Rand Paul and the rise of the libertarian Republican

[Denny Crane]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...l-and-the-rise-of-the-libertarian-republican/

The latest evidence is Paul’s (R-Ky.) plan to launch a class action lawsuit against the government for the National Security Agency’s collection of phone records and monitoring of Internet data. “If we get 10 million Americans saying we don’t want our phone records looked at, then somebody will wake up and say things will change in Washington,” Paul argued during an appearance on “Fox News Sunday.”

Paul’s seizing on the NSA issue comes less than three months after he made national headlines for his filibuster of the nomination of now-CIA Director John Brennan. And both issues have a narrative string connecting them: Paul as the most visible defender of civil liberties not only in the Senate, but in elected office right now.

That’s a very good place to be given the rising tide of libertarianism in the country. As we noted in our newspaper column today, the emerging majorities in favor of allowing gays to marry and pot to be smoked without penalty suggest that libertarianism has found a real foothold in American politics, particularly among young people who strongly favor both proposals.

More at the link

 

[Denny Crane]

I like the rising tide of libertarianism part.

 

[MARIS61]

Man the lifeboats!

 

[Denny Crane]

Libertarians won't be coming for your guns.

Or any of your other liberties, civil or otherwise.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

I've helped four of my friends realize they are libertarians over the last few months. Two in the last week cause of all the Big Brother stuff.

 

[Eastoff]

I like the rising tide of libertarianism part.

of course you do. Everyone knows you have a hard-on for libertarians.

 

[Denny Crane]

of course you do. Everyone knows you have a hard-on for libertarians.

It's only a matter of time before people realize the other two ways (republican, democrat) are disastrous.

 

[Eastoff]

It's only a matter of time before people realize the other two ways (republican, democrat) are disastrous.

It's only a matter of time before people realize Anarchy is the only way, right?

 

[Eastoff]

I've helped four of my friends realize they are libertarians over the last few months. Two in the last week cause of all the Big Brother stuff.

I'm curious if you consider the Tea Party to be Libertarians. And do you support them?

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Today S2. Tomorrow the world!

 

[Denny Crane]

It's only a matter of time before people realize Anarchy is the only way, right?

You confuse Anarchy with Libertarianism. They are not at all the same thing.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

Would be neat if the libertarian candidate could get in the debates one of these decades, would slay them imo

 

[Nikolokolus]

My political philosophy mostly is summed up thus: Wilderness protectionist, anti-monopolist, "take care of yourself and your family and stop shitting out kids if you can't afford it," safety culture is detrimental to actual culture, rely on science and reason to make judgments wherever and whenever possible, and every now and then people fall on hard times and shouldn't be relegated to a life of poverty because of crippling medical expenses, but 99% of the time your lot in life is your fault.

I don't know what that makes me exactly, but I think I probably would have thought Theodore Roosevelt was my candidate had I lived at the turn of the twentieth century.

 

[maxiep]

People love the freedom part of libertarianism; they just don't do well with the accompanying personal responsibility part.