Posted on 07/29/2013 11:47:13 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
He’s light on specifics here about the pros and cons of the NSA program as he sees them, but any time three serious contenders for 2016 are in a scrum over national security and civil liberties, it’s blogworthy. More than that, it’s blogworthy because the Paul/Cruz Senate partnership is to some extent a proxy for the tea-party/libertarian partnership generally. It won’t go on forever, but it’s fascinating while it lasts. I won’t bore you with rehashing why I think Cruz is more a tea partier than a true blue libertarian; read these two posts if you care, or read Nick Gillespie for the libertarian take on why Cruz doesn’t really belong in the movement. Wherever you think Cruz lies on the ideological spectrum, though, he’s a shrewd judge of where his base stands on the issues. And in this case, he’s right in thinking that they Stand With Rand too.
In fact, before you watch the clip below, go back and watch this very short clip of Cruz on “Fox & Friends” in mid-June, after Edward Snowden’s PRISM revelations. He was asked what he thinks of NSA surveillance — and his response was basically noncommittal. He said the program is “cause for concern” but cautioned that we shouldn’t rush to judgment; his main worry about the program seemed to be that Obama might abuse it to target his political enemies. By contrast, Rand Paul had already announced a week before that he hoped to sue the NSA program into oblivion. Why is Cruz firmly with Rand now when he wasn’t before? Could be that the accumulation of leaks about what the feds are doing has finally driven him firmly into the libertarian camp, but the most damaging stuff that Snowden had — the details of government spying on Americans — had already leaked by the time of his F&F appearance. Paul, as I said, had already seen more than enough to demand a class action lawsuit against the feds by that point.
What you’re seeing here, I think, is Cruz executing the opposite of Paul’s 2016 strategy. Paul’s really a doctrinaire libertarian who’s inched towards mainstream righties on some issues (most notably immigration) because he knows he needs a broader coalition to be viable for the nomination. Cruz is really a tea partier who’s inched towards doctrinaire libertarianism on some issues (most notably drones and the NSA) because he recognizes TPers have become more libertarian and because he’s hoping to pick up Paul’s supporters in the primaries if/when he emerges as the right-wing choice against the establishment. It’s a smart strategy. Expect Rubio and Scott Walker to become more libertarian-friendly over the next year or two also. Click the image to watch.
Go, Ted, go! Get’em!
The Three who may well keep us free are Rand, Cruz and Lee. Let sarah get into the Senate and I will add Palin to the list (maybe in front of the list). Folks, we need more like these in the Senate and House! Let us work hard to fight the macine politics of yore and get more like them in office—it is our only hope to keep from the Obama monarcy in the making. We must unite and place a new wave of people into Washington DC.
What can we do?
1. Find people who are right of center (Tea Party) who are running or planning to run.
2. Support them over RINOs and Old Hat people with no guts.
3. Research them so they are the best we got!
4. Send money, give time, write letters and do all we can to make sure they win!
I like Rand, but he seems quirky to me. I love Ted, and I’m glad that he is the type to wait for facts to be gathered before he makes his decisions. If Ted is a RINO, EVERYONE is a RINO.
One thing I don’t like about Rand is the fact that he surgically tears apart the Amoeba’s nominees, then votes FOR them. Ridiculous. Bob
Amen!
How about one of our GOP governors? They’re solving problems and improving their states. Plus, they have executive experience.
Crispy creme is a rino plain and simple!
Are these “PHONEY POOLS OF BLOOD” where DOJ-supplied weaponry (via Fast and Furious) was used by drug cartels to murder 16 people at a Birthday Party, including 14 children?
graphic video:
For all their crying about illegal immigrants, the fact is neither Eric Holder nor Barack Obama have any respect for Mexican citizens. LOOK at these pictures and tell me WHO is phoney.
“I stand with Rand Paul against Christie’s attacks”
Well, better late than never I guess.
We may stand a chance as a Republic
Now we are talking. Had to tweet this one...
I don’t think Rand Paul would be a strong nominee; I question whether he can even be reelected in KY in 2016.
Sounds ike nearly all of them
Cruz is no RINO!
Moreover, it seems part and parcel of a pattern, dating back to Christie's embrace of President Obama last fall (just prior to the presidential election) and his trashing of congressional Republicans, just a little later.
All in all, I believe Rand Paul comes out looking okay after this little dustup, whereas Chris Christie appears a bit churlish...
The Senate is sure benefiting from greater diversity....
Thank God for Cruz, Rand Paul, Palin, Mike Lee, Louie Ghomert, to name a few Conservatives out there. Let's work with them for US, the USA.
To me, the whole idea behind America is that you limit the government's power so that the damage which can be done by the corrupt and incompetent is also limited.
Giving power to government and trusting that it will only be used for good purposes by wise and freedom-loving men is a dangerous delusion.
I guess your idea of fighting terrorism is cataloging Facebook posts at home, and pissing away lives/treasure in decades of futile nation building abroad.
In that case, I suggest you shut up. And the next time you feel inclined to slander freedom-loving Americans, why don't you go have dinner at Golden Corral with Michael Moore, or something else you'd find equally enjoyable.
If I might ask, in your break-down of social then security, where does the Constitution come in? From your statement, in re: to the NSA usage, I’m presume after security?
So, for Rand (as Paul is RIGHT out for ya), whom seems to (currently) solidly voice/vote 90+% Constitutional, you’d more cut off your nose for spite?! Then cast the same aspirations upon those whom he would associate?
Boy, if us (L) are ‘wacky’, I don’t know what (some) ‘Conservatives’ can be labeled...
I see that attitude on display in miniature every time I go through an airport security line: kid glove treatment for obvious Muzzies least they feel offended about being "profiled"; third degree for random citizens right up to an including explosives tests on a paperback set of C.S. Lewis books which I recently got caught trying to smuggle on-board in my carry-on luggage. I kid you not.
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