Paul wins primary in KY - Tea Party Win?

[Guest HvyMtl]

Paul rides tea party support, takes GOP nod in Ky. - Yahoo! News

Ok, is this a win for the Tea Party, and a wake up call to the GOP, or did he win being the son of Ron Paul?

Thoughts?

[Guest SUNTZU]

If he won for being the son of Ron Paul then I'm looking forward to 2014.

[USMCJG]

I don't think his being Ron Paul's son had much to do with it. But I do think it was a win for the Tea Party and a wake up call to the GOP. It was a win for Libertarians also. I'm glad he won. Now I just hope he can win the general election.

[Steelharp]

Now, if Arlen Sphincter gets the boot...

[Guest oldsmobile98]

I am thrilled to see him win. I have seen him speak in person twice, and I gave to his campaign. This is a victory for real Americans everywhere.

Did being Dr. Ron Paul's son helped with name recognition? It sure did. And Dr. Rand Paul's views are greatly influenced by those of his father.

But he is his own person. He differs with his father on foreign policy a bit. He poured a lot of hard work into the campaign. I feel very confident in his abilities and in his conviction. Keep an eye on C-Span, folks. If you've ever seen Ron Paul smack some statists around verbally in the House, it is a sight to see. If the younger Dr. Paul wins the general election, I predict we are going to see some similar ownage going on in the Senate.

The GOP establishment won't get the wake-up call if they haven't already gotten it. We are finished with the RINOs. It makes me happy to see Trey Grayson whine about losing.

[Guest oldsmobile98]

If he won for being the son of Ron Paul then I'm looking forward to 2014.

What happens then?

[Guest SUNTZU]

We'll have survived 2012's asteroids and election year. That's when the spaceship comes to take us home. Get your Nikes.

Sorry, long day. Meant 2012.

[Mike.357]

thank god that 2012 is getting close. I dunno if I have the heart to go on much longer. About ready to throw in the towel.

Glad to see Paul won, maybe it will get some peoples attention that will make a difference.

[Guest oldsmobile98]

Haha, no problem. I was thinkin': Sun Tzu is a smart dude. Maybe he knows something I don't.

By the way, I got a copy of your book on fightin' smart. It cost me about a buck thirty-five at McKay's. I'm looking forward to reading it.

[Guest SUNTZU]

Haha, no problem. I was thinkin': Sun Tzu is a smart dude. Maybe he knows something I don't.

By the way, I got a copy of your book on fightin' smart. It cost me about a buck thirty-five at McKay's. I'm looking forward to reading it.

Its fo free on the internet. Paper is good, though. And Mike, I hear you. But I'm not quitting.

[Oh Shoot]

...

The GOP establishment won't get the wake-up call if they haven't already gotten it. We are finished with the RINOs. ...

Nah, the GOP will dilute and assimilate him, and 25 others like him, should they get elected.

Most of the GOP incumbents can talk the tough talk for a little while, like McCain is magically doing all of a sudden, until they can say "whew" and go back to biz as usual.

- OS

[Guest jackdm3]

thank god that 2012 is getting close. I dunno if I have the heart to go on much longer. About ready to throw in the towel.

What adult beverage are you smoking?! 2012 is eons away. They'll prob still be dealing with the BP leak.

[Guest oldsmobile98]

Nah, the GOP will dilute and assimilate him, and 25 others like him, should they get elected.

Most of the GOP incumbents can talk the tough talk for a little while, like McCain is magically doing all of a sudden, until they can say "whew" and go back to biz as usual.

- OS

I gotta disagree. The machine couldn't eat Ron Paul, and it won't be able to eat Rand Paul either. He's pioneer stock.

If we go down the socialist rathole, it won't be for lack of warning. A Paul in each chamber of Congress will be a formidable weapon for liberty.

Don't give up.

[Guest jackdm3]

2008: I wrote in "Ron Paul", a task in itself the first time, and I swear the machine was laughing at me, saying "Ron WHAT!?" I think the final tally showed he took less than 3,000,000 of voters.

[Guest oldsmobile98]

Just wait for November 2012. Check out this. Unfortunately, Dec. 21 will be the end of the world, so we won't get to make it to the inauguration.

Seriously, though, people have really begun to pay attention to the message. And that's the key thing. A boatload of people who voted for Barry O. thought he was the real deal. Nope.

Dr. Ron Paul is the real deal. Years and years of ridicule by the media, and yet he keeps on coming with the same old message of civil liberty, sound money, and minding our own business internationally. It has finally started to gain some traction.

And if I read things right, Rand Paul is a chip off the ol' block. Today's primary in KY was good for America, as far as my very weak mind can tell.

[Oh Shoot]

I gotta disagree. The machine couldn't eat Ron Paul,...

It would have if it needed to.

2008: I wrote in "Ron Paul", a task in itself the first time, and I swear the machine was laughing at me, ...

That's what I mean.

You and I might vote for what 75% of the electorate consider a loon, but ....

...

Seriously, though, people have really begun to pay attention to the message. And that's the key thing. ...

Right now, the only thing I really see as a definite trend is to vote against incumbents, of both parties. I'm not sure the exact message that makes the hands mark the ballot go much deeper than "throw the bums out".

But unless either party gets at least a 75% overhaul of new blood, neither party will change, and the way many strings are pulled by a relatively few puppet masters, maybe not even then.

- OS

[Guest Lester Weevils]

I'm not aware that there is a coherent tea party platform. Maybe there is. Dunno.

Maybe the tea party word is just a blank screen for people to project their own expectations of what it ought to mean.

Maybe the word is not a lot different than BHO's blank screen of ill-defined 'hope and change'. Some folks thought hope and change was free houses and gas. Some thought hope and change was blanket amnesty. "Obama, Obama, its time to keep your promise." Some thought hope and change would get us out of foreign entanglements. Or regulate-control the oligarchy. Or save the environment. Or re-invigorate the space program. Or finally disclose all those secret alien bases underground in Arizona. Whatever you think hope and change ought to be, vote for Obama and he'll deliver.

I'd like to think that "tea party" would be a libertarian awakening. That would be my projection on the blank slate.

Maybe some think "tea party" would be to establish moral majority theocracy to USA govt. Or dozens of other pipe dreams.

There are many sincere people participating in the movement. There are surely many opportunists who hope to saddle up that tiger and ride it to wealth and power. I hope it can't be saddled, but probably it can be saddled and ridden off into very strange directions. That has happened in the past with populist movements.

If all the tea party folk would agree on only one thing-- fiscal responsibility in govt. Forget all the other issues. If they could all just focus on smaller govt and less spending, and not get side-tracked by prayer in schools or gay marriage or abortion or whether or not to legalize pot. That would be something good maybe, if it could at least be a simple fiscal responsibility platform.

Edited May 19, 2010 by Lester Weevils

[G27]

I think the final tally showed he took less than 3,000,000 of voters.

In large part because most of his supporters listened when he said he didn't want to be president and voted for others he recommended.

Not bad, really, considering he didn't campaign for president.

[G27]

I'm not aware that there is a coherent tea party platform. Maybe there is. Dunno.

Maybe the tea party word is just a blank screen for people to project their own expectations of what it ought to mean.

Maybe the word is not a lot different than BHO's blank screen of ill-defined 'hope and change'. Some folks thought hope and change was free houses and gas. Some thought hope and change was blanket amnesty. "Obama, Obama, its time to keep your promise." Some thought hope and change would get us out of foreign entanglements. Or regulate-control the oligarchy. Or save the environment. Or re-invigorate the space program. Or finally disclose all those secret alien bases underground in Arizona. Whatever you think hope and change ought to be, vote for Obama and he'll deliver.

I'd like to think that "tea party" would be a libertarian awakening. That would be my projection on the blank slate.

Maybe some think "tea party" would be to establish moral majority theocracy to USA govt. Or dozens of other pipe dreams.

There are many sincere people participating in the movement. There are surely many opportunists who hope to saddle up that tiger and ride it to wealth and power. I hope it can't be saddled, but probably it can be saddled and ridden off into very strange directions. That has happened in the past with populist movements.

If all the tea party folk would agree on only one thing-- fiscal responsibility in govt. Forget all the other issues. If they could all just focus on smaller govt and less spending, and not get side-tracked by prayer in schools or gay marriage or abortion or whether or not to legalize pot. That would be something good maybe, if it could at least be a simple fiscal responsibility platform.

Excellent post, I agree 100%.

[Guest Lester Weevils]

I'm pretty familiar with Ron and Rand's policy positions, and have few quibbles with it. They are basically libertarians in GOP clothing. I like em.

Supposedly AT LEAST 30% of USA citizens are sympathetic to the phrase Tea Party, whatever those citizens think the fuzzy-defined phrase means. Would be nice if Ron and Rand could saddle up the tiger and become the face of the Tea Party.

If those 30%+ of voters would still agree with Tea Party once the specific details are fleshed out in that libertarian direction. Maybe a lot of them would decide they are not Tea Party sympathizers after all. If you could retain most of em, it would be kewl though. Just rename the Libertarian Party to Tea Party and kick butt at the polls <g>.

But lots of folks are jumping on the Tea Party buzzword. Steve Forbes is running radio ads trying to be a Tea Party leader. He's not that bad a guy, but dunno if I'd sign onto a Tea Party led by Steve Forbes. Lots of wannabe leaders a lot nuttier than Forbes or Ron Paul are jumping on the bandwagon too. And the RINOs want in on it the worst way.

Not to trivialize it, but seems reminiscent of so many fads. When the term 'psychedelic' became popular about 1966. Not long after, some of the most absurd sellout music was being peddled as psychedelic music, and everything from frat boys to farm boys had long hair wearing bellbottom jeans and peace sign belt buckles. An entire movement that meant very little if not nothing.

[Guest SUNTZU]

Kinda like Extreme, Tactical, and Elite today?

[dubya3488]

Rand Paul won - It's a great day for America everybody! I really hope this is a sign of the times. As you may have noticed from my signature, I'm a bit of a Ron Paul fan. He's getting old, but has a lot of fight left in him. All I can hope for is that he is on the ballot in 2012.

[Guest 6.8 AR]

"If all the tea party folk would agree on only one thing-- fiscal responsibility in govt. Forget all the other issues. If they could all just focus on smaller govt and less spending, and not get side-tracked by prayer in schools or gay marriage or abortion or whether or not to legalize pot. That would be something good maybe, if it could at least be a simple fiscal responsibility platform."

Their primary issue is fiscal responsibility in government. Any political platform will

have more than just one item on it. I don't know where you stand on those other

issues mentioned, but if you think they don't matter, you're in the minority.

Gay marriage in CA was struck by primarily black families. The gays couldn't even

get enough gays and proponents to pass it last time. Prayer in schools hasn't been

getting very much press, lately. I don't buy that separation of church and state

argument like some do, and where does the freedom to pray infringe on other's

rights? It's not at the forefront right now, though. Pot is illegal and is a minor issue

that gets press, but isn't a huge concern of the Tea Partiers. I don't see it as a

vote winner or loser, at this point.

The Tea Party is more concerned with taxation and excessive government spending,

and all the things associated with it. They want responsible representation and less bureaucracy in DC.

[Guest Lester Weevils]

Any political platform will

have more than just one item on it. I don't know where you stand on those other issues mentioned, but if you think they don't matter, you're in the minority.

Hi 6.8

I can't keep a fixed opinion on some issues. Some things are hard to decide.

Most folks have hot-button issues. Sometimes hot-button issues make rational voting decisions difficult.

Abstract example-- Some feller belongs to National Gerbil Association, People for the Ethical Treatment of Gerbils, Southern Poverty Gerbil Center, National Association for the Advancement of Gerbils, Association of Gerbil Organizations for Reform Now, Gerbil Owners of America, Planned Gerbilhood Federation, etc. If that feller has to vote between a pro-gerbil corrupt scoundrel, versus an anti-gerbil but otherwise righteous honest candidate-- Is the special interest important enough to force a vote for the pro-gerbil scoundrel?

=====

Is the Tea Party gonna be a real alternate party with its own platform and candidates on the ballot? Or is it gonna be a powerful special interest group that can make or break candidates in already established parties?

Special interests can be powerful. NRA will endorse either Dems or Republicans, whichever has the best stance on gun issues. If NRA didn't exist, guns would have been banned long ago, and Al Gore would have been president.

There are lots more citizens concerned with big government, spending, and taxes, than are concerned with guns. If they voted as a bloc, it would be powerful enough to make NRA or the union vote look trivial in comparison.

Barely fifty percent of citizens actually pay net fed tax. Taxpayers are nearly outnumbered by moochers today. The moochers are likely to vote for any dam fool boondoggle, because they don't have to pay for it.

We can't afford to chase taxpayers off just because of other special interests. If the Tea Party takes an anti-gerbil stance, it will lose otherwise good pro-gerbil taxpayers. Same deal for other wedge issues.

If big government is gonna be the main issue, IMO the Tea Party can't afford to chase off otherwise good members because of wedge issues. A fiscally conservative rabid environmentalist anti-gun feller-- The Tea Party needs that guy in spite of his other oddities.

Edited May 20, 2010 by Lester Weevils