Rand Paul

[i_like_lectric_motors]

Sally? Whatcha got? [:p]

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Sabrina, don't just stare at it, eat it.

[SallyLightfoot]

He's an idealogue, which doesn't necessarily make him a racist, it just appeals to a lot of racist-types (of which the tea-party has a bumper crop).

If I have it right, Rand personally believes that racism and discrimination is abhorrent, but that the govt is overstepping its boundaries if it does anything about it in the private sector. So Jim Crow laws are wrong in terms of public policy, but anything goes in the private sector. If Wal-Mart, McDonalds, or Marriott Hotels put up signs tomorrow that say "Blacks not served here", Rand would find it personally objectionable, but it's up to the free market to take care of it.

So I think he's a rigid idealogue (like his Dad)-- to him, anything which expands government power is bad, and anything that lessens it is good. I credit him with trying to be consistent with his principles, even though there are some obvious examples where this simplistic formula falls apart.

I wonder how well he'll hold up once he goes state-wide with his "Abolish minimum-wage laws and end farm-subsidies" platform across rural Kentucky. Since he's a libertarian doctor, I'd like to see him promote across-the-board reductions in Medicare payments, which he has publicly rejected. Anyway, he should be interesting to watch.

[i_like_lectric_motors]

Thanks - that sounds about right. I can't get too excited about the guy's political future because for every position of his I agree with completely, I can find one which I vehemently oppose.

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Sabrina, don't just stare at it, eat it.

[SallyLightfoot]

The GOP doesn't know what to do with libertarians like Ron and Rand, so that should be fun to watch. Right now the GOP is standing lockstep against the Deficit-Cutting Commission which Obama proposed (if Obama proposes it, it must be stopped!!). I'm still waiting to hear if Rand Paul will stay true to his principles and break ranks with the GOP to support the commission-- Mitch McConnell and team are gonna go apeshit if Rand doesn't play along.

Any candidate that is against abortion in ALL cases, yet who wants to legalize marijuana catches my attention. Not because I agree with either of these, but because he'll hopefully get people to start thinking outside of the tribal party-line. I'm probably hoping for too much, though.

[SallyLightfoot]

Ah, I see the Rand Paul camp is in damage-control mode:

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-l ... hould.html<blockquote>[b]Rand Paul spokesperson: Fed gov't should bar businesses from discriminating[/b]

A spokesman for Rand Paul just clarified to me that the candidate does, in fact, believe that the Federal government should have the power to ban private businesses from discriminating based on race.

Paul had earlier claimed he didn't support that role for the Federal government, sparking a raging controversy. A statement he issued today in hopes of quieting the firestorm affirmed his support for the Civil Rights Act, but only said he backed it for stopping "discrimination in the public sphere."</blockquote>
Frankly, I think Rand Paul's (and his Dad's) candor is refreshing. He was mainly stating things that a lot of conservatives and libertarian (and some Dems) believe, but don't have the balls to state publicly. I've liked Ron Paul for his consistency (although I disagree with much of his philosophy)-- he makes it known exactly what he stands for and votes accordingly. Now if only I could find a politician like that with whom I agree.

[NuWaveRx]

Keep in mind that the term "Libertarian" should be applied loosely to both Pauls. They are certainly financially conservative, but drop the ball at the "Socially Liberal" part. Neither has endorsed legalizing marijuana and both are against same sex marriage and abortion.

I do agree with policies they have advocated (getting us the hell of out the Middle East, stopping the infringment of civil liberties, greatly simplifying the tax code), but consider them to be somewhat "Libertarian-Lite".

Still many hard line libertarians feel they should support Paul, warts and all, because its the closest that party has gotten to an actual place on the national stage.

http://reason.com/archives/2010/05/20/e ... loves-rand

I'm instantly wary of anyone who Sarah Palin endorses. Like many who call themselves "conservative" they seem to be all for "limited government" and "personal freedom" so long as you go along with what their idea of those notions entail.

[SallyLightfoot]

If I'm not mistaken Rand Paul is in favor of legalizing medical marijuana. That along with his libertarian creds (property rights and states rights) suggests to me that Rand Paul is not strongly [i]opposed[/i] to marijuana use.

[djcraig]

Along with noted black conservative Larry Elder and many others, I believe discrimination is often most effectively defeated not by laws but by the actions of individuals in the private sector. When the gays were being discriminated against by certain San Francisco establishments in the 70s, Harvey Milk lead a campaign to boycott the beer companies that supplied these places. My understanding is the beer companies felt the sting of decreased revenue and brought pressure to make their retailers quickly rethink their positions.

Where profits are involved, prejudice is often bad for business and that can create a policy shift faster than laws, courts, lawyers, drawn out legal proceedings and more government legislation.

Speaking of prejudiced thinking, I'd like to see the studies and polls showing that "the tea-party has a bumper crop" of "racist-types". Was that Gallup, Rasmussen or Zogby? Perhaps it was just a personal assumption conjured up because you find their political philosophy is so repulsive. Quick, someone call Gloria Allred, we've got another case of discrimination!

As for legalizing marijuana, it's inevitable and just a matter of time. It makes too much sense and is too lucrative in the form of increased tax revenues, less spending on prisons and ineffective law enforcement. It's practically legal here in Cali now, it's already our biggest cash crop! We get to officially vote on it in November.

The rampant drug problem in the US is a good example of how government attempts at control and the law of unintended consequences can make good intentions completely backfire.




<a href="http://www.djcraig.net/los_angeles_dj">DJ Craig</a>

[SallyLightfoot]

[quote][i]Originally posted by djcraig[/i]
<br>Along with noted black conservative Larry Elder and many others, I believe discrimination is often most effectively defeated not by laws but by the actions of individuals in the private sector. When the gays were being discriminated against by certain San Francisco establishments in the 70s, Harvey Milk lead a campaign to boycott the beer companies that supplied these places. My understanding is the beer companies felt the sting of decreased revenue and brought pressure to make their retailers quickly rethink their positions.

Where profits are involved, prejudice is often bad for business and that can create a policy shift faster than laws, courts, lawyers, drawn out legal proceedings and more government legislation.[/quote] (I note you wrote [i]"often most effectively"[/i] which gives you a little wiggle room there.) Ok, so what about where profits are [i]not[/i] the main factor? Should minority groups have to wait until they are enough of an economic force to get equal treatment? A business could put up a "No muslims served here" sign because they are not a significant share of the customer base? Or a company with deep enough pockets could deny a group of people service [i]in spite of[/i] the damage to their bottom line-- perhaps justifying it by saying that serving that group would cause them to lose their other "more important" (i.e. straight white young etc.) customers?
[quote][i]Originally posted by djcraig[/i]
<br>Speaking of prejudiced thinking, I'd like to see the studies and polls showing that "the tea-party has a bumper crop" of "racist-types". Was that Gallup, Rasmussen or Zogby? Perhaps it was just a personal assumption conjured up because you find their political philosophy is so repulsive. Quick, someone call Gloria Allred, we've got another case of discrimination![/quote]Several transmissions received from planet obvious. Once translated they read:
http://www.newsweek.com/id/236996
http://depts.washington.edu/uwiser/racepolitics.html
http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2010/04/ ... izers.html
[quote][i]Originally posted by djcraig[/i]
<br>As for legalizing marijuana, it's inevitable and just a matter of time. It makes too much sense and is too lucrative in the form of increased tax revenues, less spending on prisons and ineffective law enforcement. It's practically legal here in Cali now, it's already our biggest cash crop! We get to officially vote on it in November.

The rampant drug problem in the US is a good example of how government attempts at control and the law of unintended consequences can make good intentions completely backfire.[/quote][i]Bank.[/i]

[i_like_lectric_motors]

That didn't take long! Gotta love seeing the left running scared [:D]

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/scott-whit ... ttacking-r

Hopefully, people will see this for what it is. But I doubt it.

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Sabrina, don't just stare at it, eat it.

[SallyLightfoot]

Yeah, the media [i]loves[/i] when the race card is played. They can't lose-- it pushes everyone's buttons.

As I said earlier, I haven't seen any evidence that Rand Paul is a racist. He's possibly callously indifferent, which is practically the default worldview for someone of his age, upbringing and demographics. If the majority of Tea Party supporters were like Rand (consistently principled and reasoned), I'd welcome their rising influence in the political landscape.

[SallyLightfoot]

Rand keeps saying risky, non-populist stuff:

[b]Paul: Obama's criticism of BP sounds 'un-American'[/b]
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100521/ap_ ... _rand_paul
"What I don't like from the president's administration is this sort of, 'I'll put my boot heel on the throat of BP,'" Paul said in an interview with ABC's "Good Morning America." "I think that sounds really un-American in his criticism of business."

Gotta say, it's going to be really interesting to see how his senate campaign plays out.