In what may be one of the more interesting developments of the 2010 election cycle, former Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin has endorsed Dr. Rand Paul in his bid to win the Republican nomination for the Senate in Kentucky.
Dr. Paul is the son of Congressman Ron Paul from Texas and shares his father's libertarian-leaning Republican political viewpoint. He has surprised many with his remarkably successful campaign which has pushed him ahead of other Republican contenders mainly through strong grassroots support. He currently leads by more than 10 points in the polls.
Palin's current political destiny is unknown, but by endorsing Rand Paul she both enhances her credentials with the libertarian wing of the GOP and also helps out a worthy candidate. She accompanied her endorsement with a donation from her PAC. Paul has also been endorsed by many other liberty-oriented groups including the Republican Liberty Caucus and FreedomWorks.
Paul repaid Palin with effusive praise, commenting:
“Governor Palin is providing tremendous leadership as the Tea Party movement and constitutional conservatives strive to take our country back ... Sarah Palin is a giant in American politics. I am proud to receive her support.”
Many liberty Republicans look to Rand Paul as a spearhead figure in their efforts to remake the Republican party on a more constitutional and more ethical basis. He has garnered widespread support because of his combination of his father's idealism with an element of political pragmatism and a personal charisma which give him a broader popular appeal.
Paul promises to "fight for liberty and limited government and put an end to the current climate of insider politics, runaway deficits and out-of-control growth of government.” This is a message which resonates with many in an election year when anti-government and anti-establishment sentiment is running very high.
Article comments
1 - Baronius
Dave, no mention of Secretary of State Trey Grayson, Attorney General Jack Conway, or Lieutenant Governor Daniel Mongiardo? Just the eye doctor who happens to be a congressman’s kid?
(That autta stir things up.)
2 - Glenn Contrarian
"Sarah Palin is a giant in American politics."
I guess that tells me all I really need to know about Mr. Paul. Actually, that's being unfair because I'm sure he'd be a lot better for the people than Ms. Palin would - but then, that's setting the bar pretty low.
I have to wonder, though, if he can at least tell us how many countries are in North America, whether Africa's a country or a continent, and the name of any of 'lots' of newspapers that he reads....
3 - Dave Nalle
Baronius, I can only use 300 words in these newsflashes, so I can't exactly cover the whole election. Plus Trey Grayson is Rand Paul's main competition and he's pretty much toast despite mainstream GOP backing.
And Glenn, you say things like that when someone gives you a wad of money, even if they are somewhat exaggerated. The endorsement process is a two-way street which benefits both the endorser and the endorsee.
Dave
4 - Glenn Contrarian
Dave -
And Glenn, you say things like that when someone gives you a wad of money, even if they are somewhat exaggerated. The endorsement process is a two-way street which benefits both the endorser and the endorsee
Quoted for truth.
5 - Silas Kain
Actually, let's be fair here. Sarah Palin is a giant in American politics. Why? Because the only ones engaged in American politics these days are FOX news viewers. I wouldn't mind seeing Rand Paul win. It's time for a new political dynasty. Forget Rockefeller, Kennedy or Bush -- let's try Paul. We can become a Pauline society. How Christian.
6 - El Bicho
"She accompanied her endorsement with a donation from her PAC."
So she didn't blow it all on buying her own book?
7 - Baronius
Didn't know about the word limit, Dave. Fair enough.
8 - Dave Nalle
As for the giant thing, she is a larger than life character -- that isn't necessarily a good thing. It's another thing she has in common with William Jennings Bryan.
Dave
9 - Clavos the Impaler
So she didn't blow it all on buying her own book?
She doesn't have to. According to Wikipedia:
Going Rogue attained sales of over 2.7 million by December 1, 2009,[17] and was number one on The New York Times Best Seller list for six consecutive weeks.[18] As of January 21, 2010, it was #4 on the New York Times best seller list after 9 weeks in the Top 10.
10 - El Bicho
I don't see how that would make the people who donated money to her PAC feel any better
11 - zingzing
clavos, do you think that palin is a good thing for the republicans or the right wing?
that's a serious question.
12 - Arch Conservative
I'd like to remind everyone suggesting Palin's endorsement tells us all we need to know about Rand Paul that Hamas endorsed our current president when he was still campaigning...or should I say during the part of his campaign before he actually became president.
13 - Ruvy
Bing,
Hamas endorsed our current president when he was still campaigning.
Don't remind the folks here of what they would rather forget. First of all, they would rather forget the Middle East altogether - second of all, they would rather forget the terrorist scum who were drooling in their beards for Obama to become president.
If they forget all that, they can be dismissive of Palin more easily. Speaking for myself, if Dr. Rand Paul has the same hostile attitudes towards Israel as his daddy does, and I'm not saying that he does, better he should go down to defeat.
14 - Clavos the Impaler
Why do you ask, zing?
15 - Matthew T. Sussman
Seriously? Dude's name is Rand Paul?
Was Goldwater F. Buckley too obvious?
16 - Dr Dreadful
First of all, they would rather forget the Middle East altogether -
[eye roll]
second of all, they would rather forget the terrorist scum who were drooling in their beards for Obama to become president.
[eyes get stuck pointing toward back of head]
17 - Ruvy
Hope your wife can get you to an optometrist soon, DD. Your eyes shouldn't be rolling around in your head like ball bearings....
18 - Silas Kain
Hey, hey, hey. Buckley's one thing, but hands off Barry Goldwater. His philosophies were more in line with today's Progressives than contemporary homoservatives will admit. That's another thing I've decided. True Conservatives in line with Goldwater thought are Conservatives. So, folks like Arch are "Conservative" while folks like Sen. Coburn or Michelle Bachmann are "homoservative".
19 - Baronius
True = Agrees with Goldwater = Agrees with Silas