If Rand Paul can’t stand up to David Gregory, how can he stand up to the terrorists?
Paul is also whining that he has been deprived of his entitlement of a honeymoon from the press. Funny, I always thought that libertarians pride themselves on their tough individualism.
Author: Jonathan Zasloff
Jonathan Zasloff teaches Torts, Land Use, Environmental Law, Comparative Urban Planning Law, Legal History, and Public Policy Clinic - Land Use, the Environment and Local Government. He grew up and still lives in the San Fernando Valley, about which he remains immensely proud (to the mystification of his friends and colleagues). After graduating from Yale Law School, and while clerking for a federal appeals court judge in Boston, he decided to return to Los Angeles shortly after the January 1994 Northridge earthquake, reasoning that he would gladly risk tremors in order to avoid the average New England wind chill temperature of negative 55 degrees. Professor Zasloff has a keen interest in world politics; he holds a PhD in the history of American foreign policy from Harvard and an M.Phil. in International Relations from Cambridge University. Much of his recent work concerns the influence of lawyers and legalism in US external relations, and has published articles on these subjects in the New York University Law Review and the Yale Law Journal. More generally, his recent interests focus on the response of public institutions to social problems, and the role of ideology in framing policy responses. Professor Zasloff has long been active in state and local politics and policy. He recently co-authored an article discussing the relationship of Proposition 13 (California's landmark tax limitation initiative) and school finance reform, and served for several years as a senior policy advisor to the Speaker of California Assembly. His practice background reflects these interests: for two years, he represented welfare recipients attempting to obtain child care benefits and microbusinesses in low income areas. He then practiced for two more years at one of Los Angeles' leading public interest environmental and land use firms, challenging poorly planned development and working to expand the network of the city's urban park system. He currently serves as a member of the boards of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy (a state agency charged with purchasing and protecting open space), the Los Angeles Center for Law and Justice (the leading legal service firm for low-income clients in east Los Angeles), and Friends of Israel's Environment. Professor Zasloff's other major activity consists in explaining the Triangle Offense to his very patient wife, Kathy. View all posts by Jonathan Zasloff
It depends on the power of the politics of resentment in this race; if Rand Paul is seen as being picked on by the mainstream biased liberal media elite, then his ducking David Gregory and being caught in a thousand contradictions may work for him as much as against him. I think it will work against him in the long run that he wilts under media scrutiny, but the "mainstream media bully" idea may bring some sympathy to him.
In addition, both Paul pere and Paul fils have generally avoided identification with the "war on terror" meme that has energized most of their party since 2001. If, during his primary campaign, he had made himself into Mr. Tough On Terrorism, this line would have more punch.
The "honeymoon" comment sounded like a joke to me. He certainly does seem to be playing the 'mean librul media' card though.
Which would make the question "If he can't stand up to David Gregory, what makes you think he can stand up to Washington?"
Sarah Palin, of course, has also refused all media interviews, at least since the one with Katie Couric. I don't know whether that has helped or hurt her, since she has revealed her idiocy on her own.
I think, a better question to ask your nutty friends is "If Rand Paul can't stand up to the liberal media, how will he stand up to the terrorists?" Anyone care to predict the Rand Paul jokes a week from now?
From the article:
She said the only other cancellations from major guests were Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan in 1996 and Saudi Arabia's Prince Bandar on May 18, 2003.
Wow. He's in great company.