05-30-2015, 01:19 PM
(05-28-2015, 11:24 AM)Maggot Wrote: Rand Paul would be OK if he could just measure his words before he spoke.
On some issues, I think Rand Paul makes more sense than anyone else. On others, I think he's lost.
It's too bad that the two-party hold on the U.S. government is so cemented by money and special interest group puppetry. Independents and Libertarians still don't stand a chance in hell of winning the presidential nomination, in my opinion.
Being a Libertarian forced into the GOP box often results in Paul pissing off both his own adopted party and the democrats. Plus, as you noted, he tends to put his foot in his mouth frequently.
Anyway, one of his campaign focuses is repealing the Patriot Act. He's gonna hold up the extension of it in Congress with his vote against it.
Here's his stance:
“Tomorrow, we will come back with just hours left before the NSA illegal spying powers expire. “Let me be clear: I acknowledge the need for a robust intelligence agency and for a vigilant national security.
“I believe we must fight terrorism, and I believe we must stand strong against our enemies.
“But we do not need to give up who we are to defeat them. In fact, we must not.
“There has to be another way. We must find it together.
“So tomorrow, I will force the expiration of the NSA illegal spy program.
“I am ready and willing to start the debate on how we fight terrorism without giving up our liberty.”
“Sometimes when the problem is big enough, you just have to start over. The tax code and our regulatory burdens are two good examples.”
“Fighting against unconditional, illegal powers that take away our rights, taken by previous Congresses and administrations is just as important.”
Source: http://www.politico.com/story/2015/05/ex...z3bduL3fAV
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"There has to be a better way. We must find it together." Yeah, sounds good Rand. But, as a presidential hopeful, you'd probably be better off including at least one "better way" solution to an acknowledged significant problem when pushing for repeal.
I don't think he'll have any luck in blocking the extension beyond a couple of days delay, personally.