Bush. Clinton. Bush. Clinton? Bush? The presidency has pretty much become a crown to be passed and forth between these two political families. Political dynasties have been created, and the establishment is fresh out of new ideas. Thankfully, there are still candidates who stand for something. People like Ted Cruz and Rand Paul, who have already announced their candidacies. Heck, even Elizabeth Warren stands for something - even if it's scary, scary big government. It's time to stop looking for an establishment candidate to keep doing the same old thing in D.C. and start looking to the candidates who stand for something real.
The second Republican now to throw their hat into the ring for 2016 is not really a Republican. One that I can support, it’s Sen. Rand Paul from Kentucky.
He announced at the Galt House in Louisville. In a not-so-subtle hint at what the campaign is going to be all about, he laid down the gauntlet. The man understands liberty. Set on the backdrop of a government bent on squeezing every last drop of liberty out of you, the American people, Sen. Paul hammered away at the excessive government and presented the path to real freedom in a clear and I think accessible way.
This is a very different politician, one that I think will speak to the young people in America. The rise of this type of candidate is long overdue. We’ve lived the Game of Thrones long enough. Honestly, if the establishment had their way, it will be a Jeb Bush versus Hillary Clinton election. I’ve talked to so many people who have said—in fact, I talked to a congressman today who said I will for the first time in my life skip the voting booth if that is the choice.
If you’re under 40, this choice would basically mean you don’t know what life without a Bush or a Clinton in office is today, and if either Jeb or Hillary actually win in 2016 and complete two terms, the US would have had a Bush or a Clinton in the White House for 36 of the previous 44 years, and that’s not counting Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State.
Think of that. You’ll be 44. You’ll have no memory of a Bush or Clinton not being in the White House. That is a track record that Robert Mugabe would be jealous of, and it would continue for many more years to come because there is always the ever-so-yummy possibility of Chelsea running for office or one of the other Bushes. After all, Jeb’s son, George P. Bush, is one that everybody in the establishment is so excited about. He just won an election for land commissioner in Texas.
Without fail, the establishment plays the electability card against the Game of Thrones. They tell you your guy can’t win. They tell you ignore your values and vote for their guy because if you vote for their guy, whether it’s Jeb Bush or Hillary Clinton, it’s the only way you’re going to win. You can’t afford to have that other candidate in office, you know?
Both the Republicans and the Democrats fall for it every single time. How’s that working out for us? How is it having a progressive light Republican? But Glenn, we have to appeal to more people. Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, they’re too extreme. Really?
Is it just me that has noticed the Democrats have elected the most liberal senator in the history of Congress? Why is it we have to compromise on what we believe? A real question, if not now, when? And why not now? Why not now?
We have the winning message—freedom, liberty, charting your own course, keeping what you earn, unleashing the American dream, attacking the government waste and the Game of Thrones political machine that has been created. This is what Rand Paul was talking about today. Stand on those, and I’m telling you right now you’ll be standing in victory.
The establishment, the media, they want you to believe people like Sen. Paul cannot win. We saw the reaction when Ted Cruz announced. Look at the reaction today with Rand Paul. First headline, “Why Rand Paul Probably Can’t Win Republican Nomination.” “Can Libertarian-Leaning Rand Paul Really Win the GOP Nomination?” “Rand Paul is Losing His Father’s Base.” Really?
I don’t know if he can win or not. I really don’t know, but are we not going to try to elect somebody who believes in the Constitution and liberty and is not part of the establishment? It is hard to imagine the message of the Tea Party, the message of freedom, not resonating with people of all ages if you have the right banner carrier. I don’t know who the right banner carrier is. I have my personal preferences, but I’ll take any of these liberty candidates, any of them.
He has challenged every aspect of entrenched Washington politics. Watch a little bit from the speech today.
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Sen. Paul: Congress will never balance the budget unless you force them to do so. Congress has an abysmal record with balancing anything. Our only recourse is to force Congress to balance the budget with a constitutional amendment. I ran for office because we have too many career politicians. I believe it now more than ever. We limit the president to two terms. It’s about time we limit the terms of Congress.
You know, it’s amazing. What’s really amazing to me, as I am watching this on our monitor down here, I have all of the other networks on monitors that I can view in case there’s breaking news or anything. As I’m hearing Rand Paul talk about this, what is the lead story on FOX News this hour? The lead story with FOX News this hour was John McCain is going to run again for Senate in 2016.
Which one is the message that America needs? Yes, America was never meant to have career politicians. Rand Paul is a doctor. He spoke about it, and I love this. I stand with him. I absolutely believe this is one way to attack the entrenched politicians, stopping the leeches who suck the life out of every newbie that enters office in DC.
He also proposed a read-the-bill law. How this hasn’t passed already is beyond me. Every day Congress has to read, should read, supposed to read, but never does, the 1,000-page bills they propose. To revive the economy and struggling sectors like manufacturing, he said today he would dramatically lower the tax on American companies that keep profits here and not overseas. And here’s why I believe we have an opportunity to crush the failed progressive ideas. Look how he attacked education.
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Sen. Paul: Those of us who have enjoyed the American dream must break down the wall that separates us from the other America. I want all our children to have the same opportunities that I had. We need to stop limiting kids in poor neighborhoods to failing public schools and offer them school choice. It won’t happen though unless we realize that we can’t borrow our way to prosperity. Currently, some $3 trillion comes into the US Treasury. Couldn’t the country just survive on $3 trillion? I propose we do something extraordinary—let’s just spend what comes in.
That is the way to frame both of those issues. In truth, poor kids are stuck in the worst failing schools. I lived in New York City. Democrats in New York City are clamoring for someone to give them choice. How about we give them an escape hatch? And what a great simple message, what do you say we just spend what we have and not a dime more? It’s pretty impossible to argue with that. Believe me, the Jeb Bushes of the world will.
He tackled the unconstitutional spying program.
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Sen. Paul: Warrantless searches of America’s phones and computer records are un-American and a threat to our civil liberties. I say that your phone records are yours. I say the phone records of law-abiding citizens are none of their damn business. Is this where we light up the phones?
The president created this vast dragnet by Executive Order, and as president, on day one, I will immediately end this unconstitutional surveillance.
I will tell you that you know I’m a fan of Ted Cruz, but this is a speech that made me get up off the couch. I was cheering for this speech. I think this is one of the better speeches I’ve heard any politician give in a very long time.
Even what people say is Rand Paul’s weakest area, foreign policy, he took it straight on and tackled it. Watch.
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Sen. Paul: The enemy is radical Islam. You can’t get around it. And not only will I name the enemy, I will do whatever it takes to defend America from these haters of mankind. We must realize though that we do not project strength by borrowing money from China to send it to Pakistan. Let’s quit building bridges in foreign countries and use that money to build some bridges here at home.
It angers me to see mobs burning our flag and chanting “death to America” in countries that receive millions of dollars in our foreign aid. I say it must end. I say not one penny more to these haters of America.
How do you argue with that? I don’t know. What is the left going to do with what is essentially an antiwar candidate? They’re going to say that he’s an isolationist, etc., etc. I’ve got questions on how he would fight ISIS and how he would fight the war, but I agree with all that. I don’t think he’s an isolationist. I hope he’s not.
I said it was a really good day when Ted Cruz announced he was running for president, and I say again today is a really good day as well. I have questions for Sen. Rand Paul just like I do for Ted Cruz, Scott Walker, and Marco Rubio. Here is who I don’t have any questions for: Jeb Bush. I know exactly who he is. I know who the establishment is, where they have taken us, and where they would continue to take us. No, thank you.
What do you say we don’t eat the liberty-minded politicians, we stand by and behind those for the Constitution, and we eat the progressive establishment candidates instead? Enough of Lindsey Graham. Enough of the Bushes. Enough is enough. I for one am looking forward to this Game of Thrones and replacing the establishment GOP.
And one other thing, I had a meeting today with all of the writers on TheBlaze to start outlaying our strategy for what our election coverage is going to be here at TheBlaze. I said we have to be the people that ask, “Why not? Why not?” I don’t really care if we’re not on the plane with Jeb Bush. I don’t really care. If he’s the establishment, if he’s the guy, go get your new someplace else because we’re going to be talking about something else, because I know exactly what will happen if that guy is elected. I’m not interested.
I do want to be on the plane with Ted Cruz. I do want to be on the plane with Rand Paul. I do want to be on the plane with Marco Rubio. I do want to be on the plane with Scott Walker, although I will tell you something is not right with Scott Walker. This again is just me, but something is not right with Scott Walker.
Either he is avoiding me, he’s avoiding this audience because he doesn’t want to be seen with you, or his staff is out-of-control incompetent. We have been trying to get an interview with him for what, almost two months. For some reason, we can’t get a single interview with him. That is highly unusual for somebody who is offering 15 minutes or an hour of time for a media empire that has a footprint of 50 million people.
Something is not right with Scott Walker. I don’t know what it is. We’ll follow the story. In the meantime, let’s all stand together with those who will stand by the Constitution. Let’s stand arm in arm. I’ll take anybody who will defend the Constitution over yet another Bush or Chris Christie in office.
Featured image courtesy of the AP
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