I just saw Rand Paul speak at the Shelby County Lincoln Day dinner this past weekend, and he blew away the others. Trey Grayson tried to take Dr. Paul’s remarks about Guantanamo detainees out of context and paint Paul as being in favor of releasing them all when, in fact, the question was about what to do with detainees if/when Guantanamo closes. Grayson has been contorting Dr. Paul’s words and taking them out of context quite a bit, trying to paint him with the same brush as his father. While Ron Paul embraces some ideas that are far too out there for me, I haven’t seen anything like that coming from his son.

Yes, he helped campaign for his father in 2008 and embraced some of his father’s less palatable positions on the stump. He wasn’t the candidate-his father was, and he was trying to shore up support for his father’s policies. How much sense would it make to go out there and say ‘I disagree with my father, but you should still vote for him?’ As a result, I tend to dismiss those views unless directly espoused by Dr. Paul while a candidate in his own right.

Furthermore, Grayson seems effete, aloof and haughty. At the aforementioned dinner, he had a photographer following him around taking his picture with everyone he talked to. His campaign staff seemed arrogant, conceited and dismissive of the other candidates – and spent most of their time engrossed in their iPhone rather than presenting the fa?ade of caring about the voters and party activists they were supposedly there to woo. In short, he and his staff played the part of establishment candidate to the T and, as such, should bear that mantle throughout the election. Conversely, Dr. Paul seemed humble and genuinely interested in campaigning for the office.

I think it is telling that Grayson has joined with the lesser-known also-ran Bill Johnson in attempting to tear Dr. Paul down. Don’t get me wrong – Bill Johnson is a great guy. He is personable, has a history of military service noticeably lacking in the other candidates (on both sides) or either of our incumbent senators, but if we are 3 months out from the primary and he isn’t even registering in polls – or the minds of voters – then he is not a viable candidate. In all reality, this is a two-man race, and Grayson’s fear is only amplified by his joint attack on Dr. Paul. Dr. Paul is taking a principled stance in favor of federalism. Perhaps it is just a sad fact that we are not used to principled politicians, but Dr. Paul truly believes the federal government should be curtailed to the role originally intended by the framers, not take an activist approach to social issues. I am a cynic and, consequently, think any progress on the legislative front of this culture war will be negligible. Yes, I realize the ban on partial-birth abortion was a notable legislative victory and a tremendous inspiration to the pro-life movement, but it had to be upheld by the courts before it was accepted as law. I am unequivocally pro-life, but I am also pragmatic. This is, as it should have always been, a battle to be fought at the state level – that is merely what Dr. Paul is embracing. Roe v. Wade inappropriately made it a federal judicial issue through judicial fiat but, until that case is overturned, we are forced to accept its edict unless we amend the constitution. Therefore, were they running for POTUS, I would not be able to back Dr. Paul for his views on this matter. Given that they are running for Senate, and Dr. Paul is already squarely on the side of strict constructionists, I am able to overlook this uncertainty and feel confident he will fight for judicial nominees committed to the cause of life. (Even more, he said he would ‘probably’ support the partial-birth abortion ban – he is not opposed to the legislation, just to the idea of an over-reaching federal government; the legislation has been upheld as the law of the land, so the argument over it seems moot at this juncture.)

We are all conservatives to varying degrees, meaning we share the founding principles of this great nation. The concept of federalism was not an accident or a side-note, it was one of the greatest checks and balances against a tyrannical central government. We have become so acclimated to government interference in our daily affairs that we accept prima facie many legislative excesses that would have been roundly defeated by the framers. Social security, Medicare, Medicaid, EPA, Clean Air Act – all are institutions that Americans accept and live with as ‘necessary’ programs, but all would fail to pass muster with the founders. Granted this is a discussion beyond the issue at hand, but the Constitution has been so perverted and contorted that we often accept legislative over-reach as justified. I find it refreshing that there exists a candidate who puts principle and ideals ahead of short-term policy victories. Abortion is a debate not likely to end in my lifetime, but we can make great strides to restore the checks and balances that the founder so meticulously and sagaciously laid out for us.

Finally, Grayson makes repeated reference to his seven years in the Secretary of State’s office as proof of his ability to excel in the Senate. I would suggest that operating in the executive realm does not necessarily translate into success in the legislative realm (and vice versa, in the case of our current President). Grayson is a proficient administrator and constantly stresses his reduction of the budget by 15%. Given that the Senate is a body of 100 legislators and his success at cutting the state budget does not necessarily translate into his ability to cut the federal budget, I would argue Grayson is better suited for the Governorship. Kentucky is one of those wonderfully contrarian states that holds our executive elections in off-years. Grayson already has a great foundation laid for chasing Steve Beshear out of office next year, and would be better suited for that task. Furthermore, it is difficult to see Grayson as the same sort of fiscal conservative as Jim Bunning, holding the line even when unpopular, given that he is a prot?g? of our senior senator who brings home the bacon. We have the financial and pet project interests of Kentucky covered in Washington; now we need to make sure we have a Senator committed to limiting government and curtailing its intrusion into our lives. I can think of no better candidate in the Commonwealth to carry that banner than Rand Paul.

…but McConnell has been carrying his water this election. I’m sure Grayson is trying to distance himself from Bunning given his polarizing nature, but I haven’t heard too much praise from our Junior Senator for his campaign.

Meantime, McConnell is hosting fundraisers for Grayson and introducing him to all the inside-the-beltway (and NYC) fundraisers. Grayson is defending Seantor McConnell’s tenure as leader, vowing to support the Senior Senator indefinitely should he be elected. I, for one, am not looking for another McConnell. We already have a Senator playing the politics game in Washington. We do not need two. I am looking for someone who takes principled stands, whether they are popular or not. I am looking for someone who stands up for what is right, adheres to their beliefs and does not apologize for being their own man. Someone like Jim Bunning….and that someone, so far, is Rand Paul.

In this case, the KY GOP establishment and national GOP establishment are one and the same. McConnell is strongly supporting his candidacy. While Mitch is our Senator and a huge player in the state establishment, he is also Republican Leader and, therefore, a huge part of the national establishment. He also rounded up 22 other senators for a fundraiser in DC. The NRSC is tacitly supporting Grayson. What, about that, does not scream establishment? These people tried to give us Charlie Crist! Pointing to McConnell’s support and to Grayson’s support for McConnell is not a winning formula in this environment. For many of us, Mitch has fallen regrettably short on standing athwart the Democrat’s liberal agenda and yelling stop. He seems more to be suggesting they slow down. For better or worse, Mitch is a Washington insider – not a very popular thing to be right now.

Grayson is also seen as moderate in that he began his career as a Democrat and is tapping into his father’s expansive network of contacts (many, presumably, Democrats) for fundraising help. It also doesn’t help that he often reverts to personal criticisms when confronted with issues, rather than articulating their differences cogently and succinctly. You’re in trouble if you have to explain your stance on an issue by starting with “Well my opponent…”

The difference in comparing Rand Paul and Trey Grayson tapping into their fathers’ fundraising contacts is that Ron Pauls supporters are generally Republicans or Libertarians; Grayson’s are Democrats. I would have just as much an issue with Rand Paul’s campaign were it being funded by Democrats, but it is not. No, I do not support the entire Libertarian platform, but I find a lot more to support in theirs than I do in the Democrat’s. Also, compare the size of donations. Grayson is chalking up a lot of high-dollar donors, while Paul’s support is more heavily weighted toward small donors.

From Politico:
Rand Paul currently holds a cash advantage over GOP-establishment-backed Secretary of State Trey Grayson, who raised just $98,855 from small donors in 2009. While Grayson began 2010 with $1,117,655 cash on hand, Paul started with $1,304,190 ? nearly $1 million of which came from contributions of less than $200.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0210/33313.html

And you may have registered Democrat, but did you talk up the fact that you voted for Bill Clinton? I will not begrudge anyone for experiencing a change of heart – political ideology is a very personal thing that should not be dealt with lightly. I am simply trying to point out that, as a former Democrat, you have to do a better job proving your committment to the cause than to simply say “I believe, and my opponent sucks.” I am not asking for him to storm the Fed and start burning greenbacks, but some full-throated unapologetic proselytizing for the conservative movement would be nice.

I will concede I’m new to Bluegrass politics – we moved here in Dec 06. But I have been around long enough to know that I like what I see in Rand Paul. I started this race out solidly in the bag for Grayson, for lack of knowledge of any other candidates. The more I got to know Rand Paul, the better I liked his candidacy. He may be more Libertarian than most in Washington these days but, honestly, is that a bad thing? Given the complicity of Washington Republicans in the growth of government (DHS, expansion of the bureacracy, Medicare part D), I think it makes perfect sense to send someone who is opposed to the further expansion of government to shake things up. We already have a committed earmarker in the Senate. What we need is a committed reformer.

…can generally afford to commission their own polls. They’re called ‘internals’ and nearly all campaigns have them. I realize Johnson’s website touts a poll showing him on even keel with Paul and Grayson but I have to question its findings given that I cannot find any information about the polling firm that conducted it or the consulting firm that commissioned it. Given the generic names of the firms involved, the fact that the only contact information included is a gmail address and the underlying methodology of the poll seems to be seriously flawed, I have to discount that poll as irrellevant. As this thread has eveloved, so too has my opinion of his campaign. Initially I perceived him as the dilligent underdog fighting to gain traction. Thanks to posts such as yours, I now picture him more as the kid in the campaign whining because the grown-ups won’t share their toys. I still like Bill, and will not factor the comments here in my opinion of him or his campaign as I do not know if you represent his opinion. (Are you paid staff? Shouldn’t you have to defend your credibility if the rest of us must justify ours?)

Also – I like how you are begrudging Rand Paul for wanting to spend time with his family. We have 120 counties. He has been to almost 30 LDD’s. That is exhausting in and of itself. Add to that the fact that he is also running a successful business and employing fellow Kentuckians, and he has a lot on his plate. He’s allowed to be tired. He may not have worded it the best, but he is human. At least he is honest enough to come out and say he it.