JERUSALEM — It was hour seven of what was supposed to be a two-hour trip, and things were starting to get a little punchy on board the Rand Paul bus tour through Israel.
The luxury coach, which was carrying the Kentucky Senator and his entourage of family, staffers, and evangelical leaders from Jerusalem to a kibbutz in the Sea of Galilee, had been derailed by flash floods and rock slides in the West Bank. The group was hungry, tired, and cold, but everyone was doing their best to make the most of it.
'How about a gospel tune?' the tour guide suggested, trying to keep spirits up.
"Do we have 'Knockin' On Heaven's Door'? The Guns N' Roses version!" Paul called out. "C'mon! 'Knockin' On Heaven's Door'!"
It took a few minutes for anyone to realize Paul was serious. Finally, the tour guide fiddled around with the sound system, and Paul's request came blaring through the speakers.
"There we go!" Paul shouted to the rest of the bus, singing along. A few beats later, he called out again: "We need to change the name of this bus!"
"It's not the David Lane tour anymore!" he laughed, referring to the California-based evangelical activist who organized Paul's trip to Israel. "It's the Plague Tour! We've got hail, we've got darkness — all we need now are the frogs!"
It was a surprisingly laid back, undiva-like attitude for a politician whose star is rapidly rising in the Republican Party. With the retirement of his father Ron Paul, Rand Paul has taken over the mantle of the GOP's libertarian wing, fusing it with his growing coalition of Tea Partiers and social conservatives.
His trip to Israel — which included meetings with top Middle Eastern political leaders and a tour of Christian holy sites with 40 evangelical activists — has fueled growing speculation that the younger Paul is seriously considering a presidential bid of his own in 2016.
UPDATE:
Knockin' On Heaven's Door
"With the retirement of his father Ron Paul, Rand Paul has taken over the mantle of the GOP's libertarian wing, fusing it with his growing coalition of Tea Partiers and social conservatives."
ReplyDeleteGoddamn it.
THIS is why his bullshit needs to be continued to be called out.
He has NOT taken over the GOP's "libertarian wing". As a matter of fact, the GOP *has no* libertarian wing.
All it has is a wing of wannabes that are ready to sell their souls at the slightest sign of their careers being impeded by being principled.
Why would a libertarian want to visit a kibbutz?
ReplyDeleteThat just proves he is not a libertarian.
DeleteTony I'm sure you've done more for liberty than Rand right?
ReplyDeleteYes, i have.
DeleteI have done more simply by not voting for sanctions against Iran. (remember the 500.000 kids of Iraq?)
I have done more by not associating liberty with Mitt Romney.
I have done more simply by virtue of not working for the state.
I have done more by only working in the productive sector, rather than mooch off the taxpayer's forcibly extracted dime pretending to give people more liberty while abandoning all principles that made Ron Paul trustworthy.
I think you need to rethink what you've made yourself believe you know about liberty.
Frankly, you sound to me like you're probably another politician-worshipper, if you think he has done more for liberty despite being part of the monopoly of violence, advocating force, playing footsie with Israel and endorsing warmongering fascists.
That's not including his pathetic attempt at adding constitutional limits on a bill the purpose of which is to rape the constitution.
Having said all that, maybe next time you should try an actual logical argument, instead of the fallacy of tu quoque. Look it up if you don't know what it means.
I must say: it would appear that libertarianism and capitalism suffer quite a bit from mistaken identity. That seems to be the best way for opponents to discredit them both.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, it seems pretty damn effective, too. Education takes a lot longer than just quickly throwing out misinformation.
I'm trying to be patient.
While I agree with you all that the "Libertarian Wing" talk is bullshit, I feel I have to defend Rand Paul somewhat:
ReplyDeleteHe doesn't claim to be a libertarian. He says he is a conservative. And that seems to me to be quite accurate.
He's not responsible for the way OTHERS describe him. Same as his dad, who has been repeatedly misrepresented.
It is not his fault that he is being called, or assumed to be, a libertarian. That is true.
DeleteBut nevertheless his positions need to be put under scrutiny and criticized not because he pretends to be a libertarian, but because others claim he is one, and because several so-called libertarians claim we should get behind him.
It is to make sure actual libertarianism is not being conflated with Rand Paul's politics or positions, that it is important to show ALL of the deviations.
Say what you want about him as a politician, but Rand has good musical tastes!
ReplyDeleteHardly, bullshit pop cockrock from the 80s?
DeleteThat's like saying someone in 2025 would have good musical tastes by listening to Linkin Park and Nickelback.
I hope that Interim Vice President Ron Paul has the good sense not to appoint his son or grandson-in-law (Jesse Benton) to any posts in the interim administration.
ReplyDeleteAlex Jones at 17:15-17:45:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WeliGPmcPM
Towards the end:
http://removingtheshackles.blogspot.ca/2013/01/jan-14-update-rv-rumours-and-truth.html
However, I do hope that Dr. Paul does have the good sense to appoint Bob Wenzel as Secretary of the Treasury.