RedAlertPolitics: Sen. Rand Paul — who barely limped into the debate — may have began his come-back tonight. About halfway through the debate, he used his time to make a pointed attack on Donald Trump and his supporters.
Paul, responding to Trump’s comments saying he would close parts of the Internet, said:
Is Donald Trump a serious candidate?… If you’re going to close the Internet, realize America what that entails. That entails getting rid of the First Amendment…
So, when you ask yourself, whoever you are that are supporting Donald Trump, think: Do you believe in the Constitution? Do you want to change the Constitution?
Trump was talking about closing the internet in parts of the muslim world, not in America. Rand Paul & pretty much every other candidate, politician, and TV personality (I won’t call them journalists) are too stupid to realize the US Constitution only applies to Americans, not foreigners.
I like Rand, and I think he did okay last night.
But he doesn’t have the fight and balls that Trump and Cruz have.
Rand is a whack job like his daddy….apple falling not far from etc…so fuck him and what he misleads about Trump…. typical responses from the RINOS and MSM….meanwhile, Hitlery is still falling on her own beer bottles, yet those misinformed and malignant intentioned followers of hers bury their collective heads further up her skank and dream of her 24 x 7…..
What exactly do you mean “applies to Americans”?
The U.S. Constitution applies to the U.S. govt (and some parts to the state govts).
Exactly, I found myself screaming at the TV last night during that rant of his. I found myself a little disappointed that Trump didn’t capitalize on that bull shit. Non of the talking heads have picked up on this.
What a tool. “Belief in the Constitution” makes it sound like a mythical story. If you don’t “believe” in it, I can show it to you in the National Archives. It is a fact. It really does exist. If you really want to talk about “is it binding?” then say that.
Anyone who thinks Trump is anti-constitutional needs their head examined. Paul is so far outside and behind at this point his comment was the sound of a presidential campaign taking its last breath and it wasn’t a profound warning of the coming Trump dictatorship, but a pathetic misdirection.
Tp paraphrase uncle al,
“What part of ‘close the internet’ doesn’t anyone understand makes Rand Paul come off like the nutjob libertarian he is?”
There were a couple of missed opportunities there. That was one of the more egregious. But Paul’s like one of those nervous Poodles or Chihuahuas that piss all over themselves when they get excited. CHEB!, too – he sounded like some pissed off 5th grader.
It means, that the freedoms and rights given to Americans in the Constitution does not include non-citizens from everywhere else in the world.
I have heard Trump on several occasions, make the disclaimer that he would refer to the Constitution, when talking about what could be done to fix a problem.
At the risk of facing derision here, let me say that Paul’s point was well taken. Trump appears not to have thought through the meaning of his slogans in practical terms. I think it’s entirely fair to push him on just how he would limit the Internet. Using cyber attacks on ISIS websites is probably underway. What more?
It was also clear that Trump had no idea at all about the nuclear triad idea. He’d just be “the greatest” at handling the nuclear thing. Trump is looking more like Carson in his lack of preparation on important international issues and ideas.
Gladys, the Constitution does not give anybody “freedoms and rights.” It defines the govt’s structure, and limits the govt’s permission to act to a specific set of areas of responsibility.
What statement or statements of mine are you paraphrasing? (Do know what that word means?) Was I as ungrammatical as you were, or as unclear as to what I meant?
Rand Paul is not a libertarian, any claim he might make notwithstanding.
What Elmer said.
Look, I like him well enough to be in my top 3, but Trump comes off a little Joe Bideny now and again. And sometimes it’s cringeworthy.
Uncle Al, you’re getting really technical here. Yes, technically, you’re right the Constitution primarily limits (at least it was intended to, and used to limit) the power of the government. Still, for example, the Constitution gives me, and American citizen, the right to keep and bear arms by preventing the governments ability to infringe upon that right. That doesn’t mean that the Constitution prevents the government from prohibiting the sale of American arms to foreigners. Same principle applies to the internet.
Oh good Lord – he didn’t know the political buzz words for from where nuclear blah blah could be launched. If everyone here was being truthful, I bet you didn’t either.
TRUMP 2016!!
Your saying that I’m being “really technical” suggests that you do not think that the Constitution means what it says, and that you are sympathetic to those who treat it as a set of suggestions rather than a hard limit on the govt’s role in American society.
Furthermore, by saying that the Constitution does not prevent the govt from prohibiting the sale of arms to foreigners, you are in effect declaring that it allows the govt to do that. Where, specifically, is that enumerated in permitted govt powers?
“…nuclear blah blah…”
LOL!! Your comment brings things back to earth from the rarified heights. Thanks.
LOL! Your comment brings things back to earth from their raified heights. Thank you.
I don’t want a policy wonk, but a policy leader. i don’t want another “Constitutional scholar”, but someone who leads and has a decent understanding of what America is about. You’re not going to get a lawyer with Trump. And thank God, too!
It was Coolidge who said “The chief business of the American people is business.” It was often quoted by Reagan. And the chief business of the American president is to uphold and enforce the laws under the Constitution and to protect the citizens from their enemies and let Americans go about their business.
i don’t know what Trump could add to “I’m going to make our military force so strong no one will dare to mess with us!” I’m sure he thought that through as far as he needs to at this point.
oops — that was me. Didn’t think the comment posted.
“you do not think that the Constitution means what it says, and that you are sympathetic to those who treat it as a set of suggestions…”
Not at all. Not in any sense at all. I am a strict Constitutionalist libertarian.
“Where, specifically, is that enumerated in permitted govt powers?”
Article 1, Section 8, Paragraph 3
@pbunyan – Still, for example, the Constitution gives me, and American citizen, the right to keep and bear arms by preventing the governments ability to infringe upon that right.
Here is where you’re mistaken. The Constitution does NOT give anyone rights to anything. Those rights ALREADY belong to the citizens irregardless of the Constitution. Any ‘right’ that can be given can also be taken away and therefore is only a privilege, not a right.
I have rights because –> I <– exist, not because the Constitution exists.
Deep down in my libertarian soul I agree with you wholeheartedly. It should be a God given, inalienable right. Sadly, the reality of the situation is quite different.
Not only have the voters acquiesced to that right being infringed in many, many ways, in many places in this world it is gone altogether. And I don’t just mean internationally, there are many, many places in this country that are official defenseless victim zones by law or policy. In my own workplace, I would be fired if I kept and bore an arm. (At least they can’t take my hammer, screwdriver, or Stanley knife.)
The sad, sick reality is that it is only our Constitution, twisted and distorted as it may be these days, that still grants most of us the right to keep and bear certain arms in certain places.
Why are the first 10 Amendments called “The Bill of Rights”?
When Trump talked about the net last night, I cringed also – figuring all the Paulbots were going to crucify him.
Then I saw this this morning. Made my day. Even though Trump sometimes comes across like a bull in a china shoppe, he never says anything for which he doesn’t already have the answer. He isn’t a techy, but knows where to find the best.
“Here’s Why Trump Is Right About ‘Shutting Down’ Parts Of The Internet”
http://www.breitbart.com/tech/2015/12/15/heres-why-trump-is-right-about-shutting-down-parts-of-the-internet/