Rand Paul mocks Cory Booker

[libertarian101]

Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul took a dim view of Newark Mayor Cory Booker on the eve of a planned trip to New Jersey to stump against the Democratic Senate candidate.
Explaining his decision to campaign for Republican nominee Steve Lonegan on Friday, Paul jabbed at Booker as a politician with “an imaginary friend with imaginary problems” — an allusion to stories Booker has told about a Newark drug lord named “T-Bone,” whom he has said he befriended.


Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2013/09/cory-booker-mocked-by-rand-paul-96689.html#ixzz2egTpGgEQI think this is totally uncalled for and makes Rand look like a mean person considering Booker has stated again and again that he likes Rand and he is looking forward to work with him. Steve Lonegan has zero chance of winning, so why throw low jab at Booker and lose a potential democrat ally that could be the new Ron Wyden?

Hours before New Jersey voters headed to the polls to choose their candidates for the state's 2013 U.S. Senate race, Newark (N.J.) Mayor Cory Booker dropped some intriguing names as examples of how to shake up Congress.
In an interview with NBC News posted late Monday, Booker was asked what his chances are to generate change, within a Senate where seniority often reigns supreme. Booker described himself as someone who does not throw "Molotov cocktails." In the process, he also mentioned two junior Republican senators who have turned heads at times during their tenures. Read more: (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/13/cory-booker-rand-paul-ted-cruz_n_3749389.html)http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/0...n_3749389.html

[specsaregood]

I think this is totally uncalled for and makes Rand look like a mean person considering Booker has stated again and again that he likes Rand and he is looking forward to work with him. Steve Lonegan has zero chance of winning, so why throw low jab at Booker and lose a potential democrat ally that could be the new Ron Wyden?

Because its true? And Booker did not say he likes Rand. He said he likes what Rand has done in being a junior senator making waves. Not that he approves of his agenda; there is no way booker would end up anything like an ally in the senate. he'll be a tool for the dnc.

[jtstellar]

i have seen people criticize rand for apparently not standing up enough for radical rhetoric

but this guy is the only one ive seen on this board who criticizes paul for playing politics the wrong way

[TER]

Your back again, defending Corey Booker while taking jabs at Lonegan and Rand? Do you do his late night pedicures?

[brandon]

They were on a TV show together before:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGM0OYdjxSs

[specsaregood]

Do you do his late night pedicures?

And by "pedicures" you mean rubdowns at the male only bathhouse.

[JK/SEA]

op sez he/she is a Libertarian in screen name.

meh.......

[Nirvikalpa]

It was childish and did nothing to 1) help Lonegan or 2) make NJ voters think less of voting for Booker.

[krugminator]

I think this is totally uncalled for and makes Rand look like a mean person considering Booker has stated again and again that he likes Rand and he is looking forward to work with him. Steve Lonegan has zero chance of winning, so why throw low jab at Booker and lose a potential democrat ally that could be the new Ron Wyden?

What you are saying is not true. He has been using Rand's endorsement of Lonegan against Lonegan. Booker has been calling Rand an extremist.

[angelatc]

I think this is totally uncalled for and makes Rand look like a mean person considering Booker has stated again and again that he likes Rand and he is looking forward to work with him. Steve Lonegan has zero chance of winning, so why throw low jab at Booker and lose a potential democrat ally that could be the new Ron Wyden?

Are you insane? Booker is going to the biggest freaking socialist in Congress.

Lonegan should nail him to a war position, because that's something Booker clearly doesn't want to talk about. He's the shallowest candidate to come along since Obama.

But it will be funny if he takes the Dem nomination away from HRC.

[Nirvikalpa]

Are you insane? Booker is going to the biggest freaking socialist in Congress.

Lonegan should nail him to a war position, because that's something Booker clearly doesn't want to talk about. He's the shallowest candidate to come along since Obama.

But it will be funny if he takes the Dem nomination away from HRC.

Biggest socialist in Congress who doesn't care for the Drug War? Come on now, there are bigger Socialists than Booker to worry about - in a lot more close races.

[angelatc]

Biggest socialist in Congress who doesn't care for the Drug War? Come on now, there are bigger Socialists than Booker to worry about - in a lot more close races.

Are you seriously implying he's a moderate? The man never met a social program he didn't want to expand. The fact that he's seemingly untouchable is what makes him the bigger threat.

[Rudeman]

Is Booker more of socialist than Warren? I didn't think anyone could be worse than her.

[jtstellar]

It was childish and did nothing to 1) help Lonegan or 2) make NJ voters think less of voting for Booker.

rand does pack more venom than his father.. take it or leave it, quite frankly

[matt0611]

Is Booker more of socialist than Warren? I didn't think anyone could be worse than her.

Probably not. Sanders and Warren are very very socialist. I doubt Booker would be as socialist as them.

[angelatc]

Probably not. Sanders and Warren are very very socialist. I doubt Booker would be as socialist as them.

You wait. He's a Chameleon.

[Rudeman]

I don't doubt that he'll be a socialist but jeez it's hard for me to imagine someone being more socialist than either of those 2. I guess it might be possible, we'll probably find out since he's likely to win.

[jct74]

more from Rand, also rips on Robert Menendez

http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/09/kentucky_sen_rand_paul_rips_booker_praises_lonegan _and_spares_christie.html


“I’ve been reading a lot about Cory Booker’s imaginary friend and I wanted to come up there and see if New Jersey would elect real workers or someone with imaginary friends,” Paul said.


Paul also bashed Booker for refusing to say how he’d vote on a resolution to aim strikes at Syria, and for being unclear about what he would do about the National Security Agency’s surveillance programs.

“You’ve got a Democrat candidate now who was against the war before he was for the war and seems to be a little uncertain where he is on the issue,” Paul said. “If you’re running for the Senate and you don’t have an opinion on the Syrian war, you have a confused opinion. I think that’s maybe an indication that you’re not ready.”


On Syria, Paul did not limit his criticism to Booker. He called U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), the chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, “more prone to war than any Republican in the country.”

[jtstellar]

ouch i can see menedez start messing with rand's committee assignment the first chance he gets

[specsaregood]

more from Rand, also rips on Robert Menendez
http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/09/kentucky_sen_rand_paul_rips_booker_praises_lonegan _and_spares_christie.html

The first step in breaking down a media construction is to keep calling it out as such, including lies, misleads and make-believe stories. Rand seems to have great political instincts; I don't think he is saying this stuff just for the hell of it.

[angelatc]

more from Rand, also rips on Robert Menendez

http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/09/kentucky_sen_rand_paul_rips_booker_praises_lonegan _and_spares_christie.html

Its about time somebody called him out on this crap. If he has an Achilles heel, that's where it is. Syria and civil liberties.

[Feeding the Abscess]

Rand's wrong on that one. As bad as Menendez is, he at least opposed the Iraq war from its inception. That's better than the likes of the uber hawks in the GOP. He likely only opposed it because a Republican was in office, mind you.

[angelatc]

Menendez was only against Iraq because there was a GOP preisdent. That does not make Rand wrong.

The more I think about it the more it makes sense. Rand Paul is not going to win this race for Lonegan, as much as we desperately wish he would. So, why would be be mucking about in New Jersey?

Let's see...maybe because Lonegan has the potential to help endear Rand to the NJ GOP? Might that be important at some future date?


Was it childish? Well, if the NJ GOP reacted negatively to excessive snark, I'm guessing that Christie wouldn't be Governor. A governor who, coincidentally, is expected to run for the GOP nomination in the same year that Paul is expected to run, and has been getting grief lately for not being conservative enough.

And would it surprise anybody if Booker ran for President that same year?

Run Rand run.

[specsaregood]

./

[Chester Copperpot]

Booker is a total gun grabber.


Menendez's staffers have consistently lied to me over and over again... It doesnt matter what the issue is.. They always lie... I dont even bother calling their officer anymore because after you catch them in a lie and ask them why they lie they simply say "the senator doesnt represent you.. he represents the state of NJ."

[Cowlesy]

Boobus Americanus is already convinced Booker is anointed. I wish Lonegan the best but Booker could pull an Anthony Weiner right now and he'd still win handily.

[Root]

Lonegan has zero chance of winning. He would have a better chance challenging one of the Congressmen in a district that likes to elect people who wear an R for the red team. Leonard Lance in my district comes to mind.

[Bastiat's The Law]

Booker would be a top three Socialist with a capital "S".

[milgram]

I hoped the more socialist Rush Holt would have won the NJ Dem primary, as he's much better on issues of war and civil liberties.

Booker is more party man than socialist. He seems content to parrot talking points when addressing national issues, so I question the scope of his knowledge. I remember Gawker ambushed him at the DNC on the topic of drone assassinations. He gave a nonsense answer -- vaguely congratulatory of Obama -- and walked away.

[Nirvikalpa]

Are you seriously implying he's a moderate? The man never met a social program he didn't want to expand. The fact that he's seemingly untouchable is what makes him the bigger threat.

I'm implying that whether you like it or not, Booker is going to win this election and I'm trying to find a few positives. No where did I imply he's a moderate, but I do respect him for being mayor of a city with a shit-ton of drug crimes and recognizing the horrors of the drug war. He, at least in that sense, has a step-up to many of his fellow Dems.

And I'm saying this as someone who worked as an EMT in his city for a year as I was doing my rounds.

I just think you're being completely unreasonable. Booker is not the shadiest SOB that could run for something in this state, trust me.

[angelatc]

I just think you're being completely unreasonable. Booker is not the shadiest SOB that could run for something in this state, trust me.

Of course not! That's why he articulated his opinion on the Syria conflict and the NSA so clearly.

[angelatc]

I'm not sure that is it. I think it is more of an example of putting his actions where his words are. What has Rand been saying all year about how to grow the GOP and make it a national party again? he keeps saying republicans have to go where they haven't traditionally won, ask for votes and do outreach. That it is libertarian-styled republicans that have a chance in those areas -- he has specifically said "the northeast" many times when going into those talking points. So here we have a libertarian styled candidate, running in the northeast in a special election. If he didn't come up here and support him it would look like he isn't serious when he says that.

I think we're both right, actually.

[angelatc]

Booker is a total gun grabber.


Menendez's staffers have consistently lied to me over and over again... It doesnt matter what the issue is.. They always lie... I dont even bother calling their officer anymore because after you catch them in a lie and ask them why they lie they simply say "the senator doesnt represent you.. he represents the state of NJ."

I really wish we could repeal the 17th.

[Nirvikalpa]

Of course not! That's why he articulated his opinion on the Syria conflict and the NSA so clearly.

lol bitter.

Well I'm getting ready for the Lonegan/Rand rally in NJ today. I'll report back.

[angelatc]

lol bitter.

Well I'm getting ready for the Lonegan/Rand rally in NJ today. I'll report back.

We'll have to wait to see who is right, but the Democrats have pushed their center to the back of their bus. The new young faces emerging are all hard core lefties, and Booker is one of them.

I'm not bitter - just more incredulous that he isn't transparent to more people here. And while the issue isn't really in my wheelhouse, it appears that the hardcore socialists don't unilaterally support the Drug War: http://socialistworker.org/2012/11/27/victories-against-the-drug-war

[specsaregood]

Booker is not the shadiest SOB that could run for something in this state, trust me.

^ A ringing endorsement if I've ever heard one.

[Root]

lol bitter.

Well I'm getting ready for the Lonegan/Rand rally in NJ today. I'll report back.
I really wanted to go to that, I hope you can take some pics. So close to home, I feel like I'm missing out on an opportunity. Oh well, I guess there will be others.

[KingNothing]

It was childish and did nothing to 1) help Lonegan or 2) make NJ voters think less of voting for Booker.

Agreed. Rand said something without a reason to say something. That's why it was stupid. He said something without a purpose. He never does that. It's careless.

[angelatc]

Agreed. Rand said something without a reason to say something. That's why it was stupid. He said something without a purpose. He never does that. It's careless.

I disagree that it didn't have a purpose though. He isn't courting the Democrat vote - he's endearing himself to the GOP who likely hate Booker passionately because he's such a Golden Child.

I haven't heard news of Christie do much Booker bashing, which should tick off any Republican worth courting.

(Of course, I haven't paid much attention to that race, so it's possible Booker is being slammed by Christie on a daily basis, but I think they have too much in common for that to happen.)

[Nirvikalpa]

^ A ringing endorsement if I've ever heard one.

Right, that's why I'm at the Lonegan rally RIGHT NOW.

[specsaregood]

I disagree that it didn't have a purpose though. He isn't courting the Democrat vote - he's endearing himself to the GOP who likely hate Booker passionately because he's such a Golden Child.


If I was Lonegan or a rich supporter. I'd probably go with a scorched earth method. I'd do some push polling of independents and democrats with this question:

Which do you think would be better suited to represent NJ in the US Senate:
1. A possibly closeted gay black man with a history of lying about people he knows in speeches and says his favorite thing to do is go out for pedicures at 3am.
Or
2. A native catholic new jerseyan, small business owner and successful mayor?

[angelatc]

If I was Lonegan or a rich supporter. I'd probably go with a scorched earth method. I'd do some push polling of independents and democrats with this question:

Which do you think would be better suited to represent NJ in the US Senate:
1. A possibly closeted gay black man with a history of lying about people he knows in speeches and says his favorite thing to do is go out for pedicures at 3am.
Or
2. A native catholic new jerseyan, small business owner and successful mayor?


The flaming libertarians would faint dead away if you dared to play the ghey card, so that would probably have to be done via whisper campaign. But unless they get video of Booker in bed with a dead boy, I think he's unbeatable.

Note that a live boy would probably only make it iffy. They're Democrats.

[VoluntaryAmerican]

I disagree that it didn't have a purpose though. He isn't courting the Democrat vote - he's endearing himself to the GOP who likely hate Booker passionately because he's such a Golden Child.

I haven't heard news of Christie do much Booker bashing, which should tick off any Republican worth courting.

(Of course, I haven't paid much attention to that race, so it's possible Booker is being slammed by Christie on a daily basis, but I think they have too much in common for that to happen.)

Christie is admitted friends with Booker, he hasn't said much except endorse Lonegan. That's it.

Rand is doing the right thing, he is getting a lot of NJ media coverage over this, and his endorsement--looking like a Republican leader.

[VoluntaryAmerican]

Booker would be a top three Socialist with a capital "S".

Booker is a populist, but not doubt in mind he will kiss the ass of the establishment. Booker was not the worst Democrat in the primary, believe it or not.

[specsaregood]

Christie is admitted friends with Booker, he hasn't said much except endorse Lonegan. That's it.


Christie recorded a message telling people to vote lonegan that is getting played to all registered republicans phones today.

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/5605/v6ke.jpg
That ^man loves getting middle of night pedicures, clearly not closeted.

[RM918]

I could really give LESS than two shits whether he's gay or not. That is entirely pointless. The guy is going to be yet another corrupt piece of shit in a state full of corrupt pieces of shit. At this stage I just vote against whoever's currently in the majority just to keep them fighting each other.

[specsaregood]

I could really give LESS than two shits whether he's gay or not. That is entirely pointless. The guy is going to be yet another corrupt piece of shit in a state full of corrupt pieces of shit. At this stage I just vote against whoever's currently in the majority just to keep them fighting each other.

It is not pointless. I don't care what he likes; BUT a closeted homosexual is a liability and prone to blackmail. Just like a hetero with weird secret sex fetishes would be.

[libertygold]

I think this is totally uncalled for and makes Rand look like a mean person considering Booker has stated again and again that he likes Rand and he is looking forward to work with him. Steve Lonegan has zero chance of winning, so why throw low jab at Booker and lose a potential democrat ally that could be the new Ron Wyden?

Ted Cruz is basically turning into a Republican politician.

[thoughtomator]

Booker is far more likely to be the next Chuck Schumer than he is to be the next Ron Wyden.

[Lindsey]

Did you all see the story about how Booker may not even live in NJ? I think it was Rand who posted it on Facebook about 2 days ago.

Here's the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rNnNIV9oKI&feature=youtu.be

[AuH20]

A typical garbage mayor of a big city. Imagine Bob Corker or Bob Menendez. That's who Booker will be.

[dcraelin]

I wonder what Rand has to say about the over-hyped, over-sized governor in NJ.

[ObiRandKenobi]

"uncalled for"?

people used to have duels. light up brah