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Friday 21 May 2010 - Filed under Journalism + Kentucky + Rand Paul + Tea Party

David Swerdlick via The Root:

He took a decidedly anti-choice position on abortion and fudged on the (after the fact) banking bailout by focusing on the (before the fact) housing bubble. He didn’t distinguish himself from the Congress from which he’s ”taking government back.” By contrast, it would’ve only taken the senior Paul two minutes to trash the Fed and the Euro, and argue that Iran had a right to arm itself. The younger Paul’s willingness to go down swinging with a self-immolating, ”pure” libertarian stance on civil rights while hedging on defense and fiscal policy was a poor showing. It was “Bush.”

This is the debate liberals, conservatives and those in the middle should want—not the sideshow. Are ”small government” Republicans pitching small-”L” libertarianism—cutting taxes and spending—or are they just repackaging mainline conservatism with tax cuts, corporate handouts, and bankrolling wars on credit? Apparently, we’ll have to wait to find out.

Libertarians were let down. So was everyone else. Paul’s amateur hour means we didn’t learn how he’d deal with the economy, shrink the national debt, or wind down the wars. Instead, we’re arguing whether a guy we would’ve never heard of if his name was ”Paul Rand” supports a 36-year-old law. Rand Paul, you’re no racist. So far, you’re not much of a libertarian, either.

Welcome to the big stage Dr. Paul.  On day 1 you were suckered in to a bad faith “debate” with Maddow (which has caused a collective outcry from fucktard talking fingers and soothsayers everywhere), and then failed to adequately distinguish yourself from the guys you had been running against just a few days ago.  If you are the Tea Party product you claim to be, your politics need to define themselves differently than current establishment GOP positions in order to have any credibility with swing voters who are tired of Bush-style conservatardism.  You must also emphasize the similarities you have in common with Libertards, such as states rights concerning marijuana laws, and adequately differentiate yourself from the Dick Cheneys of the world.  And you absolutely need to learn some better politickin’.  This is the big leagues, and you can’t afford to get caught in ideological traps if you’re to convince anyone that you’re a “good” different, instead of a bad one – or even worse: no different at all.

2010-05-21  »  madlibertarianguy