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You are here: Home / And I Rand, I Rand So Far Away

And I Rand, I Rand So Far Away

by John Cole|  May 21, 20106:27 pm| 118 Comments

This post is in: Our Failed Media Experiment

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This week on Meet the Press- not Rand Paul:

At the end of a rocky week, newly chosen Senate nominee Rand Paul (R-KY) has canceled a planned interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press” citing exhaustion. It’s only the third cancellation from a major guest in 62 years, the show’s Executive Producer Betsy Fischer said in an interview this afternoon.

“It is a big deal when somebody cancels an appearance,” she said.

Fischer and host David Gregory have been attempting to convince Paul’s press secretary and campaign manager since the Paul camp scrapped the interview this afternoon. They first arranged the Sunday show interview on Wednesday after he won the party nomination Tuesday night. Fischer said Paul’s press secretary said he was exhausted.

What is going to be so nauseating about this is that if a Democrat canceled, the beltway boys and girls would have a serious case of the vapors. I thought that douchebag Chip Reid and his buddies were going to faint earlier this week when Obama didn’t take any questions at the signing of the Press Freedom Act.

But Rand is a Republican, and as DougJ has noted, they love getting abused by Republicans and don’t even care to have a safe word- just a few years ago, the Bush White House was openly threatening the press to keep quiet about things, and now they nearly melt down because they don’t have internet access on Air Force One. One failure to do exactly what the stenographers want is met with schoolboy taunts of “most transparent administration ever” as they giggle and high five each other when they get a Drudge link.

So since this is a Republican giving these guys the Two girls/One cup treatment, they won’t view it as a horrible breach of etiquette and get all catty for the next 6 months. Hell no- they’ll just say this shows that Ran Paul doesn’t play by the DC Rules and is a maverick and manly because he goes his own way.

Just watch.

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Previous Post: « Rand Paul and the Village Short Bus
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Reader Interactions

118Comments

  1. 1.

    Albatrossity

    May 21, 2010 at 6:30 pm

    Well, sure. It gets exhausting trying to find new things to say while you are evading answering the questions!

  2. 2.

    Cat Lady

    May 21, 2010 at 6:30 pm

    Rachel Maddow FTMFW. She shut up and let him talk, and it exhausted him.

  3. 3.

    Comrade Luke

    May 21, 2010 at 6:31 pm

    To echo Atrios: would have been cool if MTP had the highest vote getter from that primary on the show to replace him.

    You’d think the prospect of having a Democrat win Bunning’s old seat would be newsworthy.

    Wait…

  4. 4.

    Rosalita

    May 21, 2010 at 6:32 pm

    two girls, one cup treatment?

  5. 5.

    scav

    May 21, 2010 at 6:34 pm

    well, his mouf rand away from him and his staff don’t wan him to have rand amok on da national teevee.

  6. 6.

    Comrade Luke

    May 21, 2010 at 6:34 pm

    @Rosalita:

    Google it. I dare you.

    Can we refer to the Pauls as Two Pauls, One Cup? Pretty please?

  7. 7.

    freelancer

    May 21, 2010 at 6:34 pm

    two girls, one cup treatment?

    You really don’t want to go there.

  8. 8.

    John Cole

    May 21, 2010 at 6:35 pm

    @Rosalita: A put a safe link to a wikipedia description.

  9. 9.

    Mudge

    May 21, 2010 at 6:35 pm

    Again, as noted by Atrios..will we see Jack Conway this Sunday? Don’t hold your breath.

  10. 10.

    fbihop

    May 21, 2010 at 6:37 pm

    I’m sure all the hard-working, blue collar workers in Kentucky will empathize with Rand int hat doing a TV interview in two days is just too damned exhausting.

  11. 11.

    Rosalita

    May 21, 2010 at 6:37 pm

    @Comrade Luke:

    dare me huh? okay here goes!

  12. 12.

    arguingwithsignposts

    May 21, 2010 at 6:37 pm

    I don’t know that Gregory will run away from this. This is only the third cancellation on MTP evah (along with Louis Farrakhan and Prince Bandar). I suspect there will be some serious discussion of Rand’s drop-out. I could be wrong, but David G. got his fee-fee’s hurt, and we know what happens when the press gets their fee-fee’s hurt.

    I’m sure president McCain is available, however.

    (Conway should get the nod).

    And co-sign, Maddow FTMFW. She blew him up! Twice!

  13. 13.

    pj

    May 21, 2010 at 6:37 pm

    Senator McCain? David Gregory, here. Are you available Sunday?

  14. 14.

    me

    May 21, 2010 at 6:38 pm

    I wonder if Rachel is getting shit from Gregory now for asking ‘Ayn’ Rand Paul tough questions and screwing up his hot get?

  15. 15.

    arguingwithsignposts

    May 21, 2010 at 6:38 pm

    @Rosalita:
    Don’t get off the boat! NOOOAAAHHH!

  16. 16.

    Fleas correct the era

    May 21, 2010 at 6:38 pm

    At the end of a rocky week, newly chosen Senate nominee Rand Paul (R-KY) has canceled a planned interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press” …

    Imagine if he had been scheduled for an interview on one of the shows where they do fact-checking.

  17. 17.

    arguingwithsignposts

    May 21, 2010 at 6:39 pm

    @me:
    Morning Joke took care of that for him.

  18. 18.

    Rosalita

    May 21, 2010 at 6:39 pm

    @arguingwithsignposts:

    life preserver please!!!

    how do people come up with this shit? pun intended

  19. 19.

    Joseph Nobles

    May 21, 2010 at 6:39 pm

    More fun at the Randpaulooza – he’s been on the Alex Jones Show in the past year and he won’t answer 9/11 Truth questions. (thanks, earlier BJ commenter whose name escapes, for that link)

  20. 20.

    YellowJournalism

    May 21, 2010 at 6:41 pm

    @Rosalita: This Family Guy clip pretty much sums it up for me. I’ve never actually seen it, and by the descriptions and reactions, never want to.

  21. 21.

    Comrade Luke

    May 21, 2010 at 6:43 pm

    @Rosalita:

    You’re better off just reading the wikipedia entry, really.

  22. 22.

    arguingwithsignposts

    May 21, 2010 at 6:43 pm

    @Rosalita: @freelancer tried to warn you.

    Life preserver GO!

    (it’s actually sort of funny to watch some of the reaction videos which don’t include the original, like the grandmother – I don’t know if they’re still on YouTube or not – the “OMFGWTF?” looks are priceless)

  23. 23.

    Cat Lady

    May 21, 2010 at 6:44 pm

    Reality – +1
    Libertarianism – 0

  24. 24.

    jl

    May 21, 2010 at 6:45 pm

    Either maverick, or the poor man had to recover from being trapped into answering a gotcha question from the ‘looney left’.

  25. 25.

    beltane

    May 21, 2010 at 6:45 pm

    @Joseph Nobles: The truther business sunk that teabagger candidate in Texas who was threatening Perry in the primary (Debra Medina?). It is the one conspiracy theory the Republicans really do not tolerate.

    I think the Village reaction to Rand Paul will largely be gauged by whatever Mitch McConnell wants it to be. The election is not until November; there is still plenty of time for a new candidate to be found in the event Dr. Paul, Jr. needs to spend more time with his family.

  26. 26.

    Rosalita

    May 21, 2010 at 6:46 pm

    @Comrade Luke:

    and you are correct wiki was enough… not a graphic I need to see

    bet Rushbo has it on DVD tho

  27. 27.

    Delia

    May 21, 2010 at 6:46 pm

    Here’s my question: what kind of a moran names his child after his adolescent book crush? No wonder Rand Paul can’t think straight. His idiot father was probably reading him Atlas Shrugged when other children were hearing The Cat In The Hat. Ron Paul has a lot to answer for.

  28. 28.

    dmp

    May 21, 2010 at 6:47 pm

    Maybe Sarah is his sister, You f^%$ing Pussy

  29. 29.

    arguingwithsignposts

    May 21, 2010 at 6:47 pm

    @YellowJournalism:
    Thanks for that chuckle. I had not seen that particular bit.

    And I have to give JC props for the Flock of Seagulls reference in the title. Perfection.

  30. 30.

    Mike Kay

    May 21, 2010 at 6:47 pm

    I still waiting for distinguished civil libertarian glen greenwald to state his outrage over Paul’s opposition of the Civil Right Act.

    funny how glenn is so silent. please don’t tell me he’s a phoney, looking the other way because it involves ron paul’s son.

    Gawd knows he’d be at DEFCON 1 if kagen opposed civil rights.

  31. 31.

    MikeJ

    May 21, 2010 at 6:49 pm

    Isn’t “exhaustion” what they often say about celebs going to Betty Ford?

    What is exhaustion a euphemism for in this case? Is Libertarian Rand Paul a druggie?

  32. 32.

    arguingwithsignposts

    May 21, 2010 at 6:50 pm

    @Delia:
    His name is Randle. The Rand shorter was apparently made by his wife, according to another comment. I almost wish his name were Steve just so this particular misperception wouldn’t persist.

  33. 33.

    gocart mozart

    May 21, 2010 at 6:50 pm

    @beltane:

    The election is not until November; there is still plenty of time for a new candidate to be found in the event Dr. Paul, Jr. needs to spend more time with his family.

    How? He would have to voluntarily step down and that’s not gonna happen.

  34. 34.

    robertdsc

    May 21, 2010 at 6:50 pm

    Here’s my question: what kind of a moran names his child after his adolescent book crush

    Rand’s full name is Randal. He isn’t named after Ayn Rand.

  35. 35.

    MikeJ

    May 21, 2010 at 6:51 pm

    @arguingwithsignposts: Is his wife the one who makes fishsticks?

  36. 36.

    Mike Kay

    May 21, 2010 at 6:52 pm

    I wonder if Rachel Maddow will get suspended for this?

    I mean it’s because of her that Gregory lost his guest.

  37. 37.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    May 21, 2010 at 6:52 pm

    Hate to turn this into a Two Girls One Cup discussion but it didn’t faze me one bit. It was obviously a good fake job (either that or that girl needs some serious nutritional guidance cause poop should not look like melted chocolate ice cream). Remember that movie “8mm” where Nick Cage’s character was watching supposed “snuff” movies and suddenly notices (along with Joquin Phoenix) that the woman who is supposedly killed in all these movies is the same woman? (Okay in the case of the film, another girl was actually killed but you get my point).

  38. 38.

    Spaghetti Lee

    May 21, 2010 at 6:52 pm

    What a loser this guy is.

  39. 39.

    Rosalita

    May 21, 2010 at 6:53 pm

    @robertdsc:

    ‘Rand’ still sounds like something out of a drug store bodice ripper book tho

  40. 40.

    Splitting Image

    May 21, 2010 at 6:54 pm

    On the plus side, since they now have a replacement for John McCain, they don’t need the original anymore do they?

    I’ve said it before, but the Republicans are in the middle of 1982 headed for 1984. 2012 can’t come soon enough.

  41. 41.

    theturtlemoves

    May 21, 2010 at 6:54 pm

    @Mike Kay: I find GG to be a sanctimonious douchebag, but bringing up your distaste for him on every freaking thread might be a sign of an unhealthy obsession…

  42. 42.

    Martin

    May 21, 2010 at 6:56 pm

    We’ll know if this pissed anyone off if we see Conway on the shows this weekend, but I wouldn’t be surprised. I know everyone suspect the conservative love from the Sunday hosts, but more than that they like to know what the fuck their show will look like 36 hours out, and right now they don’t. That’s going to piss everyone off, and by booking Conway, they can stick to the script of asking about Paul, the Kentucky race, and what it all means – they’ll just be asking his opposition.

    Honestly, I think making clear to the politicians who really runs the show is going to rule the day here.

  43. 43.

    gocart mozart

    May 21, 2010 at 6:56 pm

    And I Rand, I Rand So Far Away
    This week on Meet the Press- not Rand Paul

    HE’S GOING GALT! HEAD FOR THE HILLS!

  44. 44.

    Mike Kay

    May 21, 2010 at 6:57 pm

    Glibtard David Weigel is wringing his hands over how unfair Rachel was to Paul (“the difficulty Rachel Maddow gave him”) and to libertarians.

    http://voices.washingtonpost.com/right-now/2010/05/the_first_time_rachel_maddow_i.html

  45. 45.

    mclaren

    May 21, 2010 at 6:57 pm

    Great independent site that fact-checks Meet the Press:

    http://meetthefacts.com

    Now the big question: Why the hell can’t our columbia-and-princeton-educated elite Beltway journalists manage to do this?

  46. 46.

    arguingwithsignposts

    May 21, 2010 at 6:58 pm

    @Mike Kay:

    I mean it’s because of her that Gregory lost his guest.

    Not really. He stuck his foot in his own mouth and then kept digging his hole deeper (mixed metaphors, I know)

    He showed up on at least three morning shows, did NPR, and Laura Ingraham, probably a couple others.

    Shorter: It’s his own damned fault for being an idiot.

  47. 47.

    asiangrrlMN

    May 21, 2010 at 6:58 pm

    @Rosalita: Don’t ask. I Googled it and bitterly regretted it. I’m too late, I see. You had to Google it just as I did.

  48. 48.

    gocart mozart

    May 21, 2010 at 6:59 pm

    @theturtlemoves:
    Rand is like a Jane Hamsher of the right.

  49. 49.

    Fern

    May 21, 2010 at 6:59 pm

    @MikeJ: I still think he will melt down before the end of the campaign. I don’t think he is used to situations he can’t control.

  50. 50.

    MikeJ

    May 21, 2010 at 7:00 pm

    @Mike Kay: You say dumb stuff all the time, but you’re getting dumber. Weigel ends with, “Cue the dramatic, and appropriate, change of focus. ”

    He says nothing about Maddow being unfair and you’d have to be fucking retarded to think he did.

  51. 51.

    beltane

    May 21, 2010 at 7:02 pm

    @Mike Kay: And Andrew Sullivan, of course, has been quoting Weigel extensively the last couple of days.

    Why is it that libertarians resent being made to defend their beliefs? You’d think they’d relish the opportunity to debate and persuade.

    Maybe these children need to go back to their tree fort and let the big boys and girls deal with the real issues.

  52. 52.

    arguingwithsignposts

    May 21, 2010 at 7:02 pm

    @Litlebritdifrnt:
    Didn’t the producer of 2g1c get convicted in Florida of trafficking in obscenity because that kind of stuff was his whole schtick?

    And while the fascination with bodily fluids other than the obviously sexually related ones makes me want to puke, I have heard there are people into that sort of thing.

  53. 53.

    MikeJ

    May 21, 2010 at 7:03 pm

    @mclaren: The site that says Schumer “half lied” when he said Justice Jackson wasn’t a judge, because there was a different Justice Jackson in the 19th century.

  54. 54.

    Martin

    May 21, 2010 at 7:03 pm

    @mclaren: Lies bring more viewers.

    SATSQ.

  55. 55.

    YellowJournalism

    May 21, 2010 at 7:03 pm

    @arguingwithsignposts:

    And I have to give JC props for the Flock of Seagulls reference in the title. Perfection.

    Makes you wonder if John ever had a Flock of Seagulls haircut…

  56. 56.

    Mike Kay

    May 21, 2010 at 7:04 pm

    @theturtlemoves: not at all. I’m using this fine forum to call him out. It’s obvious he’s laying off because he likes rand paul’s dad. After all would the great barrister be tongue tied if blanche lincoln opposed civil rights.

  57. 57.

    arguingwithsignposts

    May 21, 2010 at 7:05 pm

    @MikeJ: @beltane:
    Wait, is Weigel a libertarian? I know he’s covered the tea party and right wing extensively, but is he a libertarian? He’s been on Maddow and KO a few times and sounded reasonable.

    Maybe an actual decent journalist.

  58. 58.

    Cacti

    May 21, 2010 at 7:05 pm

    Like any good Republican, Rand can’t be held responsible for his actual views and public statements.

  59. 59.

    Lev

    May 21, 2010 at 7:06 pm

    @Mike Kay: I won’t abide criticism of Weigel in general, but sometimes I get the sense that he gets too close to some of the people he covers. I mean, how many times has he talked up Allen West, who sounds like just the most assholish teabagger imaginable.

  60. 60.

    Mike Kay

    May 21, 2010 at 7:06 pm

    @MikeJ: hippie punching is not the answer. here, have a flower.

  61. 61.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    May 21, 2010 at 7:07 pm

    @arguingwithsignposts:

    Yeah I have heard that too, but I do not believe that the vid was legit. It may be, but as I said, Gillian McKeith would have a fucking fit if the girls in that vid presented one of those poos to her and she would immediately place them on a diet of green and leafies, nuts, legumes, fish and tofu.

  62. 62.

    James K. Polk, Esq.

    May 21, 2010 at 7:08 pm

    Two girls one cup is a interwebs rite of passage… Don’t let anyone take that away from you…

    It’s fake anyways….

  63. 63.

    R-Jud

    May 21, 2010 at 7:08 pm

    @YellowJournalism: Doubt it. Tunch probably did, though.

  64. 64.

    kommrade reproductive vigor

    May 21, 2010 at 7:09 pm

    Hell no- they’ll just say this shows that Ran Paul doesn’t play by the DC Rules and is a maverick and manly because he goes his own way. ^And then tut-tut about the lack of civility that is turning press/politician encounters from polite, respectful exchanges to vicious, verbal blood baths.

    Effeksdee.

  65. 65.

    MaximusNYC

    May 21, 2010 at 7:09 pm

    And I Rand, I Rand So Far Away

    This is possibly the best post title on the internets, ever.

  66. 66.

    Malron

    May 21, 2010 at 7:09 pm

    I must be clairvoyant, I called it this morning.

    Nah, not really. Glibertarians and wingnuts are so predictable we all saw it coming a mile away…

  67. 67.

    arguingwithsignposts

    May 21, 2010 at 7:10 pm

    @Litlebritdifrnt:

    Gillian McKeith would have a fucking fit if the girls in that vid presented one of those poos to her and she would immediately place them on a diet of green and leafies, nuts, legumes, fish and tofu.

    LOL. I don’t think the kind of girls who would do that kind of video would know who Gillian McKeith was.

  68. 68.

    Mike Kay

    May 21, 2010 at 7:10 pm

    for anyone who doesn’t know, Dave Weigel IS a libertarian. He worked for reason magazine for years and proudly and loudly calls himself a libertarian. I imagine he agrees with most if not all of the libertarian doctrine against government regulation of business.

  69. 69.

    Rosalita

    May 21, 2010 at 7:11 pm

    @gocart mozart:

    hey gocart, is the weather safe for me to come out tonight?

  70. 70.

    arguingwithsignposts

    May 21, 2010 at 7:12 pm

    @James K. Polk, Esq.:

    Two girls one cup is a interwebs rite of passage… Don’t let anyone take that away from you…
    __
    It’s fake anyways….

    I hope you’re right about the fake. Even if fake, I didn’t make it through most of it.

  71. 71.

    JGabriel

    May 21, 2010 at 7:14 pm

    Dave Weigel:

    But on Tuesday night, Paul became a potential senator. “Real mojo” became “oh my goodness, how will he vote in the Senate?” Cue the dramatic, and appropriate, change of focus.

    Mike Kay:

    Glibtard David Weigel is wringing his hands over how unfair Rachel was to Paul (“the difficulty Rachel Maddow gave him”) and to libertarians.

    Huh?

    I mean, I know Weigel has the occasional Glibtard Moment(r), but the post you’re referencing isn’t one of them. It’s just a quick analysis of why Paul went in with one expectation from a previous interview, and why Maddow’s change of focus from that was “appropriate”.

    That’s hardly “hand-wringing”.

    .

  72. 72.

    Midnight Marauder

    May 21, 2010 at 7:16 pm

    @Litlebritdifrnt:

    Hate to turn this into a Two Girls One Cup discussion but it didn’t faze me one bit. It was obviously a good fake job (either that or that girl needs some serious nutritional guidance cause poop should not look like melted chocolate ice cream).

    I hate to break it to you, but the video isn’t fake. There’s a whole cottage industry of those types of videos in Brazil, and “Two Girls, One Cup” is far from the worst.

    You have no idea how deep that rabbit hole goes.

    @Martin:

    We’ll know if this pissed anyone off if we see Conway on the shows this weekend, but I wouldn’t be surprised. I know everyone suspect the conservative love from the Sunday hosts, but more than that they like to know what the fuck their show will look like 36 hours out, and right now they don’t. That’s going to piss everyone off, and by booking Conway, they can stick to the script of asking about Paul, the Kentucky race, and what it all means – they’ll just be asking his opposition.

    To be honest, I don’t even think Conway needs to go on a Sunday talk show at this point. He is eviscerating Rand Paul anywhere and everywhere that will have him. Here he is on CNN this afternoon, repeating a lot of the comments he made in his interview with HuffPo today.

    “…he’s clearly backpedaling because he’s seen the national firestorm that he has caused,” Conway added. “What’s clear from what he has said repeatedly, up until your program yesterday, is…he’s rejecting a fundamental provision in the Civil Rights Act that says that if – if you’re providing a public accommodation, if you’re a restaurant or you’re a hotel, that you can’t discriminate based on race.”
    __[…]
    To that, Conway told Blitzer, “You know, talking about what’s un-American, BP is a huge international conglomerate. And saying that the administration shouldn’t have its boot heel on their throat, BP needs to – to pay for that cleanup.”
    __
    “In the Senate, we don’t need another senator who just stands up for the corporations. I’m interested in standing up for the people of Kentucky. There are people in Kentucky who are scared to death that the government somehow is going to be left with a bailout tab for this Gulf oil spill. And so he’s standing up with big business instead of standing up with people who need help,” Conway added.

  73. 73.

    Mike Kay

    May 21, 2010 at 7:18 pm

    @arguingwithsignposts: oh, of course. But lets remember the beltway sees asking any embarrassing question of republicans to be ill mannered. I mean, dick cheney appears on these sunday shows and no one will dare ask him about his role in outing valerie plame. Can you imagine them giving Al Gore the same deference for the same crime.

  74. 74.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    May 21, 2010 at 7:22 pm

    I have to leap in here and defend Weigel. He is good people. He has done absolutely stellar work covering both the birfers and the tea baggers. He has done so much as to join Politijab and not only used content from the gang of very intelligent lawyers over there but has attributed many of his stories to them. I do not think that there has been another blogger who has consistently shone the light on the tea bagger movement and on the birfers. He is to be given credit for that whatever his political beliefs. He is the classic example of a “boots on the ground” journalist, he actually goes to all of the meetings and rallies and reports, he is not a “sit in the office and report what other people are saying”. I respect him, even if I don’t always agree with his opinions.

  75. 75.

    Mike Kay

    May 21, 2010 at 7:23 pm

    @JGabriel: do you think Rachel was being “difficult” wth rand paul? I don’t. I thought it was a pretty neutral interview. But weigel describes it as “the difficulty Rachel Maddow gave him”. I think weigel’s characterization is wrong and unfair to Rachel. I repeat it again, she wasn’t being “difficult”. Weigel is wrong, period.

  76. 76.

    FlipYrWhig

    May 21, 2010 at 7:29 pm

    @Mike Kay: I don’t think “the difficulty Rachel Maddow gave him” means that Rachel Maddow was “being difficult.” Those are two slightly disparate senses of the word “difficult.” Consider the connotations of “had difficulty” vs. “acted difficult,” for instance.

  77. 77.

    gocart mozart

    May 21, 2010 at 7:30 pm

    @Rosalita:
    Why, do you wanna go out tonight and make that highway run?
    You don’t have to call me lieutenant Rosie and I don’t want to be your son.

  78. 78.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    May 21, 2010 at 7:31 pm

    @Midnight Marauder:

    Actually I am sure the rabbit hole is very deep. However it doesn’t bother me. Human beings are pretty strange. Always have been. There was a time about five years ago that I clicked a link to a site from a blog (I do regret that) that people basically got off (fap fap fap) to pictures of incredible suffering, death, torture, deformities, etc., nasty stuff. I have since then accepted that there are human beings that are just lost causes.

  79. 79.

    JGabriel

    May 21, 2010 at 7:32 pm

    Rosalita:

    ‘Rand’ still sounds like something out of a drug store bodice ripper book tho

    It wasn’t Ayn Rand’s real name either; that was Alisa Zinov’yevna Rosenbaum. One assumes she chose “Ayn Rand” because it sounds like something out of a drug store bodice ripper.

    .

  80. 80.

    Mike Kay

    May 21, 2010 at 7:34 pm

    @Midnight Marauder: I’m surprised the online left isn’t lining up behind conway, this guy can fight, something the blogosphere has always talked about.

  81. 81.

    JGabriel

    May 21, 2010 at 7:36 pm

    Mike Kay:

    But weigel describes it as “the difficulty Rachel Maddow gave him”.

    That could just as easily be read neutrally, Mike. As in the “the difficulty the math problem gave him.”

    I’m not sure Weigel was assigning intent to Maddow, just reaction from Paul.

    .

  82. 82.

    BombIranForChrist

    May 21, 2010 at 7:37 pm

    I think Rand is going to be just fine. He and the people who will put him in the Senate actually hate the Insider Washington Blah Blah bullshit. The only way this incident could get better for him would be if he actually punched David Gregory in the balls. In an anti-incumbent, anti-Washington election, he’s doing it right.

  83. 83.

    Mike Kay

    May 21, 2010 at 7:44 pm

    @BombIranForChrist: some people said the same thing about Palin when she immediately melted down if front of the hot camera lights.

    no doubt, screaming libeal media bias works with the base, but even kentucky has some indie voters.

  84. 84.

    maus

    May 21, 2010 at 7:45 pm

    @BombIranForChrist:

    He and the people who will put him in the Senate actually hate the Insider Washington Blah Blah bullshit

    Even though the teabaggers don’t watch MTP, the villagers care and will squawk about this for a while.

    @JGabriel: It’s the kind of name a rugged narcissindividualist would have.

  85. 85.

    Midnight Marauder

    May 21, 2010 at 7:52 pm

    @BombIranForChrist:

    In an anti-incumbent, anti-Washington election, he’s doing it right.

    I don’t think there’s anything Rand Paul has done right this week. Telling the constituents of your state that “accidents sometimes happen” when discussing explosions in mines and their family members dying is not doing it right. Coming out in support of BP and saying the President of the United States is “un-American” to criticize the company is not doing it right.

    Honestly, this election is going to be about much more than just being “anti-incumbent, anti-Washington.” For starters, there isn’t even a fucking incumbent in the Kentucky Senate race; Bunning is retiring. Secondly, why is Jack Conway all of a sudden some kind of Washington insider?

    I am consistently shocked that anyone could observe the week Rand Paul had and say this was favorable to him in any way.

  86. 86.

    Larkspur

    May 21, 2010 at 7:55 pm

    Maybe Rand Paul will be all right. But my guess is that he won’t. I think the Civil Rights Act will be to Paul as the baby was to Greg Stillson*.

    *Veiled Dead Zone Reference

  87. 87.

    FlipYrWhig

    May 21, 2010 at 7:56 pm

    @Mike Kay: Markos Moulitsas has been pushing Conway fairly hard. Not as hard as he pushes noted Accountability Now project Bill Halter, but the push is there.

  88. 88.

    Tonal Crow

    May 21, 2010 at 7:57 pm

    FSM I’d love to lure Rand Paul into an interview with Terry Gross. Her amiable, mousy manner disguises journalistic teeth the size of my leg.

    P.S. Yours is perhaps the best thread title I’ve seen here.

  89. 89.

    celticdragonchick

    May 21, 2010 at 8:01 pm

    Twitter is abuzz with word that Rand Paul is trying to cancel his appearance this Sunday on Meet the Press, probably because the biased media keeps asking him about things he’s said, like jerks. Meet the Press is responding with a public shaming — both host David Gregory and executive producer Betsy Fischer are tweeting about it.

    Update: Luke Russert is joining in on the Twitter shaming, channeling his deceased father, the former host of Meet the Press: “Hey Dr. Paul, if you can’t answer tough questions how are you going to be able to make tough decisions as a U.S. Senator? -TJR.” (We think he’s referring to this line of Tim’s.)

    http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2010/05/rand_paul_trying_to_bail_on_me.html

  90. 90.

    Bill Murray

    May 21, 2010 at 8:05 pm

    @Mike Kay: well he mentioned it in one of his Wednesday posts saying

    ” And even Rand Paul, who some are trying to depict as a crusading civil libertarian and anti-war advocate, ran on a platform (as Scott Brown did) of opposing the closing of Guantanamo, the use of civilian trials for accused Terrorists, and the granting of visas to people from numerous Muslim countries. ”

    Whether you consider this stating his outrage, he clearly doesn’t think Paul is a crusading civil libertarian, so your point is at best moot and I would say pretty much wrong.

  91. 91.

    Zuzu's Petals

    May 21, 2010 at 8:05 pm

    Reminds me of Nicole Wallace scoffing: “Who cares if Sarah Palin talks to the press? She talks to the American people!”

  92. 92.

    grape_crush

    May 21, 2010 at 8:11 pm

    Rand Paul won’t talk with David Gregory? That’s like having a whole roomful of Jeff Gannons…

    Better stay away from that mean ‘ol Katie Couric.

  93. 93.

    Tonal Crow

    May 21, 2010 at 8:12 pm

    @Bill Murray: Rand Paul as a civil libertarian? Only someone on mighty bad drugs would swallow that.

  94. 94.

    SectarianSofa

    May 21, 2010 at 8:13 pm

    @arguingwithsignposts:

    Texas SBOE, I imagine. It’s the only way it makes any sense.

  95. 95.

    rob!

    May 21, 2010 at 8:24 pm

    I just donated $10 to Jack Conway. Felt good.

  96. 96.

    Corner Stone

    May 21, 2010 at 8:25 pm

    @YellowJournalism:

    Makes you wonder if John ever had a Flock of Seagulls haircut…

    It doesn’t make me wonder at all.

  97. 97.

    Corner Stone

    May 21, 2010 at 8:26 pm

    @Rosalita:

    dare me huh? okay here goes

    There are some things that once seen, can not be unseen.

  98. 98.

    Mike Kay

    May 21, 2010 at 8:30 pm

    @Bill Murray: as glen would say, you have a reading problem. I wrote why hasn’t the great glen commented and condemned rand paul for opposing civil rights. why the silence. this is the civil rights act, not some traffic ordinance. glen bills himself as a constitutional law expert and he has no comment. I have no doubt, if elena kagen or blanche lincoln melted down on rachel’s show and said they opposed the civil rights act, glen would be burning up the internets. but here, he’s silent. as MLK said, “our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” in glen’s case, his phoniness begins to be exposed the day he becomes silent about things that matter.

  99. 99.

    J.W. Hamner

    May 21, 2010 at 8:33 pm

    Ditching an appearance on MTP will not be tolerated by The Village. I bet he capitulates… otherwise I honestly think he’s done. Kentucky or no; too chicken to go on MTP? How can that work?

  100. 100.

    WereBear

    May 21, 2010 at 8:37 pm

    A candidate avoiding the press. That is pretty wild. Is he going to campaign from a bubble, like the Popemobile?

  101. 101.

    MBSS

    May 21, 2010 at 8:41 pm

    can you blame him?

    who wants to face the dreaded david gregory?

  102. 102.

    Avattoir

    May 21, 2010 at 8:45 pm

    Video of Rand Paul cancelling on MTP

    http://tiny.cc/xn23u

  103. 103.

    burnspbesq

    May 21, 2010 at 8:46 pm

    @Rosalita:

    I know a pretty little place in Southern California.

  104. 104.

    dmsilev

    May 21, 2010 at 9:17 pm

    @celticdragonchick: He got dissed by Luke Russert? Sheesh, talk about hitting rock bottom.

    dms

  105. 105.

    AhabTRuler

    May 21, 2010 at 9:52 pm

    @dmsilev: Well, by Luke Russert’s dead father, but close enough.

  106. 106.

    Mr Furious

    May 21, 2010 at 10:12 pm

    I wouldn’t put it past Gregory to promise Rand a white flag interview where he takes it totally easy on him, focuses on the hoopla rather than the actual issue at hand and then attempts to give the matter closure on Paul’s behalf.

  107. 107.

    Chuck Butcher

    May 21, 2010 at 10:12 pm

    @Mike Kay:
    You’re one of the handful of people capable of typing who can’t work out the difference between “civil libertarian” and a “Libertarian.” I’m sure you can figure out the difference between the civil libertarian ACLU and Rand Paul … well, maybe not.

  108. 108.

    Mr Furious

    May 21, 2010 at 10:14 pm

    Oh, and as for JC’s post title being the best evah, and as good as it is, it doesn’t even win the day… “Bitchin’ Amero” does.

  109. 109.

    Chuck Butcher

    May 21, 2010 at 10:20 pm

    Before I got distracted by “teh stupid” I was going to mention why I think Rand Paul is fun.

  110. 110.

    Gregory

    May 21, 2010 at 10:49 pm

    I’ve said it before, but one thing I so admire about libertarians is their rugged individualism.

  111. 111.

    maus

    May 21, 2010 at 11:54 pm

    @J.W. Hamner: The Villagers really REALLY REALLY want the teabaggers to win some more so that they can get to play with their shiny new narrative.

    I bet you they give him some slack.

  112. 112.

    RSR

    May 22, 2010 at 12:26 am

    is there an xkcd for everything? I think so (don’t forget to hover mouse for the tickler) http://xkcd.com/717/

  113. 113.

    robertdsc

    May 22, 2010 at 1:25 am

    You’re one of the handful of people capable of typing who can’t work out the difference between “civil libertarian” and a “Libertarian.” I’m sure you can figure out the difference between the civil libertarian ACLU and Rand Paul … well, maybe not.

    To be fair, Greenwald talks about a lot more than just the civil liberties bit. He’s opined on many other things, but on this he’s almost silent. Why is that?

  114. 114.

    Yutsano

    May 22, 2010 at 1:42 am

    @RSR: The beauty of that medium is that if there isn’t one yet, there will be. There will be.

  115. 115.

    Wile E. Quixote

    May 22, 2010 at 2:44 am

    @robertdsc:

    I worked with a guy who was named “Rand” after Ayn Rand. He was pretty cool, but his brother was a Randroid tool who named his children “Nathaniel” and “Brandon” after Randroid Prime Disciple Nathaniel Branden.

  116. 116.

    Nic

    May 22, 2010 at 6:59 am

    Maybe he was frightened off by Gregory’s penile cleft haircut?

  117. 117.

    bob h

    May 22, 2010 at 7:24 am

    Hell no- they’ll just say this shows that Ran Paul doesn’t play by the DC Rules and is a maverick and manly because he goes his own way.

    Works well for Sarah Palin.

    I’m wondering whether Paul’s atitude towards the Iran nuke program doesn’t give Democrats an opening. How can the Republicans roast us about terrorism when their rising star says he’s cool with a nuclear arms race in the Middle East?

  118. 118.

    MCA

    May 22, 2010 at 12:05 pm

    How much have you been salivating, just waiting to use that posting title, Cole? Well done. I think half the reason I burn such a high proportion of my interwebs time at this joint is the clever titles.

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