Rand Paul blasts Senate for bullying Apple

[radiofriendly]

Rush just mentioned this story. Called out McCain and said there is only one senator defending Apple...Hopefully we can find a clip - it was good.

 

[familydog]

A Warlord knows when to pick his battles and which ones are winnable.

He also must possess immense agility to evade the root of issues.

Maybe you could give Rand some pointers on picking battles. Or, maybe you could enlighten us as to how this will help him politically. A firebrand defending a multi-billion dollar corporation in a down economy will at most have a neutral impact.

 

[Warlord]

He also must possess immense agility to evade the root of issues.

Maybe you could give Rand some pointers on picking battles. Or, maybe you could enlighten us as to how this will help him politically. A firebrand defending a multi-billion dollar corporation in a down economy will at most have a neutral impact.

Defending Silicon Valley will win him their praise and support.

Warlord once knew a politician who stood up for the rights of bandits to collect taxes along a certain trade route. Next thing you knew his party won the regional elections and he became governor. Special interests helped him.

 

[familydog]

Defending Silicon Valley will win him their praise and support.

Warlord once knew a politician who stood up for the rights of bandits to collect taxes along a certain trade route. Next thing you knew his party won the regional elections and he became governor. Special interests helped him.

Rand will get the support of Steve Ballmer, Tom Cook, Marissa Mayer, Brian Krzanich, etc.? Good luck with that.

 

[JCDenton0451]

Rand will get the support of Steve Ballmer, Tom Cook, Marissa Mayer, Brian Krzanich, etc.? Good luck with that.

In the Republican primaries they will support Rand over other Republican candidates. He will also be in better shape in the general election.

I'm talking about Silicon valley donations obviously. I doubt an endorsement from Tim Cook would count for anything.

 

[John F Kennedy III]

Honestly, I break with Rand here. I have absolutely no sympathy for the mega-corporations that can only thrive in this manner because of the handouts they receive from government and the way in which they game the system. Let's be truthful; Apple, and other large corporations, have gotten away with a lot of things due to government.

We sure could use all that money and jobs from those companies right here in the US right now.

 

[compromise]

In the Republican primaries they will support Rand over other Republican candidates. He will also be in better shape in the general election.

I'm talking about Silicon valley donations obviously. I doubt an endorsement from Tim Cook would count for anything.

Rand will most likely have the support of Peter Thiel, founder of Paypal. He frequently donates to Tea Party GOP candidates, and supported Ron's 2012 campaign.

 

[Warlord]

In the Republican primaries they will support Rand over other Republican candidates. He will also be in better shape in the general election.

I'm talking about Silicon valley donations obviously. I doubt an endorsement from Tim Cook would count for anything.

It wouldn't but Cook's connections can count for millions in donations. Elections are expensive. Just ask my cousin Babur who ran for the National Assembly in 2005. We had to fork over $300k in bribes and he still lost to someone with a superior ballot stuffing operation.

 

[satchelmcqueen]

thats was a damn good speech.

 

[matt0611]

“I’m offended by a government who convenes a hearing to bully an American success story."
--Rand Paul

I'm offended that Apple bullies competition and free enterprise via government patent schemes. Somehow I don't think that will ever cross Rand Paul's radar.

And that nullifies Rand's point how?

I'm all for abolishing patents but it doesn't negate Rand's defense of corporations making profits and avoiding taxes.

 

[Brett85]

Rand has a point here. A corporation shouldn't be blaimed for simply taking advantage of a broken system. Apple didn't do anything illegal. Congress is to blame for the complicated tax code.

 

[VoluntaryAmerican]

tube

 

[mello]

I like this comment I found from the Fortune story covering today's hearing:

Rand Paul is a nice surprise and totally earned my respect and my vote, should he runs for higher office.

Here's the link to the story:
http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2013/05...paign=Feed:+rss/money_technology+(Technology)

 

[DylanWaco]

I actually agree with Rand on this, but think it's bad politics. The GOP as the party of corporations is not a good look and not a winner and that is precisely how this sort of thing will be spun over the long haul. This is the sort of thing that won't play well with independents and even some "conservatives" even though what he's saying is correct

 

[Brian4Liberty]

Some say that Apple does not spend enough time and money greasing Congress. Jobs had enough clout that they didn't have to do it when he was alive. Apple is also known to pretty arrogant. This was a power struggle.

 

[J_White]

Rand probably scored some iFans today.

 

[idiom]

Honestly, I break with Rand here. I have absolutely no sympathy for the mega-corporations that can only thrive in this manner because of the handouts they receive from government and the way in which they game the system. Let's be truthful; Apple, and other large corporations, have gotten away with a lot of things due to government.

Pretty sure you just agreed with Rand, yet still blamed the wrong party.

 

[Bastiat's The Law]

I actually agree with Rand on this, but think it's bad politics. The GOP as the party of corporations is not a good look and not a winner and that is precisely how this sort of thing will be spun over the long haul. This is the sort of thing that won't play well with independents and even some "conservatives" even though what he's saying is correct

It isn't bad politics the way Rand frames it. He repeatedly points out that's how we get jobs back to this country. The difference between Rand and token republicans is they may say one good thing, but usually take two steps back with horrible policies that erases any good they might have said or done. Rand is unabashedly pro-business and sells it to the average voter better than anyone. People come away with the impression that Rand would roll his sleeves up and do everything in his power to get this country roaring again.

 

[Ignostic?]

Anybody see this video of the Cupertino City Council trying to get Steve Jobs to bribe them so he will be allowed to build an awesome new headquarters? It's worth a watch.

 

[DylanWaco]

It isn't bad politics the way Rand frames it. He repeatedly points out that's how we get jobs back to this country. The difference between Rand and token republicans is they may say one good thing, but usually take two steps back with horrible policies that erases any good they might have said or done. Rand is unabashedly pro-business and sells it to the average voter better than anyone. People come away with the impression that Rand would roll his sleeves up and do everything in his power to get this country roaring again.

This is theoretically wonderful, but I'm not sure it plays in the real world. Yes there are a segment of GOP primary voters who are drawn toward supporting the "big" job creators and will see this as a defense of market principles against government red tape/interference. But those sort of people are going to vote Republican anyway. On the broader scale I think it is hard to sell this logic to an American public that believes corporations are at war with them (this is largely true in my view, though not for the reason anti-market folks usually believe).