Rand Paul: Libertarian Republicanism

[Aquila]

What are your thoughts on Rand Paul's vision as delivered to California Republicans this past Saturday?

Rand Paul Urges California GOP To Try New Tactics
http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2014/...a-republicans/

Here's a quote from the news story:

Paul addressed about 400 delegates at the state party convention, being held at a hotel near the airport in Los Angeles. He said when the Republican Party “looks like the rest of America” it will win again nationally.

Paul has been pushing a libertarian approach to expand the GOP’s base this year ahead of a possible 2016 presidential bid.

Do you believe that the Republican Party would rise to winning elections again on a national level if the GOP adopted a more libertarian position on various issues?

[Disciple4life]

Originally Posted by Aquila

Do you believe that the Republican Party would rise to winning elections again on a national level if the GOP adopted a more libertarian position on various issues?

If he was smart he would act like he is just like every other politician in DC and say he is going to tow the party line. Then when he gets in do whatever he wants. Change the whole country into a libertarian utopia!

This is what Republicans do. They act like they are a centrist Until they get elected. Then they Change into Super Republican that has to change the world through the US government.

Democrats do the exact same thing. Centrist for the cameras and then Super Democrat after they move into the White House.

The reason Ron Paul couldn't do this is he couldn't keep his mouth shut when he knew everybody else was lying.

[Jermyn Davidson]

Both Bill and Hill are true centrists.

BHO isn't, but I am not sure HE ever presented himself as a centrist either-- especially when it came time for his reelction.

[Originalist]

Originally Posted by Aquila

What are your thoughts on Rand Paul's vision as delivered to California Republicans this past Saturday?

Rand Paul Urges California GOP To Try New Tactics
http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2014/...a-republicans/

Here's a quote from the news story:

Paul addressed about 400 delegates at the state party convention, being held at a hotel near the airport in Los Angeles. He said when the Republican Party “looks like the rest of America” it will win again nationally.

Paul has been pushing a libertarian approach to expand the GOP’s base this year ahead of a possible 2016 presidential bid.

Do you believe that the Republican Party would rise to winning elections again on a national level if the GOP adopted a more libertarian position on various issues?

It depends on what he means. to me the GOP is the most inclusive party out there. While we may not attract many minority members, we do attract and elect many minority candidates. I do not see what we can do to attract more minorities. Their attraction to socialism is not out fault. Until the minorities who love the Democrats see through the lie of socialism we cannot expect them to come to the GOP.

I do agree with his libertarian line as long as it is done through the restraints of the Constitution. Restoring constitutional government is the only thing that will save us. This includes recognizing that this is a voluntary Union and that each State is a sovereign nation in its own right , all of which retain the vast majority of the powers sovereign States lay claim to.

[Originalist]

Here's an example. Why would any Afro American vote for the Democrat (who also happens to be Afro-american)?



Charles Barron is a New York City Councilman who has been term-limited out of his seat. He is also a former Black Panther. His wife will be taking over his seat on the council and he is expected to win the race to take over her seat on the assembly. But the praise that he had for one brutal dictator will have many wondering how the man was elected to office in the first place.

During an interview with the Observer, Barron discussed his admiration of Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe and his desire to host him in the states again someday. He had previously hosted Mugabe in 2002.

Barron said, “I would love for him to come to Albany. I would love for him to come anywhere in the United States really. I think he’s a shining example of an African leader on an African continent.” He had praise for Mugabe’s confiscation of farmland from whites and redistributing it to blacks, a move many saw as a reward for his political allies.

His praise of him continued in saying, “He was one of the few African leaders who had the courage to take the land back from the settlers,”

Mugabe gained control of Zimbabwe in 1983 and killed upwards of 20,000 with his ethnic cleansing campaign against a minority tribe. He instituted martial law, had draconian laws against homosexuals ordering them to be arrested on sight. He referred to homosexuals as being no better than dogs and pigs.

Despite the murders committed on the order of Mugabe and the brutal world created under his dictatorship, Barron said his admiration of Mugabe remains untarnished.

Barron said, “No one’s perfect. I see him as a freedom fighter.”

In addition to his love and admiration for Mugabe, Barron said he also admired other Third World dictators who were enemies to America such as Muammar el-Quaddafi and former Cuban President Fidel Castro.

Barron then made clearly known where his allegiance lies. “All my heroes were America’s enemies,” Mr. Barron said.

And this man was a New York City council member from 2001 until 2013 and is expected to win a seat, previously occupied by his wife, in the state Assembly.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Jermyn Davidson

Both Bill and Hill are true centrists.

BHO isn't, but I am not sure HE ever presented himself as a centrist either-- especially when it came time for his reelction.

I believe Bill and Hill are left of center... but not entirely hardcore leftists. BHO appears to be a part of the extreme left.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Originalist

Here's an example. Why would any Afro American vote for the Democrat (who also happens to be Afro-american)?



Charles Barron is a New York City Councilman who has been term-limited out of his seat. He is also a former Black Panther. His wife will be taking over his seat on the council and he is expected to win the race to take over her seat on the assembly. But the praise that he had for one brutal dictator will have many wondering how the man was elected to office in the first place.

During an interview with the Observer, Barron discussed his admiration of Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe and his desire to host him in the states again someday. He had previously hosted Mugabe in 2002.

Barron said, “I would love for him to come to Albany. I would love for him to come anywhere in the United States really. I think he’s a shining example of an African leader on an African continent.” He had praise for Mugabe’s confiscation of farmland from whites and redistributing it to blacks, a move many saw as a reward for his political allies.

His praise of him continued in saying, “He was one of the few African leaders who had the courage to take the land back from the settlers,”

Mugabe gained control of Zimbabwe in 1983 and killed upwards of 20,000 with his ethnic cleansing campaign against a minority tribe. He instituted martial law, had draconian laws against homosexuals ordering them to be arrested on sight. He referred to homosexuals as being no better than dogs and pigs.

Despite the murders committed on the order of Mugabe and the brutal world created under his dictatorship, Barron said his admiration of Mugabe remains untarnished.

Barron said, “No one’s perfect. I see him as a freedom fighter.”

In addition to his love and admiration for Mugabe, Barron said he also admired other Third World dictators who were enemies to America such as Muammar el-Quaddafi and former Cuban President Fidel Castro.

Barron then made clearly known where his allegiance lies. “All my heroes were America’s enemies,” Mr. Barron said.

And this man was a New York City council member from 2001 until 2013 and is expected to win a seat, previously occupied by his wife, in the state Assembly.

Wow. That's unsettling.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Originalist

It depends on what he means. to me the GOP is the most inclusive party out there. While we may not attract many minority members, we do attract and elect many minority candidates. I do not see what we can do to attract more minorities. Their attraction to socialism is not out fault. Until the minorities who love the Democrats see through the lie of socialism we cannot expect them to come to the GOP.

I do agree with his libertarian line as long as it is done through the restraints of the Constitution. Restoring constitutional government is the only thing that will save us. This includes recognizing that this is a voluntary Union and that each State is a sovereign nation in its own right , all of which retain the vast majority of the powers sovereign States lay claim to.

That isn't so much the problem with the Republicans embracing Libertarian candidates. Where they have conflict, which I don't see how it can be reconciled, is on the acceptable social mores that Republicans demand of their party, even being hypocrites at it themselves.

Republicans want rules and guidelines to follow. Libertarians want "live and let live" in that area.

To a Republican, Rand Paul embracing groups that don't follow a Conservative ideology in every aspect, is not going to go over well. It's as though we would abandon ourselves and move to the left, becoming really what the Democrats stand for on moral issues. So, in many way, the Republicans fear where he would take us as a country.

With the Libertarian Party, you have the fear at play of evolving into a libertine society. The Republicans stand against that. I don't think, IMO, it is totally an unfounded fear, even though I have voted for Libertarians in some races.

[Disciple4life]

I have heard Rand Paul say that he is a REPUBLICAN with libertarian leanings.

Whether this is true or not is up for debate. BUT this is how he defines his position.

Others have labeled him Super Hero Libertarian because of his fathers views.

This seems unfair. We have to take Rand Paul's word on what he believes and not label him something he is not or claims not to be. Thoughts?

Oh, and Rand Paul is his own man and NOT his father.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

To a Republican, Rand Paul embracing groups that don't follow a Conservative ideology in every aspect, is not going to go over well. It's as though we would abandon ourselves and move to the left, becoming really what the Democrats stand for on moral issues.

The libertarian notion of human rights and constitutional liberty doesn't move the party left, thereby allowing it to become what the Democrats are as it relates to moral issues. Liberty isn't a democratic value. It's a Constitutional value. While a libertarian might be as tolerant as a liberal regarding a given issue... a liberal would advocate for the issue, pass federal laws forcing the issue, and then even federally fund the issue. The libertarian would keep the issue as local as possible, refuse passing federal laws forcing the issue, and would definitely not fund the issue.