A list of the many 2016 candidates Rand Paul has (already) fought with By Aaron Blake January 13 at 1:44 PM
A funny thing happened last week. As it was becoming even clearer that Jeb Bush would run for president in 2016, a story appeared on the conservative Breitbart.com. It quoted Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) dismissing Bush as a "moderate" and suggesting his support for Common Core education standards is a deal-breaker in a Republican primary.
Paul suggestively questioned "whether (Republicans) want Common Core, whether they want more spending, more taxes, whether they want a candidate who will not pledge to not raise taxes."
It was his second thinly veiled attack on Bush in less than a month. In mid-December, when Bush announced he would "actively explore" a bid, Paul's PAC took out Google ads for those who searched for Bush's name. The ads said, “Join a movement working to shrink government. Not grow it," and "We need leaders who will stand against common core."
These are not isolated incidents. More than just about any major contender for president in 2016, Paul has signaled a willingness to mix it up. And plenty of folks are only so happy to oblige -- even baiting Paul to hit back.
In fact, with the 2016 campaign not even officially started, Paul has already tangled with most of the major 2016 contenders on at least one issue or another. In summary:
Bush: See above
Marco Rubio: He called the Florida senator an "isolationist" for supporting the Cuba embargo and being opposed to diplomatic relations.
Chris Christie: The two argued repeatedly about privacy concerns versus national security, with Paul eventually calling New Jersey's governor the "King of Bacon."
Ted Cruz: After Cruz said his own foreign policy was more Reagan-esque than Paul's, Paul wrote an op-ed denouncing the Texas senator, saying he misrepresented Reagan's legacy (without actually naming Cruz).
Rick Perry: The Texas governor spotlighted Paul in a foreign policy op-ed against isolationism -- a term Paul rejects -- and Paul fought back with his own op-ed, saying "apparently (Perry's) new glasses haven’t altered his perception of the world, or allowed him to see it any more clearly."
Bobby Jindal: After a strategist for the Louisiana governor jabbed at Paul on Twitter, saying he should run as a libertarian, an anonymous Paul aide called Jindal the "the 2016 version of Tim Pawlenty without the Minnesota nice.”
Hillary Rodham Clinton: He called her a "war hawk" and kinda, sorta suggested she might be too old to run for president. He also suggested Bill Clinton's affair with an intern, Monica Lewinsky, amounted to a male superior abusing his power over a woman in the workplace.
Now, I would emphasize that in many of these cases -- Christie, Perry, Cruz and Jindal, in particular -- Paul was indeed baited. Lots of contenders and their aides want to press the case that Paul is too much of a libertarian on foreign policy and other issues, thereby reinforcing their own conservative credentials. And Paul's backers would undoubtedly chalk it up to their fear of Paul's 2016 potential.
But Paul's retorts, and especially his proactive attacks on Bush, Rubio and Clinton, suggest a guy who's going to be involved in plenty of jousting in the 2016 presidential race. That might have been somewhat inevitable, of course, just by virtue of the different kind of Republican he is. But he's clearly going to be a focal point for as long as he's viable.
At the same time, he's not quite haphazard. He hasn't yet attacked Mitt Romney, with whom he has differed in the past but endorsed in 2012. His dad also played nice with Romney when they were campaigning against each other in 2012, and the New York Times's Nate Cohn argues that Romney's presence in the race actually helps the younger Paul by splitting the GOP establishment.
Another candidate Rand Paul has not tussled with -- despite plenty of prodding -- is Rick Santorum. The former Pennsylvania senator has tried repeatedly to engage Paul. He called him a "bomb-thrower" this weekend, hit him on isolationism in a September op-ed, and suggested in May that the GOP won't nominate Paul because he's too libertarian.
Hitting back at Santorum would be what political folks like to call "punching down," and Paul is probably wise not to get mixed up.
As for just about everyone else, though, all bets are off.
Update 3:35 p.m.: In his first comments about Romney, Paul tells the Daily Signal, "I think he’s had his chance, and I think it’s time for some fresh blood.” That's some pretty light criticism, if you can even call it criticism. (And it's not all that surprising from a guy who is likely to run against Romney.)
Bush 17% Christie 11.2% Ryan 10% Paul 8.6% Huckabee 8% Carson 8% Walker 8% Cruz 5.5% Rubio 4.5% Perry 4.3% Jindal 2.8% Kasich 2.5%
Spread: Bush Wins By 5.8%
RCP Poll Average 11/18 - 12/21
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
Romney says he is considering another run. Trump says he is considering a run. Field keeps getting bigger with no "great" choices emerging... it's like they want to just hand it to DEMS!
JUST BECAUSE SISSY SAYS SO DOESN'T MAKE IT SO...BUT HE THINKS IT DOES!!!!! JUST BECAUSE MC1 SAYS SO DOESN'T MAKE IT SO!!!!!
Romney says he is considering another run. Trump says he is considering a run. Field keeps getting bigger with no "great" choices emerging... it's like they want to just hand it to DEMS!
It will be horrible if the GOP tries for a 3rd time to run a RINO.
But this list....
Bush....Really? As if we want another one....Putting that aside, his biggest problem is he's all for Common Core and his stance on the illegals.
Christie.... He talks a good game, but he's just another bs big government RINO. If he runs in the general, odds are he won't even win his home state.
Ryan.... OUT and is not running.
Paul.... He has a good message, but I think money will be an issue for him.
Huckabee.... I can't believe he gave up his show on Fox News to run. What's worse is I can't believe he thinks he actually has a prayer....Total non factor.
Carson.... Sec. of HHS or something similar, yes....POTUS, no.....Non factor.
Walker.... Probably the strongest candidate in the field. His policies have really turned Wisconsin around and the results are pretty amazing. This guy is also a total rock, as he has been constantly and mercilessly assailed by the left. Has won 3 elections in 4 years including being the first governor ever in US history to win a recall election, all while never wavering on his stance to the issues. Excellent qualities you want in a leader. Oh, and he's disconnected from Washington.
Cruz/Rubio.... Both appear the same on paper, but I think Cruz conducts the message better. I see Cruz going pretty far.
Perry.... Might have a pretty good run if he doesn't freeze again.
Jindal.... Hey, he'll last longer than Huckabee.
Kasich.... Who? Still might last longer than Huckabee
"Approval ratings go up and down for various reasons... An example is the high post 911 support for GWB even though he could be said to be responsible for the event." --- Box A Rox '9/11 Truther'
Melania is a bimbo... she is there to look at, not to listen to. --- Box A Rox and his 'War on Women'
Walker.... Probably the strongest candidate in the field. His policies have really turned Wisconsin around and the results are pretty amazing. This guy is also a total rock, as he has been constantly and mercilessly assailed by the left. Has won 3 elections in 4 years including being the first governor ever in US history to win a recall election, all while never wavering on his stance to the issues. Excellent qualities you want in a leader. Oh, and he's disconnected from Washington.
One of the "Worst Candidates for Working Families is Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker.
1. Walker promised to create 250,000 jobs in his first term, but with only a few months left the state is dead last in the Midwest in terms of job growth and he's less than halfway toward reaching his jobs goal.
2. And jobs aren't just the one negative in Wisconsin's economy. The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia ranked the state 49th in economic outlook and Wisconsin was one of only five states projected to contract in the second half of 2013. On top of that, new estimates show the state will be facing a $1.8 billion shortfall in the next budget cycle. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 5/28/13; Media Matters, 1/27/14]
3. As governor, Walker made the largest education cut in the state's history-more than $1 billion. [Politifact, 2/8/12]
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
Thank you for linking your communist website Boxy.
Like I said....
Quoted Text
he has been constantly and mercilessly assailed by the left. Has won 3 elections in 4 years including being the first governor ever in US history to win a recall election, all while never wavering on his stance to the issues.
The people of Wisconsin have rejected your argument three times.
You failed.
"Approval ratings go up and down for various reasons... An example is the high post 911 support for GWB even though he could be said to be responsible for the event." --- Box A Rox '9/11 Truther'
Melania is a bimbo... she is there to look at, not to listen to. --- Box A Rox and his 'War on Women'
Thank you for linking your communist website Boxy.
Like I said.... The people of Wisconsin have rejected your argument three times. You failed.
Yea... "Communist Website", like the (LMAO) Wisconsin State Journal: John Doe emails: 'Dark side' was code for Scott Walker campaign Walker needs to take a page from Nixon's defense... "I AM NOT A CROOK".
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
Yea... "Communist Website", like the (LMAO) Wisconsin State Journal:
Ummmm...people's world is a communist publication. It doesn't necessarily mean the opinions they hold are wrong, but it's still written by those who believe in communism.
Ummmm...people's world is a communist publication. It doesn't necessarily mean the opinions they hold are wrong, but it's still written by those who believe in communism.
So it's kind of like Fox Snooze being a racist/fascist network. It doesn't necessarily mean the opinions they hold are wrong, but it's still written by those who believe in racism & fascism.[/quote]
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
A mid-October Marquette University Law School poll revealed that, while a majority of Wisconsin voters like Scott Walker as their governor, 70% do not want him to run for president. (Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel)
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
So it's kind of like Fox Snooze being a racist/fascist network. It doesn't necessarily mean the opinions they hold are wrong, but it's still written by those who believe in racism & fascism.
Yea... "Communist Website", like the (LMAO) Wisconsin State Journal: John Doe emails: 'Dark side' was code for Scott Walker campaign Walker needs to take a page from Nixon's defense... "I AM NOT A CROOK".
Comrade Boxy. I understand your frustration that the 'peoples revolution' has failed. That you have nobody left in power and the agenda has stopped.
But if you'd just grab your little red book, hold it up high in your right hand, close those tear filled eyes and chant "Yes we can! Yes we can!". Maybe....Just maybe, if you have a pure red heart, Lizzy 'Tonto' Warren may just run for POTUS....Thus spreading the glorious message to the people!
"Approval ratings go up and down for various reasons... An example is the high post 911 support for GWB even though he could be said to be responsible for the event." --- Box A Rox '9/11 Truther'
Melania is a bimbo... she is there to look at, not to listen to. --- Box A Rox and his 'War on Women'
Comrade Boxy. I understand your frustration that the 'peoples revolution' has failed. That you have nobody left in power and the agenda has stopped.
Actually Bucky, I have nothing against Communists... I just am not a fan. I wonder if Buck considered the VETO POWER OF THE PRESIDENT when he posted... "you have nobody left in power the agenda has stopped." Now that Obama is a 'lame duck', he is free to follow his agenda without political constraints. Check out his CUBA policy!
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
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