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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: 7693
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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#10. To: Gatlin (#6)

Can you please explain to me why Rand Paul is so intensely disagreeable and so greatly disliked?

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.

A K A Stone  posted on  2018-02-11   8:50:15 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#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.

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

GrandIsland  posted on  2018-02-11   9:06:24 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#12. To: GrandIsland (#11)

I was mad at Rand Paul in the primaries. Not anymore though.

A K A Stone  posted on  2018-02-11   9:08:54 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#13. To: Deckard (#7)

Oh I see - it's Rand's fault his neighbor attacked him.
What causes you to see that?

No one has said anywhere that it’s Rand’s “fault his neighbor attacked him.”

I only answered the question you asked:

So - this Republican asshole is condoning and excusing a vicious attack on Rand Paul, a fellow lawmaker?

I wonder if Parsons agrees.

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.”

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?

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.

Wouldn’t it be the logical and objective thing to look at both sides? An intelligent- minded person would think so.

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.

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.

... 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.

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.

Gatlin  posted on  2018-02-11   9:51:04 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#14. To: A K A Stone (#10)

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.

How in God’s name did you?

Gatlin  posted on  2018-02-11   9:54:56 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#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!!!

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.

A K A Stone  posted on  2018-02-11   9:56:39 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#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.

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.

A K A Stone  posted on  2018-02-11   9:59:35 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#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.

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.

Gatlin  posted on  2018-02-11   10:31:25 ET  (1 image) Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#18. To: Gatlin (#17)

More senators like Ted Cruz also. For sure. Except his globalist positions.

A K A Stone  posted on  2018-02-11   10:34:01 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#19. To: A K A Stone (#18)

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.

Gatlin  posted on  2018-02-11   10:39:41 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#20. To: Gatlin (#19)

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.

A K A Stone  posted on  2018-02-11   10:42:04 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#21. To: Gatlin (#19)

Then there is Ted Cruz's love for American wealth transferring NAFTA.

A K A Stone  posted on  2018-02-11   10:45:46 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#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.

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.

Gatlin  posted on  2018-02-11   11:09:31 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#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.

If I did that, then I will stop it here and now.

Gatlin  posted on  2018-02-11   11:12:52 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#24. To: Gatlin (#0)

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?

Pinguinite  posted on  2018-02-11   11:40:20 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#25. To: A K A Stone (#20)

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.
My Answers:
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?

The Afghanistan War has cost $1.07 trillion.

  • First is the $773 billion in Overseas Contingency Operations funds specifically dedicated to the Afghanistan War.
  • Scond is the increase of $243 billion to the base budget of the Department of Defense.
  • Third is the increase of $54.2 billion to the Department of Veteran Affairs budget.
    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.

Gatlin  posted on  2018-02-11   11:47:54 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#26. To: A K A Stone, Gatlin (#20)

What is the goal in Afghanistan?

How much did it cost so far?

Is it really worth it?

Gotta keep the heroin trade going.

Drug War? American Troops Are Protecting Afghan Opium. U.S. Occupation Leads to All-Time High Heroin Production

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.

Alternate text if image doesn't load

Rand Paul wants the United States OUT of Afghanistan - makes you wonder why Parsons wants the U.S. to stay.

“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul

Those who most loudly denounce Fake News are typically those most aggressively disseminating it.

Deckard  posted on  2018-02-11   11:51:35 ET  (1 image) Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#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.

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.

Tooconservative  posted on  2018-02-11   12:31:05 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#28. To: A K A Stone (#20)

What is the goal in Afghanistan?

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.

Tooconservative  posted on  2018-02-11   12:33:25 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#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.

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!

Hondo68  posted on  2018-02-11   12:45:29 ET  (2 images) Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#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.

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.

"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.

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.

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.

Gatlin  posted on  2018-02-11   13:00:20 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#31. To: Tooconservative (#27)

Why do you guys obsess over obscure kabuki?

I have no obsession with Kabuki.

Deal with it.

I have nothing to deal with.

Gatlin  posted on  2018-02-11   13:03:53 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#32. To: Gatlin (#30)

He was accomplishing NOTNING. That is my short answer.

He accomplished something. He reminded me most is RS are like D's.

A K A Stone  posted on  2018-02-11   13:06:52 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#33. To: hondo68 (#29)

Wow! Now that was a spectacular contribution to the editorial content on this thread.

At least you posted on the right thread this time ...

Gatlin  posted on  2018-02-11   13:10:43 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#34. To: A K A Stone (#32) (Edited)

He was accomplishing NOTNING. That is my short answer.

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.

Gatlin  posted on  2018-02-11   13:13:51 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#35. To: Gatlin (#34)

table border="0" cellpadding="8" cellspacing="0" frame="lhs" hspace="20" vspace="12" width=60%>

Why do you think anyone who needs to know....needs to be reminded?

Because you're stupid enough to vote for Juan McCain again?

Hondo68  posted on  2018-02-11   13:20:32 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#36. To: hondo68 (#35)

Why do you think anyone who needs to know....needs to be reminded?

Because you're stupid enough to vote for Juan McCain again?

Nope....I did not before and I will not the next time either.

Gatlin  posted on  2018-02-11   13:26:01 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#37. To: Gatlin, flip flop tater (#36)

vote for Juan McCain again?

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).

Hondo68  posted on  2018-02-11   13:36:24 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#38. To: Gatlin, hondo68 (#4)

...male actors play both male and female roles.

Alternate text if image doesn't load

“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul

Those who most loudly denounce Fake News are typically those most aggressively disseminating it.

Deckard  posted on  2018-02-11   13:51:46 ET  (1 image) Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#39. To: hondo68 (#37) (Edited)

You posted that you voted for McCain because the Democrat was worse.
No, you have that wrong.

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.

Gatlin  posted on  2018-02-11   14:18:15 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#40. To: hondo68, Gatlin (#37)

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...

Liberator  posted on  2018-02-11   14:50:05 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#41. To: Deckard (#38)

Touché.

Tooconservative  posted on  2018-02-11   15:15:41 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#42. To: Gatlin (#30)

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.

Rand is a senator, not a king, and he simply does not have the power or authority to impose spending cuts unless one considers 1% of the vote to constitute power to change things where 51% is the minimum.

He's in the political scene where drawing attention to matters is an important strategy and he did that. To measure a senator by how much he is able to sway other senators is short sighted. Nor should they "go along to get along", otherwise there would be no point in any state electing senators.

"Grandstanding, or "Randstanding" is simply one of the things elected people do.

Pinguinite  posted on  2018-02-11   15:42:41 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#43. To: Gatlin, tater flip flop, voted Dem over Kelli Ward, Liberator, Deckard, Pinguinite, Tooconservative (#39) (Edited)

voted for McCain in the Primary against the idiot lady doctor from Kingman

I voted against McCain and for the Democrat from Tucson

Tater flip flop was for Juan McCain, before he was against him.

So, after you screwed up the Primary by getting McAmnesty on the ballot, you voted against him for the Democrat. Brilliant! /s

Rand Paul/Kelli Ward 2020 !

Hondo68  posted on  2018-02-11   16:05:46 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#44. To: hondo68 (#43)

Rand Paul/Kelli Ward 2020 !

My goodness….you surely must like watching someone suffer.

Wasn’t once enough for you to watch Rand Paul make an ass of himself in a run for POTUS.

Gatlin  posted on  2018-02-11   16:20:28 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#45. To: Pinguinite (#42)

Rand is a senator, not a king ...
It would be nice for Rand realize that fact.
... power to change things where 51% is the minimum.
Yes, of course....for vote on the bill. But in some cases it requires 60 votes to stop debate and get the bill voted on. But, you of course know this....I just felt like pointing it out.
He's in the political scene where drawing attention to matters is an important strategy and he did that.
This is true, at times.

But surely everyone who needed to know, knew what important matter was going on Friday night. And there definitely was no need for his “Rand Paul floor show.”

To measure a senator by how much he is able to sway other senators is short sighted.
But Senators are measured by their accomplishments. And to accomplish something in the Senate, a Senator must gain the support of other Senators. That requires compromise.
Nor should they "go along to get along" ...
Of course not. Nor should they take the attitude “my way or no way.”
"Grandstanding, or "Randstanding" is simply one of the things elected people do.
Not all elected people do that. Only certain elected people do. And Rand Paul is a master at doing it. I will say, probably the thing he does best. Thanks for taking time to chat ...

Gatlin  posted on  2018-02-11   17:31:36 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#46. To: Gatlin (#45)

But Senators are measured by their accomplishments

Like the Bible says yes shall know them by their fruit. Their fruit stinks and is corrupt and debt ridden.

A K A Stone  posted on  2018-02-11   17:35:25 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#47. To: A K A Stone (#46)

But Senators are measured by their accomplishments

Like the Bible says yes shall know them by their fruit. Their fruit stinks and is corrupt and debt ridden.

Then let those Senators whose fruit stinks….be measured poorly.

We are in agreement …

Gatlin  posted on  2018-02-11   18:00:53 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#48. To: Gatlin (#45)

And there definitely was no need for his “Rand Paul floor show.”

I'll bet you $20 trillion dollars that your wrong!

Pinguinite  posted on  2018-02-11   18:51:34 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#49. To: Gatlin (#47)

Your position is the same as an Olympic even knowing they don't really have a chance at a medal and deciding to just not try.

You're spinning your wheels trying to make a point where there is no real goodmpoint you are making. U you're caught up in trying to be right it would seem.

A K A Stone  posted on  2018-02-11   19:05:46 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#50. To: A K A Stone (#49)

You're spinning your wheels trying to make a point where there is no real goodmpoint you are making. U you're caught up in trying to be right it would seem.

HA! BINGO.

Liberator  posted on  2018-02-13   7:02:53 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


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