Mediaboss Marketing

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., introduced legislation on Thursday that would repeal a 1990 law banning guns from school zones, a move that fits with his push to arm teachers and other school personnel so they can prevent school shootings like the one that took place in Florida last month.

Paul's bill would repeal the Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990 and all amendments to that law.

The law bans weapons in and around all public and private K-12 schools, with limited exceptions. Its supporters say the law is needed to reduce violence at schools.

But Paul is a long-time advocate of allowing some teachers to be armed, and has argued along with other conservatives that current law makes schools easy targets for mass shootings.

In early 2013, just weeks after the Sandy Hook shooting that left 26 people dead, including 20 elementary school kids, Paul said it was time to arm teachers.

"If my kids were at that school, I would have preferred that the teacher had concealed-carry and had a gun in her desk," Paul said then, according to USA Today.

"Is it perfect? No. Would they always get the killer? No. Would an accident sometimes happen in a melee? Maybe. But nobody had any defense, and he just kept shooting until he was tired and he decided to shoot himself," he said of the Connecticut shooting.

Read more:
Rand Paul wants to repeal federal gun-free school zones

Is Sen. Rand Paul the new Steve Bannon, the former Trump aide who promised to wage a season of war on the Republican establishment and champion like-minded conservatives?

Paul, a Kentucky Republican, has endorsed two Senate candidates who definitely aren't favorites of GOP standard bearers: Kelli Ward in Arizona and Mike Gibbons in Ohio.

Ward has suggested Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who is battling brain cancer, should quit the Senate as soon as possible and Gibbons is a novice businessman up against a sitting congressman who has President Donald Trump and the Ohio Republican party's stamp of approval.

The Paul endorsements come as Senate Republicans are playing offense on a Senate map that strongly favors them. The GOP is eager to avoid messy primary battles that could benefit Democrats who see bright prospects for taking control of the chamber in November.

A Paul spokesman for Paul brushed aside concerns that the senator could complicate Republican efforts.

"Senator Rand Paul believes that we must elect individuals who will break the current mold of bigger government, more debt and endless foreign intervention," spokesman Sergio Gor said, adding that Paul looked forward to welcoming Ward to the Senate.

The Arizona seat being vacated by Republican Sen. Jeff Flake is one that Democrats are hoping to flip. Republicans are mired in a messy three-way race with Ward, immigration hardliner Joe Arpaio and Rep. Martha McSally, R-Ariz. McSally is the front-runner and presumed establishment favorite.

In Ohio, Democrat Sen. Sherrod Brown is looking to fend off a challenge from Rep. Jim Renacci, R-Ohio, who dropped out of the race for governor last month and launched a Senate bid. Paul endorsed Cleveland businessman Gibbons, calling him a fiscal and constitutional conservative.

Paul campaigned Friday night for Ward in Arizona, railing against his fellow Republicans for supporting a recent spending bill he had protested on the Senate floor. He derided McSally as Martha McSpender, calling her a "fake conservative" and a RINO or Republican In Name Only.

If you elect the establishment candidate, you are going to get more of the same, Paul told a crowd in Scottsdale. You need someone with the courage of their convictions. If they do not have the courage of their convictions, they will be a rubber stamp for leadership.

Bannon had pledged to boost a number of hardline conservative GOP primary challengers, worrying more mainstream Republicans, given his close ties to Trump and access to deep-pocketed donors. His influence largely collapsed last month after Trump repudiated him in the wake of a book which quoted Bannon as harshly critical of the presidents family.

Pauls endorsements havent sparked the same level of concern, Republican strategists said. While Pauls supporters are ardent, his influence is limited, particularly in races where Trump has endorsed. Rand Paul, who unsuccessfully sought the 2016 GOP presidential nomination, and his father Ron, a former Texas congressman and Republican presidential candidate, have found pockets of strong support but outside of their home terrain have not been able to develop a broader constituency.

He marches to his own drummer in a way thats really unique and I dont think that surprises anybody, said veteran Republican strategist Doug Heye. He views the world from a slightly different lens that most of his Republican colleagues.

Its just Rand being Rand, said Scott Jennings, a Republican political consultant who has worked for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. When Obama was president, people were looking to (Paul) on some occasions to see where the non-establishment is, but with the president in the room, I think people care most about where he (Trump) is.

McConnell acknowledged in a New York Times interview Friday that the party could lose seats in the House and Senate, given Democratic enthusiasm and Trumps unpopularity. Officials at the McConnell-affiliated Senate Leadership Fund, which spent nearly $86 million in the November 2016 election to benefit Republicans, declined to comment. But Jennings said Pauls picks are not an issue for McConnell, Pauls fellow Kentucky Republican.

Hes used to it, Jennings said of McConnells view of Pauls propensity to go his own way. The greater annoyance would be if the president were doing this sort of thing.

Trump is increasingly in line with McConnell. On Monday, the president endorsed Mitt Romney for the open Senate seat in Utah, calling him a worthy successor to Sen. Orrin Hatch, a Republican whom Trump had urged not to retire. The endorsement came three days after McConnell called on Trump to back Romney's bid for the seat.

Given the overall landscape of how this could have gone, hes overall pretty happy with the way things are setting up, Jennings said, noting that Bannon could have played a disruptive role. McConnell and Trump are essentially aligned on all of these Senate races and we dont have an antagonist that has the imprimatur of the president out there trying to upend what youre trying to do.

Continued here:
Rand Paul endorsing anti-establishment Senate candidates ...

Rand PaulRandal (Rand) Howard PaulPentagon: War in Afghanistan will cost billion in 2018 Overnight Finance: Senators near two-year budget deal | Trump would 'love to see a shutdown' over immigration | Dow closes nearly 600 points higher after volatile day | Trade deficit at highest level since 2008 | Pawlenty leaving Wall Street group Rand Paul calls for punishment if Congress can't reach a long-term budget deal MORE seems to revel in frustrating fellow members of the Senate and that makes his blatant disregard for the chambers chummy protocols even more infuriating to them.

Paul, the junior senator from Kentucky, appeared to thumb his nose at fellow Republicans Thursdaynight when he posed for a picture with conservative Reps. Justin AmashJustin AmashOvernight Defense: House votes to renew surveillance program | More drones, troops headed to Afghanistan | Former officers urge lawmakers to curb Trump's nuclear powers Overnight Tech: House votes to reauthorize surveillance powers | Twitter on defensive after Project Veritas video | Senate panel to hold hearing on bitcoin Overnight Cybersecurity: House votes to renew NSA spying | Trump tweets spark confusion | Signs Russian hackers are targeting Olympics | Bannon expected to appear before House Intel panel MORE (R-Mich.) and Thomas MassieThomas Harold MassieHouse Republicans' bill would redirect Pakistan aid money to US infrastructure House stays in DC despite threats from GOP leaders Live coverage: Federal government on brink of shutdown MORE (R-Ky.) just off the Senate floor.

They posed with their arms folded, grinning for the camera in the midst of a government shutdown fight that Paul himself had triggered.

The snapshot was especially galling to Republicans because the trio posed in front of the Senate portrait of Henry Clay, the 19th century Kentucky senator known as the "Great Compromiser. Clay is the historical hero of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellDems confront Kelly after he calls some immigrants 'lazy' McConnell: 'Whoever gets to 60 wins' on immigration Overnight Defense: Latest on spending fight - House passes stopgap with defense money while Senate nears two-year budget deal | Pentagon planning military parade for Trump | Afghan war will cost B in 2018 MORE (R-Ky.), who negotiated the budget deal that Paul was trashing.

[Paul is] the perennial annoying gadfly with no positivity associating with it. What he did didnt change the outcome. Hes all about grandstanding, said a Senate Republican aide.

Taking selfies with Justin Amash and Thomas Massie he just is the perennial annoyance, the aide added. Hes here to go on television and thats what he kept doing. Its about self promotion.

Al Cross, a journalism professor at the University of Kentucky and a longtime commentator on Kentucky politics, said Pauls actions likely dont sitwell with the GOP leader, even if he doesnt say anything about it publicly.

Theres no doubt that it gets his nose out of joint, but hes dealt with Rand Paul for a long time and hes pretty accustomed to it, Cross said of McConnell.

But Paul doesnt care if hes making his colleagues uncomfortable.

He says he wouldnt have delayed the budget deal if GOP leaders had merely allowed him a vote on restoring the spending caps that the deal was setting aside.

Leaders said if they allowed Paul a vote other senators would then demand votes on their own amendments, delaying the bill even longer.

Still, many Republicans didn't want to vote against reimposing spending caps that they had declared a major victory only a few short years ago, when they fought with the Obama administration over spending cuts.

You could feel the frustration and embarrassment growing in Congress as we exposed the hypocrisy of Republicans who are joining in an unholy alliance and spending free-for-all with Democrats, Paul tweetedThursdaynight.

Members of the Senate are accustomed to the opposing party forcing them to take tough votes, rather than a member of their own conference.

Senate Republican Whip John CornynJohn CornynDems confront Kelly after he calls some immigrants 'lazy' McConnell: 'Whoever gets to 60 wins' on immigration GOP senators turning Trump immigration framework into legislation MORE (R-Texas) fumed that Pauls tactics were grossly irresponsible and bad behavior that he didnt want to reward by making any concessions.

Senate Republican Conference Chairman John ThuneJohn Randolph ThuneOvernight Tech: Uber exec says 'no justification' for covering up hack | Apple considers battery rebates | Regulators talk bitcoin | SpaceX launches world's most powerful rocket Apple tells senator it may give rebates to consumers who bought iPhone batteries Republican agenda clouded by division MORE (S.D.) called it a colossal waste of everyones time.

Sen. Ron JohnsonRonald (Ron) Harold Johnson40 patient advocacy groups oppose 'right to try' drug bill GOP eyes changes to 'right to try' bill Hundreds sign on to letter opposing 'right to try' drug bill MORE (R-Wis.) called the whole episode another example of the Senates dysfunction, labeling it ridiculous.

But Paul gets energy from riling up his colleagues on points of principle and refused to back down, even though it was clear that the budget deal had the votes to pass.

Theyre mad that they have to do their jobs, said Brian Darling, a GOP strategist and former Paul aide.

Darling said his former boss doesnt care about upsetting his fellow senators.

He cares more about doing the right thing, not going along to get along. Members were really angry with him but he has the right to do what he did.

Congress waits until the last minute to do their appropriations bill and then challenges a single member to object. Theyre doing this on purpose to bully members to get bad bills passed, he said.

Paul doubled downFridaywith an op-ed that called his colleagues hypocrites.

We now control the House, Senate and White House, and we should stand for less government and less spending, he wrote in Time. Instead, we see a massive increase that would make President Obama cringe.

Paul said he expected a lot of tired staffers would try to feed media stories about how I wouldnt play nice with them and let them get their massive spending bill in secret.

He said didnt regret how things played out.

People tuned in to TV, followed on social media, and had the debate trending number one all night, he noted.

Thursdaywas only the latest example of Paul sticking his finger in the eye of Republicans leadership.

He was a thorn in the side of leaders during last years health-care debate, when he declared on television the GOP plan to repeal and replace the 2010 Affordable Care Act was ObamaCare-lite and a bailout" for insurance companies.

At one point, he accused Speaker Paul RyanPaul Davis RyanMcConnell: 'Whoever gets to 60 wins' on immigration Overnight Defense: Latest on spending fight - House passes stopgap with defense money while Senate nears two-year budget deal | Pentagon planning military parade for Trump | Afghan war will cost B in 2018 House passes stopgap spending measure with defense money MORE (R-Wis.) of selling a bill of goods to President TrumpDonald John TrumpTillerson: Russia already looking to interfere in 2018 midterms Dems pick up deep-red legislative seat in Missouri Speier on Trump's desire for military parade: 'We have a Napoleon in the making' MORE in the health-care debate.

Paul was later one of a handful of Senate Republicans to vote against the ObamaCare repeal and replace plan that passed the House, and that McConnell had spent weeks negotiating with his conference.

In December, Paul panned the short-term spending proposal that GOP leaders advanced to keep the government open as reckless deficit spending.

For Paul, playing the role of maverick is good politics.

A Mason-Dixon poll of registered voters in Kentucky in December showed that he has a substantial better job rating than McConnell, the ultimate Republican team player.

The survey showed Paul with a 44 percent job approval rating, while only 30 percent approved of McConnells performance.

Pauls one-man revolt on the budget deal was also a hit with conservatives.

A senator has an ability to be a voice and not just a vote, said Daniel Horowitz, senior editor of Conservative Review. Hes able to give to the forgotten man the average American taxpayer.

When the political class of both parties get together and decide theyre going to get a specific outcome theres no way to thwart that outcome in the short run. But the only thing worse than screwing taxpayers is screwing them and having no one find out about it, he added.

Senators thoughtThursdaywould be a routine day after McConnell and Senate Democratic Leader Charles SchumerCharles (Chuck) Ellis SchumerGOP lawmaker: Dems not standing for Trump is 'un-American' Trump called for unity he didnt even last a week Overnight Defense: GOP plays hardball by attaching defense funding to CR | US reportedly drawing down in Iraq | Russia, US meet arms treaty deadline | Why the military wants 6B from Congress MORE (N.Y.) announced they had reached a two-year budget deal that gained swift support from Ryan in the House.

They needed consent from everyone in the chamber to speed up the procedural clock and vote in the morning and afternoon in time to catch flights back home for an early weekend.

But Paul surprised them all by digging in his heels and delaying a vote until1:30 a.m.after McConnell refused to give in to his demand for a separate vote on budget caps.

The frustration with Paul spread to the other side of the Capitol, where members of the House had to stay on call until5 a.m.Fridaymorning to receive the bill and pass it, something they expected to happen hours earlier.

One frustrated Republican lawmaker, Rep. Charlie DentCharles (Charlie) Wieder DentSupreme Court denies GOP request to block Pennsylvania gerrymandering decision Dent likens GOP to a dysfunctional family on tackling difficult issues GOP lawmaker: Trump should have hit Russia harder in speech MORE (Pa.), quipped he could sympathize with Rene Boucher, Pauls neighbor in Bowling Green, Ky., who allegedly tackled the senator over a landscaping dispute.

When Rand Paul pulls a stunt like this, its easy to understand why its difficult to be Rand Pauls next-door neighbor, Dent told Politico.

Pauls office didnt find that remark at all humorous. The assault gave Paul broken ribs.

That comment is disgusting and Charlie Dent should apologize. Senator Rand Paul will always stand up for what is right, regardless of which party is in control, said Pauls spokesman Sergio Gor.

He successfully brought much-needed attention to the hypocrisy in the halls of Congress when it comes to out-of-control spending, he added.

Follow this link:
Rand Paul revels in role of Senate troublemaker | TheHill

The Taliban is extending an invitation to Sen. Rand Paul,Kentucky Republican,to their political office in Doha, to discuss possible peace plans to end the 17-year Afghan war.

The invitation, proposed on the terror groups social media accounts under the moniker of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, was extended in response to Mr. Pauls recent comments on the status of the war.

We invite the respectable U.S. Senator Rand Paul, in his official capacity to visit our political office in Doha for mutual talks, the Twitter post by the Information Committee of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan read.

Well prove to Mr. Rand Paul, the immediate US withdrawal from [Afghanistan] will bring peace to our country & will enhance international security, the group added in the social media post.

During an interview with Fox News on Thursday, Sen. Paul lambasted Washingtons continued investment in the Afghan conflict, with no clear endgame in sight. The war in Afghanistan is costing us $50 billion a year Its time to come home. There is no military victory there, Mr. Paul said.

Mr. Paul is one of several lawmakers who have voiced opposition to the war in Afghanistan, as the White House looks to implement a more aggressive military strategy in the country.

President Trump expressed overt support for negotiations with the Taliban, and its potential political role in a postwar Afghanistan, during a primetime address to the nation unveiling his new strategy for the region in August. But Mr. Trump walked back support for talks last month after a series of deadly attacks in the Afghan capital of Kabul.

I dont think were prepared to talk right now. Its a whole different fight over there. Theyre killing people left and right. Innocent people are being killed left and right, Mr. Trump told reporters at the White House at the time.

Nearly 14,000 American forces are on the ground in Afghanistan as part of the White House surge of an additional 3,900 troops into the country a key element of the administrations new war plan.

The Trump White House also expanded commanders authority to conduct combat operations against the Taliban or other extremists in the country, as well as abandoning the Obama-era withdrawal deadlines for a conditions-based approach.

Original post:
Rand Paul invited to peace talks by Taliban - Washington Times

Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul is slamming members of his party for being "hypocritical" for passing both tax cuts and spending increases. Paul's comments on CBS News' "Face the Nation" come just days after President Trump signed a $400 billion budget deal, ending a brief federal government shutdown on Friday that came after Paul held up a key vote in the Senate.

"I think if you're for tax cuts and for increasing spending that's hypocritical. But if you're for tax cuts and you're also for cutting spending a corresponding amount -- see, I would offset the tax cuts with spending cuts, and there are a few of us that would actually do that," said Paul on Sunday.

Paul voted for the tax cut package last year that experts said would add $1.5 trillion to the deficit over the next 10 years.

"I voted for the tax cuts and I voted for spending cuts. The people who voted for tax cuts and spending increases -- I think there is some hypocrisy there and it shows they're not serious about the debt," he added.

Paul, who was instrumental in derailing Senate leaders' plan to drive the budget agreement quickly through the Senate by repeatedly blocking a Thursday vote, says he thinks lawmakers should "draw attention to the fact that we're spending so much money."

"I'm still against deficit spending just because Republicans are doing it doesn't make it any better."

The budget agreement reached between Republicans and Democrats is married to a six-week temporary funding bill needed to keep the government operating and provide time to implement the budget pact. Paul held up the vote late Thursday for as long as he was able to under Senate rules.

Once Paul's time was up, the measure, backed by the Senate's top leaders, sailed through the chamber by a 71-28 vote. The House approved the legislation with a 240-186 vote hours after the Senate OK'd the deal.

Paul told CBS News' Major Garrett on Sunday that he's "very worried" about military spending increases. The budget deal raises the spending caps on defense and domestic spending by $300 billion over the next two years.

"I think one of the questions the Republicans, I think, are not willing to ask themselves is, can you be fiscally conservative and be for unlimited military spending?" said Paul.

The president hailed the boost in military spending on Friday, tweeting, "Our Military will now be stronger than ever before. We love and need our Military and gave them everything and more."

But Paul said Republicans are "unwilling to confront that they want more, more, more for military spending and so to get that they have to give the Democrats what they want, which is more and more and more for domestic spending. "

The senator said while some welcomed the bipartisan agreement reached between the two parties, he said it's "exploding the deficit."

"I'm not so sure that's the kind of bipartisanship we need," he added.

Paul also took issue with the military's mission abroad, saying it's "beyond what we need to be."

"We're actively in war in about seven countries, and yet the Congress hasn't voted on declaring or authorizing the use of military force in over 15 years now," Paul said.

He added, pointing to the war in Afghanistan, "We're spending 50 billion dollars a year. And if the president really is serious about infrastructure, a lot of that money could be spent at home. Instead of building bridges and schools and roads in Afghanistan or in Pakistan."

2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Visit link:
Sen. Rand Paul criticizes GOP "hypocrisy" on debt ...