Best course of action for Paul is no action. Don't rescind the endorsement, but don't go around Kentucky raising the stakes by campaigning for McConnell either.

 

[angelatc]

First off, I know why Rand endorsed McConnell. Politics. And hemp. But the hemp ball is rolling now and it won't be stopped.

Not going to happen. Who else will hire his niece's husband?

 

[Feeding the Abscess]

Not going to happen. Who else will hire his niece's husband?

Rand, in 2015.

 

[Dianne]

I don't really see how he can do it, at this point. Rescinding would be endorsing the democratic candidate. It would be different if McConnell had a GOP primary challenger; but it is McConnell against a Demo. Same dogs, sleeping with the same fleas; however, rescinding would cause too much wrath within the republican establishment. Kentucky going to have another Democrat in the seat; whoever the people vote for.

 

[mosquitobite]

I don't really see how he can do it, at this point. Rescinding would be endorsing the democratic candidate. It would be different if McConnell had a GOP primary challenger; but it is McConnell against a Demo. Same dogs, sleeping with the same fleas; however, rescinding would cause too much wrath within the republican establishment. Kentucky going to have another Democrat in the seat; whoever the people vote for.

McConnell has a primary challenger: Matt Bevin

 

[Dianne]

McConnell has a primary challenger: Matt Bevin

My mistake !!! I never approved of Rand's endorsement of McConnell to begin with. So jump ship, Rand; by all means !!!! McConnell should have been one of the first dinosaur RINO's to go 10 years ago . If we could get rid of McConnell, McCain, Boehner, Graham, King of New York; we might just have a chance to survive the next years of Obozo's Presidency.

 

[Christian Liberty]

It's time to shift the pendulum back to Rand's genuine side. It has swung over too far to the establishment side and it is not helping him.

Yes it has, and no it is not, at least not with me.

 

[fr33]

Should have never endorsed him in the first place. Mitch is the bailout queen and the bailouts are what started the tea party.

 

[AlexAmore]

Should have never endorsed him in the first place. Mitch is the bailout queen and the bailouts are what started the tea party.

So f*** hemp, then?

 

[NewRightLibertarian]

Don't question Ron Paul Inc. We must lick their boots. If they support Mitch McConnell or whoever else, it is apart of 'the plan.' You must obey or you are some type of heretic. It is all apart of the 'greater plan.' The same greater plan that got Ron Paul elected... Oh wait! They failed miserably the last time around. They'll get it right this time though as long as you give your money again and again and again.

 

[fr33]

So f*** hemp, then?

I'm not a Kentuckian.
Is hemp any more important than the other forms of cannabis? Other states are legalizing the plant outright. No need to call a plant hemp or cannabis.

I do think the promotion of irresponsibility the bank bailouts promoted is more damaging than the illegalization of hemp is. The legalization of cannabis will happen. That ball is rolling. I'm not so sure that the banking system feels any threat whatsoever.

 

[AlexAmore]

I'm not a Kentuckian.
Is hemp any more important than the other forms of cannabis? Other states are legalizing the plant outright. No need to call a plant hemp or cannabis.

I do think the promotion of irresponsibility the bank bailouts promoted is more damaging than the illegalization of hemp is. The legalization of cannabis will happen. That ball is rolling. I'm not so sure that the banking system feels any threat whatsoever.

Well Hemp could replace the plastics industry, replace the energy industry, trees, paper, clothing, end massive fertilizer use, help end world hunger, vastly improve the environment. Mitch sucks ass, but he was a BIG deal in pushing forth Rand's Hemp legislation. Rand should use that as his excuse...perhaps it's not a good thing to say on Glenn Beck's show, I dunno.

While a few states are legalizing marijuana, it's a whole different animal for something like Hemp to be passed at the Federal level.

I'm not defending Mitch. I'm defending Rand's endorsement and this was probably the deal, or part of it, behind the scenes.

 

[serenityrick]

The people who are "upset" with Rand over this or upset that Rand didn't stand real strong with Cruz and Lee during the shutdown are a really small minority of the overall Republican Party. When you see polls with McConnell winning by 30 points and Graham winning by 30-40 points in South Carolina, it shows you that the hardcore activist base isn't very big at all. They certainly couldn't stop McCain and Romney from winning the GOP nomination.

People were just starting to awake in 2012 and they certainly weren't awake in 2008. This year and 2016 will be completely different in my opinion. Romney lost because the republican base didn't want to vote for him so they stayed home on election day. That's very telling. You get someone like Paul (and Cruz as VP?) I think you'll see a massive landslide victory in 2016.
On the flipside, if the people keep thinking moderate republicans are the way to win elections and nominate Bush or Huckabee then you'll see even less people out there voting than in 2012 and the Country will truly be fucked.

The good news is I heard the other day that Karl Rove's GOP super pac is down NINETY EIGHT percent in donations compared to 2012. I think people are all done with progressives (on both sides I hope)

 

[RPforPrez.]

Don't question Ron Paul Inc. We must lick their boots. If they support Mitch McConnell or whoever else, it is apart of 'the plan.' You must obey or you are some type of heretic. It is all apart of the 'greater plan.' The same greater plan that got Ron Paul elected... Oh wait! They failed miserably the last time around. They'll get it right this time though as long as you give your money again and again and again.

Ron Paul took a completely different strategy than Rand Paul.

People who disagree with Rand's actions call those who agree with him "heretics."
People who agree with Rand's actions call those who disagree with him "heretics."

If you disagree with what Rand is doing, fine, don't support him.

I don't understand why there needs to be a debate on this forum every single day about what Rand is doing, and why we have to nitpick every single one of his actions.

 

[erowe1]

I don't think he should flip-flop unless McConnell gives him something that the public will be able to see as a cause for that.

But he can still do some things to soften his support for McConnell and unofficially help Bevin. There's no reason he can't make appearances along with Bevin without endorsing him, and even talk up some of the good points about Bevin while doing it. He doesn't have to say anything negative about McConnell, he could just not mention him at all, or damn him with faint praise. Obviously this would make an enemy of McConnell. But not looking like a flip-flopping opportunist whose endorsements depend on which way the wind is blowing is important.

This also would put McConnell in a tough spot. He would have to grin and bear it. If he decided to retaliate against Rand, removing him from the FRC or badmouthing Rand's wing of the party, then that would give Rand just the excuse he would need to switch over to a full-fledged endorsement of Bevin.

 

[jj-]

I don't think he should flip-flop unless McConnell gives him something that the public will be able to see as a cause for that.

But he can still do some things to soften his support for McConnell and unofficially help Bevin. There's no reason he can't make appearances along with Bevin without endorsing him, and even talk up some of the good points about Bevin while doing it. He doesn't have to say anything negative about McConnell, he could just not mention him at all, or damn him with faint praise. Obviously this would make an enemy of McConnell. But not looking like a flip-flopping opportunist whose endorsements depend on which way the wind is blowing is important.

This also would put McConnell in a tough spot. He would have to grin and bear it. If he decided to retaliate against Rand, removing him from the FRC or badmouthing Rand's wing of the party, then that would give Rand just the excuse he would need to switch over to a full-fledged endorsement of Bevin.

An appearance with Bevin is in practice, and will be seen as such, equivalent to rescinding his endorsement of McConnell and endorsing Bevin.

 

[erowe1]

An appearance with Bevin is in practice, and will be seen as such, equivalent to rescinding his endorsement of McConnell and endorsing Bevin.

All Rand needs to do is say that that's not what it is when asked.

"Your move McConnell."

 

[erowe1]

I do not see any benefit to do so at this point.

The benefit would be that it could help Bevin win the primary.

 

[jj-]

All Rand needs to do is say that that's not what it is when asked.

I don't think it will have different effects on Rand and others than outright releasing a press statement endorsing Bevin.