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Rand Paul: No White House Decision Until 2014…But Voters Are Ready for a ‘Libertarian Republican’

Feb. 17, 2013 1:41pm Madeleine Morgenstern

Senate Foreign Relations member Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky. questions Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass. , on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 24, 2013, during Kerry’s confirmation hearing before the committee to replace Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. (AP)

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) continued to hint at his White House ambitions on Sunday, saying that if he ran he’d be in it to win but that he won’t make a decision until 2014.

“I would absolutely not run unless it were to win,” Paul said on “Fox News Sunday.” “Points have been made, and we will continue to make points. But I think the country is really ready for the narrative coming — the libertarian Republican narrative.”

The Tea Party favorite whose father, former Texas Rep. Ron Paul, made three unsuccessful White House bids, said the Republican Party has been losing nationally and is in need of an overhaul in its positions foreign policy, drug laws and immigration.

“I think people want a party that’s a little less aggressive on foreign policy — still believes in a strong national defense but less aggressive,” Paul said. “The young people want politicians who don’t want to put them in jail for 20 years for a nonviolent drug possession charges…I think people want a little different face on immigration, frankly, they don’t want somebody who’s going to round people up in camps and send them back to Mexico.”

Pressed on whether he’s made a decision to run yet, the senator — who admitted in another interview last week, “We’re thinking about it” — demurred.

“We won’t make a decision until 2014,” he said Sunday. “But I think I do want the party to become a national party again and not lose sight of how we grow as party, so I think I’ll continue in that vein for a couple years, and then we’ll decide.”

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Comments (175)

Bama53
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 10:09pm
Hey soyboy, Rand Paul is no Ted Cruz. I did not say he was evil, just a libertarian. If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, dang, it must be a duck.

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Bama53
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 7:45pm
I like some of what Rand says, but deep down, conditioned by his nutt brained father, he is anti military and anti defense. He is a chip off the old block, to quote another cliche’ the apple does not fall far from the tree.

No Rand, we are not ready for a libertarian, who would destroy our Military about as fast as barry is doing it now. Start talking to talk and WALKING THE WALK. I don’t trust any of the beltway politicos on either side, none of them except for Ted Cruz and a few of the Tea Party congressmen/women. Elect Tea Party candidates in 2014 & 16 and let’s turn the rinos upside down and bury the leftists. onward and Upward

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- soybomb315_II
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 8:35pm
  breaking news: Rand Paul is almost identical to Ted Cruz
  
  also breaking news: just because someone is more constitutional than you on an issue, does not mean they are “anti-” and evil
  
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- truthnstuff
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 10:06pm
  bama, did you not hear him say he wants a STRONG defense. Not spending billions on nation building and political wars is nothing more than common sense and fiscal responsibility. He seems to be the only adult in the room. I wish people would start thinking and not just follow some piper.
  
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- Bama53
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 10:13pm
  well kiss my grits soyboy, more versed on the constitution? have you even read it? did not think so. Rand is just like his daddy and if ron was so good why did he not get the nomination, because he is a wierdo son, just plain wierd. Sorry I have to call em the way I see em…
  
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tropolis
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 7:27pm
The truth is the majority of you sheep will flock to whoever the republican is.You did for Romney, and you’ll do it for the next clown they put up.

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- soybomb315_II
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 8:36pm
  yea i will believe them when i see it
  
  many of us were talking on here before the election about how we were going to vote 3rd party and not romney – and the very same people tried their hardest to tear us down
  
  Report this comment
TRILO
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 7:24pm
While I was ticked off that he endorsed the loser Romney I do understand why he did it. I am tired of the status quo republican. Rand Paul is the closest thing to a libertarian that we have in DC. He is the ONLY one in the republican party that actually has the voting record that matches what comes out of his mouth.

He voted against the budget deals, NDAA, CISPA, etc, etc. As long as the republican party wants to focus on abortion and gay marriage while they systematically take away our freedoms, wage war on the entire world and spend like democrats, they will continue to lose. I am done with establishment republicans like Rubio, Ryan and the whole lot of them.

FYI republican establishment: If Karl Rove supports a candidate, I will vote against them. Even if I have to vote for the democrat.

Fox News – shame on you for blocking Rand Paul’s message after the state of the union. I no longer watch your network or listen to any of your “commentators”. I now have to agree with the left-wing hacks – Fox News is nothing more than right-wing hacks.

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- soybomb315_II
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 8:37pm
  who says the next president has to be part of DC?
  
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- truthnstuff
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 10:08pm
  Trilo, I think you nailed it.
  
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quickstudy
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 5:56pm
In my opinion, there will only be progressive POTUS’ from now until we go down like Rome. Tipping point past. Over we go… to relearn the lessons that must be relearned.

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- RinkyDink34
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 6:27pm
  Rand Paul 2016 POTUS- 3rd Party ~ works for me!
  
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- quickstudy
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 8:16pm
  There are simply too many people voting for more stuff. IMO, we are done.
  
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- PMLaw
  Posted on February 18, 2013 at 4:07pm
  Quickstudy–exactly what I’ve been saying all along. We are way past the point of no return as a nation. That the country reelected Obama and his team of progressive revolutionaries, after the shambles they made of the economy in just 4 years, their trampling on the Constitution, their usurpations of executive power, their passing of Obamacare, appointing anti-American communists and revolutionaries to high government posts, etc., all of which the American people watched happen all the way up to the November 2012 elections, etc., etc., shows that the country is wallowing in a thick fog of utter confusion, disorientation and insanity from which I do not believe we will ever recover. It is so very tragic to see what has happened to our country just in our own lifetimes. I do not think that even Rome’s fall into utter ruin was so accelerated. This is what Divine judgment on a nation looks like.
  
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cmprescott
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 5:53pm
“I think people want a party that’s a little less aggressive on foreign policy — still believes in a strong national defense but less aggressive,” Paul said. “The young people want politicians who don’t want to put them in jail for 20 years for a nonviolent drug possession charges…I think people want a little different face on immigration, frankly, they don’t want somebody who’s going to round people up in camps and send them back to Mexico.”

To me these thoughts sound more progressive than conservative let alone constitutional. At least not for me. We need to go back to the Constitution and amendments and not necessarily follow them to the letter but reread the founders intentions of each and follow in their footsteps. A non-aggressive military? Ok, as long as we are not attacked yea. Tweaking the penile system to fit the crime? Maybe. A different face on immigration? Most definitely, but not what he is implying. I’m not saying rounding them all up and sending them home. I’m saying punish the companies that hire them and they will go home on their own. Then change the way people can legally immigrate here. We need to update almost everything the government does so it fits into the 21 century. Most departments are still living in the early 1900s as to how they function.

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- TRILO
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 7:40pm
  What planet are you from. The Constitution does not say we should engage in war across the globe nor does it mention the federal government should be in the business of drug regulation, the definition of marriage, etc. Our government has used 9/11 as the means to have a military presence across the world. How has that worked out for the average American. Lets see, massive debt, the Arab Spring, the rise of Al Qaeda across the world, Benghazi, Fast & Furious, Iraq and Afghanistan more dangerous than when we went to war 11 YEARS AGO, NDAA, CISPA, Sequestration, Drones flying in US airspace, just to name a few. Rand Paul voted against all of these issues, and you say he is progressive?
  
  There are 18 enumerated powers granted to the federal government. Nothing more, nothing less. I hate to tell you but the republican party has lost the younger generation forever. The republican party is the old people’s party. Hate to be mean, but until the baby boomers die off the republican party will continue to lose members. As long as we focus on abortion and gay marriage, rather than freedom, liberty and fiscal responsibility, the party is doomed.
  
  You have to love republicans, they cry foul that the democrats want to dictate their life, all the while they promote the same philosophy, just different issues.
  
  Report this comment
FlagWavingPatriot
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 5:21pm
The so-called progressives’ propaganda machine is far too reaching, far too powerful. They’ve infiltrated our schools, movies, television, “news”, everything. That apparatus will support Hillary and I predict she will win in a landslide. Her approval ratings are very high, and high even among GOP women. She will be president 2017-2025 if her health holds. There’s no doubt in my mind.

It pains me to write that. I despise the Clintons. But the GOP is filled with spineless cowards and RINOs. And, regardless which group they’re in, none of them have a clue how to fight in the information realm. With today’s “low-information voters”, it’s critical that the GOP fight the PR war effectively. They haven’t shown me they’re even interested in fighting, let alone launching an effective campaign.

I never give up, I always have hope. But I see our hope as dim.

God help us.

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scooter93505
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 5:19pm
He will suffer the same fate as Romney… the losers in this country that FAR outnumber the decent, hard working people will vote for the person that offers the most free handouts. The number of decent voters needs to outnumber the losers before he has ANY chance at winning an election.

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chips1
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 5:10pm
I’m just sick of this GOP, LIB, DEM crap. Somewhere out there is an American. They pop up once in awhile out of the clear blue sky. I’m keeping my eye on Carson at the moment. It’s going to be a long process, but worth the time. Lots of time.

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The Big Mick
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 4:39pm
good stuff comrades.
thanks.
mick,

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The Big Mick
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 4:37pm
SurfR
I’m diggin you Moondoggie.
I think you hit the cutting edge. Some brands of conservatives (I’m not one of em, Theistic Anarchy, MY position, is even MORE minimalist than Libertarian) are afraid of the Extremely Radically Limited Government of most Libertarians.
So I keep BEGGING the Libertarians, mostly on deaf ears like Angry and Okie seem to be, to REFRAME and RESTATE so that Conservatives DON’T feel threatend, only convinced!
DON’T sound like you want to MARGINALIZE “Religious” Conservatives like the Commiequeers and Prhomos do. Talk INSTEAD about the Proper Role of Government and Authority Returned to the States. THOSE arguments MOVE the debate unto YOUR ground WITHOUT sounding like you are THE ENEMIES of “Religious” Conservatives. Say “WE AGREE with you” every chance you get. Make it the First and Last words out of your mouth. SEEK Rapprochement, NOT DISTINCTION.

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The Big Mick
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 4:19pm
KUPO. Funny? How so? I fight the Invasion of Our Southern Flank by Static In Place Defense.
I’d be open to Neutron Bombing MehheeCoke, you got a plan?
Static Defense on our Southern Flank takes advantage of our Internal lines of Communication.
In fact. I would move ALL Military Bases in the Interior of the 48 TO the Mexican Border and have THEM built the defense and shoot the Invaders.
I fight the War for Survival Against the Sanduskies by Agressive Foward Deployment. On THEIR real estate so THEIR stuff gets trashed.
“Isolationism” as you are apparently unaware, refers to a policy of fighting ONLY to repel Invasion. Has nothing to do with keeping LAWFUL Immigrants that WE choose to ALLOW entry, out.
I see that as a Faux Dilemma and would Repel the La Raza Reconquista while Destroying the Sandusky Culture.

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- soybomb315_II
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 5:13pm
  i think he was talking about isolationism as it was commonly known, which is anti-trade and anti-immigration. When you turn your borders into DMZ – that is one textbook definition of it
  
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phillips1990702
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 4:14pm
Rand Paul would be the ideal Republican candidate. He can appeal to both the base of the party and the moderates.

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- The Big Mick
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 4:23pm
  Then he’s no good. I regard the Moronic Mythical “Middle” “Moderates” as Socialst Lites who only sniff after the Socialist Straight Commiequeers* like beeches in heat.
  If the 4ms LIKE him, I HATE him and won’t vote for him.
  
  *my semantically accurate usage for the “terminological inexactitudes” “liberal” “left” “progressive”.
  
  Report this comment
lincolnhenry1860
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 4:07pm
The Libertarian ideology needs to be spread far and wide. If people really understood what it means to be a Libertarian, I think most people would vote for that perspective. Young left leaning people do not want to be controlled or told what to do or how to live by government authority any more than right leaning people of all ages. Live and let live. We need to stop the progressives in all walks of life. Show that for most of the causes that each side fights for, can be and are protected in the Constitution, if only we would follow it.

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The Big Mick
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 4:04pm
Truth or Not
In all honesty, I don’t want them rounded up, put in camps and sent back to Mexico either.
If it is a Brown Dwarf Orc, don’t habla Anglo, and has accordian music blarring on his car stereo under the little flag of his banana failed state—I WANT HIM SHOT ON SIGHT!
THAT is the Traditional Welcome for INVADERS.

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BeckIgnoresConstitution
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 4:03pm
Voters are ready for the truth. Ron Paul would be president had he just exposed Obama’s Article 1, Section 2, ineligibility and his identity fraud. Will Rand speak the truth in keeping with his sworn oath of office to support and defend the Constitution?

The servile lying media won’t report the truth about Obama’s Article 2, Section 1, ineligibility http://youtu.be/esiZZ-1R7e8 or his identity fraud: http://youtu.be/alVzyfptF80

Neither congress nor the courts will enforce the Constitution! http://puzo1.blogspot.com/2013/01/barack-obama-de-facto-president-of.html

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Southernsoul
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 4:03pm
I would consider a vote for Rand Paul, the only republican I would consider. What bothers me is the the idea that you can’t vote third party because that will guarantee a democrat victory. I will not be held hostage by this thought process any longer. This is the thinking that that has brought us such luminaries as McCain, Bush, jr., Romney. I would rather ‘waste’ my vote and stand for my principals then support some spineless RINO.

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- BeckIgnoresConstitution
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 4:07pm
  The sooner the Tea Party reorganizes as a legitimate third party, the better!
  
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- phillips1990702
  Posted on February 18, 2013 at 12:05am
  You’re 100% right. That’s why I voted for Gary Johnson in 2012.
  
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The Big Mick
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 4:00pm
What I want is sort of a Conservative/Libertarian–everybody but Socialists Continental Congress.
I want Judge Nap, Stossle, Beck, Limbaugh, Coulter, Hannity, Rush, Malkin,Paul (both), Laura Ingram, the usual suspects from the Ranks of the Libertarian and Conservative Writers/Thinkers/Media.[I say leave The National Review and all the other RulingClass Aristo Beltloopers OUT of it]…
I want then sitting down in a meeting room for a week or two and hammering out a Manifesto they all can at least Partially buy into that is a BluePrint for how to turn the Republic Back to Extremely Radically Limited Government.
THAT would interest me. The Thinkers and Talkers all in one room BEATING out the Blue Print for a Revolution.

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- soybomb315_II
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 4:19pm
  i dont think you could get them together. People like Hannity only care about party affiliation.
  
  The best scenario is that we reform the election system to allow multiple parties (ie: proportional electoral college)…And then the respective parties can be represented and whoever has the most support ends up winning if they can get the minor parties to give them their spoils
  
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- The Big Mick
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 4:38pm
  I have no doubt in some cases you are right, Soy.
  But I do think that if Some would try the Result would be heartening.
  
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- soybomb315_II
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 5:25pm
  they can try, but if someone has principles – the other part of the party will be alienated.
  
  Ron Paul alienates Hannity/Rush/Beck and pretty much all other republicans
  Romney alienates Ron Paul and Santorum types
  Santorum alienates Ron Paul and Romney types
  
  Report this comment
LeadNotFollow
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 3:57pm
We don’t need a Libertarian party. We just need to clean up the Republican party.
A third party does nothing but split the Republican votes and guarantees wins for Demoncrats.

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- The Big Mick
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 4:05pm
  yeah, folks been sayin that since before Ronald Reagan.
  Ain’t ever worked much that I can see.
  
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- Southernsoul
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 4:06pm
  The exact thought process that brought us luminaries like Bush and McCain and so many other pathetic loosers. You are basicly telling them that you will swallow whatever they offer. You are the problem, not the solution.
  
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- The Big Mick
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 4:21pm
  Southy. yeah, the “lesser of two evils” argument stopped working with me along about Dole.
  
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- AUsername
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 7:00pm
  yeah get the zionists out of throw them out of the party than out of our country back to Israel since there loyalty lies there.
  
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the_truth_or_not
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 3:54pm
…I think people want a little different face on immigration, frankly, they don’t want somebody who’s going to round people up in camps and send them back to Mexico.”

I was wabbling the fence wondering if I liked the Mr. Paul Jr. After this comment he has answered my question. He may be a good head of department, but I would never vote for him president. My comment is not intended to be racist, I know very honorable imigrants from Mexico, they are good people. In regards to illegal aliens, Mr. Paul I at least for one want exaclty this. We are a nation, of laws. These people (some of wich may be decent) are BREAKING THE LAW! Please enforce the ones we have. We dont need new ones.

found on newsofttheweird.com http://newsoftheweird.com/archive/index.html
Perspective

The issue of “background checks” for gun purchases occupies center stage in the current gun-regulation debate, even though, ironically, current federal law on such checks is apparently half-heartedly enforced. In the latest data available (from 2010), nearly 80,000 Americans were denied the right to purchase guns because their applications contained false information (even though applicants swear, under penalty of law, that all information is true). However, The New York Times reported in January that of the nearly 80,000 applicants, only 44 were prosecuted for lying, and federal officials said the practice, well-known among applicants with shaky backgrounds, is known as “lie and try.” [New Yo

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- the_truth_or_not
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 4:04pm
  [New York Times, 1-14-2013]
  
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- phillips1990702
  Posted on February 18, 2013 at 12:08am
  Comments like that foster hatred towards Mexicans because people start assuming that Americans of Mexican descent are in this country illegally.
  
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The Big Mick
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 3:53pm
TIME 2.
You got some good stuff workin here. Are you familiar with L.Neil Smith and his Libertarian Utopia?
I think you are edging up to MY cognative dissonance in what I call “Theistic Anarchy”.
If one DOES posit “Liberty” as the chief value, it DOES come with risk. In Smith’s Utopia (The North American Confederation, alternate history Sci Fi novels) THE Prime Moral Principle is NEVER INITIATE FORCE against another—once HE does to YOU though, blow his head off.
There is a noticable absence of any Religions in Smith’s Culture and it is extemely self-reliant.
There are, for example, no COPYRIGHT, or PATENT laws worth much. Once it’s “Out there” it’s “out there”. No Central State to enforce it even if it was on the books.
Interesting stuff, you can’t really call yourself a Libertarian and not read Smith even if you hate Sci Fi.
I’m NOT sure I like YOUR implications any better. They smell like “RULE of LAW” to me.
Me, I don’t see, Philosophically, Ethically, Morally, how the Rule of One Vote over 50% is any more legitimate than Rule by The One!

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Small World
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 3:42pm
How about Paul & Dr. Carson or Judge Napoletano. I don’t care what order but NO more Progressives or RINOS .And maybe we could work on honest ballots now instead of waiting 2 wks. before the elections.

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- riseandshine
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 8:11pm
  “No more Progressives or RINOS”….or CRIMINALS.
  
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tom
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 3:32pm
“I think the country is really ready for the narrative coming — the libertarian Republican narrative.”
Amen brother!

I could go for Paul/Allen West Ticket!! or vise versa……….

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SilentReader
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 3:30pm
I definitely think we’re ready for a third party because both parties have sold us out for a very long time!

We want a fundamental transformation of America back to the freedom principles and values of our Founding Fathers. It’s time to kick them all out because they have failed us time and time again. The two parties have merged into one and they are playing us for fools!

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rickroland
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 3:22pm
Uh, no Rand, the U.S. is ready for a Libertarian President — a Libertarian Republican is a mythical creature, along the lines of unicorns.

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