[Video] Rand Paul on The Situation Room w/ Wolf Blitzer 8/30/13

[RockEnds]

I like the interview. He's been much clearer since his initial statement. Must have been on Wolf's first hour. I watched the 2nd hour & missed this.

 

[Varin]

To be fair, I've literally never watched his show except when he's had one of the Pauls on, so it's entirely possible that this is nothing new and I'm simply noticing it for the first time. Ties to AIPAC are pretty damning evidence of this.

I think Blitzer usually stays fairly objective in his interviews despite his personal beliefs.

 

[Bastiat's The Law]

If this interview had been dial-tested by Frank Luntz, I'm fairly certain we would've had another "These are the highest numbers I've ever seen on this issue" moment.

The repeated repetition of the word "constitution" and quotes by Eisenhower, Madison, etc are instant dial busters #appealtoauthority ftw

You're absolutely right about that. I think the audience would love what Rand is saying here.

 

[ManOfSteel]

I think Blitzer usually stays fairly objective in his interviews despite his personal beliefs.

That's what I used to think, which is why I was so surprised to see him bring out the long knives for Rand here. He was doing his damnedest to APPEAR objective while asking hostile questions designed to elicit answers that would make Rand look bad. It was a pretty stunning performance.

 

[Warlord]

That's what I used to think, which is why I was so surprised to see him bring out the long knives for Rand here. He was doing his damnedest to APPEAR objective while asking hostile questions designed to elicit answers that would make Rand look bad. It was a pretty stunning performance.

How do you think it'll go with David Gregory?

 

[ManOfSteel]

How do you think it'll go with David Gregory?

Hopefully similar to how this went down - hostile interviewer asking questions designed to trip Rand up, Rand tees up and knocks them outta the park.

If you're only asking how I think Gregory will be, well, he's never bothered trying to cultivate the illusion of impartiality that Blitzer has. DG is a confirmed hack.

 

[Warlord]

Hopefully similar to how this went down - hostile interviewer asking questions designed to trip Rand up, Rand tees up and knocks them outta the park.

If you're only asking how I think Gregory will be, well, he's never bothered trying to cultivate the illusion of impartiality that Blitzer has. DG is a confirmed hack.

Lucky for us Rand is far too smart and quick on his feet when in interviews

 

[ManOfSteel]

Lucky for us Rand is far too smart and quick on his feet when in interviews

He's certainly getting better, but years later I'm still haunted by that disaster on Maddow. These things always make me nervous.

 

[Theocrat]

Very Consistent Interview

"Saving face." I loved it when Ron said it to McCain and I love it that Rand echoes it now. Brilliant.

I think he was saying it to Huckabee, actually.

By the way, I thought that Sen. Paul's interview was great (I, too, liked his "save face" comment), and he answered the questions directly, while never leaving his premise that both Congress and the President should obey the Constitution. That is the main point that the media needs to be reminded in these discussions on going to war so carelessly.

 

[Cleaner44]

Rand crushes these interviews. The Democrats are in big trouble come 2016.

 

[Warlord]

He's certainly getting better, but years later I'm still haunted by that disaster on Maddow. These things always make me nervous.

It's important to remember when he was on Maddow that was the only place that would have him on as a candidate along with Alex Jones all throughout 2009 when he made 4 appearances.

 

[LibertyEagle]

Ugh, Theo, you had to post that video and remind me why I hate Huckabee so much, didn't you? Platitude, platitude, platitude and the crowd cheered.

 

[1000-points-of-fright]

I watched it. Wolf kept trying to set him up...

"Are you really saying that the rebels were the ones gassing?!"
"Are you saying Reagan violated the Constitution, too?!"

There were more and each time Rand artfully answered without pissing off too many hardcore republicans. Rand is getting better!

I thought his answer to the Reagan question was a cop out. He should have simply said "Yes. And every President before and since has violated the constitution in one way or another and it's about damn time we stop putting up with it."

 

[CaptUSA]

I thought his answer to the Reagan question was a cop out. He should have simply said "Yes. And every President before and since has violated the constitution in one way or another and it's about damn time we stop putting up with it."

And that's why you're not going to run for President. Believe it or not, in order to win an election, you actually have to have people vote for you. It doesn't do you any good to win an argument if you turn people away from you. Rand is gathering new people up without losing too much of the GOP base. It's really brilliant if you can appreciate his technique!

 

[ManOfSteel]

It's important to remember when he was on Maddow that was the only place that would have him on as a candidate along with Alex Jones all throughout 2009 when he made 4 appearances.

I do remember that, and I don't blame him at all for appearing there, but watching it still makes me cringe. He really dropped the ball there/was not prepared to say the politically-popular-but-obviously-wrong thing.

 

[ManOfSteel]

I thought his answer to the Reagan question was a cop out. He should have simply said "Yes. And every President before and since has violated the constitution in one way or another and it's about damn time we stop putting up with it."

lol, yeah, and then he should have said that he worshiped Satan and drank the blood of infants.

Are you crazy or just stupid? You can't bad-mouth Reagan and expect to win the Republican nomination. His answer was pitch-perfect; he didn't DENY that Reagan violated the Constitution, he merely declined to confirm it. Reading between the lines, it's very obvious that he thinks exactly what you do, but coming right out and saying that would be electoral suicide. Very pleased to see Rand pick that up on the spot and handle it so well, it really boosts my confidence in him.

 

[1000-points-of-fright]

lol, yeah, and then he should have said that he worshiped Satan and drank the blood of infants.

Are you crazy or just stupid? You can't bad-mouth Reagan and expect to win the Republican nomination. His answer was pitch-perfect; he didn't DENY that Reagan violated the Constitution, he merely declined to confirm it. Reading between the lines, it's very obvious that he thinks exactly what you do, but coming right out and saying that would be electoral suicide. Very pleased to see Rand pick that up on the spot and handle it so well, it really boosts my confidence in him.

I understand why he did it. I just find it distasteful that he HAD to do it. At some point someone has to stop all this pandering and be honest, otherwise nothing will ever change.

Also, why do you have to be such an asshole?

 

[LibertyEagle]

+rep for Man of Steel for stating the truth.

 

[DFF]

Wolf's become quite the little liberal cocksucker. I didn't remember him being this bad before; I guess the memo's gone out that Rand Paul must be stopped at any cost. Pretty disheartening to think about what we're gonna be up against in 2016.

Blitzer is a former lobbyist for AIPAC. He's basically an Israeli agent. So, it's no surprise that during the interview he was trying to subtly discredit and marginalize Rand.

 

[ManOfSteel]

I understand why he did it. I just find it distasteful that he HAD to do it. At some point someone has to stop all this pandering and be honest, otherwise nothing will ever change.

On the contrary, there are and have always been plenty of people who refuse to pander and are brutally honest; these people never change things though, because the way you gain power in a democracy is via pandering and dishonesty. This is one of the reasons democracy is such a terrible form of government. But it's what we have, and so we must work within it to change things. You are 100% wrong to think that pandering and dishonesty cannot bring about change - just look at George W. Bush and Barack Obama. They certainly changed things, no? For the worse, to be sure, but they absolutely changed things. And they could not have done so without pandering and lying.

These tactics can be used just as effectively to make things better. They usually aren't, because good and moral people are uneasy about using them, whereas power-hungry progressives are more comfortable doing whatever it takes to win. This must be our mindset if we are to effectively compete.

Also, why do you have to be such an asshole?

I don't have to be, but I thought it was the most effective tone to take in this case. You are foolish, ignorant, and naive; you need to wake up, smell the roses, and prepare yourself for war. Drill instructors aren't exactly known for their manners, are they?