Rand Paul became the second Republican to officially throw his hat into the presidential ring this week. Many complimented his announcement speech, although it’s worth noting that Rand’s famous father Ron Paul was not in attendance (leading to some speculation of “daddy issues”). I’ve been looking forward to Sen. Paul’s entrance into the election cycle for several reasons. One, he’s going to push the debate in interesting ways because of his libertarian bent. Two, Sen. Paul has an awkward history with sketchy staffers and it will be interesting to see that get more attention. Three, I think Paul is going to do a lot better in the primaries than the GOP establishment is willing to predict.
And here’s another reason why we should all look forward to seeing more of the Paul candidacy: it’s not even his first full week of being a presidential prospect and it’s already a hot mess. Paul gave his first big network interview to Savannah Guthrie of Today (broadcast live yesterday). Paul lost his temper within minutes and started shrieking at Guthrie as she attempted to detail his flip-flops on foreign policy.
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If you don’t feel like witnessing Sen. Paul’s hissy fit, Jezebel has the breakdown here. On one side, I guess Sen. Paul believes that slamming a Today anchor will be good for his “brand.” On the other side, HE chose the venue and he likely chose Guthrie because he thought that she would lob softballs and when she actually got into the nitty-gritty of his I’ll-say-anything-about-Iran policy shifts, he went bonkers. This isn’t the first time he’s arrogantly attempted to shut down a female journalist either – a few months ago, he told a CNBC reporter to “calm down” and “Shhhh!!” when she was asking him policy questions too.
Or maybe it’s not a female thing – the Associated Press did an interview with Paul this week about the “evolution” of his opinion on a woman’s right to choose and he was very surly there too. The AP even “editorialized” by noting that when pressed on abortion exceptions, “Paul grew testy” and told them, “I gave you about a five-minute answer. Put in my five-minute answer.” How presidential, to get squirrely and hyper-defensive when asked relatively mundane policy questions.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
I watched him yesterday on Megyn (sp) Kelly’s show on Fox and he was the total opposite. Someone tranquilized him. 🙂 But Megyn called him on his antics and actually told him that people were concerned because if he’s doing this now, how is he going to react at debates and later on in the election cycle when people are actively trying to take him down. She also told him that Savannah Guthrie is not exactly known for “gotcha” journalism, so what was he so upset about. It was actually refreshing for a Fox show.
Guys like that can curb it for awhile but their real personalities always surface. Paul is like Chris Christie, a finger-wagging angry candidate, and those ones never last. Who wants a hothead for a president?
Megan Kelly is fascinating to me because sometimes she is in actual journalist, and other times she is just shilling for the fox news version of “reality”. At least she picked this moment to be an actual journalist and point out that he is being an ass.
I think Megan is incredibly smart and a sharp interviewer. Fox viewers gained enormous respect for her when she stood up to Karl Rove on election night when he disagreed with the network calling Ohio for Obama. In one fell swoop, Megan became a superstar. I stopped watching Fox News for a long time after the election fiasco but slowly returned watching only Ms. Megan (as O’Reilly calls her).
OK – I watch O’Reilly too.
Is this really a hissy fit? What should have he done? This interviewer is an upcoming and coming female Bill O’Reilly, just for the other political side, both are rude and bully their guests. Amazing how this mole hill is a mountain. Frankly guest speakers should stand up to these commentators when try to define them and their thoughts w/out giving them ample chance to reply. This is just the typical smear piece, flinging dirt is easy.
Actually, no. As Megan Kelly pointed out (after interrupting him, by the way), the interviewers have time commitments they must stick to, advertisements, etc. They simply CANNOT allow a guest to go on and on and on. They must cut them off to try to get a succinct answer and move on. Rand wanted to pontificate and stump and it was not the time or the place.
The guy is running for PRESIDENT. He’s going to be dealing with these situations on a regular basis, providing concise answers in a specific timeframe where he has to accept that he’s not in control. He has to learn how to handle that situation because, y’know, that’s kind of a fundamental part of being a politician. I’m part of a civil unit in my city that routinely addresses journalists and government officials on issues pertaining to class disparity and job formation. When we go into meetings or press releases, we have to everything prepared, ready to go, and formatted in a way that is concise, succinct, and easily adjusted to fit time constraints. That’s just how it is.
More to the point – going into an election where women’s issues are becoming a heated talking point, it’s probably not the best idea to get called out for patronizing female journalists on how to do their job. Twice.
Speaking of Rand Paul and hot messes, anyone else get the creepy solicitation emails from his campaign team? I’m a British left-wing atheist, not sure how I managed to get on the list.
wha? no way!
Maybe they’re trying to convert you? 😉
and that’s why he won’t last.
he gets pissy when you ask him tough questions about positions he’s taken and then changed his mind. the question of how/why he may have changed his mind is NONE OF YOUR DAMN BUSINESS, American people and press, so DON’T ASK.
condescension, temper tantrums, plagiarizing his speeches…what a guy.
If he cannot handle the tough questions nor the heat and criticism that comes with being the President of the United States, please remove yourself from contention dude. It will only get worse and you would do all of us a favor.
He’s so screwed. I’m sure he thinks it makes him look like an alpha dog, but it’ll get old. And I’m sorry, aside from the politics, that is just SO rude. Going off on Savannah for “interrupting” when I’m pretty sure it was him interrupting and telling HER how to conduct an interview. I wish she wasn’t so taken aback. I would’ve went OFF. “Excuse me, you are not running the show here. I am. May I continue?” And I’m sorry, YOU ARE AN OPTHALMOLOGIST. I’d really appreciate knowing the leader of the free world at least has a political or law education.
I feel bad for Republicans for the Tea Party screwing things up for them. Not that I usually support Republicans, but I like to see a good race between two competent candidates.
Republican primaries > reality TV.
He’s really not a libertarian, is he? He’s against abortion, same sex marriage, and now he wants to go to war. He may have been one in the past, but now he’s veering right to get through that thistle garden of a primary.
I think the idea of someone who is against Big Government running for President is inherently a contradiction in terms, but maybe that’s just me.
He’s a republican. He tries to claim he’s a libertarian in order to set himself apart but he’s listed a republican senator. This notion that he’s somehow “different” b/c he’s a “libertarian” is a weak attempt to attract actual republicans who are disappointed with the current state of the republican party.
“now he’s veering right to get through that thistle garden of a primary.”
yep, and any repub candidate HAS to, if they want to take the primary, because it’s that shrill, bigoted, ever-shrinking socially conservative base of the GOP that votes in primaries. so, they shift right and brandish their conservative credentials, trying to out do each other on how narrow-minded they are. and then in the general election, they either have to continue that facade (and not get elected in a moving-toward-progressive country) or “flip-flop”, and not get elected because they’re seen as opportunistic and dishonest.
He wants the libertarian piece of the Republican pie, but you’re right–he’s more conservative than libertarian.
My experience with most “libertarians” is that they’re conservatives who don’t want to pay taxes. Big government is fine as long as it forwards their agenda.
I think he used to be a Libertarian, and moved to the right when he realized (by watching his father?) that you have no chance in hades to get elected unless you are part of the two-party system. But it totally makes me lose respect for him the way he’s flip-flopped just for the nomination. I mean, it is possible for someone to legitimately change their mind on issues, but it seems he has changed his stance just to become more electable. It’s a shame, I actually thought his dad made a lot of sense.
Dear Canada:
I love maple syrup and Nathan Fillion. If Rand becomes president do you have room for me?
Sincerely,
Veronica
Start the application process now, buy a Canada goose jacket, practice your ehs. We’ve got the space.
We’ll take you in, but a warning: I woke up to (MORE) snow today. There’s parts of NS they’re expecting to not fully get rid of the snow until May. MAY!
Our current government is listing dangerously right, also. Hopefully this will change in the next election, but constitutional rights are really under threat here as well.
Sheezus. I am from Kentucky and would like to apologize on behalf of all Kentuckians for this turd. Here’s to hoping Hilary stops him dead in his tracks and makes a fool out of him in a huge way.
Right on margie!!!
Hillary? She takes money from oppressive regimes. Regimes that stone women for getting raped. I can’t stomach her complacency.
This guy is a patronizing d*ck. I do not like him.
Can we please talk about his refusal to be accredited as an opthamologist and his “libertarian” approval of HIMSELF by a new organization he invented, run by his parents – with no doctors at all?
He’s batshit crazy!
^^^^^^^^^^^^
What you said!
Wait, WHAT?
Between Paul and Cruz alone, this election cycle is shaping up to be fairly nuts already. FASCINATED to see who the Republican nominee ends up being.
Slightly off topic question – would America ever abandon the electoral college system for something like FPP or MMP? While I know that they both definitely aren’t perfect (we’ve had cases of idiot MP’s being “kingmaker” in coalitions under both systems), we’ve had a bit of a better spread of smaller parties coming in and making themselves heard/felt/doing good things and generally acting as checks and balances on our two main parties. Our Green Party in particular has evolved into a major political force over the last 12 or so years.
Jeb Bush. *shudder*
The only bush I want to see near the White House is a rose bush. If we vote in Jeb Bush we are crazy, the Founding Fathers did not intend to have dynasties as head of government – despite there being several father-son combos very early in the nation’s history – and it is bad for the republic. The sense of entitlement that comes from the Bush and Clinton crews is astounding.
I think the GOP primary debates are going to be incredibly entertaining. It is such a pissing contest. They will try to walk the fine line of appealing to hard core conservatives to the far right, while not going so far that they can’t pivot back to the middle for the general. They will have to balance the hands off approach of the libertarians with the very powerful and intrusive religious wing and the pro-military-action wing.
I remember last debates, there was a call in question from an active military officer who was overseas in Afghanistan. The debate audience booed him because he was gay. So in that instance, anti-gay won out over pro-military. Very interesting intersection of positions in that party right now!
Where are you from Kali? I am guessing not Canada, because although the Green Party here has made strides over the past decade, they are in no way a political force.
Arrogant jerk.
Plus they can’t spell check on their campaign website:
As of Tuesday morning, the “Education” section of his campaign website misspelled the issue as “eductation” in a description of the senator’s education policy. (From TPM)
I don’t think he’ll make it too far into the primary season. But that may not be the goal. Perhaps he just wants more name recognition, to appeal to his base, and shill for funds. To me, he’s a grifter.
How ironic they can’t spell education, since the Republican party doesn’t really believe in it for the poor masses, haha!
One of the first ones into the race for President and will be one of the first ones out.
He is a rude misogynistic jerk. And he have never been able to hide that.
You ladies really need to calm down & not be so hormonal. Go iron some shirts and relax. Shhh.
LOL!
You know, I think you nailed down what bugs me about the coverage about this guy. He’s painted as just being a jerk, but if a woman was acting like this? And even if she wasn’t, there is discussion about how “hormones” or “that time of the month” can affect foreign policy. The underlying misogyny and sexism of the conversation pisses me off.
Yep.
Ironing is not my best event. It stresses me out
Scrubbing them floors with a hand brush will take all of those sinful thoughts, WOMAN!
Iron! Hells no! That’s why there’s fabric softened and clothes dryers. : )
I really liked Ron Paul, from what I knew of him. I think a lot of people want to support him because they liked his dad. I can honestly say I don’t know much about Rand.
I’m looking at this guy. He is working on criminal justice reform, medical marijuana reform and NSA reform. These are people issues, not left or right issues.
I am a dem, and there are definitely areas where I agree with Rand Paul. Then he makes comments to appease the base, and I remember to think about the big picture.
The abortion issue for libertarians is a tricky one. Some are for it and some are against it. Libertarians want the right to have an abortion if they choose to have one. They want the right to do what they please without the government telling them they can’t. I think that’s how rand feels about the issue and most libertarians. But he is representing the republicans how are against abortion. I think he’s just stuck in that place where he doesn’t know what to say like most politicians. Say what I really feel or say what everyone else wants to hear so I won’t lose them to someone else.
That’s the frustrating thing about the two-party system. You have to pick the issues you care most about, then fall in line on everything else. Not a lot of room for critical thinking or a variety of ideas.
At this point it’s really a 1 and a 1/2 party system. This isn’t helpful for the US democracy in long run.
There are times when I wish we had something of a mixed parliamentarian system, but that’s not going to happen.
I’m a libertarian. I abhor abortion personally, having 2 adopted kids, but would never support overturning Roe vs. Wade. I think abortions after 12 weeks are tragic. The baby can feel pain.
Tough issue for any candidate.
I think the abortion matter is so complex. I read an article about Dr. Tiller who was doing “late term” procedures, and it really changed my mind. He was helping women who had babies growing inside of them that didn’t have lungs, didn’t have necessary organs for life. The other option was for the baby to be born only to suffocate to death in its first moments in life. Or babies that had passed late in the term, and would become toxic.
You are absolutely right, it is a very tough issue.
Vee, that’s a 100% incorrect statement. Doctors say that fetal pain perception develops around 20-22 weeks, and even then isn’t fully formed.
Bonus knowledge: many abortions that occur after 12 weeks are because of discoveries at the 20 week anatomical ultrasound OR because hurdles put in place by anti-choice legislators cause women to have to wait (waiting periods, fewer offices that perform early abortions, etc). You can find this all on Guttmacher.
Wow, just watched the vid. Does he have a hangover or something? He looks so tired, sounds hoarse and is obviously not in the mood.
Cucumbers on those eyes, Randy!
His father is completely batsh*t crazy so no surprises here.
Mitt Romney was a far more likable candidate but he never got the Right angry and fired up the way the crazy folks do, so he never stood a chance.
Romney was and is a moderate republican. He was never going to get the Palin republicans fired up.
Well, precisely. Not to mention that he was a former Massachusetts governor.
I can’t believe he survived the primary season.
At the same time, Mitt was a part of the candidates that said they wouldn’t approve of tax increases, even if it was 10-to-1 spending cuts to tax increases. Even the moderates throw out their sanity for the base.
While the primaries are always entertaining on both sides, the hard reality is someone has to be voted into office and that is truly scary.
If he can’t calmly and rationally answer questions on his own policies, right out of the gate, then he needs to go.
I’m fine with someone changing their mind on a policy – sometimes life experiences reshape the way you think about a certain thing, but certainly you should be able to explain that. He sounds like a nutball jerk.
Dear god. Can you imagine him putting forth names for new Supreme Court justices?
HEY! I WANT MY COUNTRY BACK!!
I’m all for government staying out of my reproductive rights. So why isn’t he?
The man is a total nut job. The thought of him possibly leading this country scares the nooie out of me.l
I am not democratic, by far! I also DO NOT want to associate with the Republican party. I don’t know what I am but I am not democrat is all I know but I certainly AM NOT for ANY of these fools the republicans are launching out. Can we have an average common sense business person (male or female mind you) that can just lead us and not create anything new and just oh I don’t know. Anyways, this political season should be for GREAT TV!
I’m going to be a bit of a brat here, but the two dominant parties in the US are the Republican party and the Democratic party. democrat with the small ‘d’ isn’t a party affiliation, it’s someone who holds democratic views, not party views.
As for the business person part, the government is not a business.
The great TV part, yes, let’s just make the election season fully into reality tv, and not try and focus on actual policies or anything like that.
Yeah, running a government is not at all like running a business. Government is for the purpose of public service, business is for the purpose of profit. They require different mindsets and type of skills. I’m not saying that a business person can’t learn to be a public servant, but simply having business experience doesn’t qualify you for public office.
I don’t think the democratic/Democratic correction was bratty, cr. I think it’s helpful. I initially read roxy750’s first line as saying “I don’t support equality, I’m against fair treatment”. I figured it out at the end of the next sentence, but I definitely had a moment of “wtf did I just read?” It’s not a pedantic, old-fashioned grammar rule, it’s a practical “people are going to misunderstand you” rule.
Here in Oz we have a similar problem. Our right-wing party is the Liberal party. So we also have to be careful to capitalise correctly. “I’m not a liberal” and “I’m not a Liberal” are two totally different things.
On the polly/businessman thing … do American politicians REALLY run things? Here in Oz, things are more like “Yes Minister” (the old British TV show). Public servants run things, politicians do speeches and stuff. The idea of politicians actually running things fills me with horror.
I totally agree, Soporificat, about the business person comment. Very different mind sets!
I would for Ru Paul before I’d ever vote for Rand Paul. Seriously.
RU PAUL FOR PRESIDENT!!! He seems like a tough but very compassionate guy. It’s a good combination. I’d vote for him.
Ru Paul for President. It’s been a long time coming – solving world issues by lipsynching FOR YOUR LIFE. Imagine that!
Hilarious! I so agree!
Can I vote for Paul Rudd?
I love this comment so much! Well played!
Thank you Kaiser for covering politics. There is great synergy between Gossip and Politics.
In 2008 when Edwards ran and the Enquirer was the only media covering the love child story comes to mind as a great example when gossip led the way on a major political story.
+1000
Just keep the nutsos coming, GOP. Every presidential election cycle. It’s like a tradition now…
Can’t wait for the GOP presidential debates. Going to be a lot of YT videos showing the highlights of the insanity.
That pic of him and (I’m assuming, his wife) is so awkward it’s making ME uncomfortable
What odds are the bookies offering for a Clinton v Bush election? I want to get on.
I wouldn’t vote for Clinton under any circumstances because she feels she is entitled to the job without justifying her credentials. Just because she has a uterus doesn’t qualify her to be POTUS.
People, people, people! Take it from someone who has been voting for a long, long time. You don’t vote for the PERSON, you vote for the ISSUES. Which usually boils down to voting along party lines.
And yes, at times this can mean one must hold one’s nose upon entering the voting booth!
No matter what any of the candidates who will emerge (wanna bet Rick Santorum will run again?) SAYS at the beginning, when it gets to the end, they realize they cannot win without the backing of the national party.
This Rand dude is going nowhere. Fast. I too would vote for Ru Paul over him!
Pay attention to what the national party stances are on things like women’s issues, foreign policy, budgeting, defense spending, and social programs such as Social Security, Medicare, Veteran’s benefits, Health Care, etc. The answers to specific questions about the individual issues that concern you should guide your vote.
Great to see politics included here!
This is going to be one incredibly painful election year. I wish the two party system would roll over and die already so I could gut it and throw out the rotting corpse of the democracy it pretends to be.
Im so excited for the prospect of a new prez…and so far like this guy. I have obama fatigue!
The American population has never, ever, never elected an angry man. Can you imagine Chris Christie trying to hold it together when he’d be provoked every single day as President? Or the bratty, sulky Rand? Good grief, is this really the best the repubs can do?
Hillary? We’re waiting!
No thanks! No bushes or clintons..someone from outside the establishment!
I agree lindsey! itll be interesting to watch how the media treat these potential nominess compared to how they fawned over and didn’t research Obama…..fair and equal??
That is the worst fitting tuxedo I’ve ever seen on an adult. I’m embarrassed for him.