From the Editors’ Desk: Sen. Rand Paul Suspends Campaign

 

From ABC:

Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul said today he is suspending his 2016 campaign for president. “It’s been an incredible honor to run a principled campaign for the White House,” Paul said in a statement. “Today, I will end where I began, ready and willing to fight for the cause of liberty.

Paul finished fifth in Monday’s Iowa caucuses with 4.5 percent of the vote, behind rivals Ted Cruz, Donald Trump, Marco Rubio and Ben Carson.

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  1. Tom Meyer, Ed. Member
    Tom Meyer, Ed.
    @tommeyer

    To be expected, but a shame. Paul was a good counterweight to some of the others’ excesses, particularly Rubio, Christie, and Bush’s lack of any skepticism regarding surveillance.

    • #1
  2. EJHill Podcaster
    EJHill
    @EJHill

    “Suspend.” I love it when they use that word. They think it sounds better than quitting and gives the illusion that it can be revived at a moment’s notice. But that’s like saying the murderer wasn’t hanged, merely suspended above the ground by the neck.

    • #2
  3. OkieSailor Member
    OkieSailor
    @OkieSailor

    I did not think he would do this until after the Kentucky Republican caucus in March. It was set up so that he could run for both President and Senator simultaneously and is paid for by his campaign. It will be interesting to see what his reasoning is on this, maybe he’s doing it to free up his supporters to vote for someone who has a realistic chance at the White House, just my speculation here.
    I like him, never thought he had even an outside chance, but was prepared to vote for him anyway.

    • #3
  4. OkieSailor Member
    OkieSailor
    @OkieSailor

    EJHill:“Suspend.” I love it when they use that word. They think it sounds better than quitting and gives the illusion that it can be revived at a moment’s notice. But that’s like saying the murderer wasn’t hanged, merely suspended above the ground by the neck.

    There are campaign financing laws that make this necessary or at least expedient, so I’ve been given to understand.

    • #4
  5. ToryWarWriter Coolidge
    ToryWarWriter
    @ToryWarWriter

    Suspension of campaigns means you can still legally fundraise.  Though there was some confusion cause McCain suspended in 2008 to go back to Washington.

    Sorry to see him not gain the traction.  I never expected a win, but always figured a ten to 15 percent showing in a reduced field.

    • #5
  6. Brian Watt Inactive
    Brian Watt
    @BrianWatt

    I sincerely like Rand Paul even as I vehemently disagree with him on foreign policy and national security issues. I think he plays an important role in the Senate to remind everyone of the excesses and overreach of the federal government. If he ever leaves the Senate, maybe a future conservative president could use him as a hatchet man to eliminate needless government programs, regulations, departments and agencies.

    • #6
  7. The King Prawn Inactive
    The King Prawn
    @TheKingPrawn

    We’ve done the more the merrier part of this thing. It’s time to winnow the field and start gearing towards an actual win of the primary and then the general.

    • #7
  8. Sabrdance Member
    Sabrdance
    @Sabrdance

    The good news is that it means he can come back to Kentucky and crush Jim Gray for Senate.

    • #8
  9. EJHill Podcaster
    EJHill
    @EJHill

    OkieSailor: There are campaign financing laws that make this necessary or at least expedient, so I’ve been given to understand.

    But isn’t just like lawyers and politicians to twist the language for a legal purpose that contradicts reality?

    The stupidity of our campaign finance laws is not in Citizens United, but in the labyrinth of what’s permitted and what’s forbidden. John Glenn decided in 1984 he could take on Ronald Reagan. Glenn’s debts from that fool’s errand outlived Reagan by four years.

    • #9
  10. EB Thatcher
    EB
    @EB

    Yay!  One more down, a whole bunch more to go.  I hope sooner rather than later.

    Jeb! did worse than Paul, why, why, why won’t he go?  Ego, I guess.  Or still some money left to let him play spoil-sport.  Before this whole thing started, I thought he might be someone to vote for – he was a decent governor here in Florida.  But besides the fact that he apparently can’t campaign his way out of a paper bag, he has been so petty, mean-spirited, and spiteful that I am now just disgusted with him.

    • #10
  11. Jim Kearney Member
    Jim Kearney
    @JimKearney

    Brian Watt:use him as a hatchet man to eliminate needless government programs, regulations, departments and agencies.

    Yes, let him fly around the country like the George Clooney character in Up in the Air, firing bureaucrats as he goes.

    He wouldn’t even need to get distracted by Vera Farmiga, since Rand’s wife Kelley is a knockout herself. Heck, when “good enough for government work” types saw the good looking Pauls in their drab offices, they’d be lining up eagerly for their packets.

    RandKelleyPaul

    • #11
  12. Eustace C. Scrubb Member
    Eustace C. Scrubb
    @EustaceCScrubb

    Keep fighting the good fight, Senator.

    • #12
  13. Misthiocracy Member
    Misthiocracy
    @Misthiocracy

    Posted without endorsement, but I still think it’s funny:

    12622564_446971252155542_7012888208131152974_o

    • #13
  14. Quake Voter Inactive
    Quake Voter
    @QuakeVoter

    Forget Ted Cruz. Nothing would begin a much needed Legal Reformation of the high priests, and their corruption of simple sacred texts, like a Rand Paul appointment to SCOTUS.

    With Paul and Thomas we would have two justices who actually write and think in the English vernacular.

    • #14
  15. Randy Weivoda Moderator
    Randy Weivoda
    @RandyWeivoda

    Rand has been my number one choice since the beginning of the campaign, so I’m sorry to see him drop out.  I don’t feel the disappointment I felt when Rick Perry and Bobby Jindal dropped out, though.  Rand Paul still has a position in the Senate where he can influence the government and hopefully nudge it in a more conservatarian direction.  With Perry and Jindal done as governors, it’s a greater disappointment that they are out of the game completely.  Maybe Jindal will be considered for the VP slot.

    • #15
  16. Kevin Creighton Contributor
    Kevin Creighton
    @KevinCreighton

    My #1 choice was Rick Perry.
    My #2 choice was Scott Walker.
    My #3 choice was Rand Paul.

    Never listen to anything I say about politics.

    • #16
  17. Randy Weivoda Moderator
    Randy Weivoda
    @RandyWeivoda

    I just can’t figure out why people wouldn’t flock to a curly-haired man with the first name of Randy (until his wife started calling him Rand).  That sounds like an awesome combination to me.

    • #17
  18. Jamie Lockett Member
    Jamie Lockett
    @JamieLockett

    The King Prawn:We’ve done the more the merrier part of this thing. It’s time to winnow the field and start gearing towards an actual win of the primary and then the general.

    True, but there are at least 3 other candidates who should drop out before Paul – at least Paul offered a different voice. Bush/Kasich/Christie – meh…

    • #18
  19. Matt Upton Inactive
    Matt Upton
    @MattUpton

    Brian Watt: I sincerely like Rand Paul even as I vehemently disagree with him on foreign policy and national security issues. I think he plays an important role in the Senate to remind everyone of the excesses and overreach of the federal government.

    I’m in this neighborhood. Rand is a much needed spoiler in the Senate, and I hope his can overcome any disillusionment with the process to remain there for several more terms.

    • #19
  20. Mr. Dart Inactive
    Mr. Dart
    @MrDart

    Way back in September (seems like a year ago in campaign time) my wife and I met Rand one afternoon on one of his campaign stops in the neighborhood.  Our congressman, Mick Mulvaney, stuck his neck out and endorsed him at the time so we attended to hear Mick explain why and also to see Sen. Paul.

    The crowd numbered about 200 in a little VFW hall and he gave a good talk– mainly about the debt and spending.  There were a lot of folks there that we don’t often see at Republican events.  I think he’s good for the party and hope he remains in the US Senate for a long time.  It was always going to be a longshot for the nomination although I wish he would have let New Hampshire people have a say first.

    • #20
  21. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Kevin Creighton:My #1 choice was Rick Perry.
    My #2 choice was Scott Walker.
    My #3 choice was Rand Paul.

    Never listen to anything I say about politics.

    Now, you see why I have endorsed the whole Democratic Party. You, too, have the magic touch. Come to the dark side and use your powers against our enemies!

    • #21
  22. Tom Meyer, Ed. Member
    Tom Meyer, Ed.
    @tommeyer

    Matt Upton:

    Brian Watt: I sincerely like Rand Paul even as I vehemently disagree with him on foreign policy and national security issues. I think he plays an important role in the Senate to remind everyone of the excesses and overreach of the federal government.

    I’m in this neighborhood. Rand is a much needed spoiler in the Senate, and I hope his can overcome any disillusionment with the process to remain there for several more terms.

    I’d also add that Paul is, I think, very good at being a senator. He’s been substantive, has moved a number of debates in a good direction (with some caveats) and works well with people as different as Ted Cruz and Mitch McConnell.

    • #22
  23. Jim Kearney Member
    Jim Kearney
    @JimKearney

    Tom Meyer, Ed.: works well with people as different as Ted Cruz and Mitch McConnell.

    True.

    Still, don’t expect Rand to now stand with McConnell to announce that with him out of the race they’re both now supporting their beloved colleague Ted.

    • #23
  24. Misthiocracy Member
    Misthiocracy
    @Misthiocracy

    Arahant:

    Kevin Creighton:My #1 choice was Rick Perry.
    My #2 choice was Scott Walker.
    My #3 choice was Rand Paul.

    Never listen to anything I say about politics.

    Now, you see why I have endorsed the whole Democratic Party. You, too, have the magic touch. Come to the dark side and use your powers against our enemies!

    Up here in the Great White North I no longer participate in nomination campaigns, cuz I’ve been really wrong pretty much every time in the past. From now on, I’m strictly bandwagon.

    ;-)

    • #24
  25. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Misthiocracy: Up here in the Great White North I no longer participate in nomination campaigns, cuz I’ve been really wrong pretty much every time in the past. From now on, I’m strictly bandwagon.

    No, no. Use your powers to sink that bad campaigns. All you have to do is endorse them. It works. I endorsed Hillary in 2008, for instance.

    (Oops! I shouldn’t have admitted that. I’m probably to blame for Obama.)

    • #25
  26. thelonious Member
    thelonious
    @thelonious

    Rand was my #1 choice.  He and Newt Gingrich are 2 of the most creative thinkers in the Republican party.  Much of the time that creativity got them in trouble but they both seem to always try to look at things from different angles.  I would of enjoyed the ride if Rand became president.

    • #26
  27. Concretevol Thatcher
    Concretevol
    @Concretevol

    Well Santorum is apparently out too….I just don’t know who I will vote for now

    • #27
  28. Arizona Patriot Member
    Arizona Patriot
    @ArizonaPatriot

    I imagine that Paul’s decision, like most, is driven by money.  When people stop donating, you have to stop campaigning.  Well, unless you can finance your own campaign like a Trump or a Bloomberg.

    • #28
  29. Isaiah's Job Inactive
    Isaiah's Job
    @IsaiahsJob

    #sigh# My dog has now formally left the fight. Ah, sweet limited government: does anyone *truly* love you anymore?

    • #29
  30. Manny Coolidge
    Manny
    @Manny

    I would have thought he would have made his last stand in New Hampshire but I guess the polls there were even worse.  He ran a respectable campaign on ideas.  He should be proud of that.

    • #30
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