Vaya Con Dios, Rand Paul

An embarrassing number of Americans continue noshing at the pig trough. And a large number of pseudo intellectuals beaver away at shoving freebies into that trough. As such, Dr. Paul’s audience, in terms of domestic policy, was limited from the start. And on the foreign policy side, his group of sympathizers was even smaller.

The foreign policy discussion, unfortunately, continues to be dominated by the neocons (nation builders, and interventionists), rather than by those calling for a foreign policy based on prudence and defending against core threats to American security.

Now we have a shortened roster of perhaps three viable Republican presidential candidates. Marco Rubio is but a neocon parrot of the thoroughly discredited interventionist camp, led by reactionaries John McCain, Lindsey Graham, and cheerleader Bill Kristol. If Rubio unfortunately becomes the Republican candidate, I will vote for Rubio to help keep the compulsive liar, Marxist, shop-worn Hillary Clinton out of the White House. My vote will be under duress. It is Rubio who the War Dogs, the elites of the Republican and Northeastern military industrial complex establishment, will coalesce around. Mr. Rubio might benefit by giving a look to Article I Section 8 of the Constitution: “To raise and support armies.” The Constitution does not provide for a standing army.

In order to prove he is a viable candidate, Donald Trump will have to come forward with some specifics on how he plans to extinguish the radical Muslim threat, keep America out of foreign adventures, kill off the progressive tax code and Obamacare, defend the 2nd Amendment, and prevent illegals from gaining a path to citizenship. If Trump is not up to speed on specifics, the very bright and retentive Ted Cruz will take Trump apart. Donald Trump will also need to function on a constitutional front by memorizing Article II Section 2 of the Constitution, where the specific duties of the President are enumerated. Section 2 runs only 225 words or so. It is mostly about shaking hands and kissing babies. You know, Granting Reprieves and Pardons and making Treaties. It most certainly is not about BIG anything.

Ted Cruz, for his part, needs to prove that he is about Realism (Kennan & Scowcroft) in foreign policy. He also needs to convey that he understands the pitfalls defined by the original Defense Planning Guide (Wolfowitz, Libby, Khalilzad). The DPG underscores a policy of global hegemony. In The Power Problem, the Cato Institute’s Chris Preble writes, “If Americans were allowed to decide, they would shed the burdens of being the world’s policeman, reframe our foreign policies in ways that advance U.S. security, and redirect our nation’s resources commensurate with this new strategy.” Cruz, or for that matter Donald Trump would make a shrewd move making Dr. Preble a foreign policy advisor.

I need not point Senator Cruz to any specific Article or Section of the Constitution, as it is my understanding that Ted, as a teenager, memorized the U.S. Constitution.

More great reading from Rand’s father, former Congressman Ron Paul: