[Video] Sen. Rand Paul's speech at CPAC 2011

[emazur]

Rand really had the audience wrapped around his finger - who else could possibly speak to a room full of Republicans and get an uproar of applause when suggesting cuts to the military? Ya know, if Ron did get the GOP nomination, Rand would be an excellent pick for VP in order to muster up support from the Hannity-type Republicans. I'm not intending to insult Rand, but he would be to Ron what Palin was to McCain (but without Palin's horrible qualities)

 

[Austrian Econ Disciple]

Rand really had the audience wrapped around his finger - who else could possibly speak to a room full of Republicans and get an uproar of applause when suggesting cuts to the military? Ya know, if Ron did get the GOP nomination, Rand would be an excellent pick for VP in order to muster up support from the Hannity-type Republicans. I'm not intending to insult Rand, but he would be to Ron what Palin was to McCain (but without Palin's horrible qualities)

I would suggest that many of the people in that room were libertarians, so it is not unexpected.

 

[AuH20]

That's just not his style... Rand doesn't roll like that at all. He's the guy who sneaks ideology into his rhetoric. It's a better strategy for him, and it's one reason he doesn't get marginalized. Better to emphasize how important national security is before saying we need defense cuts. Or how we share many democratic values with Israel and how they are a great ally, before saying we need to cut all aid to them. If he were to say "American foreign policy shows reckless imperialism", he'd pretty much alienate himself from 90% of the country for no good reason.

It's also one reason why screaming things like war criminal at dick cheney and booing speakers isn't helpful at all for the movement

Rand Paul is the great 'fusion' candidate. He doesn't take the bait by saying things like that.

 

[AuH20]

The problem is the fiscal argument only works temporarily. The moment it seems we are 'out of the woods' so to speak they will go back to directly promoting the same garbage. That is why I think the fiscal argument while fine, should not be the end-all be all or even the primary argument made. Listen to this and tell me that we should not be using this?

http://antiwar.com/radio/2011/01/14/rep-walter-jones-2/#comments

The U.S. is going to be saddled with major fiscal problems for our entire lifetime. Exploit the hell out of it.

 

[georgiaboy]

The U.S. is going to be saddled with major fiscal problems for our entire lifetime. Exploit the hell out of it.

truism.

 

[georgiaboy]

bump for Twisted Sister intro

 

[Nic]

I know I'll catch hell for this, but....The more I see of Rand, the more I want him in 2012. I love Ron and everything he stands for, but Rand is a more articulate and eloquent version of him. I think Rand is ready. It's already been proven experience doesn't matter in the last election. Get Rand in before the opposition has 6 years to build their case against him.

 

[Sola_Fide]

I know I'll catch hell for this, but....The more I see of Rand, the more I want him in 2012. I love Ron and everything he stands for, but Rand is a more articulate and eloquent version of him. I think Rand is ready. It's already been proven experience doesn't matter in the last election. Get Rand in before the opposition has 6 years to build their case against him.

If this wasn't Ron's year, then I'd say sure, let's go for it.

I just think Ron running will accomplish so much even if he is not elected. I predict the Republicans will put up an establishment loser who will lose to Obama. And when that happens, Rand would be a shoe-in in 2016.

 

[Andrew-Austin]

I know I'll catch hell for this, but....The more I see of Rand, the more I want him in 2012. I love Ron and everything he stands for, but Rand is a more articulate and eloquent version of him. I think Rand is ready. It's already been proven experience doesn't matter in the last election. Get Rand in before the opposition has 6 years to build their case against him.

It would be more like giving Rand six years to build a case against them. Just like how economic history has given credit to Ron.

I agree that Rand is a much better speaker than Ron. Ron can be pretty great in interviews, 1 on 1s, but his speeches not as much. Rand manages to be almost as bold as his dad, and sound much more marketable than Ron.

 

[BrendenR]

It would be more like giving Rand six years to build a case against them. Just like how economic history has given credit to Ron.

I agree that Rand is a much better speaker than Ron. Ron can be pretty great in interviews, 1 on 1s, but his speeches not as much. Rand manages to be almost as bold as his dad, and sound much more marketable than Ron.

After seeing Ron's CPAC speech, I'm not sure I'd say Rand is better at speeches, rather that Rand is a lot better (like, a shitton) at playing to a much larger audience. Ron can get rabid applause and chants of End The Fed from the likes of us here on these forums, but Rand can get the applause and cheers of a majority of Republicans. JMHO.

All I care is that a Paul runs in 2012.

 

[itshappening]

wish people would stop going on about Rand as a VP in 2012, he is going to be president in 2016. Rand is no number 2 to anyone plus he needs time in the Senate

The only way he will run in 2012 is if the GOP convention ignore the caucus/primary "choice" (assuming it isnt Ron) and nominate him in a back room deal ala Harding, which isn't likely though not impossible. Although I understand many states now obligate their delegates to follow through and not allow them to change their mind.