CPAC Straw Poll Winner is Sen. Rand Paul (25%) with Sen. Marco Rubio (23%) in a Close Second

In the first CPAC conference since the 2012 Presidential election, Kentucky’s junior Senator, Rand Paul, took the honors as the winner of the annual straw poll. On the heels of his epic filibuster, Rand Paul addressed the group earlier in the week. Sen. Marco Rubio, like Paul, is being touted as a potential candidate for POTUS in 2016, took second in the straw poll.

Sen. Paul is showing a “principled” approach, as evidenced by his filibuster. Perhaps it is time for principle over party politics.

From The Hill

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said he’s interested in mounting a 2016 presidential bid.

“I’m not going to deny that I’m interested,” Paul told ABC News in an interview published on Tuesday.

A bid for the Republican nomination would continue a family tradition. Paul’s father, Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas), has repeatedly sought the party’s nomination. The elder Paul is retiring at the end of this congressional term.

The younger Paul emphasized that he was not yet ready to announce his candidacy, but said he believed his brand of libertarianism could open up the map for Republicans.

“I think we have to go a different direction, because we’re just not winning, and we have to think about some different ideas,” said the Kentucky lawmaker, a favorite of the conservative Tea Party movement.

for full article: http://weaselzippers.us/2012/11/20/rand-paul-says-hes-eyeing-2016-presidential-bid/

 

Sen. Rand Paul Feels the Wrath of His Dad’s Base after Endorsing Romney

Fans of the “Ron Paul Revolution” were not happy with his son Sen. Rand Paul after he endorsed Mitt Romney last night on Sean Hannity’s Fox News Show.
Paul explained that although his “first choice was always my father,” he insisted that he had a lot in common with Romney, who signaled to him that he was serious about a number of government reforms.
But the backlash on Sen. Paul’s Facebook page was fierce as the vocal supporters of the Ron Paul Revolution, took to the comments section to denounce his son. As of this morning, over 2,000 comments were posted, a majority of them negative. Supporters blasted Rand Paul for “selling out” the legacy of his father to the “Republican establishment.”

A few fans approved of Rand Paul’s decision, but only 270 people “liked” his endorsement message.
Others even speculated that Rand Paul was threatened or bribed into supporting Romney, by the Bilderberg group, suggesting that it wasn’t a coincidence that his endorsement came after their conference.

Other angry fans even started a “Ron Paul Supporters Who Don’t Give A Sh*t Who Rand Endorses” Facebook page that now has 210 members.

http://campaign2012.washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltway-confidential/ron-paul-fans-attack-rand-endorsing-romney/588321

Can We Find 534 More Rand Paul’s? He Returns $500k of his Unused Budget to the Treasury

Freshman Sen. Rand Paul is making good on his promise to cut federal spending. The Kentucky Republican and tea-party favorite said Thursday he’s returning $500,000 to the U.S. Treasury — money from his operating budget that his office never spent.

The half million dollars represents about 16 percent of Paul’s annual budget. He contended no senator had returned as much to taxpayers, though at least two senators disputed that claim. An aide to Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) said his office returned $636,036 in unspent money to the Treasury in Fiscal Year 2010 and another $503,161 in 2011.

“I ran to stop the reckless spending. And I ran to end the damaging process of elected officials acting as errand boys, competing to see who could bring back the biggest check and the most amount of pork,” Paul said at a news conference in Louisville, where he presented taxpayers with a massive mock check for $500,000.

“I hope this sets an example for the rest of government — at all levels,” he added. “We can carry out our duties in a fiscally responsible way. Government can be both smart and efficient. We are proving that — and trying to convince the rest of Washington.”

http://www.politico.com/blogs/on-congress/2012/01/rand-paul-returns-k-in-office-budget-to-treasury-110637.html

It’s A Long Road to Tampa and the Nomination, But If Mitt is to get it, Who Should be the VP Nominee?

 Although I despise the idea of the media telling us that Mitt Romney is the most electable candidate to unseat King Barack, if Mitt is to get the nomination in Tampa in August, who should he put on the ticket with him.

       Mrs. James believes that Romney has made a promise to Gov. Chris Christie. We both think this would be a colossal mistake.

       Of course, almost all of the pundits have annointed Florida’s junior Senator, Marco Rubio, to take the VP slot. A Tea Party favorite, and a Hispanic, Rubio could be a major force for a Romney ticket.

       Then there is the idea of Virginia’s Governor Bob McDonnell.

       While I cannot see Romney asking Ron Paul to be on his ticket, there is something intriguing in the idea of putting Rand Paul on the ticket. Could he bring over many of the supporters of his father?

       Lastly, there is the idea of a Kennedy-Johnson team: Just as there was no big friendship between John Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson, the same could be said of Romney and Rick Perry….. but it could be an interesting ticket.

DeMint: Tax Cut Compromise & Debate Should Wait for the Next Congress to be Sworn In

In an e-mail to supporters of his Senate Conservatives Fund, DeMint said waiting until the January arrival of many of the Senate Republicans, whom he helped elect this past cycle, would mean the GOP could “fight for a better deal.”

“I appreciate the efforts made by my party’s leaders to negotiate this deal but I believe Americans deserve much better. This deal should be rejected and then fixed,” DeMint wrote. “We can easily extend these tax rates without increasing spending once the new crop of Republican senators, including Pat Toomey, Marco Rubio, Rand Paul, Mike Lee and Ron Johnson are sworn in.”

For full article: http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/senate-races/133105-demint-wait-for-marco-rubio-rand-paul-before-dealing-on-tax-cuts

Hillbuzz: Does the GOP Establishment Understand It Is “Not Business as Usual” Anymore

http://hillbuzz.org/2010/11/08/does-the-cocktail-party-gop-establishment-realize-it-cant-run-business-as-usual-anymore/

Post-Election Ad

Now the Hard Work Begins

     Florida has a new Governor in Rick Scott. John Kasich is Ohio’s new Governor.  Rand Paul and Marco Rubio, along with Pat Toomey narrowed the gap in the Senate, while Harry Reid was able to maintain his long held seat. John Boehner has expressed that now is not the time for celebration, but the time for work. In the Governor’s mansions, the House and the Senate, the state Legislatures, even the local level governments, the voters have voiced their message that had been ingnored, and now We The People have been heard.

     But where to from here?

     Compromise? Bipartisanship?

     From here, each and everyone of us, as Americans, must realize that this is our moment, this is our time, we are THE PEOPLE we’ve been waiting for. Yes, it is the rhetoric of President Obama, but now that rhetoric has its true meaning.

     Less Government; Less infringement on our freedoms. Capitalism not Socialism. Simplification of our tax code. Repeal and replace Obamacare.

     The road ahead will not be easy. The decisions that will affect each of us may require sacrifice. As Social Security and Medicare are addressed, we must realize that we must keep our promise to our Senior Citizens, but at the same time revamp the system for those who are at the younger end of the workforce. But we must realize that every aspect of government MUST be analyzed as to its purpose, effectiveness, productivity.

       We must accept the challenge ahead so that America’s best days lie ahead of us, not behind us. We must make sure that our President realizes we truly are the leader, and not accept second best. American exceptionalism is NOT something that we should cower from, but accept with great pride.

      The pundits will have their say on last nights results, each side declaring a victory because of this result or that result. November 2nd was not a victory, but a historical point in time where Americans of every ideology realized and understood that we cannot continue on the Progressive path that the Obama agenda was running upon, but that we must return to the core values that our forefathers depended upon as the wrote the Declaration of Independence and framed our Republic in the Constitution.

      It is my prayer that our leaders will heed the will of the people, and that We The People will accept the challenge that lies ahead. The work begins today.

WSJ(11/3): Sen.DeMint Letter to the New Conservatives

“REMEMBER WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT:  LIMITED GOVERNMENT & MORE FREEDOM”

By JIM DEMINT

Congratulations to all the tea party-backed candidates who overcame a determined, partisan opposition to win their elections. The next campaign begins today. Because you must now overcome determined party insiders if this nation is going to be spared from fiscal disaster.

Many of the people who will be welcoming the new class of Senate conservatives to Washington never wanted you here in the first place. The establishment is much more likely to try to buy off your votes than to buy into your limited-government philosophy. Consider what former GOP senator-turned-lobbyist Trent Lott told the Washington Post earlier this year: “As soon as they get here, we need to co-opt them.”

Don’t let them. Co-option is coercion. Washington operates on a favor-based economy and for every earmark, committee assignment or fancy title that’s given, payback is expected in return. The chits come due when the roll call votes begin. This is how big-spending bills that everyone always decries in public always manage to pass with just enough votes.

But someone can’t be bribed if they aren’t for sale. Here is some humble advice on how to recognize and refuse such offers.

First, don’t request earmarks. If you do, you’ll vote for legislation based on what’s in it for your state, not what’s best for the country. You will lose the ability to criticize wasteful spending. And, if you dare to oppose other pork-barrel projects, the earmarkers will retaliate against you.

In 2005, Sen. Tom Coburn (R., Okla.) offered a measure to kill funding for the infamous “Bridge to Nowhere.” Before the vote, Sen. Patty Murray (D., Wash.), an appropriator, issued a warning on the Senate floor.

“If we start cutting funding for individual projects, your project may be next,” she said. “When Members come down to the floor to vote on this amendment, they need to know if they support stripping out this project, Senator Bond [a Republican appropriator] and I are likely to be taking a long, serious look at their projects to determine whether they should be preserved during our upcoming conference negotiations.”

The threat worked. Hardly anyone wanted to risk losing earmarks. The Senate voted 82-15 to protect funding for the Bridge to Nowhere.

Second, hire conservative staff. The old saying “personnel is policy” is true. You don’t need Beltway strategists and consultants running your office. Find people who share your values and believe in advancing the same policy reforms. Staff who are driven by conservative instincts can protect you from unwanted, outside influences when the pressure is on.

Third, beware of committees. Committee assignments can be used as bait to make senators compromise on other matters. Rookie senators are often told they must be a member of a particular committee to advance a certain piece of legislation. This may be true in the House, but a senator can legislate on any matter from the Senate floor.

Fourth, don’t seek titles. The word “Senator” before your name carries plenty of clout. All senators have the power to object to bad legislation, speak on the floor and offer amendments, regardless of how they are ranked in party hierarchy.

Lastly, don’t let your re-election become more important than your job. You’ve campaigned long and hard for the opportunity to go to Washington and restore freedom in America. People will try to convince you to moderate conservative positions and break campaign promises, all in the name of winning the next race. Resist the temptation to do so. There are worse things than losing an election—like breaking your word to voters.

At your swearing-in ceremony, you will, as all senators do, take an oath to “support and defend the Constitution.” Most will fail to keep their oath. Doing these five things will help you maintain a focus on national priorities and be one who does.

Congress will never fix entitlements, simplify the tax code or balance the budget as long as members are more concerned with their own narrow, parochial interests. Time spent securing earmarks and serving personal ambitions is time that should be spent working on big-picture reforms.

When you are in Washington, remember what the voters back home want—less government and more freedom. Millions of people are out of work, the government is going bankrupt and the country is trillions in debt. Americans have watched in disgust as billions of their tax dollars have been wasted on failed jobs plans, bailouts and takeovers. It’s up to us to stop the spending spree and make sure we have a government that benefits America instead of being a burden to it.

Tea party Republicans were elected to go to Washington and save the country—not be co-opted by the club. So put on your boxing gloves. The fight begins today.

Mr. DeMint is a Republican senator from South Carolina.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704141104575588612828579920.html