Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) has thrown his support behind legislation that Republicans could use to force President Barack Obama to crack down on legal marijuana in states like Colorado and Washington.
Speaking to Fox News on Thursday, the libertarian-leaning senator said he supported the Enforce the Law Act, which has been approved by the House. The legislation would allow Congress to sue the president for failing to faithfully execute laws.
Paul said that Obama appeared to be “writing his own laws whenever he feels like it.”
“He also does need to enforce the law. We write laws and he is just deciding willy-nilly if he likes it he enforces it, if he doesn’t, he won’t enforce it, and we really think he needs to be chastened, rebuked, and told that he needs to obey the constitution,” he added.
Republicans have championed the bill as a way to make President Barack Obama enforce immigration and health care laws, and prevent the executive branch from overstretching its regulatory authority.
But a committee report submitted by a co-sponsor of the bill suggested Republicans would also use the law to try to force Obama to crack down on marijuana in states that have legalized its possession and sale.
Lately there has been a lot of talk that Rand Paul presents the best option for the Republicans to challenge Hillary Clinton.
The theory is that Paul, much like his father, has a strong following among the youth, and that Hillary will be seen by that demographic as an establishment figure who they will find less than inspiring.
I am not sure I agree with that assessment, but what I do know is that if Rand gets himself linked to legislation which threatens to force the President Obama to punish citizens legally using marijuana in states where that is an option, he will lose the youth vote overnight.
Personally I don't think that Paul would even survive the increased scrutiny by the MSM if he were nominated, much less make it though a debate with Hillary in one piece, however I am also aware that the prospects for the Republican party are limited, so it is not entirely impossible that Paul might indeed ultimately be their choice.
If so, this is going to be a bloodbath.
This is a perfect example of why I have no respect for conservatives; "The ends justify the means" is their first commandment and "damage the other guys no matter who gets hurt" is their second commandment.
ReplyDeleteHere we see someone who has promoted themselves as a Libertarian/states rights figure, but he'll piss all over that if it gives him an opportunity to cause political damage to a Democrat.
And, as we've seen again and again with conservatives, they have no foresight at all, and no imagination. Seriously, just like when those idiots vote in laws allowing religious monuments on state property and then are somehow totally blindsided when someone who isn't Christian applies to put something up, these House bozos are going are going to have the same astonished look on their face someday when this law is used against a Republican. (assuming it is ever ratified, which it won't be)
And you know, on that day, they'll casually flip over to "this is an unconstitutional outrage!" mode, just as if it were never THEY who created it in the first place. Because that's what they do.
But it is fun to imagine how it could've been used against President Cheney...
Hhhmmm. Isn't this the (ahem) man (and the party) who is constantly talking about State's Rights?
ReplyDeleteAnd a smaller Federal Government?
I'm curious about how loud these idiots will scream when they find out what happens to the coffers in the states legalizing MJ.
'Enforce the Law'? I'm okay with that. Just as soon as Repubs are okay with us enforcing the federal law allowing abortion, and overturning all state laws which violate Roe v. Wade.
DeleteHe has a new toupee in the above photo...his curls are gone as well as the height he previously had w/the other one. Someone is working w/him to give him a more 'presidential candidate' look!
ReplyDeleteThe too-long shirt cuffs, the strange hairdo (real and fake), the mealy-mouthed voice that's half whine: no, this is not a person of Presidential timber.
DeleteHe looks and sounds like Eddie Haskell.
Ward and June already have his number, and voters will, too, if he oils his way into a primary or two.
If they are, it isn't working very well. He still looks like a dumb ass from the sticks.
DeleteSo Mr. States Rights wants to sue Obama for not enforcing Federal laws. I wish this asshole would get on one side of the street and stay there.
ReplyDeleteI think that there should b greater states rights, but that doesn't mean that I feel that it is OK for one person (Prez) to decide what part of what laws they will enforce. That smells of fascism.
DeleteUm, correct me if I am wrong, but doesn't the President have to SIGN any legislation the Congress passes - unless they can muster a 2/3's override vote?
ReplyDeleteRon Paul never had "the youth vote." He had a certain portion of "the liberatarian vote." Much of that portion were younger people.
ReplyDeleteRon Paul is an icon to some people (not me). Rand Paul is a cheap imitation.
So if President Obama is going to be forced to Enforce the Law, would that mean that churches could lose their exempt from taxation status if they engage in politics?
ReplyDeleteOh please...let it be so! And that means the IRS will be told by the President to enforce the laws that would end their religious outfits with purely political agendas from raking in millions tax-free. Please Proceed, Mr. AquaBuddha.
DeleteThe GOP establishment hate Ron and Rand Paul. They are going to try to get Jeb Bush on the ticket. I think they had planned to put Chris Christy as VP but due to bridge gate they will find another boring option.
ReplyDeleteRand Paul is a mealy-mouthed conservative with a few libertarian ideas (most of which are twisted...for example being anti-reproductive choice and anti-legalization of marijuana). He sticks his foot in his mouth all the time, like when he tried to teach Black History to students at a traditionally Black college. I don't think he's very smart.
ReplyDeleteRand will not get the Black vote, the Women vote, the Hispanic vote, and now the young vote. . Yup, just like his Dad, going nowhere.
ReplyDeleteNot only the youth vote on both sides of the aisle, But Moderate Republicans , States Rights Republicans & Right leaning Libertarians and Independents. Its almost as if Republicans can't figure out how to throw votes away fast enough.
ReplyDeleteHe actually just lost the entire non-douche bag vote. Of course, he'd already done that long, long ago.
ReplyDeletehttp://payojob.com/?id=41827
Uh, hello, true Libertarians don't want any laws much less any Federal oversight over States Rights. Paulie JR. is a LINO.
ReplyDelete+1,000
Delete+ 10,000
DeleteHe's like $arah...uses a lot of words and hot air but doesn't make much sense.
ReplyDeleteLike he had any votes?
ReplyDeleteSo if the Prez has to enforce the law then it is curtains for all those 501c4's that are not EXCLUSIVELY promoting social welfare. HAH! Take that koch suckers!
ReplyDeleteAs for Paul, it was just last year that we found out he had a stark raving racist working in his senate office. How many more "details" like that are going to come out?
Two things that are supposed to be the foundation of Libertarianism:
ReplyDelete"States-rights" and "live-and-let-live"
just went right out Rand Paul's door, hunh?
Gee, you'd think the youth vote would stay with him. At least he knows the basics of caring and feeding for his fake hair. It almost looks "passable"!
ReplyDeleteNow someone look at that face and tell me he never did a doobie and inhaled.
Please let it be true! Make him run against any democrat for President of the United States. Hillary, Elisabeth, any of 'em!!
Aqua Buddha appears to have his weed whacker repaired. I'm not referring to his marijuana hypocrisy. His Hair Club Wig of the Month® selection is a different color and the 70's shag carpet has been replaced (at least temporarily) by a closer-cropped 80's fake 'do.
DeleteHe might look a little different, but no matter how much they try to polish him, he's still a turd.
The GOP did such a bang up job with "Hockey Mom of the Year", I'm sure they can dip into that cesspool and come up with some funky new 'dos' I'm picturing the parted in the middle w/mullet or the ever popular Richard Simmons "Perm" look. Might need a leisure suit and apache tie.
DeleteI thought that libertarians were opposed to anti-drug laws, and were in favor of personal freedom.
ReplyDeleteThis guy wants to be president very badly.
He is not his father's son; that much is clear. He is just another Republican hypocrite who has no problem saying and doing whatever it takes to get the Republican nomination. And they all have to sell their souls to get the nod on the right.
ReplyDeleteAt the Peepond they say that Palin would shred Hillary in a debate. You say Paul woudl not make it though a debate with Hillary. That would be true in a real debate. My fear is that the debates today are not battles. Both could make it through in the same way as Palin did her vice presidial debate and repeat canned comments.
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