Rand Paul Reportedly Said He Would Debate Bernie Sanders “Anytime, Anyplace”

[BarryDonegan]

At last Saturday's Republican Party of Kentucky meeting, U.S. Senator and 2016 Republican presidential candidate Rand Paul reportedly told thought-leading libertarian activist Donald Meinshausen that he would debate Bernie Sanders "anytime, anyplace."

http://truthinmedia.com/rand-paul-reportedly-debate-bernie-sanders/

[luctor-et-emergo]

At last Saturday's Republican Party of Kentucky meeting, U.S. Senator and 2016 Republican presidential candidate Rand Paul reportedly told thought-leading libertarian activist Donald Meinshausen that he would debate Bernie Sanders "anytime, anyplace."

http://truthinmedia.com/rand-paul-reportedly-debate-bernie-sanders/

I don't see why not...

[phill4paul]

During the Presidential debates of 2016 would be an excellent time and place.

[luctor-et-emergo]

During the Presidential debates of 2016 would be an excellent time and place.

Next week would be fine as well... But you know what would happen.

All of a sudden the 58 other candidates would start whining about being excluded.

[idiom]

Want to have real debate on the role in government in American Society, this would be it.

[RonPaulGeorge&Ringo]

I don't see why not...

Because the RNC would say he was participating in an unsanctioned debate and then try to keep him out of the the regular Republican debates.

Still, it may be worthwhile to pick a fight with the RNC eventually, maybe November. It seems to be working for Trump.

[luctor-et-emergo]

Because the RNC would say he was participating in an unsanctioned debate and then try to keep him out of the the regular Republican debates.

Still, it may be worthwhile to pick a fight with the RNC eventually, maybe November. It seems to be working for Trump.

Theoretically they could do it on the senate floor.....

[Okaloosa]

If he is authorized to have a debate or forum, he should have a time and place and an official challenge. Put it out on a college campus with a reasonable moderator. Bill it as freedom versus socialism, uber versus government transportation banning uber.

[acptulsa]

Think we could generate a demand for it?

All we'd have to do is taunt a bunch of Zimbabwe Sanders fanboi progs on the 'net real hard. We could shame the RNC into not penalizing Rand for putting a full-blown socialist in his place, I think.

Think we can stir up some public sentiment? Because what idiom said--no better way to spark a substantive debate on what the fedgov ought and ought be in charge of than to have the socialist and the libertarian lock horns.

I think this is a brilliant idea, and I think we should pester the hipsters for it and call Bernie a chicken for not jumping to it. Anyone have clips of Chris Rock and Bernie Mac lobbying for a debate in the movie Head of State?

[Sola_Fide]

That would be great.

[Okaloosa]

Think we could generate a demand for it?

All we'd have to do is taunt a bunch of Zimbabwe Sanders fanboi progs on the 'net real hard. We could shame the RNC into not penalizing Rand for putting a full-blown socialist in his place, I think.

Think we can stir up some public sentiment? Because what idiom said--no better way to spark a substantive debate on what the fedgov ought and ought be in charge of than to have the socialist and the libertarian lock horns.

I think this is a brilliant idea, and I think we should pester the hipsters for it and call Bernie a chicken for not jumping to it. Anyone have clips of Chris Rock and Bernie Mac lobbying for a debate in the movie Head of State?

I think this will get Republicans rooting for him, and put Trump supporters on notice for empty rhetoric and bad policies. Better than going after Trump right now. Also, helps with future generations of young people getting tricked by socialists.

[acptulsa]

People, this would be the shiznit. What would it take to stir up enough interest to make it happen?

A catchy name? This is such a black-and-white matchup between the socialist and the libertarian that we could call it The Zero Shades of Gray Debate.

[ThePaleoLibertarian]

That would be a great thing, I hope it can happen. It would really be a shot in the arm for Rand. He would have to be more willing to put forth the occasional emotional argument along with logical ones (they resonate far more with voters), but I think he would win handily.

[acptulsa]

'Emotional reaction'?

How do you spend an hour on a stage with a clown like Sanders and not cause the room to laugh at him? That would take a lot of work.

By the way, Paleo...


The counter-revolution will not be televised.

...why are you plugging for Trump and at the same time admitting that if he were actually 'anti-establishment', Boobus wouldn't even know he was in the race?

[Chieppa1]

Good idea. I'd rather see Ron handle it.

[69360]

It would be interesting to watch. I don't agree with Sanders. But I respect him for being honest about his views.

[ThePaleoLibertarian]

'
By the way, Paleo...



...why are you plugging for Trump and at the same time admitting that if he were actually 'anti-establishment', Boobus wouldn't even know he was in the race?
When have I ever "plugged for Trump"? I've said maybe three moderately positive things about him since his announcement.

[specsaregood]

Because the RNC would say he was participating in an unsanctioned debate and then try to keep him out of the the regular Republican debates.
Still, it may be worthwhile to pick a fight with the RNC eventually, maybe November. It seems to be working for Trump.
I wouldn't worry about that. The day the RNC penalizes a Senator for debating another Senator in public is the day they get eaten for lunch.


People, this would be the shiznit. What would it take to stir up enough interest to make it happen?

A catchy name? This is such a black-and-white matchup between the socialist and the libertarian that we could call it The Zero Shades of Gray Debate.

I'm not sure it would be "the shiznit". While I would no doubt enjoy it; it is pretty easy to guess how the hacks would spin it.

[phill4paul]

I wouldn't worry about that. The day the RNC penalizes a Senator for debating another Senator in public is the day they get eaten for lunch.

Yup. And that is how it should be billed as if it were to happen.

[economics102]

Think we could generate a demand for it?

Take the article where he's quoted as saying this and try to push it to the front page of /r/politics on reddit.

If you can stir up interest on the Sanders side, it might snowball into something actually happening.

[rich34]

I think Ron would be better suited to handle Sanders while educating people as to why Freedom is better than Socialism, but I understand why it would have to be Rand vs. Bernie since both are currently running for president. While I think Rand would handle Bernie just fine, I think Ron would tare his ass up!

[dude58677]

A breath of fresh air from the Trump circus which is making a mockery of the Office of the Presidency.

[Feeding the Abscess]

Unless Rand is going to come out and say SS and Medicare need to end at some point, that income tax is immoral and should be zero, that the EPA ought not exist, etc, Sanders will eat him alive. If Rand kept to his current M.O. the debate would end up being Sanders attacking Rand for being an anarchist, Rand denying libertarian positions, and their disagreements would be in how government is administered, rather than a debate about what the role of government is in society and what it should be.

In short, it'd be a massive waste of time.

[idiom]

What would be interesting is the number of things they agree on, that the public agrees with them on.

There is a lot of common sense middle ground because the government is so deranged.

[r3volution 3.0]

It'd be a great chance for Rand to showcase his economic policies.

A couple months ago, I'd have opposed it (punching down), but Sanders is no longer a joke candidate.

So, yea, go for it.

[65fastback2+2]

Think we could generate a demand for it?

https://www.facebook.com/ronpaulvsbarackobama?fref=ts

[farrar]

https://www.facebook.com/ronpaulvsbarackobama?fref=ts

Does anyone remember the platform used to try and get a debate going between Krugman and Walter Block? Where people pledged money that would only be withdrawn if the debate happened, and all the money would go to charity. It was supposed to put political pressure on them to debae. Because to deny the debate would be to deny thousands to charity.

I feel this would be very successful in motivating Sanders and Paul. I bet we could get the numbers up.

[acptulsa]

Does anyone remember the platform used to try and get a debate going between Krugman and Walter Block? Where people pledged money that would only be withdrawn if the debate happened, and all the money would go to charity. It was supposed to put political pressure on them to debae. Because to deny the debate would be to deny thousands to charity.

I feel this would be very successful in motivating Sanders and Paul. I bet we could get the numbers up.

That's brilliant. We really need to create some demand for this. Sanders will never do it--unless we corner him into it.

And that's the way to do so. 'What's the matter, Bernie? You don't want poor people to get money unless you and your bureaucrat buddies get a cut of it?'

[supermario21]

The ideal left/right debate would be Ron and Dennis Kucinich. Bernie is actually pretty awful when it comes to some war/peace issues and even civil liberties. I think it was yesterday or Sunday when he said he wouldn't end the drone program, he'd just "try to kill fewer people." Even Rand's heterodoxies on drones are less than that...Bernie is predominately a socialist. His supporters are always sharing the meme photos of free college, soak the rich, etc and basically nothing about civil liberties/humble foreign policy.

[Sola_Fide]

Unless Rand is going to come out and say SS and Medicare need to end at some point, that income tax is immoral and should be zero, that the EPA ought not exist, etc, Sanders will eat him alive. If Rand kept to his current M.O. the debate would end up being Sanders attacking Rand for being an anarchist, Rand denying libertarian positions, and their disagreements would be in how government is administered, rather than a debate about what the role of government is in society and what it should be.

In short, it'd be a massive waste of time.

Agree. Ron would be better.

[acptulsa]

The ideal left/right debate would be Ron and Dennis Kucinich. Bernie is actually pretty awful when it comes to some war/peace issues and even civil liberties. I think it was yesterday or Sunday when he said he wouldn't end the drone program, he'd just "try to kill fewer people." Even Rand's heterodoxies on drones are less than that...Bernie is predominately a socialist. His supporters are always sharing the meme photos of free college, soak the rich, etc and basically nothing about civil liberties/humble foreign policy.

It would be a sound back up plan. If having a back up plan this good causes us to run with this thing, good.

But it's Rand Paul who needs the positive publicity right now. And it's Bernie Sanders who really needs the public humiliation.

[acptulsa]

This could seriously put a whole new wrinkle in the whole political landscape.

It could do that. Especially if it's Bernie v. Rand.

And that charity ransom idea could actually force that old fart socialist into it.

[trey4sports]

lets do it!

[adissa]

I understand what Rand is doing here, but he needs to be more focused on differentiating himself from the rest of the GOP field right now. I'm not saying he's not different, but he needs to articulate that so it resonates with potential/likely GOP caucus/primary voters.

[acptulsa]

I understand what Rand is doing here, but he needs to be more focused on differentiating himself from the rest of the GOP field right now. I'm not saying he's not different, but he needs to articulate that so it resonates with potential/likely GOP caucus/primary voters.

His difference is he can actually beat the Democrats.

The best way to articulate that is to prove it.

If you want to see him do that, make this happen.