jmdrake
Member
- Joined
- Jun 6, 2007
- Messages
- 51,901
I posted this elsewhere, but I think it deserves its on thread. I expressed concerns about Rand's strategy in 2010 back when it wasn't "cool" to do so. Then I stayed someone in the middle when others were either ready to "throw him under the bus" or "throw his critics under the bus" post the Romney endorsement. I've been "cautiously optimistic" that Rand Paul wasn't selling out, but was following a careful strategy. I believed that Ron is aware of that strategy and either directly approves of it or is willing to let it play out with minimal interference. I believe yesterday proved the strategy is working. Here's why:
Yesterday I saw Justin Raimondo, Michelle Bachmann, Reince Priebus, Ann Coulter, Code Pink and the ACLU all cheer Rand Paul on. It's not about elected democrats, only one or two were helpful to Rand yesterday to my knowledge. It's about their constituents. If there was a republican in the Whitehouse you wouldn't see as many republicans standing with Rand. Rand Paul yesterday managed to engage the libertarian, progressive and republican grassroots as well as the GOP mainstream. I've never seen that happen before. At least not to that extent. I was listening to Mark Levin last night. At first it sounded like Levin was criticizing Rand because he was talking about how terrorists don't deserve "due process". But then I realized what was going on. Levin was drawing a distinction between terrorists who were an imminent threat, and Americans in the U.S. who pose no imminent threat (the "sitting at a cafe' scenario) and blasting Eric Holder for not immediately saying that under that scenario the government couldn't authorize a drone strike. He went on to praise Rand Paul, Ted Cruze and Mike Lee. The only caveat is that he found a way to sneak in praise for Marco Rubio for the "best ever response to a state of the union address" because he "emphasized liberty and free markets". I'll admit I haven't watched Rubio's speech beyond his "gulp" moment (I guess I have to now), but I found it odd that Levin had to find a way to pimp Rubio even though Rubio hasn't been involved in this particular stand against tyranny. That's what I expect going forward. People like Levin using "Yeah Rand's great. But my guy is great to and he can win." argument. But I don't think that will care the day. At least I hope not.
Yesterday I saw Justin Raimondo, Michelle Bachmann, Reince Priebus, Ann Coulter, Code Pink and the ACLU all cheer Rand Paul on. It's not about elected democrats, only one or two were helpful to Rand yesterday to my knowledge. It's about their constituents. If there was a republican in the Whitehouse you wouldn't see as many republicans standing with Rand. Rand Paul yesterday managed to engage the libertarian, progressive and republican grassroots as well as the GOP mainstream. I've never seen that happen before. At least not to that extent. I was listening to Mark Levin last night. At first it sounded like Levin was criticizing Rand because he was talking about how terrorists don't deserve "due process". But then I realized what was going on. Levin was drawing a distinction between terrorists who were an imminent threat, and Americans in the U.S. who pose no imminent threat (the "sitting at a cafe' scenario) and blasting Eric Holder for not immediately saying that under that scenario the government couldn't authorize a drone strike. He went on to praise Rand Paul, Ted Cruze and Mike Lee. The only caveat is that he found a way to sneak in praise for Marco Rubio for the "best ever response to a state of the union address" because he "emphasized liberty and free markets". I'll admit I haven't watched Rubio's speech beyond his "gulp" moment (I guess I have to now), but I found it odd that Levin had to find a way to pimp Rubio even though Rubio hasn't been involved in this particular stand against tyranny. That's what I expect going forward. People like Levin using "Yeah Rand's great. But my guy is great to and he can win." argument. But I don't think that will care the day. At least I hope not.