The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

The Difference Between Theory And Practice Is Greater In Practice Than In Theory

Posted on | May 22, 2010 | 20 Comments

by Smitty

Da Tech Guy asserts that Rand Paul failed to consider his audience when launching into a theoretical discussion on MSNBC:

The basic issue isn’t so much with the theory, which I discuss in detail here; the problem is theory can be an excuse to do nothing. As Sen Pat McNamara once said to Sen Richard Russell when challenged why the south should not be left to solve it’s own civil rights issues during the debates of 1957: “Because you’ve had 90 years and haven’t done it!” There are times when theory is not enough.

But Paul biggest mistake was similar to John McCain’s in 2008 and comes from the same source. He and his father have gotten relatively soft interviews from the mainstream media, due to their willingness to critique republicans in general and the war in particular. Once he was a face of the party, he was no longer of use, thus the media did a 180.

However, I think that DTG cleaves closer to the bone in that second quoted paragraph: it really doesnt matter what Paul said; his words were going to fed into the Verbal Aerator/Gyeconlogical Inverter/Nebulous Artificer, emerging as vastly different monolougue. He may as well have quoted Klavan offering suggested campaign promises for the POTUS:

If it was me, I would have kept the booking on Press the Meat for this Sunday, and started off my remarks by forgiving Rachel Maddow at length and in detail for being such a sad little Lefty propaganda hit-bimbo. But that’s how I roll.

This post’s title is and old Herb Sutter-ism

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Category: Da Tech Guy, Kentucky

Comments

  • Joe

    Rand Paul should not have run away from MTP. Gregory is a tool, but he is not Olbermann and Maddow either. Paul should have said he was taken out of context, reiterated his general support for civil rights and then launched into attacking the left for trying to destroy any up and coming libertarian or conservative.

    In the future, Paul should not go into college dorm BS mode with an unfriendly interview like anything on MSNBC (heck even Scarabourgh said going on MSNBC is a mistake and he knows what dicks Maddow and Olbermann are).

  • Joe

    Rand Paul should not have run away from MTP. Gregory is a tool, but he is not Olbermann and Maddow either. Paul should have said he was taken out of context, reiterated his general support for civil rights and then launched into attacking the left for trying to destroy any up and coming libertarian or conservative.

    In the future, Paul should not go into college dorm BS mode with an unfriendly interview like anything on MSNBC (heck even Scarabourgh said going on MSNBC is a mistake and he knows what dicks Maddow and Olbermann are).

  • http://therepublicanmother.blogspot.com republicanmother

    Who set up the MSNBC interview? Was it Rand, someone in his campaign, or some RNC-Washington operatives? It kind of reminds me of the innocent Mr. Smith who went to Washington and encountered a less than truthful press.

    If it were someone in the RNC, I bet they’re laughing it up. If it were Rand or one of his people, they need to get a clue.

  • http://therepublicanmother.blogspot.com republicanmother

    Who set up the MSNBC interview? Was it Rand, someone in his campaign, or some RNC-Washington operatives? It kind of reminds me of the innocent Mr. Smith who went to Washington and encountered a less than truthful press.

    If it were someone in the RNC, I bet they’re laughing it up. If it were Rand or one of his people, they need to get a clue.

  • http://threebeerslater.blogspot.com richard mcenroe

    There’s no reason to assume the House of Paul has ever had a clue. Letters of Marque, anyone?

  • http://threebeerslater.blogspot.com richard mcenroe

    There’s no reason to assume the House of Paul has ever had a clue. Letters of Marque, anyone?

  • http://www.redstateeclectic.com AngelaTC

    Richard seems to be confusing Ron with Rand.

    DeMint said he was going to talk to Rand about controlling da’ message. My guess is that the MTP cancel was related to that conversation.

    Thinking that liberals are interested in philosophical debate? Rookie mistake.

    He needs to rethink assuming a position on the national stage at this juncture. Right now, he should be pandering only to the people of Kentucky. I suspect only about 2 of them watch Maddow.

  • http://www.redstateeclectic.com AngelaTC

    Richard seems to be confusing Ron with Rand.

    DeMint said he was going to talk to Rand about controlling da’ message. My guess is that the MTP cancel was related to that conversation.

    Thinking that liberals are interested in philosophical debate? Rookie mistake.

    He needs to rethink assuming a position on the national stage at this juncture. Right now, he should be pandering only to the people of Kentucky. I suspect only about 2 of them watch Maddow.

  • Joe

    Interesting article by Bob Bennett, but I disagree in part:

    Unlike Carter, Reagan had more than slogans. He came to Washington with a clear plan to revive the economy and overhaul the tax code, revitalize the military, and, most important, boost the national spirit. He saw the Republican Party as a “big tent,” and he successfully did what is considered political suicide today: He worked across party lines and tried to find compromise consensus.

    Or let me put it this way, Reagan was always trying to score the touch down, but recognized moving the ball a few yards was better than a stalled play or losing yards.

  • Joe

    Interesting article by Bob Bennett, but I disagree in part:

    Unlike Carter, Reagan had more than slogans. He came to Washington with a clear plan to revive the economy and overhaul the tax code, revitalize the military, and, most important, boost the national spirit. He saw the Republican Party as a “big tent,” and he successfully did what is considered political suicide today: He worked across party lines and tried to find compromise consensus.

    Or let me put it this way, Reagan was always trying to score the touch down, but recognized moving the ball a few yards was better than a stalled play or losing yards.

  • kansas

    Paul should give as many press conferences as Obama. None. The press and left websites like LGF will just continue to hammer him. Just shut up and stay on the ballot. No debates either. Because it doesn’t matter what he says, the press and the loony liberals will spin it.

  • kansas

    Paul should give as many press conferences as Obama. None. The press and left websites like LGF will just continue to hammer him. Just shut up and stay on the ballot. No debates either. Because it doesn’t matter what he says, the press and the loony liberals will spin it.

  • rcocean

    The MSNBC interview was idiotic. Rand is now the Republican candidate for Senator. His sole focus should be on getting elected. Which means, NOT having “interesting” discussions on the CRA (passed 45 years ago) or discussing the fine points of Libertarian theory.

    And Rand was reaching *who* exactly in going on Mad cow? The 500,000 hard-core leftists who watch it? His decision to NOT go on MTP was the correct one. He wins no votes by being a target for Gregory and answering a lot of “When did you stop being a racist?” questions.

    Time to grow up and put the Libertarian philosopher shtick in the closet – till after November.

  • rcocean

    The MSNBC interview was idiotic. Rand is now the Republican candidate for Senator. His sole focus should be on getting elected. Which means, NOT having “interesting” discussions on the CRA (passed 45 years ago) or discussing the fine points of Libertarian theory.

    And Rand was reaching *who* exactly in going on Mad cow? The 500,000 hard-core leftists who watch it? His decision to NOT go on MTP was the correct one. He wins no votes by being a target for Gregory and answering a lot of “When did you stop being a racist?” questions.

    Time to grow up and put the Libertarian philosopher shtick in the closet – till after November.

  • http://datechguy.wordpress.com datechguy

    I actually don’t have a problem with the MSNBC interview per se. I have the problem with him deciding that he was not ready for what was going to come.

    Our people need to be ready willing and able to defend our beliefs anywhere anytime. The key word being Ready!

  • http://datechguy.wordpress.com datechguy

    I actually don’t have a problem with the MSNBC interview per se. I have the problem with him deciding that he was not ready for what was going to come.

    Our people need to be ready willing and able to defend our beliefs anywhere anytime. The key word being Ready!

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  • Estragon

    Avoiding MTP right now was the wise and prudent choice. True, Gregory isn’t Maddow – he has a research staff which would have dug up every questionable group Rand spoke to during his Dad’s campaign (hundreds of speeches, and Ron never repudiated his white supremacist supporters), and every statement he made which could be misconstrued.

    `

    The entire segment would have been questions about “Are you a racist?” and “Oh, no – prove it!” and “Well, what about THIS, and THIS, and THIS – and oh, yeah, what about THIS?” and “We’ll be back talking with Rand Paul about his controversial racial beliefs after these messages.”

    The guy has a 20 point lead in a Republican-leaning state in a Republican wave year. He should run positive ads with puppies, kids, and kittens showing him strolling through the Kentucky wilderness, but should personally disappear to a secure undisclosed location, not to emerge until after the polls close on election night.

  • Estragon

    Avoiding MTP right now was the wise and prudent choice. True, Gregory isn’t Maddow – he has a research staff which would have dug up every questionable group Rand spoke to during his Dad’s campaign (hundreds of speeches, and Ron never repudiated his white supremacist supporters), and every statement he made which could be misconstrued.

    `

    The entire segment would have been questions about “Are you a racist?” and “Oh, no – prove it!” and “Well, what about THIS, and THIS, and THIS – and oh, yeah, what about THIS?” and “We’ll be back talking with Rand Paul about his controversial racial beliefs after these messages.”

    The guy has a 20 point lead in a Republican-leaning state in a Republican wave year. He should run positive ads with puppies, kids, and kittens showing him strolling through the Kentucky wilderness, but should personally disappear to a secure undisclosed location, not to emerge until after the polls close on election night.

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