POLITICO: Rand Paul's Greatest Weakness

[economics102]

Interesting read...

http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/11/rand-pauls-greatest-weakness-112816.html

[KEEF]

Interesting read...

http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/11/rand-pauls-greatest-weakness-112816.html

I read it as the establishment's attempt at sowing subtle seeds of doubt into the minds of "Republican Team" voters.

[69360]

I read that as Rand is bulletproof, which scares democrats and republicans too.

[TaftFan]

They put one out on Cruz too: http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/11/ted-cruzs-greatest-weakness-112813.html?ml=po#.VGaOTMmqq6s

[specsaregood]

dupe, posted the other day:
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?462959-Politico-hit-piece-on-Rand-Paul

[Legend1104]

Rand Paul's greatest weakness is not connection to his father's positions, but rather Americas lack of knowledge of basic history, politics, economics, and rights. After reading about the former Rand Paul (pre-politics) and knowing that he (more than any one of us) grew up under the direct tutelage of Ron Paul, I have no doubt in my mind that everything that Rand is doing that seems like turning on our positions and beliefs is just his attempt to become president and his understanding after seeing what happened to his father that, while we need a Ron Paul as president, a Ron Paul can't win right now. Instead, what we seem to need is a Rand Paul that can actually get across the finish line with a win. Until I see a Rand Paul president actually signing policies that sacrifice everything we all believe in and sending in troops to fight crazy wars, I will not believe that Rand Paul is not still his father's son.

[cindy25]

by Jan 2016 the ISIS war will be unpopular, and Rand might have a foreign policy advantage, at least in Iowa and NH. SC worries me. it could end there, if Rand doesn't finish decently there

[NOVALibertarian]

I read that as Rand is bulletproof, which scares democrats and republicans too.

He does seem to have that teflon quality to him. Ronald Reagan had that same intangible quality.

[TaftFan]

Now one for Christie: http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/11/chris-christies-greatest-weakness-112862.html

[Grenadine]

This article does bring up some valid points.

[specsaregood]

This article does bring up some valid points.

Yes, especially that Randal's opponents are going to actively sow disharmony and attempt to divide his father's supporters in an attempt to defeat him.

[acptulsa]

This article does bring up some valid points.

Do tell. By all means list the most valid ones.

[Grenadine]

Yes, especially that Randal's opponents are going to actively sow disharmony and attempt to divide his father's supporters in an attempt to defeat him.Yep. They'll continue to try and convince Ron supporters that Rand has become a 'neocon' and that he's now an establishment hack.On the other side, they'll try and convince mainstream GOPers that he's an isolationist and a fringe libertarian.

[Grenadine]

Do tell. By all means list the most valid ones.This, for instance:"As just one example, Beynon says he sees a “high-wire act,” where Paul is constantly at risk of losing his father’s isolationist base, still-powerful holdovers from Ron Paul’s 2012 run, as the son tries to assuage establishment and mainstream Republican concerns about his own foreign policy views."

[specsaregood]

This, for instance:"As just one example, Beynon says he sees a “high-wire act,” where Paul is constantly at risk of losing his father’s isolationist base, still-powerful holdovers from Ron Paul’s 2012 run, as the son tries to assuage establishment and mainstream Republican concerns about his own foreign policy views."

Not really. The high-wire act is a media construct meant to try to convince people that Randal is unstable. it ties into my previous point about sowing disharmony.

[Grenadine]

Not really. The high-wire act is a media construct meant to try to convince people that Randal is unstable. it ties into my previous point about sowing disharmony.I agree with you. I wasn't saying the point is true, but that it is something that his opponents and the media will try to exploit. Unfortunately, I think it might be effective with some of Ron's more hardcore libertarian supporters.

[acptulsa]

This, for instance:"As just one example, Beynon says he sees a “high-wire act,” where Paul is constantly at risk of losing his father’s isolationist base, still-powerful holdovers from Ron Paul’s 2012 run, as the son tries to assuage establishment and mainstream Republican concerns about his own foreign policy views."

I suppose that could be called a 'valid point'. Except that the article is supposed to be about Paul's weaknesses. As long as he stays on the 'high-wire', he's getting support from both the Establishment and the (mislabeled) non-interventionalists. Who else can make the same claim? How is that a weakness? Because one misstep (which hasn't happened yet and might not happen) will leave him in the same boat as everyone else--with the support of one but not the other?

[Grenadine]

I suppose that could be called a 'valid point'. Except that the article is supposed to be about Paul's weaknesses. As long as he stays on the 'high-wire', he's getting support from both the Establishment and the (mislabeled) non-interventionalists. Who else can make the same claim? How is that a weakness? Because one misstep (which hasn't happened yet and might not happen) will leave him in the same boat as everyone else--with the support of one but not the other?I suppose you're right.

[specsaregood]

I suppose that could be called a 'valid point'. Except that the article is supposed to be about Paul's weaknesses. As long as he stays on the 'high-wire', he's getting support from both the Establishment and the (mislabeled) non-interventionalists. Who else can make the same claim? How is that a weakness? Because one misstep (which hasn't happened yet and might not happen) will leave him in the same boat as everyone else--with the support of one but not the other?

Except Randal isn't trying to balance on a highwire at all. He is willingly giving up the extremists on both sides (that very people that make a highwire dangerous) and focusing on building a solid wide moderate base via pragmatism. what he is doing is almost the exact opposite of a highwire.

[jct74]

“There was one bad ad,” Conway recalled in the interview, more than two years after his loss to Paul. “Other than the bad ad, I ran a good campaign.”

LOL.

He ran a horribly shitty campaign, all about Rand, all the time. It was really comical.