Published: 26 August, 2009, 14:51
Edited: 10 May, 2012, 18:27
Just when the national media and the elitist doorkeepers of the G.O.P. thought they had the wiry, incorruptible, troublemaking congressman Ron Paul of Texas locked tightly in their dungeon, never to see the light of day, excluded by their establishment magazines and television networks – well, almost – and counting the hours until the old man kicks the bucket and lets them fight wars and spend money in peace, lo and behold, the congressman has a son.
Rand Paul. He is the third son to Congressman Ron Paul, that troublemaker from Texas. And believe me, the son is trouble too. And that starts with “T” and that rhymes with “P” and that stands for pool, as in Pool Hall. I mean, Rand Paul.
Rand is a 46-year-old eye surgeon from Bowling Green, Kentucky, and he is in the race for the Senate in Kentucky. And yes, I mean “in the race.” Not just running for money or a bestseller or the lecture circuit. I mean running, as in very possibly winning. As in, look out establishment, here comes the real thing.
Rand Paul has all of the most popular positions of the libertarian-Republican movement and none of the baggage, and he is a powerhouse of a fundraiser. The last bomb has grossed over $700,000 and is climbing as I clack at the key board. (Want to contribute? Go to http://www.randpaul2010.com/)
This news must make the establishment desperate. And terribly frustrated. There will be summits at Camp David, the Greenbrier, the Cheney Ranch in Wyoming and Kennebunkport. The Skull and Bones will retreat to their island for a barbecue and some serious discussion. The network chiefs will dine together in white pants and blue blazers with golden buttons at a nice fish restaurant on Nantucket and brainstorm on how to get Roger Ailes back in the stable and cooperating in keeping the Pauls out of the green room at FOX. While their sun-blackened, anorexic wives will talk about how to benefit the poor, which will seem to them to be just about everybody else who is not at their table.
It must be tough to be in the conspiracy these days. No one reads your newspapers or listens to your highly-paid correspondents. All of your secrets are published online. Is there no end to the mischief that freedom of speech can do in this country? What is the establishment to think? With the multiple television networks making it nigh impossible to keep the ornery truth from occasionally rearing its head and with the Glenn Beck cannon rolling like thunder from one end of the ship to the other, breaking the furniture as it goes. And then there is that darned Internet and Al Gore, a traitor to his class, providing facts at the most inappropriate times. And people asking commonsense, irritating questions about stupid government decisions, and comments popping up like mushrooms after a rainstorm.
Questions like, “Well, okay, why DON’T we audit the Federal Reserve? What is so onerous and evil about that? Would the Soviets launch missiles if we did? Would it cost too much?” And comments like, “The government has spent more money this year than it did in the first 100 years of the Republic.” Ugh, I hate it when my side gets their history wrong.
And now here comes Rand Paul, sounding reasonable and looking like a movie star. Oh groan. But asking the same reasonable questions that his father asked. Where’s the change? We still have the war bigger than ever, we still have lobbyists bigger than ever, we still have the debt bigger than ever, we still have political favoritism and cronyism bigger than ever. New president, new lies. But same direction. Down. Is this change you can believe in? Yes, sadly, it surely is. This is the kind of change some of us feared.
And Rand Paul, the son, has captured the angst of the electorate. He is right on the issues, right on the solutions, and he has even more of something that Ron Paul, the father, doesn’t have. Time. At least one hopes so.
So what will the establishment do with Rand Paul if he gets into the US Senate? Six years? Can you imagine? Believe me, they will do everything, EVERYTHING, in their power to keep him out.
Wanna have some fun? Wanna protest the insanity in government? Wanna let the world know that you are alive and kickin’? Wanna let those powerful journalists who think you can be manipulated know that you are no longer limited to their spoon-fed half truths? Then punch that button one more time. Here it is. http://www.randpaul2010.com/ And add your dollars to the most exciting political game in town. Protest this change in government.
And in the meantime, a memo to Dr. Rand Paul? Don’t you be flying in private planes, ya hear?
The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of RT.