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The Spectacle Blog
At the start of the Conservative Political Action Conference yesterday, American Conservative Union Chairman Al Cardenas said:
This week at CPAC, the American Conservative Union is honored to host former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, and Senator Rand Paul, a powerful surrogate for his father Congressman Ron Paul.
Cardenas similarly characterized Rand Paul as representing his dad in a press conference before his speech. It’s easy to see why; contested primaries inject CPAC with a special energy, attracting large (and lucrative) crowds, and the absence of Paul père — ostensibly because of “travel constraints,” though his light schedule undermines this claim — is rather conspicuous (especially coupled with the virtual disappearance of Campaign for Liberty, the organization built from the 2008 Paul campaign that had a huge presence at the last two CPACs but is nowhere to be seen this year). With Romney, Gingrich, and Santorum all scheduled for today, yesterday felt like the calm before a much-anticipated storm.
Paul fils did speak yesterday afternoon, but, Cardenas’s formulation notwithstanding, he didn’t make a case for his father’s campaign. He did give an excellent speech (which you can watch here) attacking President Obama, which, if anything, threw the elder Paul’s shortcomings into sharper relief. After months of rambling performances from Ron Paul both in debates and on the stump, hearing Rand Paul’s fluent delivery of a speech with a coherent theme and structure was a reminder that the son is really in a completely different political league than his father.
Senator Paul’s amendment on aid to Egypt, which Reid noted yesterday, illustrates that this goes beyond stylistic competence. Notice the phrasing in his statement: “Not everyone in this body agrees on foreign policy or on the role of US foreign assistance but the reckless actions of Egyptian authorities in the matter should bring us together[.]” Rand Paul advances his ideas by looking for areas of agreement and building bridges into the political mainstream — while Ron Paul builds bridges to the fringe, whether with racist newsletters in the 80s and 90s or radio appearances with 9/11 conspiracy theorists in the 2000s. It’s not hard to see which approach is more likely to succeed at advancing the libertarian ideals that drive both Pauls.
View all comments (37) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by John Tabin
http://spectator.org/blog/2012/02/10/rand-the-better-paul
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Jack in Wi.| 2.10.12 @ 7:58AM
Rand Paul wants to get rid of all foreign aid, just like his father, and the vast majority of Americans. Cutting it off from Egypt is just a start. the vast majority of foreign aid ends up in the pockets of criminals, kleptocrats, and warmongers. It is time to end it not mend it. the reason the Paul's aren't wasting a lot of money and time, on CPAC is because it just isn't relevant to todays problems. It has long outlived it's usefulness.
former Republican| 2.10.12 @ 8:13AM
Rand Paul wants to get rid of the vast majority of Americans?
Ryan| 2.10.12 @ 8:20AM
Rand is doing exactly what needs to be done here. Question foreign aid piece by piece.
Pete| 2.10.12 @ 7:20PM
I would choose Rand Paul over any of the four candidates now running. I would not mind a brokered convention that produced a Rand Paul as the GOP candidate.
spike59| 2.14.12 @ 6:44AM
neither would ObaMao; in fact, he's RELISH the prospect. heck, he wouldn't even have to run a single campaign ad or give a single speech to win a 50 state sweep
Ralph | 2.10.12 @ 8:16AM
Thanks for the article. Rand Paul, however, stated he is not a Libertarian.
For info on people using voluntary Libertarian tools on similar and other issues, please see http://www.Libertarian-International.org , the non-partisan Libertarian International Organization...
Simon Templar| 2.10.12 @ 11:11AM
"Rand Paul, however, stated he is not a Libertarian."
Then what is he and where and when did he say he is not a libertarian. Please source your claims when they are this extreme.
Pete| 2.10.12 @ 7:23PM
Tell you the truth I don't believe Ron Paul is a libertarian either. If he was he would not accept the idea of corporations having status, marriage having status or employees having status. We would just be a nation of individuals and only individuals would have any status whatsover. I think I am much more libertarian than Ron Paul.
Tasmlab| 2.10.12 @ 2:56PM
He may have rejected the title, but his book "Tea Party Goes to Washington" reads as if he has a lot of Rothbard in his blood.
Some of his votes seem to be non-libertarian though.
Bill| 2.10.12 @ 10:03AM
I love trios:
1. Sen. Rand Paul
2. Sen. Jim Demint
3. Sen. Mike Lee
defending our liberty and the constitution.
I salute them.
mjs_pa| 2.10.12 @ 10:15AM
wRONg Paul?
C Bowen | 2.10.12 @ 12:23PM
Last year, CPAC hosted, even let speak, 9/11 conspiracy theorists, truthers if you will, Dick Cheney and Don Rumsfeld who helped the spread the lie that--get this--Saddam was behind 9/11.
Yikes.
Eddie Kovacs| 2.10.12 @ 12:48PM
Neither Dick Cheney nor Donald Rumsfeld said that. Thanks for reminding us what a liar you are.
C Bowen| 2.10.12 @ 3:57PM
They said there was evidence that Saddam was behind 9/11-so did Bush; of course there was none--that we can agree on. An entire tinfoil hat conspiracy theory came out of their Office of Special Plans suggesting that Saddam was behind 9/11. Rush Limbaugh posted pictures of Salman Pak to spread the lie coming from Iranian agent, Chalabi and his buddy Curveball.
They had to have knowledge of the program Paul Wolfowitz, Laurie Mylroie, James Woolsey, Doug Feith, and the Weakly Standard were up to.
But of course you are correct--there was no link, and anyone who thinks Saddam was behind 9/11 is not fit for anything but a trip to the nuthouse.
spike59| 2.14.12 @ 6:42AM
you're welcom to your 'opinion', however misguided; what you're NOT welcome to is 'your own reality'...neither Bush, nor Cheney, nor Rumsfeld EVER said that Saddam was behind 9/11; and, since YOU are making the accusation, how about YOU provide a SINGLE quote? go ahead, bright boy; i won't hold my breath waiting...take your time, head back to Kos and PuffHo for another set of Leftard talking points-we'll wait
C Bowen | 2.10.12 @ 12:45PM
As far as building bridges to "racists" the liberal media, like Tabin, are point out that CPAC is hosting a "white supremacist."
Now of course, Peter Brimelow is not a white supremacist, but funny how Tabin uses the same tactics...no wait, sad.
Eddie Kovacs| 2.10.12 @ 12:50PM
Yeah, yeah. You're not only a liar, you're a racist too.
Eddie Kovacs| 2.10.12 @ 12:51PM
So not only are you a liar; you're a racist too.
C Bowen| 2.10.12 @ 3:58PM
Aren't you hippies suppose to post over at New Republic where you can talk about building democracies and those racist Republicans and conservatives at CPAC?
solo| 2.10.12 @ 2:28PM
Rand Paul has great things ahead of him in the republican party. I like his delivery and his measured response to the various issues.
Jackson Baer | 2.10.12 @ 3:43PM
Ron Paul did well in Minnesota and underperformed in the other two yesterday. It's frustrating to see the Republicans reject freedom & liberty while voting for more government control. Can Ron Paul win Maine this weekend? I hope so. I hope he keeps running as a Republican, building a base and then runs third party. Some say that will ensure Obama gets re-elected but we don't know what will happen in a 3-man race and Obama won't be any worse than Romney, Gingrich, or Santorum. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=262l6tbHSlU RON PAUL 2012.
http://www.whatthehellbook.com/the-book/
Dai Alanye | 2.10.12 @ 4:19PM
After Obama appoints a few more Supreme Court Justices during his next term most third-party boosters will be singing another tune.
Clint| 2.11.12 @ 12:03AM
You Israel Firster Traitor Bastards Sing The Israeli National Anthem.
Occam's Tool| 2.11.12 @ 7:11PM
Do you ever wonder why people don't seem to be swayed by your arguments, Clint?
HaTikvah is a beautiful song, as is La Marseille.
spike59| 2.14.12 @ 6:39AM
"You Israel Firster Traitor Bastards Sing The Israeli National Anthem."
=============================
straight out of the Bircher/Stormfront/KKK songbook...like most Rontard rants
WL| 2.10.12 @ 5:21PM
I like Rand Paul too. I think he can be an important player in helping the party repair itself.
I am not excited about Ron Paul, because I disagree with much of what he believes, but I hope all of us...whether we are libertarian, RINO, conservatives...or whatever...can ALL find a way to stop this wanna be dictator from achieving complete power.
WL| 2.10.12 @ 5:22PM
"wanna be dicator"...
WhatAJoke| 2.10.12 @ 6:31PM
As long as you think it's just "Obama" that is the problem with this country then there is really no hope for this country. If you can't recognize your Romney's, Gingrich's and Santorums as nothing but more of the same big government fake conservative RINOs then we will just be conned over and over again.
Ron Paul is the only true conservative running right now. These so called "racist newsletters" and "9/11 conspiracy theories" are nothing but tar babies and anyone who has heard Ron Paul speak about his philosophical foundation for liberty and limited government knows that this is an honest and highly intelligent man when every other candidate you fake conservatives raise up is nothing but a fraud.
Pete| 2.10.12 @ 7:26PM
What he says is right out of the John Birch Society. I wish he would credit them for most of his ideas. But he tries to pretend that he is not a Bircher.
WhatAJoke| 2.10.12 @ 9:30PM
What does the John Birch society say exactly? That US sovereignty is being undermined by international institutions like the UN?? Oh! What a crazy thing to say!
You don't even know a thing about the JB society you just know that it's trendy for liberals to tar people with the John Birch society label. Thanks for proving your ignorance.
Clint| 2.11.12 @ 12:09AM
Dr.Ron Paul Is A Constitutional Conservative & We've Been Around Since Long Before The John Birch Society, Sport.
Meanwhile, The RINO-CINO Stupid Party Tries To Pretend It's Conservative.
Occam's Tool| 2.11.12 @ 7:12PM
Hurts to lose, Clint. Love to see you lose, though, jihadist catamite.
spike59| 2.14.12 @ 6:37AM
DrRonPaul is a Constitutional FRAUD and a nutcase
Lucy| 2.11.12 @ 2:38AM
"Rambling performances"? Is the author a complete, incompetent idiot? He must be too ignorant to comprehend logic and reason. I hope this dumb-ass doesn't write for a living.
HUGH SMITH| 2.11.12 @ 6:58AM
YES THE PAUL'S WILL SAVE THIS COUNTRY.
I AM WITH THEM 100%
hook| 2.13.12 @ 7:19PM
The comments by Mr. Tabin show an ability to see nuance and distinction, but I wonder how far the fruit falls from the tree.
spike59| 2.14.12 @ 6:36AM
'the better Paul' is like 'the taller jockey'