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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums10 Reasons Why Rand Paul Is A Terrible Person – Despite His Old-School Filibuster Antics
Yesterdays 13-hour filibuster got Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) the spotlight on CNN, a #filibuster twitter feed, and lots of buzz. Unlike other GOP-led filibusters in recent years, Pauls supposedly had a purpose other than blocking routine legislation and presidential appointments. In delaying John O. Brennans confirmation as head of the Central Intelligence Agency, Paul claimed that he wanted to spark discussion about the presidents policy for using drones on American soil, against American citizens. Now, even more people want him to run for president.
Paul received gushing admiration from progressives and conservatives alike. Atlantic Wire reporter Elspeth Reeve raves, This Is What a Filibuster Should Be, Slate magazines John Vorhees compares him to the protagonist in the iconic , feel-good political drama, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, and Cenk Uygur from Young Turks tweets, The Young Turks is literally trying to deliver a pizza to Rand Paul on the Senate floor. #filibuster going for 9 hours now, must be hungry. Given the reason Paul ended his filibuster after 13 hours on the floor, perhaps Pauls admirers should have delivered a porta-potty instead.
Paul appeals to some liberals due to their mutual mistrust of drones, support for loosening federal marijuana laws, and some of his stances on civil liberties. Many of us were also struck by the part of his unofficial Tea Party State of the Union response which declared that the U.S. military spending is not immune to waste and fraud. We all appreciate a politician who seems to stand by their principles even when we disagree with them.
But
. WAIT! We progressives need to take a giant step back and remember who Rand Paul really is: An obstructionist, narrow minded teabagger who wants to destroy the government. Because when that warm, fuzzy Mr. -Smith-Goes-To-Washington glow subsides, be afraid, VERY afraid:
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/03/07/10-reasons-why-rand-paul-is-a-terrible-person-despite-his-old-school-filibuster-antics/
Yet more reasons Rand Paul deserves no credit for anything he does even if you agree with it. Remember he hates you and your freedoms and wants them only for himself and his anti-government paramilitary friends.
LeftishBrit
(41,219 posts)Marr
(20,317 posts)There's been some agreement expressed with his (rather self-serving) performance around the idea of Executive overreach, but that's not support for Paul.
What I've seen a lot of more of is Obama fans attempting to equate criticism of Executive overreach with sympathy for Rand Paul.
customerserviceguy
(25,183 posts)Right after Paul targeted Hillary, we're going to see a lot more of him in the next couple of years. He knows that the tea party has a limited shelf life, and he probably thinks that he can still use its "a pox on both your houses" allure with independent voters to ride it to the White House.
Why else would you target Obama, Hillary, and the old guard in your own party so many times in such a short period?
Cha
(298,074 posts)Lawrence O'Donnell ✔ @Lawrence
thanks for the link, Drale
localroger
(3,636 posts)A stopped clock is right twice a day, but a clock that runs backward is right four times a day.
baldguy
(36,649 posts)quinnox
(20,600 posts)of judge, jury, and executioner. Even if it is a Democrat. Things change, and a president even worse than Bush could get in there. Even a president shouldn't have the kind of power to act like a Soviet or German all powerful dictator. History shows that isn't wise.