Stand With Rand

++Rand Paul has announced his candidacy for the GOP presidential nomination on the internet and later today in Kentucky. 

++This was the candidacy Andrew Sullivan was waiting for until he closed The Daily Dish. I am afraid Paul is disappointing Andrew with his turn-around on defense policies.

++The campaign is going to be run out of Austin, Texas and Silicon Valley because Paul wants to use al social media outlets and organize his campaign through the internet. His campaign managers point to Barack Obama as being the pioneer in organizing among the young using the new media.

++Maybe his worship of the Agua Buddha will be inspiring. Paul has co-sponsored bills to reform the criminal justice system and legalizing medical marijuana. Curiously,the media has been silent about the fact that medical marijuana has actually been legalized in the budget passed by Congress.

++Rand Paul polls way better among the under 50s than with older folks. To his credit,he has been the only Republican who has made an attempt to reach out to minorities.

++But I have doubts about the retro language. "To return the country to the principles of liberty and limited government." Somehow this doesn't project well for the future.

++Ron Paul, the creator of the Love Revolution,will be standing by but not speaking at today's announcement. But the Ron Paul organization drove the GOP establishment nuts in 2012. They were able to pick up delegates by their grass-roots organizing.

++So how will Rand do against Ted Cruz, who is soaring in the polls. Jon Parr at DailyKos examined Cruz's crazy preacher problem. Obama had Rev. Wright, Cruz has his father, who is certifiable. Jon Parr coined the phrase "Screams of My Father" as Cruz' autobiography. Cruz is "anointed" by God according to his Dominionist father.

++Rand Paul is just a plain Presbyterian but how far will he go in the Religious Freedom charade.