General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsRand Paul, in Moscow, invites Russian lawmakers to Washington
"I am pleased to announced that we will be continuing this contact," Paul, a Kentucky Republican, said in Moscow. "We agreed and we invited members of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Russia to come to the US to meet with us in the US, in Washington."
Paul is in Moscow meeting with Russian lawmakers in a trip he sees as a continuation of US President Donald Trump's diplomatic outreach to Russian President Vladimir Putin, and comes several weeks after Trump invited Putin to DC as well. Paul has been one of Trump's most outspoken supporters following the criticism Trump faced -- including from some within his own party -- for the US President's handling of his meeting with Putin in July. During a news conference in Helsinki at the time, Trump declined to back the conclusion of the US intelligence that Russia interfered with the US presidential election over Putin's denials, though Trump later said when he was back in the US that he misspoke.
Paul is also expected to meet with Russian deputy foreign minister Sergey Ryabkov and State Duma Foreign Affairs committee head Leonid Slutsky during his visit, and plans to continue speaking on Tuesday. The US delegation also plans to visit Saint Petersburg.
https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/06/politics/rand-paul-russia-lawmaker-invite-maria-butina/index.html
MANative
(4,112 posts)The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,781 posts)Is he in bed with the Russians too, or is he just weird and stupid?
spanone
(135,855 posts)The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,781 posts)Hortensis
(58,785 posts)behaviors, do we care that much about primary motive? Like pornography, we all know treason when we see it, by its common definition anyway.
And, given the current warfare by Russia on the U.S., to me all activities empowering Russia are highly suspect. Their histories mean wondering if either or both has been compromised and blackmailed isn't outrageous in the middle of this occult war.
Rand claims to be libertarian like dad, and we are now learning about the connections between many prominent American libertarians and Russia. I just did a very brief search on dad, and Ron Paul has been brazenly supporting Russia, and now Trump, for some time. RT and other Russian sources like to quote him, and Paul obligingly has been channeling their viewpoints to those who read him. Rand's also very useful to them that way.
Interestingly, back in 2012 Ron Paul was also identified as one of the most corrupt members of congress. He left public office in 2013.
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/07/ron-paul-is-putins-new-best-friend/439533/
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,781 posts)because they have no ideology other than profit.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)I'm assuming, though, that the natural progression of real libertarians who want to protect their estates from libertarianism would be to economic conservatism. Greed will overcome concern for the personal freedoms of other people.
And a bunch aren't even real libertarians, who'd at least believe in personal freedoms for those other people, they're conservative poseurs. I've read something about these, and many are actually social conservatives who support the right's rising authoritarianism. So, very dangerous.
CatMor
(6,212 posts)dalton99a
(81,539 posts)Pachamama
(16,887 posts)I ask myself the same question about him and he has been showing so many signs that makes one wonder...
irisblue
(33,007 posts)kentuck
(111,106 posts)Trying too hard to make it seem normal.
Achilleaze
(15,543 posts)republicans just keep pissing on America, and on the honorable veterans who staff America's Intelligence Agencies.
No doubt Dirty Donny, the republican Draft-Dodger-in-Chief, will be among the republican Brown Nosers welcoming the russians who are engaged in ACTS OF WAR against America past, present and future.
#republicanTreason sucks.
dalton99a
(81,539 posts)Paul's libertarianism is really Putin's authoritarianism
Pictures with little boys. It has to be. This guy has gone from libertarian to Russia's cheerleader in less than 18 months. This makes absolutely no sense unless they have something very serious on him. The incident with his neighbor is looking more and more suspicious as time goes on.
Response to ScratchCat (Reply #9)
dalton99a This message was self-deleted by its author.
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,781 posts)He will align himself with Russia in order to take down the IC "deep state" regardless of any so-called libertarian principles. Also, the Russian oligarchs have a lot of money. Follow the money.
Sneederbunk
(14,296 posts)SkyDancer
(561 posts)Fuck this guy.
Rand Paul is a Russian fluffer. The sooner he GTFO of congress, the better America will be. Maybe his neighbor should run against him.
Link to tweet
maxsolomon
(33,345 posts)We gladhand lots of Autocracies in the course of our hegemony, but the enthusiasm here is repulsive.
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)WTF is going on here?
UCmeNdc
(9,600 posts)How are the Russians able to have so much influence over individual Republican leaders and members?
Initech
(100,088 posts)And I think that is what Mueller is going to find out. They all have a psychotic hatred Hillary in some way. So the Russians found a way to channel their hatred and flipped the script.