Posted on 01/23/2013 11:29:17 AM PST by JohnPDuncan
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) is quickly establishing himself as the conservative option in the 2016 Republican presidential primary.
Paul’s statement at Wednesday’s Senate hearing on Libya that he would have fired Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will be replayed over and over on cable news in the hours to come. But it’s hardly the first time he’s put himself in the middle of a controversy — and chosen about the most conservative posture possible.
A recent sampling:
1. He had arguably the biggest soundbite of Clinton’s Senate testimony Wednesday, saying, “Had I been president at the time, I would have relieved you of your post.” Soon after, he sent video of his comments to his supporters with a paraphrase of that quote in the subject line.
2. On Monday, he came out against House Republicans’ three-month debt ceiling extension, a bill that has gotten the approval (or at least avoided the opposition) of many conservative House Republicans and the conservative Club for Growth. “I saw the speaker on TV handing the newly sworn-in president a flag. I am afraid it was the white flag of surrender,” Paul said at an event in Charleston, S.C., according to Politico. Paul said Boehner “retreated” from the fight.
3. He was one of just five Senate Republicans to vote against the “fiscal cliff” deal on New Year’s Day, calling it a “spending bill.” He also offered this zinger: “You may not get any more revenue. You may not get any more economic growth. But you can say, ‘I stuck it to the rich people.’ Paul was joined by another 2016 contender, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.)
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
I am starting to like this guy. I hope he isn’
t as nutty as his old man.
I like him too. So far he sounds like the real deal.
Favoring amnesty for illegals is not exactly going to endear him to conservatives
amnesty for illegals and all their kin who would be allowed in, will cost us a fortune and render the GOP a permanent minority forever.
Sounds awesome, right?
/sarc
His performance has been excellent.
But I just can’t seem to shake my fear that the apple doesn’t fall far the tree.
Does anyone know what his position is on Hagel?
He hasn’t spoken much about immigration yet, I doubt he supports amnesty.
I agree the GOP would be foolish to support any amnesty plan.
Rand Paul and Scott Walker are two guys I would love to see run.
The only thing I would have added is that for him is that she would never have been nominated in the first place. Now she has demonstrated why.
Certainly would put up more of a fight than either McCain or Romney. He’s looking more and more like the right candidate to me.
Rubio would probably be even more electable except I really don’t like his immigration stance.
Only thing about Rubio I don’t like is when he was speaker of the FL house, he was against AZ’s immigration law.
Went to a TEA party gathering in 09 to hear him and a girl heckeled him about that.
Why not? Favoring amnesty AND favoring obamacare AND favoring queer marriage AND favoring abortion AND favoring bigger government AND favoring gun control all endeared Romney to many of the "conservatives" here.
But I'll take Rand Paul and/or Scott Walker over Christie or Jeb anyday.
Romney and McCain won because conservatives split there hope.
I pray we can get behind one candidate like Rand and stop the inevitable RINO winning with 30 odd percent of the primary vote.
I can support Paul in the primary in 2016, but will KY?
of course they will, when was the last time they had a president?
That should be obvious, even if I have to frown about it. Although there there is a good chance they will join the GOPe at crunch time.
I think we're going to have to rally early and unless Sarah or Scott Walker throws there hats in the ring soon, we should maybe get behind Rand, despite his unfortunate relation to his father.
I was no huge Dubya fan, but he wasn't his father either, and in many ways he actually was a Conservatie.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.