The Rand Paul Countdown to 2016 Megathread

[CountDeMoney]

RAWR THAT WAS A GOOD'UN CLETUS

[Razgovory]

RAWR THAT WAS A GOOD'UN CLETUS

You know, I wouldn't think a ploy where you block everything someone does and then claim they aren't getting anything done would actually work, but it does.

[sbr]

RAWR THAT WAS A GOOD'UN CLETUS

You know, I wouldn't think a ploy where you block everything someone does and then claim they aren't getting anything done would actually work, but it does.

When the audience you are playing to shares a small number of brain cells you can do all sorts of silly things.

[11B4V]

Yes, Seedy is rather silly sometimes.

[CountDeMoney]

Rand Paul wants to restore felons' voting rights
By Aaron Blake, washingtonpost.com

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said Monday that he will work to restore the voting rights of convicted felons who have completed their sentences.

More from the Louisville Courier-Journal:

    Speaking at a community center in western Louisville, Paul said laws should be changed to make it easier for felons to regain their rights to vote at both the state and federal levels.

    Short of that, he suggested that "Class D" felonies for crimes like drug possession and non-payment of child support should be reclassified to misdemeanors so those who are convicted wouldn't lose their voting rights in the first place.

    Paul said a third of adult black men are convicted felons and that restoring their voting rights is the most important thing government can do to make sure people's voting rights are protected.

Felon voting rights aren't exactly the issue du jour in Congress, but state lawmakers in Kentucky have proposed allowing convicted felons to vote after they've served their sentences -- something most states allow.

An automated poll earlier this year showed Kentuckians approved of that idea by a 51-38 margin.

Generally, though, Democrats are more in favor of allowing felons to vote while Republicans oppose the idea.

Paul has also pushed to get rid of mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses, arguing that they disproportionately impact minorities and clog the jail system.

[Razgovory]

RAWR THAT WAS A GOOD'UN CLETUS

You know, I wouldn't think a ploy where you block everything someone does and then claim they aren't getting anything done would actually work, but it does.

When the audience you are playing to shares a small number of brain cells you can do all sorts of silly things.

I wonder if it will still be convincing when the shoe is on the other foot.

[Sheilbh]

See this is the side of Rand Paul I love. And he's right on both points.

[CountDeMoney]

See this is the side of Rand Paul I love. And he's right on both points.

Yeah, but for everything he has a good idea for, he's got a shitty idea somewhere else.

[Habbaku]

See this is the side of Rand Paul I love. And he's right on both points.

Yeah, but for everything he has a good idea for, he's got a shitty idea somewhere else.

Better 1:1 than 0:10 like most other Republicans.

[CountDeMoney]

Better 1:1 than 0:10 like most other Republicans.

Yes, let's return felon voting rights, but pull out of NATO.  Swell.

[Sheilbh]

Better 1:1 than 0:10 like most other Republicans.

To be honest I think a lot of best ideas from current Republicans are coming from the right. Ross Douthat made this point recently, but Lee on tax, Vitter on banks and Paul on civil liberties etc. I may not agree with their ideas but unlike every other Republican idea since Reagan they're new and they're interesting. It's nice to see people stepping out with something new.

I also think it's the direction Republicans need to head and could provide the backbone to their populism. It's exactly what populist conservatism should look like - lower taxes (but not mentalist tax cuts) especially for the middle class and hostile to big business and big government.

[mongers]

Gold bugs FTW?

[The Minsky Moment]

Lee on tax, Vitter on banks and Paul on civil liberties etc. I may not agree with their ideas but unlike every other Republican idea since Reagan they're new and they're interesting.

They aren't new at all.
What does make them distinctive is that they are bipartisan.

[Sheilbh]

Okay. At least they're policies not just slogans.

But for a party that primaried someone like Bennett for insufficient conservatism and working with Wyden on health reform bipartisanship in itself is an interesting shift, especially when it includes his ouster.

If nothing else that combo makes them seem new and refreshing in today's Republican party.

[crazy canuck]

(but not mentalist tax cuts)

Mentalists have always been problematic in all gaming settings.  I agree they should not be encouraged with generous tax breaks.