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Title: Rand Paul revels in role of Senate troublemaker
Source:
The Hill
URL Source: http://ttp://thehill.com/homenews/s ... in-role-of-senate-troublemaker
Published: Feb 10, 2018
Author: ALEXANDER BOLTON
Post Date: 2018-02-11 05:09:05 by Gatlin
Keywords: None
Views: 7660
Comments: 50
Rand Paul seems to revel in frustrating fellow members of the Senate — and that makes his blatant disregard for the chamber’s chummy protocols even more infuriating to them. Paul, the junior senator from Kentucky, appeared to thumb his nose at fellow Republicans Thursday night when he posed for a picture with conservative Reps. Justin Amash (R-Mich.) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) just off the Senate floor. They posed with their arms folded, grinning for the camera in the midst of a government shutdown fight that Paul himself had triggered. The snapshot was especially galling to Republicans because the trio posed in front of the Senate portrait of Henry Clay, the 19th century Kentucky senator known as the "Great Compromiser.” Clay is the historical hero of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who negotiated the budget deal that Paul was trashing. “[Paul is] the perennial annoying gadfly with no positivity associating with it. What he did didn’t change the outcome. He’s all about grandstanding,” said a Senate Republican aide. “Taking selfies with Justin Amash and Thomas Massie — he just is the perennial annoyance,” the aide added. “He’s here to go on television and that’s what he kept doing. It’s about self promotion.” Al Cross, a journalism professor at the University of Kentucky and a longtime commentator on Kentucky politics, said Paul’s actions likely don’t sit well with the GOP leader, even if he doesn’t say anything about it publicly. “There’s no doubt that it gets his nose out of joint, but he’s dealt with Rand Paul for a long time and he’s pretty accustomed to it,” Cross said of McConnell. But Paul doesn’t care if he’s making his colleagues uncomfortable. He says he wouldn’t have delayed the budget deal if GOP leaders had merely allowed him a vote on restoring the spending caps that the deal was setting aside. Leaders said if they allowed Paul a vote other senators would then demand votes on their own amendments, delaying the bill even longer. Still, many Republicans didn't want to vote against reimposing spending caps that they had declared a major victory only a few short years ago, when they fought with the Obama administration over spending cuts. “You could feel the frustration and embarrassment growing in Congress as we exposed the hypocrisy of Republicans who are joining in an unholy alliance and spending free-for-all with Democrats,” Paul tweeted Thursday night. Members of the Senate are accustomed to the opposing party forcing them to take tough votes, rather than a member of their own conference. Senate Republican Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas) fumed that Paul’s tactics were “grossly irresponsible” and “bad behavior” that he didn’t want to reward by making any concessions. Senate Republican Conference Chairman John Thune (S.D.) called it a “colossal waste of everyone’s time.” Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) called the whole episode another example of the Senate’s “dysfunction,” labeling it “ridiculous.” Rand Paul seems to revel in frustrating fellow members of the Senate — and that makes his blatant disregard for the chamber’s chummy protocols even more infuriating to them. Paul, the junior senator from Kentucky, appeared to thumb his nose at fellow Republicans Thursday night when he posed for a picture with conservative Reps. Justin Amash (R-Mich.) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) just off the Senate floor. They posed with their arms folded, grinning for the camera in the midst of a government shutdown fight that Paul himself had triggered. The snapshot was especially galling to Republicans because the trio posed in front of the Senate portrait of Henry Clay, the 19th century Kentucky senator known as the "Great Compromiser.” Clay is the historical hero of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who negotiated the budget deal that Paul was trashing. “[Paul is] the perennial annoying gadfly with no positivity associating with it. What he did didn’t change the outcome. He’s all about grandstanding,” said a Senate Republican aide. “Taking selfies with Justin Amash and Thomas Massie — he just is the perennial annoyance,” the aide added. “He’s here to go on television and that’s what he kept doing. It’s about self promotion.” Al Cross, a journalism professor at the University of Kentucky and a longtime commentator on Kentucky politics, said Paul’s actions likely don’t sit well with the GOP leader, even if he doesn’t say anything about it publicly. “There’s no doubt that it gets his nose out of joint, but he’s dealt with Rand Paul for a long time and he’s pretty accustomed to it,” Cross said of McConnell. But Paul doesn’t care if he’s making his colleagues uncomfortable. He says he wouldn’t have delayed the budget deal if GOP leaders had merely allowed him a vote on restoring the spending caps that the deal was setting aside. Leaders said if they allowed Paul a vote other senators would then demand votes on their own amendments, delaying the bill even longer. Still, many Republicans didn't want to vote against reimposing spending caps that they had declared a major victory only a few short years ago, when they fought with the Obama administration over spending cuts. “You could feel the frustration and embarrassment growing in Congress as we exposed the hypocrisy of Republicans who are joining in an unholy alliance and spending free-for-all with Democrats,” Paul tweeted Thursday night. Members of the Senate are accustomed to the opposing party forcing them to take tough votes, rather than a member of their own conference. Senate Republican Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas) fumed that Paul’s tactics were “grossly irresponsible” and “bad behavior” that he didn’t want to reward by making any concessions. Senate Republican Conference Chairman John Thune (S.D.) called it a “colossal waste of everyone’s time.” Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) called the whole episode another example of the Senate’s “dysfunction,” labeling it “ridiculous.” But Paul gets energy from riling up his colleagues on points of principle and refused to back down, even though it was clear that the budget deal had the votes to pass. “They’re mad that they have to do their jobs,” said Brian Darling, a GOP strategist and former Paul aide. Darling said his former boss doesn’t care about upsetting his fellow senators. “He cares more about doing the right thing, not going along to get along. Members were really angry with him but he has the right to do what he did. “Congress waits until the last minute to do their appropriations bill and then challenges a single member to object. They’re doing this on purpose to bully members to get bad bills passed,” he said. Paul doubled down Friday with an op-ed that called his colleagues “hypocrites.” “We now control the House, Senate and White House, and we should stand for less government and less spending,” he wrote in Time. “Instead, we see a massive increase that would make President Obama cringe.” Paul said he expected “a lot of tired staffers” would try to feed media stories “about how I wouldn’t play nice with them and let them get their massive spending bill in secret.” He said didn’t regret how things played out. “People tuned in to TV, followed on social media, and had the debate trending number one all night,” he noted. Thursday was only the latest example of Paul sticking his finger in the eye of Republicans leadership. He was a thorn in the side of leaders during last year’s health-care debate, when he declared on television the GOP plan to repeal and replace the 2010 Affordable Care Act was “ObamaCare-lite” and a “bailout" for insurance companies. At one point, he accused Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) of selling “a bill of goods” to President Trump in the health-care debate. Paul was later one of a handful of Senate Republicans to vote against the ObamaCare repeal and replace plan that passed the House, and that McConnell had spent weeks negotiating with his conference. In December, Paul panned the short-term spending proposal that GOP leaders advanced to keep the government open as “reckless deficit spending.” For Paul, playing the role of maverick is good politics. A Mason-Dixon poll of registered voters in Kentucky in December showed that he has a substantial better job rating than McConnell, the ultimate Republican team player. The survey showed Paul with a 44 percent job approval rating, while only 30 percent approved of McConnell’s performance. Paul’s one-man revolt on the budget deal was also a hit with conservatives. “A senator has an ability to be a voice and not just a vote,” said Daniel Horowitz, senior editor of Conservative Review. “He’s able to give to the forgotten man … the average American taxpayer.” “When the political class of both parties get together and decide they’re going to get a specific outcome there’s no way to thwart that outcome in the short run. But the only thing worse than screwing taxpayers is screwing them and having no one find out about it,” he added. Senators thought Thursday would be a routine day after McConnell and Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer (N.Y.) announced they had reached a two-year budget deal that gained swift support from Ryan in the House. They needed consent from everyone in the chamber to speed up the procedural clock and vote in the morning and afternoon in time to catch flights back home for an early weekend. But Paul surprised them all by digging in his heels and delaying a vote until 1:30 a.m. after McConnell refused to give in to his demand for a separate vote on budget caps. The frustration with Paul spread to the other side of the Capitol, where members of the House had to stay on call until 5 a.m. Friday morning to receive the bill and pass it, something they expected to happen hours earlier. One frustrated Republican lawmaker, Rep. Charlie Dent (Pa.), quipped he could sympathize with Rene Boucher, Paul’s neighbor in Bowling Green, Ky., who allegedly tackled the senator over a landscaping dispute. “When Rand Paul pulls a stunt like this, it’s easy to understand why it’s difficult to be Rand Paul’s next-door neighbor,” Dent told Politico. Paul’s office didn’t find that remark at all humorous. The assault gave Paul broken ribs. “That comment is disgusting and Charlie Dent should apologize. Senator Rand Paul will always stand up for what is right, regardless of which party is in control,” said Paul’s spokesman Sergio Gor. “He successfully brought much-needed attention to the hypocrisy in the halls of Congress when it comes to out-of-control spending,” he added.
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#1. To: All (#0)
“When Rand Paul pulls a stunt like this, it’s easy to understand why it’s difficult to be Rand Paul’s next-door neighbor,” Dent told Politico. So - this Republican asshole is condoning and excusing a vicious attack on Rand Paul, a fellow lawmaker? I wonder if Parsons agrees. If that is the case, then we need a few hundred more just like him. “You could feel the frustration and embarrassment growing in Congress as we exposed the hypocrisy of Republicans who are joining in an unholy alliance and spending free-for-all with Democrats,” Paul tweeted Thursday night. Keep up the good work Rand. Then they all could join Rand Paul, Justin Amash and Thomas Massie to open a chain of Kabuki theaters across the country where male actors play both male and female roles.
How can you call it “good work” when Rand Paul who was once the darling of the Tea Party accomplished “no work?” He achieved no results and got absolutely nothing in return for his delay tactics, his play for attention and his love for TV cameras has come to grate on his colleagues. Senator Thune said: “He never gets a result.” Senator Thune is right. Rand Paul did succeed in pissing everyone off. If that is the “work’ you want him to do....then he did “good work.” Once again in his true melodramatic form, Rand Paul took to the Senate floor. This time to utter a bitter complaint and vehement denunciation against increasing military spending, arguing the budget agreement which provided a much-needed military spending increase for the next two will continue to explode the national debt. He is right on the entitlement reform...it is the way to bring down long-term deficits....but the U.S. military spending as a percentage of GDP is at its lowest level since World War II. Paul’s last-minute maneuver was simply “Randstanding” to no avail and all it did was force lawmakers to miss the midnight Thursday deadline. Paul’s holding up the Senate vote was gratuitous since he knew there was absolutely NO chance of success....everybody knew it. Yet he did it. The bill passed overnight and was signed Friday morning by President Trump. Paul was offered the budget point of order, which would have given him the time and opportunity to voice his objections without derailing the bill, but he refused. He took time away from the Senate floor to do several cable news hits instead of continuing to study the bill or discuss his objections with his fellow Senators. Paul was offered additional time to speak after the shutdown began at midnight but declined....it was past prime time television hours. Rand Paul he never done anything to actually work on reducing spending....but he does love those TV cameras. Rand Paul’s Kabuki theater performances in joint concert with Justin Amash and Thomas Massie are getting old, annoying and exacerbating. Let them end and end....NOW.
So - this Republican asshole is condoning and excusing a vicious attack on Rand Paul, a fellow lawmaker? I wonder if Parsons agrees. it is not easy for me to understand why it’s difficult for Rand Paul to get along with a fellow doctor who has been his neighbor for more that seventeen years. And it is most definitely not easy for me to understand why it’s so difficult for Rand Paul to get along with with his fellow members of congress and must constantly cling to the coattails of Justin Amash and Thomas Massie for support. Can you please explain to me why Rand Paul is so intensely disagreeable and so greatly disliked?
Oh I see - it's Rand's fault his neighbor attacked him. Maybe you should take a look at the assholes who are attacking him physically as well as politically. But then I'm sure you'd be happy with more traitors like Graham, Ryan, McStain and all of the the other corrupt, dishonest Republicans instead of someone like Paul who exposes these political frauds and hypocrites. The only people that need to like Rand, are his voting constituents. However, when he or his father run for POTUS, that's when their behaviors ideals will cause them to be a nobody in future history books. Kinda like DickTard. He can manage to get 90% of the LF posters to vote for him as LF president... but if he should run for POTUS, 94% of the populace would laugh at his kookery. I'm the infidel... Allah warned you about. كافر المسلح
Rand Paul is right. The Republicans are being hypocrites in scolding Obama then doing the same thing. Rand Paul is hands down the best Senator we have. We need more Rand Paul's and less John piece of shit McCain's.
Because those McCain type pieces if shit are corrupt and they hate a good man like Rand Paul showing them to be hypocrites and liars. Amash gets it wrong a lot, but not on defficit spending. I'm surprised you take the position that more debt is better for our nation's future.
I'll agree 100%... and up to the point it was obvious he wasn't viable to WIN, Rand was my first choice for the 45th POTUS. When I noticed he was doing things that wasn't helping his 50 state POPULARITY, and he was not viable to defeat that corrupt cunt, KILLary, then I backed Trump. Now that Trump is POTUS, I expect Rand to work with Trump in a way where even if all those snowflake asshole (D)'s obstruct, they still LOSE. I'm the infidel... Allah warned you about. كافر المسلح
I was mad at Rand Paul in the primaries. Not anymore though.
No one has said anywhere that it’s Rand’s “fault his neighbor attacked him.” I only answered the question you asked: I wonder if Parsons agrees. I also asked: Can you please explain to me why Rand Paul is so intensely disagreeable and so greatly disliked? Now, I will ask: Do you have an answer to my question? Wouldn’t it be the logical and objective thing to look at both sides? An intelligent- minded person would think so. I am definitely not happy with Graham, Ryan, McCain and others like them. We are however not discussing those individuals….we are only discussing Rand Paul, so please stay on point. if the deficit and debt is the primary thing that Rand Paul is worried about, was it not hypocrisy when he voted for the tax cut and that the vote was functionally a vote to increase the deficit and debt? Sure....it was!!! The pot calling the kettle black.
I’m shocked that you came to that conclusion. How in God’s name did you?
Certainly not. Especially since federal tax collection is up 18 billion since the tax cut. Secondly Rand Paul knows that those taxes are the people's money and it is wrong if the government to take to much. Thirdly he has offered a budget with spending cuts. He has offered spending cuts. So it is not the pot calling the kettle black. It is the honest guy calling the crooks corrupt lying sacks of shit.
How in God’s name did you? Your criticism of Rand Paul when he is doing his job and trying not to rob future generations. Instead of just going along because he is on the gravy train. Here is my opinion and it could be incorrect. Since you don't care much for Ron Paul you hold that against Rand Paul to a degree.
I on the other hand say we need more Senators like Rafael Edward Cruz and less Senators like the piece of shit John McCain. Ted Cruz is an unyielding debater and the far right’s most formidable advocate. Ted Cruz says, “In both law and politics, I think the essential battle is the meta-battle of framing the narrative.” From his reading of Sun Tzu he has learned that a battle is won by “choosing the terrain on which it will be fought.” I feel that Ted Cruz is absolutely right. The battle is not won by leaving the spending bill debate on the Senate and running out multiple times during that debate to get in front of the news cameras, like Rand Paul did Friday night. The battle is not won by talking on the Senate floor with not other effective reason but to show the world through the TV cameras how long you can go without pissing in your pants, like Rand Paul did Friday night. Rand Paul was offered additional time after to continue his publicity seek charade, but prime time for TV audience was over....so only the did he let the vote happen.
More senators like Ted Cruz also. For sure. Except his globalist positions.
As opposed to Rand Paul’s isolationist positions like bringing all of the troops home from Afghanistan today....I will still go with Ted Cruz.
What is the goal in Afghanistan? How much did it cost so far? Is it really worth it? My answers. Who knows, way to much, no.
Then there is Ted Cruz's love for American wealth transferring NAFTA.
You are incorrect, but I can easily understand the reason you make that assumption. I am equally critical of both. It has nothing has nothing to do with them being father and son. Rand is a talker, not a doer. It’s a fact that Congress can function only on compromise. I don’t mean just compromise between Republicans and Democrats....I mean compromise also among Republicans. There will always be some folks who do not like the compromises that are made. But the fact remains, and it is a way of life for the Congress Critters....compromises must be made. Ted Cruz, and some others, understand this and work behind the scenes to get things agreeable so necessary actions are taken and laws that are required get passed. Rand Paul on the other hand is an arrogant uncompromising egotist whose only approach to compromise is taking a line-drawn-in-the-sand approach with a belligerent announcement, usually made from a floor speech in front of TV cameras to announce to the world: It’s either my way or no way. Oh yea, Rand’s a BIG talker and he says LOTS of great things that are anti- establishment....that is why he can so easily dupe some people. But, after the BIG talk....what does he actually get done? Nothing, is a simple answer....nolthing. After making a self-serving pompous spectacle ceremony, he then moves on ttrying to find an interview, for which he is always “camera ready.” I’m about to get started on a rant....so, I better stop here. Nah, my dislike for him has nothing to do with any father and son relationship.
If I did that, then I will stop it here and now.
Okay, Gatlin. You are a trader so you understand money, so you should also understand that a $20 trillion debt is a very bad thing for the economy. You should also understand that Republicans love to campaign on a platform about reigning in out of control spending, at least when D's are in control. In light of that, please explain why Rand's expressed concerns about this very urgent issue is something that should be mocked, ridiculed, and billed as grandstanding? Should we assume that you are perfectly fine with the fed budget debt and deficit right now? Or perhaps that it's no more than a trivial matter that can be solved by simply kicking the can down the road? Perhaps you believe all will be well by leaving the issue to be solved by the democrats later when they take control?
The Afghanistan War has cost $1.07 trillion.
How much did it cost so far? Is it really worth it? Gotta keep the heroin trade going. It is well-documented that the U.S. government has – at least at some times in some parts of the world – protected drug operations. (Big American banks also launder money for drug cartels. See this, this, this and this. Indeed, drug dealers kept the banking system afloat during the depths of the 2008 financial crisis. And the U.S. drug money laundering is continuing to this day.) The U.S. military has openly said that it is protecting Afghani poppy fields: As Wikipedia notes: Opium production in Afghanistan has been on the rise since U.S. occupation started in 2001. Indeed, a brand new report from the United Nations finds that opium production is at an all-time high. Rand Paul wants the United States OUT of Afghanistan - makes you wonder why Parsons wants the U.S. to stay. Why do you guys obsess over obscure kabuki? Is it some kind of an Asian tranny fetish or something? Japan has been mostly gay-friendly legally and culturally for about a thousand years. Deal with it.
How much did it cost so far? Is it really worth it? Rand Paul in his speech touched on how Congress absolutely refuses to audit the Pentagon, despite constant demands for funding increases and hundreds of billions of dollars in defense spending simply missing and completely unaccounted for. There is substantial and outright criminality at the Pentagon and defense contractors. Congress refuses to root it out.
Rand Paul drained the swamp and shut down the Obama/Trump swamp government for almost 2 hours. When President Trump pushed the RED button on his desk for a Diet Coke nothing happened, no swamp critters responded. He had to go to go out and get one from Ronald McDonald, and pay for it with his own money since his government entitlements were cut off by Rand Paul! Winning!
I am still unable to find out exactly what Rand Paul productively accomplished when he delayed a vote on the Senate's massive spending deal, pushing the government to shutdown on Friday morning. I saw no endgame for keeping the bill from passing until one in the morning when it achieved NOTHING. It made him appear to be clueless for having no purpose. The ONLY thing he was able to do was to block a procedural vote and then move the timing of a vote on the funding bill. By blocking the change, Paul forced the chamber to wait until after midnight to vote on the bipartisan deal — pushing the government into a shutdown. Why did he do that? He may have had a good reason and if so, then I would love to hear it. All I could see him doing was causing a colossal waste of time....which he has definitely proven himself to be a master at, but he never gets a result. So, all I saw him doing was acting grossly irresponsible with another one of his notorious “filibusters of sorts” since it was obvious to me that all he wanted was “attention.” And it was attentions he got....but definitely no positive results.
I have no obsession with Kabuki. I have nothing to deal with.
He accomplished something. He reminded me most is RS are like D's.
Wow! Now that was a spectacular contribution to the editorial content on this thread. At least you posted on the right thread this time ...
He accomplished something. He reminded me most is RS are like D's. Why do you think anyone who needs to know....needs to be reminded? Everyone is reminded of this many times throughout the day when getting the news.
Why do you think anyone who needs to know....needs to be reminded? Because you're stupid enough to vote for Juan McCain again?
Because you're stupid enough to vote for Juan McCain again? Nope....I did not before and I will not the next time either.
Nope....I did not before and I will not the next time either. You posted that you voted for McCain because the Democrat was worse. No one is worse than Senator McCain! The dem might be AS bad, but even Satan himself is not worse than your senator. They're equals.... McCain=Satan Now you're apparently lying about voting for McCain. Please explain you ridiculous claim, "Nope" (didn't vote for McCain).
If you look it up, you will find I only voted for McCain in the Primary against the idiot lady doctor from Kingman who spent money on investigating “Chemtrails.” Neiher she nor the idiot Democrat made it out of their respective primaries. I voted against McCain and for the Democrat from Tucson (damn, I can’t even remember his name) in the General. Also, If you will check....you will find that I voted fo J.D. Hayworth agains McCain the time befolre that. Before even that,I don’t recall. McCain was good in his earlier years and I did support him. Somewhere along the line, he lost it....and he lost my vote. But if you still get a boner from calling me a “McCain lover”....then do whatever turns you on.
Gilligan may have amnesia or worse, so we may have to give our little buddy a break. He also doesn't remember and refuses to admit how hard he shilled for the ACLU. Kind of hard to take him seriously...
Touché.
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Rep. Justin Amash, Rand Paul, and Rep. Thomas Massie. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
#2. To: Gatlin (#0)
One frustrated Republican lawmaker, Rep. Charlie Dent (Pa.), quipped he could sympathize with Rene Boucher, Paul’s neighbor in Bowling Green, Ky., who allegedly tackled the senator over a landscaping dispute.
“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul
Those who most loudly denounce Fake News are typically those most aggressively disseminating it.
#3. To: Gatlin (#0)
Rand Paul...Senate troublemaker
“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul
Those who most loudly denounce Fake News are typically those most aggressively disseminating it.
#4. To: Deckard (#3)
... we need a few hundred more just like [Rand Paul].
#5. To: Deckard (#3)
Keep up the good work Rand.
In another time and place, the longtime budget hawk’s lecture may have been applauded by a number of like-minded Republicans. But Rand—who blathered on for so long that at 11 P.M., the Senate went into recess until 12:01 A.M. without passing a bill, officially sending the government into shutdown mode—badly miscalculated this particular situation, for a couple of key reasons. The first is that many Republicans have long since given up the charade of actually caring about deficits outside of scenarios in which 1) a Democrat is in the White House, and 2) there’s a chance to slash social services. And the second, of course, is that Rand happily voted for a tax bill last December that is expected to blow a $1.5 trillion hole in the deficit. Last night’s exercise reeked of pointless grandstanding.
#6. To: Deckard (#2)
“When Rand Paul pulls a stunt like this, it’s easy to understand why it’s difficult to be Rand Paul’s next-door neighbor,” Dent told Politico.
No, I emphatically disagree!!!
#7. To: Gatlin (#6)
it is not easy for me to understand why it’s difficult for Rand Paul to get along with a fellow doctor who has been his neighbor for more that seventeen years.
“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul
Those who most loudly denounce Fake News are typically those most aggressively disseminating it.
#8. To: Gatlin (#6)
(Edited)
Can you please explain to me why Rand Paul is so intensely disagreeable and so greatly disliked?
#9. To: Gatlin (#4)
(Edited)
#10. To: Gatlin (#6)
Can you please explain to me why Rand Paul is so intensely disagreeable and so greatly disliked?
#11. To: A K A Stone (#9)
Rand Paul is right. The Republicans are being hypocrites in scolding Obama then doing the same thing. Rand Paul is hands down the best Senator we have. We need more Rand Paul's and less John piece of shit McCain's.
#12. To: GrandIsland (#11)
#13. To: Deckard (#7)
Oh I see - it's Rand's fault his neighbor attacked him.
What causes you to see that? So - this Republican asshole is condoning and excusing a vicious attack on Rand Paul, a fellow lawmaker?
And I said: “No....It is not easy for me to understand why it’s difficult for Rand Paul to get along with a fellow doctor who has been his neighbor for more that seventeen years.” Maybe you should take a look at the assholes who are attacking him physically as well as politically.
I have, now maybe we should all take a look to see if an asshole is provoking those who are attacking him physically as well as politically. But then I'm sure you'd be happy with more traitors like Graham, Ryan, McStain and all of the the other corrupt, dishonest ...
Your presumptive close is a manipulative tactic that will not work with me. ... Republicans instead of someone like Paul who exposes these political frauds and hypocrites.
While Rand Paul is right about the hypocrisy of some other Congress Critters (I borrowed that term from someone….with my thanks), he should not criticize others in Congress for a fault he himself has.
#14. To: A K A Stone (#10)
I'm surprised you take the position that more debt is better for our nation's future.
#15. To: Gatlin (#13)
if the deficit and debt is the primary thing that Rand Paul is worried about, was it not hypocrisy when he voted for the tax cut and that the vote was functionally a vote to increase the deficit and debt? Sure....it was!!!
#16. To: Gatlin (#14)
I'm surprised you take the position that more debt is better for our nation's future. I’m shocked that you came to that conclusion.
#17. To: A K A Stone (#9)
Rand Paul is right. The Republicans are being hypocrites in scolding Obama then doing the same thing.
Yes, he is right about that. I said so in a post. Rand Paul is hands down the best Senator we have.
That’s your opinion and you are entitled to it. We need more Rand Paul's and less John piece of shit McCain's.
If that’s the only choice, then I agree.
#18. To: Gatlin (#17)
#19. To: A K A Stone (#18)
More senators like Ted Cruz also. For sure. Except his globalist positions.
#20. To: Gatlin (#19)
#21. To: Gatlin (#19)
#22. To: A K A Stone (#16)
Here is my opinion and it could be incorrect. Since you don't care much for Ron Paul you hold that against Rand Paul to a degree.
#23. To: A K A Stone (#21)
Then there is Ted Cruz's love for American wealth transferring NAFTA.
I didn’t mean to start a debate with you on which of the two is the better Senator.
#24. To: Gatlin (#0)
#25. To: A K A Stone (#20)
What is the goal in Afghanistan?
My Answers:
How much did it cost so far?
Is it really worth it?
My answers. Who knows, way to much, no. What is the goal in Afghanistan?
We will achieve success after there is a stable enough Afghanistan that is able to manage its own internal and external security to the point that stops interference and the take over from outside powers like especially Iran. When the country is able to resist the establishment of terror bases that were there before. That I say is our goal in Afghanistan and one we must achieve. Nothing more and nothing less. How much did it cost so far?
Is it really worth it?
My answer is, I don’t YET know and I have no way of knowing until the goal is achieved or we capitulate.
#26. To: A K A Stone, Gatlin (#20)
What is the goal in Afghanistan?
“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul
Those who most loudly denounce Fake News are typically those most aggressively disseminating it.
#27. To: Gatlin, misterwhite (#4)
Then they all could join Rand Paul, Justin Amash and Thomas Massie to open a chain of Kabuki theaters across the country where male actors play both male and female roles.
#28. To: A K A Stone (#20)
What is the goal in Afghanistan?
#29. To: Gatlin, Rand Paul 2020 (#5)
Mitch McConnell, Chuck Schumer, Juan McCain after gov shutdown by Rand Paul.
Paul’s last-minute maneuver was simply “Randstanding” to no avail and all it did was force lawmakers to miss the midnight Thursday deadline. 
#30. To: Pinguinite (#24)
(Edited)
Okay, Gatlin. You are a trader so you understand money, so you should also understand that a $20 trillion debt is a very bad thing for the economy. You should also understand that Republicans love to campaign on a platform about reigning in out of control spending, at least when D's are in control.
Yes, of course I understand....both parts. In light of that, please explain why Rand's expressed concerns about this very urgent issue is something that should be mocked, ridiculed, and billed as grandstanding?
I will be more than pleased to share with you the reason I saw his action as just another episode of his “Randstanding. I mocked and ridiculed him because he was having the same results as wolves howling at the moon. He was accomplishing NOTNING. That is my short answer. "Make no mistake, I will always stand up for fiscal responsibility, regardless of which party is in power, and I will continue to call the Republican Party home to the ideas that led to Americans trusting us with government in the first place," Paul said during the debate on the floor.
Standing up for something is good. But if you have no effective action plan and expect to accomplish something....then when you are standing up, you might as well be standing in front of a fast-moving train for all the good it’s going to do you. Should we assume that you are perfectly fine with the fed budget debt and deficit right now? Perhaps you believe all will be well by leaving the issue to be solved by the democrats later when they take control?
No, you may not “assume” that. Furthermore, “perhaps” you can either make whatever statement you may be attempting to make. or ask whatever questions you want answered....without going through all the evasiveness and dodging around.
#31. To: Tooconservative (#27)
Why do you guys obsess over obscure kabuki?
Deal with it.
#32. To: Gatlin (#30)
He was accomplishing NOTNING. That is my short answer.
#33. To: hondo68 (#29)
#34. To: A K A Stone (#32)
(Edited)
He was accomplishing NOTNING. That is my short answer.
#35. To: Gatlin (#34)
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#36. To: hondo68 (#35)
Why do you think anyone who needs to know....needs to be reminded?
#37. To: Gatlin, flip flop tater (#36)
vote for Juan McCain again?
#38. To: Gatlin, hondo68 (#4)
...male actors play both male and female roles.
“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul
Those who most loudly denounce Fake News are typically those most aggressively disseminating it.
#39. To: hondo68 (#37)
(Edited)
You posted that you voted for McCain because the Democrat was worse.
No, you have that wrong.
#40. To: hondo68, Gatlin (#37)
#41. To: Deckard (#38)
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