[Video] Rand Paul on Real Time with Bill Maher 11/14/14

[Brett85]

I mean, I can just see the attacks from someone like Santorum in 2016. "Rand Paul is Bill Maher's favorite Republican." I don't know, perhaps that could also have the affect of making him be seen as more electable.

 

[Krugminator2]

I mean, I can just see the attacks from someone like Santorum in 2016. "Rand Paul is Bill Maher's favorite Republican." I don't know, perhaps that could also have the affect of making him be seen as more electable.

He isn't really following an established playbook. He probably will be attacked for it, because there always is a large supply of people who attack anyone who deviates from conventional views. He is in the process of making unconventional views conventional. Rand is very entrepreneurial. He has basically identified markets that are untapped with mintorities. He may be attacked initially, but if he has any success winning over new constituencies, people will start copying.

For example, I would be very surprised if eliminating mandatory minimums is not the mainstream Republican opinion in the next few years.

 

[anaconda]

Does anyone else think that if Rand could actually get the support of someone like Bill Maher, it would make him a lot less likely to win over conservative Republicans and win the GOP primary? I'm not exactly sure how you win over rank and file conservative Republican voters and someone like Bill Maher at the same time. That's quite a tightrope to walk.

Presumably his bold economic conservatism, foreign restraint in a war weary country (very Eisenhower), strict constitutional protocols, pro life position, and some long overdue social reforms that save money and expand human capital, are a great package that meet many conservative voters' agendas. And if Mr. Paul can jump out to a lead in the polls it might yield a snowball effect due to the inclination for people to vote for someone "who can win."

Plus Maher professes libertarian leanings which has inherent Republican overlap. He is not perceived as being as liberal as, say, a Jon Stewart. And Maher appears to weight heavily the issues of "the empire" and the "drug war." This is particularly encouraging, because it helps set a precedent for consideration of Rand based on only a fraction of his policies that are so appealing that the voter is willing to compromise if necessary on other issues. This could be a powerful strategy.

Plus more and more conservatives and independents are finding appeal in a renewed defense of the constitution, in lieu of security state priorities or legislating morality.

I think he's got wide potential appeal and a decent game plan.

 

[Brett85]

Presumably his bold economic conservatism, foreign restraint in a war weary country, strict constitutional protocols, pro life position, and some long overdue social reforms that save money and expand human capital, are a great package that meet many conservative voters' agendas.

Yeah, I know. I'm just not sure how someone like Bill Maher can support Rand if Rand runs on that kind of platform. Perhaps he's "coming around," but for at least the last decade he's been far more of a liberal than a libertarian.

 

[presence]

Rand is coming across much more Joe American than any other Republican or Democrat conceivably on the ticket for '16


Hillary = Benghazi & Baggage^3
Jeb = Bush x 3
Santorum = Santorum
Fat Christie needs a reality show organizing road cones
Cruz is too Christian fundamentalist for modern America
Nobody but illegal aliens give half a fuck about Rubio
Everyone loves to hate R-money
Warren's socialism is cute but would get destroyed
Nobody even knows who Ben Carson is
Joe Biden is Obama tainted



= Rand 2016

Liberty in our lifetime

 

[specsaregood]

Does anyone else think that if Rand could actually get the support of someone like Bill Maher, it would make him a lot less likely to win over conservative Republicans and win the GOP primary? I'm not exactly sure how you win over rank and file conservative Republican voters and someone like Bill Maher at the same time. That's quite a tightrope to walk.

There will always be some tightasses that argue that they can't support Randal because other people they don't like support him already. there is nothing you can do about that. But in reality it is not a tightrope Randal is walking. In fact he is going out of his way to build a 3-lane elevated highway to walk. He is doing this by always trying to focus on the 90% issues. He isn't getting caught up in arguing over the minutia; but rather getting people to form consensus on the broad goals and pushing for incremental small govt ideas towards those goals.

edit: the "tightrope" is a media invention meant to make you think Randal is not stable. its really the opposite of the truth.

 

[TheBlackPeterSchiff]

Haven't we've seen this script before? Right now it "This is a Republican I can vote for" but once the lines in the sands are drawn, they wouldn't touch him with a 10 foot pole.

Tribalism of American politics will take hold as usual.

 

[presence]

With Ron2008/Ron2012... I was always all:

"I want to believe but I know better"

With Rand2016... I'm all:

"I want to smack that fucker for saying that... but damn; we're about to put boots in the White House."

 

[Jamesiv1]

Rand did a great job. A little too eager to be a funny guy, but still came across as thoughtful, compassionate and sincere.

Could have been nervousness, but he needs to be careful about interjecting wisecracks into the middle of a serious response about a serious issue.

 

[LawnWake]

I mean, I can just see the attacks from someone like Santorum in 2016. "Rand Paul is Bill Maher's favorite Republican." I don't know, perhaps that could also have the affect of making him be seen as more electable.

This is an issue, but if you sum everything up, I believe it will benefit him more than hurt him. He hasn't lost any of his conservative credentials yet and I don't think it will take them away. Santorum's attacks would bite him in his own ass because he would only be drawing attention to the fact that Rand Paul is more electable in the general elections than he himself is.

 

[specsaregood]

Rand did a great job. A little too eager to be a funny guy, but still came across as thoughtful, compassionate and sincere.

Could have been nervousness, but he needs to be careful about interjecting wisecracks into the middle of a serious response about a serious issue.

Wasn't he being interviewed by a comedian on basically a comedy show?

 

[Brian4Liberty]

 

[torchbearer]

when watching the video , remember that Rand hasn't declared he is running for president. Yet it seems everyone is already thinking about him being president.

 

[Jamesiv1]

when watching the video , remember that Rand hasn't declared he is running for president. Yet it seems everyone is already thinking about him being president.

That is true - but actions speak louder than words. People don't go trooping around the country (30+ cities?) when all they are thinking about is getting re-elected state senator.

People are thinking about him being president because he's acting like he wants to be president. Which is a good thing.

 

[philipped]

People don't go trooping around the country (30+ cities?) when all they are thinking about is getting re-elected state senator.

32-35 STATES before midterm elections.

 

[devil21]

A solid interview.

If Congress passes a law reinstating felon's voting rights it would have to apply only to federal court convictions, otherwise it would infringe on the 10th. Voting rights for felons convicted of state felonies varies by state and is controlled by each state's laws. Nationwide felon voting prohibitions only apply to federal convictions.

 

[philipped]

I mean, I can just see the attacks from someone like Santorum in 2016. "Rand Paul is Bill Maher's favorite Republican." I don't know, perhaps that could also have the affect of making him be seen as more electable.

And this is the face I'd make to anyone who would allow that to stop them from voting for Rand:

 

[anaconda]

Yeah, I know. I'm just not sure how someone like Bill Maher can support Rand if Rand runs on that kind of platform. Perhaps he's "coming around," but for at least the last decade he's been far more of a liberal than a libertarian.

Maher said he places a high value on empire ending and the drug war. I assume this is how Maher can support Rand Paul. I assume Maher does not agree with 100% of Rand Paul's platform.

 

[anaconda]

60 comments and no one has mentioned Scahill at all. He has mentioned Rand in the past. Seems germane to the thread. I didn't see the show.

 

[fatjohn]

I mean, I can just see the attacks from someone like Santorum in 2016. "Rand Paul is Bill Maher's favorite Republican." I don't know, perhaps that could also have the affect of making him be seen as more electable.

In a debate this would be easy to counter.

"Well Rick, I intend to be president of all Americans. And I hate to break it to you, but in order to win we're going to need more than 50% of the votes, how you intend to do that without reaching out to independents and right leaning democrats is beyond me."