Rand Paul Just Made It Official: "I Am Running for President"

It's happening.

It's happening: Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul has officially declared that he is running for president in the 2016 election.

He made the announcement on his website Tuesday morning:

"I am running for president to return our country to the principles of liberty and limited government."

He's expected to deliver a speech announcing his candidacy in Louisville, Kentucky, at noon.

While some of Paul's recent political posturing has dismayed libertarians, he is likely to remain the most libertarian candidate in the race. Reason will continue to explore his evolving views on the issues, the extent of his popularity among libertarians and the broader electorate, and what it all means the future of the libertarian movement.

Watch a just-released video of Paul's wife, Kelley, talking him up below.

Comments

[Pro Libertate]

He'll have my vote. He's the closest thing to a libertarian with a chance at the White House.

[Auric Demonocles]

Definitely has my vote. I'm debating if he'll get any of my money.

[Pro Libertate]

Yeah, he'll get some of that, too.

[Spencer]

where does this leave Gary Johnson?

[Pro Libertate]

Depends on who is in the general for me. If it's Bush or someone else unappealing, then I'll vote for Johnson.

[Drake]

Sure. It will actually make the Republican primaries interesting.

[The Other Kevin]

He'll have my vote, not that it will matter, as the primary is pretty much over by the time it's our turn in Indiana.

[robc]

Ky is a caucus this time so that he can for senate in the primary. So that will be fun.

[Hyperion]

You guys will be too busy stoning gays to notice anyway...

/derp

[UnCivilServant]

We're captialists, we'll sell Marijuana to anyone. Just don't expect us to cater.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Yep, warts and all. I mean I don't particularly like grape flavored things but I'll chose that over a shit milkshake. Hoping he has a rally or speech in the Phoenix area, I'd happily go.

[Ghetto Slovak Goatherder]

He'll have my vote, AND he'll have my SWORD!

http://alturl.com/x29e4

[Citizen Nothing]

And my axe.

[Ghetto Slovak Goatherder]

No, no, no. Your sax. That was the joke! See the link.

[Citizen Nothing]

Pwnd! Well played.

[Almanian!]

It's all Mexican butt sax and circumcised gay horns with you Reasonoids, isn't it?

[Marshall Gill]

Don't forget the weeeeeddddd!!

[Scarecrow Repair]

California is winner-takes-all; if the Dem looks to win in the usual landslide, I'll vote Gary Johnson. If it looks even close to being close, I'll vote Rand Paul.

[Muzzle of Bees]

There are a LOT of Republicans outside of the major cities and the Rs and Libertarians in the cities could be rallied to put up a fight if the Dem ends up being a stinker and Rand doesn't stupidly double down on the anti-gay marriage nonsense.

[LynchPin1477]

I'm not going to commit just yet, but he'll probably get my vote. I can at least vote for him the VA primary.

Depending on where he goes in the primary I may consider volunteering for the campaign.

[Hyperion]

I'm in.

[Spencer]

His kids were wearing astros caps in one of those photos. He's got my vote now.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

I found out recently that he's a Steelers football fan. And is that really better than being a Cowboys fan like you'd expect of a politician from Texas?

[Spencer]

It's weird, but there's quite a bit of anti-cowboy sentiment all over the state. It's like hating the yankees.

[Brett L]

They may be America's Team, but Texans are harder to please.

[Warty]

Ugh. Maybe I won't vote for him now.

[Citizen Nothing]

Maybe Johnny Manziel will run.

[Warty]

He's got the coke habit, the oil money, the family connections, the ambiguous ethnicity, and the phony religiosity. Why wouldn't he ruin for president?

[Citizen Nothing]

"Run" for president. "Ruin" for quarterback.

[Chumby]

He should run. He certainly can't pass!

[Brett L]

Insert joke about knowing how to root for the loser here. Although the Lastros managed to put the ball in play and grind out a win last night. So at least 3 days with a non-losing record this year.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

The RANDENING begins!

[This Machine]

THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE.

[Spencer]

HERE WE ARE- BORN TO BE KINGS- WE'RE THE PRINCES OF THE UNIVERSE!

[Dweebston]

Needs more beardless 'staches.

[Hamster of Doom]

Remember, kids, real men have porn 'staches, not douche tabs.

[HazelMeade]

The kids should remember it, because guys with porn 'staches are all pedophiles.

[Hamster of Doom]

There's a Denver motorcycle cop with a porn 'stache. His first name's Adrian, too, which is just taking the joke too far.

[Spencer]

ON ANOTHER note- does anyone feel like Ron Paul is Moses? Like he was to lead the people but then went all crazy on something so he had to wonder in the wilderness for years until Joshua could take the people into Canaan?

It seems like a fitting analogy (If rand wins...).

[sarcasmic]

There is only one messiah and he's already in the White House you racist!

[Spencer]

and Mohammed is his prophet?

[Warty]

Ron's tablets weren't that great, though. THY BLACKS SHALT BE FLEET OF FOOT

[Xeones]

THOU SHALT HAVE NO RIOTS BEFORE THY WELFARE CHECKS

[BigT]

More like John tha baptist off in the wilderness and baptizing. He lost his head and his protoge had a few bad days, as I recall.

[Hamster of Doom]

Oh, very nice. I'm gonna browbeat a Christian with that.

[Rich]

The Rand-Hillary "debates" will be *epic*.

[Spencer]

nobody cares about the debate. It's all preaching to the choir. Hillary supporters might as well already declare her victory in any debates.

[Sudden]

You should see the dem primary debate writeups Sabrina Erdely has ready, about how Hillary victoriously overcame a vicious gang rape by her debate opponents and came out on top.

[DK]

So, pandering to midwesterners by doing cowgirl?

[Dweebston]

*spit take*

[Pope Jimbo]

Well there are enough GOP candidates for a good gang rape rape.

The worse part was when Cruz couldn't come up with a hard hitting opening statement so he raped Hillary with the mic.

[ace_m82]

We don't even speak the same language. We can kind of understand them but they have no idea what we mean. (Property rights? What do you mean?)

[Sudden]

You're more optimistic about Rand getting there than I.

[Rich]

Good point. It also applies to Hillary.

[sarcasmic]

Like she would stoop that low. He's not worthy of her majestic presence.

[Auric Demonocles]

It was a nice story, but I'm not a huge fan of that ad. It doesn't say anything about his stances.

Yes, I know that's not because of his campaign. It's because of what works for political ads. I hate what stuff matters to the voting public.

[Spencer]

the real question is: Did Hillary coach little league? I don't think so.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

There are different kinds of ads for different purposes and occasions. I imagine he'll have plenty of ads staking out his positions and attacking his opponents but the one linked to in the story is perfect for introducing him to the general public. Humanizing a politician is a crucial task in a campaign.

[Auric Demonocles]

Humanizing a politician is a crucial task in a campaign.

Which is exactly what I said I hate.

[Rich]

Humanizing a politician is a crucial task in a campaign.

Like this?

[Charles Easterly]

They wanted to burn her anyway.

[Kaptious Kristen]

You're not a viable candidate until you've been autotuned.

[Notorious G.K.C.]

He needs to clarify that

(a) He's not a good old boy living in a shack in the mountains with a pile of guns and only his old hound dog for company, NTTAWWT

(b) Did you know he's a physician?

[Notorious G.K.C.]

And the Mrs. is hot enough to impress they guys but not so hot as to alienate the women voters.

[Kaptious Kristen]

This makes me think of Chuck Robb's wife, who showed up at my home Metro stop to drum up support, and she couldn't have been more out of place. I live in a very working-class neighborhood, with a wide range of incomes and education levels and races. And here's Ladybird's daughter in her red Chanel suit handing out fliers.

I like to think he lost the election because of his dumbass wife.

[Restoras, OWG]

Does Rand pass the Libertarian Purity Test? Should we wait on those results before committing our political capital to an eye doctor, of all things?

[Spencer]

NO and NO.

[Antilles]

I don't believe Rand Paul has a chance of getting the nomination or winning because he speaks too much common sense and would be too much of a departure from the status quo. I truly hope I'm wrong, but we'll see...

[Spencer]

do you work for the republican establishment? It sounds like you work for the republican establishment.

[Antilles]

I said I hope I'm wrong. If Rand makes it though the primary I will happily vote for him--especially if it's against Shrillery.

[Pro Libertate]

It depends how popular he gets. That can create a wave that the party won't have much choice but to acknowledge. But he has some serious obstacles to get by within the party, though I bet many like him more than they'll let on.

Too bad the GOP is so stuff on massive military spending and interventionism; otherwise, I think he'd be the clear frontrunner right now. People are extra tired of the status quo this time around.

[BakedPenguin]

This.

[Antilles]

I hope you're right. But in spite of what many people say most are afraid of too much change, even if it's for the better. It's so much safer and easier to just go with the flow. Seeing him win might restore some of my faith in humanity...

[Pro Libertate]

We need a whole lot of change. The real sort, not the McHopey kind.

[Brett L]

Well, with Jeb being a decided "meh" among the base, I like his chances. Someone else is in, but I'll be damned if I can remember... Oh, Ted Cruz.

[CatoTheElder]

Rand faces two big problems: Jeb's money machine is going to slime Rand with abandon and Cruz's campaign is going to have greater appeal for the socon knuckleheads.

I met Rand Paul, before he was nominated in Kentucky, and spoke with him in a setting with both conservatives and libertarians. He may not pass the Reasonoid libertarian purity test that requires unqualified approval and celebration of dopesmoking, buttsex, abortion, and unlimited immigration, and advocacy of absolute nonintervention. He is a libertarian moderate, and he is certainly no libertine.

To me, Rand's only negative is a dearth of executive experience. However, there hasn't been a serious presidential candidate with stronger libertarian bona fides since Grover Cleveland. He's also the only candidate the GOP has who has a chance of winning in the general.

[Fist of Etiquette]

You know who else wanted to be in charge of everyone?

[Scarecrow Repair]

Pharoah and Cecil B. DeMille?

[Restoras, OWG]

Khan Noonien Singh?

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Save your strength Resotras, these people swore an oath to live and die at my command 200 years before you were born.

[Fist of Etiquette]

You're going to have to do your own commenting now. Do you hear me? DO YOU?

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Rand/Ricardo Montalban's Head in a Jar 2016!

FULL POWER, DAMN YOU!

[Hamster of Doom]

I WOULD WATCH THAT IN THEATER, LIEK, SEVEN TIMES!!

[Cdr Lytton]

Ah yes, but do they know the power of soft Corinthian leather?

[wizard1073]

He tasks me! He tasks me and I shall have him! I'll chase him round the country and round the party platform and round Perdition's flames before I give him up!

Prepare to alter course!

[Rich]

MasterCard?

[Aloysious]

That crazy prog lady i work with?

[Homple]

I'm not answering because I don't call down the wrath of the Ban Bossy enforcers.

[Idle Hands]

The elementary school safety patrol kid, who had the audacity to tell me when I could cross the street?

[Slammer]

Vince Lombardi?

[Charles Easterly]

"HEAR ME, YE Angaraks, for I am Torak, Lord of Lords and King of Kings. Bow before my Name and worship me with prayers and with sacrifices, for I am your God and I have dominion over all the realms of the Angaraks. And great shall be my wrath if ye displease me."

Only Torak didn't want to stop with just the Angaraks, if I recall correctly.

[hamilton]

That's KAL Torak to you, buddy.

[Charles Easterly]

Nice.

It's about time for me to read the series again.

[Spencer]

Didn't he hunt dinosaurs...? Oh wait, that was Turok.

[Hamster of Doom]

And Tuvok hunted peace. It was down in his contract as the only personality he was allowed to have.

[Xeones]

Viserys Targaryen?

[Dweebston]

I think he mainly felt entitled to the position. He wanted the stature and the throne but wasn't especially or uniquely autocratic. His sister, though... she definitely has a streak of bureaucratic autocracy in her.

[Hamster of Doom]

Is that what the kids are calling balls these days?

[Almanian!]

Our father, who art in heaven?

[Kaptious Kristen]

Kaptious Kristen?

[Restoras, OWG]

I welcome our Kaptious Overlords!

[Eggs Benedict Cumberbund]

I like both Rand and Walker. Will be interesting to see how this shakes out.

Re: debates with Hillary = If he makes it that far, they will be epic.

[Rich]

Not according to Spencer.

[Spencer]

"Not according to Spencer."

This will be on my tombstone... well, urn.

[Rich]

LOL

[Antilles]

Walker is big-time drug warrior who wants to expand drug testing to welfare recipients. For that reason alone I can never vote for him.

[Restoras, OWG]

I don't think the time is right for Walker - that will come after the debt apocalypse.

[Spencer]

This has me all excited- like a school girl. I don't know why. I know, rationally, that it doesn't matter and nothing really will change- if he even gets out of the primaries. I'm only setting myself up for a grand and glorious nut punch. However... let's skip ahead...

Running mates?

Justin Amash? Mia Love? Michelle Park Steel? Nikki Haley? I think an Asian is a good way to go, politically speaking.

[Rich]

I thought we had agreed on Joe Biden.

[John]

Bobby Jindal. He would solidify the base. He would also drive the left completely and utterly insane. They would spend the entire election going after Jindal and forget that no one gives a shit about the VP candidate or votes based on it. All a VP candidate does is get people in your part who might be worried your nominee is not one of them and convinces them he is. That is it.

[Spencer]

Jindal is a nut. VPs can lose a race. "One heartbeat away"...

[John]

No they can't. Quale didn't lose it for Bush. Palin didn't lose it for McCain. The "heartbeat away" is just bullshit the media tells itself so it can pretend the VP candidate is a good story.

And Jindal has been a very good governor. And he is a Rhodes scholar. Libertarians hate him, but who cares. If they won't vote for Paul, they won't vote for anyone.

[Spencer]

Palin didn't lose it for McCain, but her choice solidified that McCain was insane.

Jindal also participated in exorcisms. And he's from Louisiana- which isn't a state anyone needs to win.

[Notorious G.K.C.]

"Jindal also participated in exorcisms."

And Hillary talked to Eleanor Roosevelt and Mohandas Gandhi.

http://www.cnn.com/US/9606/22/hillary.book/

[BigT]

"VPs can lose a race. "One heartbeat away".."

Just ask Sarah.

[Private FUQ]

Palin was about .000000001% of why McCain lost. Not that I think he had a chance but stopping his campaign to run back to Washington to spend billions bailing out the banks cost him the election more than anything. Other than he's a complete fruit loop.

[Hamster of Doom]

No kidding. Palin was the only reason he didn't concede his crushing defeat on Nov 3. The base loved her, they went along with him just to say hi to Palin.

[LynchPin1477]

Sarah Palin?

[Idle Hands]

Can you imagine the heads that would explode? It would almost be worth it.

[Spencer]

half the country would spontaneously combust.

[LynchPin1477]

No, and I don't want to. Rand shouldn't touch her with a 10 foot clown pole. I was bringing up an example of a VP candidate that hurt the campaign.

[Idle Hands]

Yeah, I'm a hard no on Jindal. But if Paul get's the nod on some miracle, I think it would be a good idea to look for a gov. as a running mate.

[jay_dubya]

Paul is one of the few winners when polled against Hillary because he causes Dems to stay home, steals Dems and brings the Independents. He is the only Team Red candidate who can do this.

A Jindal VP would destroy all of those things. Team Red does not have the numbers to beat Blue head to head the way this is shaping up.

[Bo Cara Esq.]

I've long said it should be Mike Lee.

[Idle Hands]

Should be in a sane world. However if Hil wins the D card, I think it would be smarter to go with Nikki Haley as she neutralizes the s word somewhat.

[Bo Cara Esq.]

Like Truman said, you can't put conservative a real conservative. The people that are going to vote for Clinton for the reasons your likely thinking are no more likely to change that because of a woman on the ticket as Veep.

[Idle Hands]

Then whats your pick? You said amash but than you dismissed lynchpin when he said the same thing. It's almost like your being a contrarian for the sake of it.

[Idle Hands]

Oh fuck I'm an idiot.

[Spencer]

knowing is half the battle.

[Idle Hands]

It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.

[Idle Hands]

For some reason beyond my realm of understanding I swear to god I thought your post said you liked Amash. For that I apologize.

[Spencer]

that's why I think Nikki Haley would be a great choice.

[Eggs Benedict Cumberbund]

She is attractive and Southern.

[UCrawford]

You mean Mike Lee who is currently under investigation (with Harry Reid) for kickbacks involving online gambling?

You think a Senator from Utah draws that much water?

[LynchPin1477]

If he picks Amash, that would be awesome. I like Amash more than I like Rand.

[Bo Cara Esq.]

It makes ideological sense, but not political sense, to pick Amash. Anyone who'd be pleased by that pick is likely already for Paul.

[Idle Hands]

this.

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Condi Rice, she's everything Hillary isn't.

[Spencer]

Isn't she tainted by being part of the Bush era mess?

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

Negated by Hillary's support for the Iraq War. Rice is one of the smartest persons to have ever served as Secretary of State, is a great story of individual success (contrasted with Hillary relying entirely on Bill to get anywhere) and checks off the minority and gender boxes.

[Spencer]

First question- "how do you feel about the fact that you checked off all the minority and gender boxes?"

HA!

[Idle Hands]

Always had a soft spot for condi.

[Spencer]

Just because you don't find her attractive, that's no reason to...

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

That being said she's made it pretty clear she doesn't want to get back into politics so I doubt she'd be interested. But who knows?

[gaoxiaen]

Hehe! You said taint.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbVItpQp7BI

[Bo Cara Esq.]

Not her. First question to her would be about Paul's CRA comments.

[Kaptious Kristen]

I'm not even sure she's a Republican.

[Hamster of Doom]

I'll put my money down for it being a relative unknown minority. And if it's Hilary, it'll be a woman. Think Martha McSally. I wouldn't rule out Mia Love as making the short list.

[Hamster of Doom]

And the Paul campaign will think long and hard before picking a white guy who isn't even more down-home, corn-pone than Rand. He'd have to be smashing his opponent in the polls before I'd see him selecting a white male VP.

[fold_left]

Paul Ryan ?
Mostly to have fun with names.
But also to add an establishment republican who isn't an idiot (not that I have a citation for that.)

[Slammer]

She said she "blew him off"

[jjjjj]

He's no Lizzie Warren.

Thank goodness.

[A Frayed Knot]

Hmm. The last freshman senator elected President worked out so well, we should do it again.

[Sudden]

For that reason there is some legitimate question about his competency as an executive. But there is no question that the man's worldview is far more promising than that last freshman senator.

[the other Jim]

I would ideally prefer someone with executive experience. But at least Rand had a successful career in a demanding field. Pretty sure you can't fake competence as an eye surgeon. It's not clear Obama was ever good at anything, except running for political office. And tricking idiots like Oprah into buying his snake oil.

[BakedPenguin]

The last freshman senator elected President was (is) a progressive moron who had zero new ideas beyond the standard warmed-over socialist claptrap.

[HeteroPatriarch]

Name the fallacy. Anyone?

[Almanian!]

Retardation?

[Kaptious Kristen]

While some of Paul's recent political posturing has dismayed libertarians, he is likely to remain the most libertarian candidate in the race

Errrmmm...other than the LP candidate (which will hopefully be Gary Johnson again)? Or did you mean in the Republican race?

[LynchPin1477]

I think he meant the actual race, not the consolation heat.

I've voted LP in the past and will do so in the future, but we all know what Gary Johnson's chances are.

[Kaptious Kristen]

He didn't say "most libertarian candidate who has a shot at winning". Words mean things. The LP candidate will likely be on the ballot in all 50 states.

[HeteroPatriarch]

Burn!

[Citizen Nothing]

If there's still any chance when my primary roles around, I just might have to register GOP for the first time, God help me.

[sarcasmic]

I was thinking the same thing.

[Kaptious Kristen]

I love that the media is all over Jeb Bush calling himself Hispanic.

You mean like Lizzie Warren calling herself Injun?

[Idle Hands]

You don't think Bush could find that he's at least 1/16th Spanish? We need to see a birth certificate.

[Slammer]

I don't get how she claims to be injun, she doesn't have red skin

[sarcasmic]

High cheekbones.

[Idle Hands]

It's the high cheekbones that are the give away.

"No, as I said, these are my family stories. I have lived in a family that has talked about Native Americans, talked about tribes since I had been a little girl," she said. "I still have a picture on my mantel and it is a picture my mother had before that - a picture of my grandfather. And my Aunt Bea has walked by that picture at least a 1,000 times remarked that he - her father, my Papaw -- had high cheek bones like all of the Indians do. Because that is how she saw it and your mother got those same great cheek bones and I didn't. She that thought was the bad deal she had gotten in life."

[Idle Hands]

-the future Walter Mondale.

[tarran]

I have lived in a family that has talked about Native Americans, talked about tribes since I had been a little girl,

My goodness! Growing up in Oklohoma hearing stories about native americans makes one native american?!? John, what tribe are you in?

Being 1/64th native american, I can't help but sneer at Warren over her attempt to claim minority status. Having native american ancestors in the 19th century was not the impediment that having black ancestors in the 20th was. Shit, my great grandma married a respected judge!

[Rich]

"I have lived in a family that has talked about Native Americans, talked about tribes since I had been a little girl."

And *I* have lived in a family that has talked about Thunder Lizards, talked about dinosaurs since I had been a little boy. That doesn't make me a Velociraptor.

[DesigNate]

How deliciously racist.

"Grandpappy had high cheekbones. That must mean he was at least part Indian."

[lap83]

Speaking of which, there's your ethnic VP candidate! jk

[Citizen Nothing]

And if Paul did get the nomination, I'd still hold out hope for a Rand - Hillary - Gary Johnson debate. Hell, throw in the Green Party candidate, too. That would be epic.

[Spencer]

I'm wondering if Johnson would/could work as an attack dog for Rand. I know it's not how it SHOULD work- but if they were on the same stage if Johnson could be the one that would tear Hillary apart and rand could remain above the fight.

I would pay money to see that.

[UnCivilServant]

Heresey! I'm apathetic about Paul.

[sarcasmic]

Rand Paul's campaign store features unconventional items such as the 'NSA Spy Cam Blocker,' eye charts, autographed pocket Constitutions and 'Rand on a Stick'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/new.....Stick.html
Um...

[lap83]

The flip flops don't bode well

[Citizen Nothing]

"These are the only flip-flops my campaign will make!"

[Charles Easterly]

Nice.

[tarran]

I won't be supporting Paul:

1) {Standard Anarchist boilerplate against voting for people}

2) Rand Paul in the Senate has a lifelong tenure and a chance to rein in and significantly curb executive excesses

3) Rand Paul in oval office will likely be a 1 term president who is sabotaged and run amock at every turn by the civil service.

[sarcasmic]

3) Rand Paul in oval office will likely be a 1 term president who is sabotaged and run amock at every turn by the civil service.

Four years of the federal government getting nothing done? I'll take it!

[Private FUQ]

1. Same

2. Agree 100%

3. I don't think he has a chance of being elected in the first place. He is going to get brutally beaten over the head with mischaracterizations of his stand on the CRA. Race baiting still works quite well in this country and their are too many "independents" that won't want their proggressive neighbors to call them racists. Hillary or any Dem gets 47% of the vote. It only takes a small percentage of white guilt voters and he's done.

[Private FUQ]

*and no I don't want to hear about the misused "their" damnit

[sarcasmic]

Ewe spelled "there" wrong.

[Private FUQ]

Eye sea what ewe did their

[Private FUQ]

The number of Rand threads is going to cause Hihn a major heart attack in about 6 hours when he starts raping them.

[DesigNate]

Sooooo KAAAAAAHHHHNNNNNSSSS!

[The Immaculate Trouser]

I'm in.

This would be a good time for the Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity to close its doors for good.

[Spencer]

Yes, that would be good.

[sarcasmic]

I'll probably vote for Gary's johnson, but we'll see.

[eyeroller]

he is likely to remain the most libertarian candidate in the race

Why doesn't Reason post 2,000 blogs about the "most libertarian" candidate in the Democratic Party's race?

I mean, whenever you have a group of people, one of them has got to be the "most libertarian", right?

[Marty Comanche]

Maybe if Jared Polis or Ron Wyden ran. It's not like Reason is averse to liberaltarian stories.

[american socialist]

Look at who is paying the bills.

[JPyrate]

Well we know who is not paying theirs.

[jay_dubya]

ahahahabaahahah

[Warren's Strapon]

They probably will, if one shows up.

[lap83]

Who do Millenials think is the most libertarian candidate?

[Lord Humungus]

Run Paul Run!

[Certified Public Asskicker]

What do Gawker readers think?

First Comment!

"I am running for president to return our country to the principles of liberty and limited government,"

Except when it comes to reproductive rights, gay marriage, birth control, government surveillance, and police brutality and corruption.

[Certified Public Asskicker]

Another good one:

Well, he's a libertarian at heart, and a lot of the tech assholes in Silicon Valley, San Franscico, and elsewhere embrace that free-wheeling, dog-eat-dog brand of libertarianism. You know, "let me smoke my weed, but I don't want to pay fucking taxes!"

So, yes, there is a certain appeal that he has with millenials who are total fuckwads.

[Hyperion]

The problem with most of the millenials is that thanks to the current administration, they are still living at home and so they don't have any clue about paying taxes. Once they get employed, they will suddenly become enlightened about that.

[See Double You]

Yeah, people who don't want to be deprived of what they've earned by the threat of force are total fuckwads.

What a fuckwad.

[Sudden]

Well, he's a libertarian at heart, and a lot of the techcorporate finance assholes in Silicon Valley, San FranscicoLos Angeles, and elsewhere embrace that free-wheeling, dog-eat-dog brand of libertarianism. You know, "let me smokeeat my weed, but I don't want to pay fucking taxes!"

So, yes, there is a certain appeal that he has with millenials who are total fuckwads.

Guy pretty much nailed me.

[John Thacker]

government surveillance, and police brutality and corruption.

So Gawker commenters are just plain stupid and factually challenged, aside from any political leanings. Same person will probably enthusiastically vote for pro-surveillance Democrats like Obama, Feinstein, and Clinton.

[Hyperion]

Someone was dropped on their head at birth.

[DesigNate]

My god, the stupid is staggering.

[Stormy Dragon]

What happened with that law about not being able to run for Senate and President at the same time in Kentucky? Is that resolved, or does this mean he's not running for Senate now?

[Hyperion]

I'm not real clear on that, but I thought I just read a post that seemed to indicate that Rand will be able to run for Senate also.

[Ghetto Slovak Goatherder]

I think he and Mitch managed to change the Kentucky election system to a caucus system.

[Hyperion]

No matter what you think of Turtlehead, he's a good ally for Rand to have right now.

[Ghetto Slovak Goatherder]

Yeah. When he endorsed Mitch a lot of us felt betrayed. But if political expediency gets someone with libertarian leanings in the white house... well I can learn to forgive.

[gaoxiaen]

Is that the Chinese meaning of Turtlehead? Well, Turtlehead can suck my turtle head.

[Stormy Dragon]

That only works for the primary. What happens if he gets both nominations and then has to choose one or the other for the general election?

[Hyperion]

If Rand wins the nomination, he has to switch gears a little and speak more of a libertarian message. He only needs the SoCons to win the primary. Once he has the nomination, the SoCons are a lock. What are they going to do, vote for Hillary?

In the general Rand needs to make sure to get the youth, the libertarians, and the dem crossovers to get out and vote to get the win.

One of the most terrifying things for Hillary has to be, if she is smart enough to realize this could happen, is that some of the liberal media might turn on her and support Rand. We've already seen signs that this could happen.

If it's Rand vs Hillary, Rand will win. If it's Jeb, the old bag will win. Are you listening, Stupid Party?

[OneOut]

"Once he has the nomination, the SoCons are a lock. What are they going to do, vote for Hillary?"

No they won't vote for Hillary. But a large part of the party might just not vote like the ones who didn't get out and vote for Romney.

Regardless of what you think about Romney he would have been better for the country than what we have.

You could damn sure bet that the economy wouldn't still be stuck in neutral after all these years. I doubt also our foreign policy would be in a complete shambles where we are fighting someone in one place and then fighting against them a few hundred miles away.

[Hamster of Doom]

Regardless of what you think about Romney he would have been better for the country than what we have.

The only Republican governor to ban guns, and the author of Romneycare. Seriously?

[OneOut]

"The only Republican governor to ban guns, and the author of Romneycare. Seriously?"

And you prefer Obama ?

Seriously ?

[gaoxiaen]

Romney would have been good for the Libertarians. He would have turned the Republicans into Democrats.

[jay_dubya]

you are a moron if you think there is any difference in executive policy between a team red insider and a team blue insider.

what exactly has the big difference been between bush and obama? these guys are figureheads.

[Rebel Scum]

Rand Paul Just Made It Official: "I Am Running for President"

May the odds be ever in your favor.

P.S.
Pick Nikki Haley as a running mate. It should cover all the identity politics bs you will encounter.

[Hyperion]

Pick Nikki Haley as a running mate

Noooooooo!!!!!

[Rebel Scum]

Honestly, I don't know much about her other than being governor. She has exec. experience. She was the first name that popped into my head that would cover the necessary identity grounds (race/gender) so as to make prog. heads explode (I hope). I'm willing to entertain other suggestions.

[chevy706]

Not to mention you'd have the whole first names as last names thing going.

[Charles Easterly]

On a serious note (from the Rand Paul e-mail that just went out to supporters):

"And with your support here's my plan to defeat the Washington machine and unleash the American Dream:

1) Term limits to get rid of the career politicians.
2) Require Congress to read legislation before they actually vote on it - read the bills!
3) Audit the Fed - we deserve to know what's happening with our money.
4) Pass a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution -no more adding trillions in debt - time to pay it down.
5) Boldly overhaul the tax code - no more loopholes for the biggest corporations with the best lobbyists - give workers a tax cut.
6) Stop Common Core - school choice is the way forward.

And on and on and on."

[Hyperion]

Well, there's probably nothing in that list that both conservatives and libertarian will be against.

[american socialist]

Laughable. Newt Gingrich proposed basically the same in 1994. This is your revolutionary. Hahaha... What a joke!

[Sevo]

american socialist|4.7.15 @ 12:25PM|#
"Laughable. Newt Gingrich proposed basically the same in 1994. This is your revolutionary. Hahaha... What a joke!"

And you propose what Lenin did in 1917! Hahaha! What a joke.
Fuck off, asshole.

[Stormy Dragon]

How exactly would #2 be enforced?

[gaoxiaen]

Clockwork Orange style.

[John Thacker]

He's a Duke grad elected in Kentucky, can winning the GOP nomination really be tougher?

[Hyperion]

The thing that some don't realize about Rand, is that while the establishment may not like him, he at least has Turtlehead locked up to support him. He was very smart to do that.

The biggest difference between Ron and Rand is that Rand is a smart politician.

[Ghetto Slovak Goatherder]

Anyone watching this live? This is so weird.

[Slammer]

I am. He's announcing from the Galt House Hotel. Heh.

[Ghetto Slovak Goatherder]

Yeah 🙂

Though that hotel was around before Ayn Rand was.

The country singing anti-wall street beginning, followed by two minority announcers praying, and now it seems like he has a young blind girl singing the national anthem. I am just... this is bizarre.

[Slammer]

i cant look away, though.

[Ghetto Slovak Goatherder]

Now he's got a Hispanic man talking about his Guatemala eye surgery work. He KNOWS he needs a decent chunk of the minority vote.

This dude is talking about diversity, broad tents, etc etc.

[Ghetto Slovak Goatherder]

NOW A WOMAN.

Rand is going to be the only old white man on stage this morning.

[Slammer]

This groupie's cute

[Mike M.]

Poor Rand has absolutely no idea what he's in for.

If it ever at any point looks like he could possibly win, he's going to get Buttplugged by his Weigelian "friends" here at Reason so hard that by the time January rolls around many of us will think he's just about the worst person in the world.

[Hyperion]

Maybe they don't want any more donations.

[OneOut]

"Poor Rand has absolutely no idea what he's in for"

After watching what was done to his father I would imagine he has a better idea than you as to what he faces.

[UCrawford]

He also had a realistic outlook about his dad's chances in each of those elections. That's one of the reasons I think he's more credible than his dad as a candidate...he's not in the election to "inform", he's in the election to try and win.

[Almanian!]

You guys are missing the REAL news:

Almanian For President - 2016
I Probably Won't Make It Any Worse

I'd consider Rand Paul as my VP candidate.

[Private FUQ]

I will vote for you if you pick Bo as VP. I like popcorn.

[Sevo]

Not positive enough:
" I GUARANDAMNTEE I won't make it any worse!"

[This Machine]

Hmm, what's your platform, again?

[HazelMeade]

I think Rand Paul is likely to win.

The reason is that the Republican establishment basically has three choices:
1) Unelectable establishment guy (Jeb Bush)
2) Insane Tea Party candidate (Ted Cruz)
3) Sensible Libertarian (Rand Paul)

They aren't going to go for the insane Tea Party candidate, because that would be worse than Paul. And they aren't going to pick Unelectable either. Which means their only real option is Paul.

[Ghetto Slovak Goatherder]

Walker?

[Dark Lord of the Cis]

I think when the establishment realizes those choices, they'll put everything they got behind Scott Walker.

[Almanian!]

This country elected GW Bush and B Obama twice, each. On PURPOSE.

I'm not so sure Rand Paul makes it to the finals....much less WINS.

[JPyrate]

Agorism will become a philosophy of survival. =)

[american socialist]

YAY! Can anyone tell me where the Bay Area meetup is? I like hanging out with kooks and neo-confederates. Nathan Bedford Forrest, you are my hero.

Just so I know: what does this announcement have to do with libertarianism?

[DesigNate]

Go to the piers.

Walk about 50 miles past the pier.

[UCrawford]

And if you hit the 50 miles, you've gone too far out to turn back. Just keep swimming until you hit the other side. I'm sure you'll make it.

[Sudden]

Exactly. We'll just be seasteading out there.

[american socialist]

I'm quaking in my boots waiting for rand paul to get... oh...About 10% of the vote in the first primary, drop out, and then for commentators here to argue strenuously that it is vital that we elect walker/Christie over whatever fiend the Democrats nominate. You know... For liberty or whatever.

[Sevo]

Well, you'll be sadly disappointed.
Shitstain 'team players' like you pull that crap and we laugh at you as a result.
Oh, and fuck off.

[adolphowisner]

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[cruralimes]

Google pay 97$ per hour my last pay check was $8500 working 1o hours a week online. My younger brother friend has been averaging 12k for months now and he works about 22 hours a week. I cant believe how easy it was once I tried it out.
This is wha- I do...... ?????? http://www.netjob80.com

[hakimweinreb]

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[lerohi]

Google pay 97$ per hour my last pay check was $8500 working 1o hours a week online. My younger brother friend has been averaging 12k for months now and he works about 22 hours a week. I cant believe how easy it was once I tried it out.
This is wha- I do...... ?????? http://www.netjob80.com

[Spencer]

Being in Texas, I think it would be a waste of my vote to throw in for a republican. I'm the 1%! (maybe.)

[Sudden]

Same thing in California, albeit for vastly different reasons

[Warren's Strapon]

Ditto for Arkansas. It's going 60/40 for the R; 65/35 if the D is Clinton.

[John]

Hillary is a terrible debater. Walker or Paul either one would crush her. The only problem is that they would beat her so badly that they might go too far and cause the country to feel sympathetic for her and see them as bullies.

[Spencer]

I'm a reasonable guy. But, I've just experienced some very unreasonable things.

When some wild-eyed, eight-foot-tall maniac grabs your neck, taps the back of your favorite head up against the barroom wall, and he looks you crooked in the eye and he asks you if ya paid your dues, you just stare that big sucker right back in the eye, and you remember what ol' Jack Burton always says at a time like that: "Have ya paid your dues, Jack?" "Yessir, the check is in the mail."

[Bo Cara Esq.]

Walker is a debate dodger, John. Overcome your crush on him and ask someone from Wisconsin.

[lap83]

"they might go too far and cause the country to feel sympathetic for her and see them as bullies."

I'm willing to risk it for the entertainment value.

[Spencer]

THIS! If she cries on camera after getting bludgeoned on a point, all is lost for team red.

[HeteroPatriarch]

I don't see Walker disagreeing with Hillary on enough points to crush her.

[HeteroPatriarch]

I don't see Walker disagreeing with Hillary on enough points to crush her.

[John]

Is there any idiotic talking point you won't believe and put up here? You really are the Ron Burgandy of Reason. If it is a left wing talking point, don't show it to Bo unless you want him to post it because he will post it no matter what.

It is not that you are boring and not very bright, it is that you make up for it by being predictable and tiresome. At least Shreek is funny and Tony interesting in a really appalling and offensive way. You in contrast manage to not even be that.

[Idle Hands]

You really hate Walker. He's def. not my favorite but he might be the best realistic option who could win a national election.

[Private FUQ]

And he doesn't have a degree. Instant fail.

[Bo Cara Esq.]

Your reply is all emotion, as expected. In his recent elections he declined the higher number of debates his opponents sought. He's not known as a good debater John, whatever other qualities he might have.

[Bo Cara Esq.]

Don't confuse hating him with being unwilling to ignore reality regarding him because of a man crush.

He's done commendable things, he's got some strengths, but he's not the knight on a white horse many see.

[Spencer]

Paul's got a few. doesn't it balance out?

[Spencer]

Honey, I never drive faster than I can see. Besides that, it's all in the reflexes.

I want to get all the candidates to quote Jack Burton.

[Charles Easterly]

"May the wings of liberty never lose a feather."

[lap83]

Nah. Nobody would think that crying somehow qualifies her for the presidency except Jezebel writers and she could murder a small child and still get their support. At the end of the day, this is who voters want as the commander in chief. Most don't want a wimp.

[lap83]

*this is about

[BigT]

"Nobody would think that crying somehow qualifies her for the presidency "

Correct. See Muskie, Ed.

[Charles Easterly]

Well Spencer, it will soon be time for the trolls to resurface with claims that he never received a medical license from an accredited institution, he's a neo-confederate, and furthermore he was named after the hated Ayn Rand.

[Charles Easterly]

Oh - and don't you know who his father is?

Alex Jones of the Johnstown massacre.

[Mercutio]

Your reply is all emotion, as expected.

"I don't see no points on your ears, boy...."

[OneOut]

He may have refused a higher number of debates but you have no way of knowing why he did so. You simply assume that he is a weak debater.

When agreeing to political debates both sides argue over every trifle. He may have declined more debates than offered simply to not concede power to set the agenda to those asking for one. He may have refused debates because the opponent insisted on him debating while wearing a beanie cap with a propeller on it.

That gives that Pol the ability to convince low info voters and talking point repeaters to declare that " Walker is a weak debater" because he refused to debate his opponent. The insisted on terms of the debate are never mentioned.

[Eggs Benedict Cumberbund]

BOOOOOO TAAAAAAARRRRRDDDDD

[Chumby]

He's no master debater?

[HeteroPatriarch]

Who the fuck is Jack Burton?

[Pro Libertate]

"Shut up Mr. Burton. You are not brought upon this world to 'get it.'"

[Spencer]

Jack Burton: You know what ol' Jack Burton always says at a time like this?
Thunder: Who?
Jack Burton: Jack Burton. *Me*!

[Hamster of Doom]

I feel your pain, brah. Tell us where the bad lady hurt you.

[Almanian!]

Alex Jones was responsible for the Johnstown Flood??

Learn something new ebbyday...

[Almanian!]

You're right - I earned it....

[Spencer]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dl-pr5iqKb4

[Hamster of Doom]

To maintain the narrative that the status quo is actually a polarizing clash of vital importance, conflict can be manufactured.

[Sevo]

Sudden|4.7.15 @ 10:48AM|#
"Same thing in California, albeit for vastly different reasons"

Yeah, I could vote 50 times and it wouldn't even cause a blip.

[Charles Easterly]

I tried to channel the deep derp as I've seen it elsewhere.

[Pope Jimbo]

The sympathy card would only work if Hillary was capable of showing human emotion and vulnerability.

The problem is she is incapable of that. When things got rough, she would pull a 'you can't handle the truth" moment and reveal herself as the giant bully she really is.