Chris Cillizza wants you to please start taking Rand Paul seriously!

[DonViejo]

Washington Post political guru declares Paul 2016 front-runner because of one poll

ALEX PAREENE

Have you been neglecting to take Rand Paul seriously? That ends now. “It’s time to start taking Rand Paul seriously,” declares Washington Post “Fix” pundit Chris Cillizza. Mark it in your calendars.

Take Rand Paul seriously as what? you may ask. As a human? A senator? A regular reminder of the depressingly poor grasp of American history demonstrated by many adult “libertarians”? No. I mean, you can take him seriously as any of those things — that is your right, as an American — but we are talking about Chris “The Fix” Cillizza here so what he means is that it is time to take Rand Paul seriously as a presidential candidate in 2016.

Does “take Rand Paul seriously as a presidential candidate in 2016? mean that Rand Paul is more likely than not to run for president and win? Not necessarily! It just means that you, the reader, should think about him, in a serious fashion, in relation to a presidential campaign that is two years away. Here is why:

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http://www.salon.com/2014/03/18/chris_cillizza_wants_you_to_please_start_taking_rand_paul_seriously/

[Agnosticsherbet]

1. In a party that has gone more an more Libertarian in its outlook,

and that repeatedly nominates the corporate standard bearer so he can get his ass kicked, he has a real shot at being nominated.

I don't think he can win the White House, but he is a serious contender in the Republican field.

[pscot]

2. That Republican field

is looking like horse pasture right now. Jebbush must be salivating.

[tech3149]

5. Rule #1 Stay out the bushes!

I don't believe anyone, anywhere would ever vote for another bush again. But then again there is george p.
Are we really that stupid? Don't answer that, I don't really want to know.

[Agnosticsherbet]

11. We are not, but the subset of the electorate who are big business Republicans will.

They know that the Bush's will run a money machine that is unreal in its scope, linked to the rotting singularity that is the soul of the Republican Party. Independents, I think, would be less likely to support someone like Rand Paul. He will be sold as unelectable by the right wing media establishment within seconds of Jeb tossing his ten gallon hat in the ring. From what I've seen, Independents tend to go with the party out of power.

But Rand Paul is a serious contender for the nomination. Without Bush, I suspect the will take the nomination.

[pscot]

13. I think you're right about Jeb

If he gets in the convention will be a coronation. In Texas yet.

[Agnosticsherbet]

10. Republicans tend to nominate Republican establishment candidates. Bush, Dole, Bush, McCain, Romney.

The far right spasms with adoration of radical right individuals, but so far none of them have actually been a serious contender. I think Paul has enough people to the Corporatocracy to get Corporate Republicans and a lock on the right wing fringe that is now the center of the Republican Party.

Bush may come out as a Republican Great White Hope, but that name is not loved by the right wingnuts. The base of he base is in a Libertarian frame of mind.

[Blue_Tires]

16. There's nothing "libertarian" about the GOP

they just like to play dress-up sometimes...

And when Paul's record is compared with his words, there's very little "libertarian" about him, too

[Xyzse]

3. Uh.... NO.

Not just NO, it is a HELL F-IN NO.
I will not look at him seriously ever.

Guy is a joke, and will remain a joke in perpetuity.

[XiaomuWave]

4. Seriously ask a Paul if they support the right for private business to discrimate

And we're done.

[Gothmog]

6. Rand Paul has no chance of being elected

Rand Paul is an idiot and the neocons will never let him get the GOP nomination

[FSogol]

7. Fuck Rand Paul!

America will never elect a ferret-toupee wearing grifter. The only thing serous about Paul is his desire to grift money from his Rubes.

[lumpy]

8. I do take Rand Paul seriously. If he should end up in the White House this country would be in

seriously hot water.

[Ikonoklast]

18. The only way he's going to get elected president of this nation is if magic is real.

Rand Paul and I have one thing in common: neither of us will ever be elected president.

[mgcgulfcoast]

9. lol, he is a joke

[DavidDvorkin]

12. Rand Paul was born in Chechnya. Pass it on.

[LordGlenconner]

14. Paul will be their nominee

Let's break it down:

Christie -Damaged goods. Not presidential looking. Not conservative enough on social issues.

Jebby -Not conservative enough. His wife is Hispanic and even though he is a Bush, that's not likely to be very popular among a base comprised mostly of latent and not-so-latent bigots.

Santorum -Won't have the money or the personality to really compete.

Scott Walker - He would probably represent Paul's biggest competition.

Marco Rubio -See above. A Hispanic in a party made up mostly of bigots. He would get clobbered everywhere but Florida.

Ted Cruz - Definitely crazy enough, but he might be Canadian.

Rick Perry - He's worked to improve his image but it's hard to see him doing enough. And I know some Texas conservatives who have soured on him and think he's moved to the left. He's just a dope. No way around that.

Mike Huckabee - Plays well to the base but he doesn't appear to be a closer. He has a limited game.

That leaves Rand. I think he's a shoe-in. He'll be able to raise the cash, has the name rec, is crazy enough and is white and a Christian. That's the magic formula for any prospective GOP presidential candidate.

[CBHagman]

15. Even a few months is an extremely long time in politics...

...and we don't know what other factors will be in play. Thus far I think Rand Paul is the latest shiny object dangled before the media's collective eyes. That won't necessarily translate into wins in primaries.

[DFW]

17. To do that, I'd have to start taking Chris Cillizza seriously

That is asking a lot. He leans pretty far right.

[11 Bravo]

19. Sorry Chris, but Rand will have to remove that mange-ridden muskrat from atop his head ...

before I can even consider taking him seriously!