I would say I generally [with some reservations] agree with this post from Jen Rubin - comparing the CPAC debacle with Rand Paul's filibuster performance acts as a nice set piece defining what's demonstrably wrong with the republican brand at the moment and what potentially could be right about it. CPAC, in scorning Christie while lauding an insufferable moron like Trump, loudly reminded everyone as to why the republican brand is tarnished and in decline right now and drew attention to unsettling reality that a significant number of conservatives unbelievably simply do not seem capable of grasping that fact nor of appreciating how badly the GOP needs a do-over as regards messaging. Conveniently, along comes Paul to show how it's done - and not only does he manage to speak passionately for several hours about a complex subject without ever doing much of anything to fit or confirm the left wing caricature of unhinged conservatism, he also manages to embarrass and reveal as hypocritical the liberal intelligentsia by attacking Obama on an issue they themselves should have been championing - in short, with one very long speech he managed to make the republican brand suddenly look substantive and noble while making the liberal brand look weak and pathetic. That's a good day's work.
Now, I'm not at all sure how I feel about his arguments - truth is I haven't paid a great deal of attention to the constitutional issues raised by Obama's drone love - I've been more concerned about the strategic implications, which I consider quite dire - as in, Obama's drone wars are a manifestation of his lead from behind mentality and a representation of what the uber liberals need the American military to become if they're to pay for their welfare state - as for the constitutional issues, I'm sure Paul's arguments are compelling and worthy of respect [although he's a libertarian and I tend not to agree with libertarians when it comes to questions impacting foreign policy] - but reality is, regardless of how cogent his criticism may or may not be the key effect of it I'd say will be how it shines a bright light on the hypocrisy of Obama and the liberal intelligentsia and the way it showcased how a conservative can speak with passion about his convictions without sounding like an empty headed fool or a madman worthy of endless lampooning at the hands of Jon Stewart.
