Kentucky Politics after a needed break

I took quite a bit to post after the primary. I needed a break from it since it was emotional and frustrating. Most of my fears are now being realized as the truth about Rand Paul comes to the surface. The man who ran as a conservative republican is now surfacing as a radical libertarian(as I have known for months). I let go of the arguments, the ignorant assumptions and the loss of friends(who thought I was the one that was nuts.) I have moved on knowing that I will either be writing-in in November or hoping that the KY GOP wakes up, flexes their political muscle and gets rid of Paul.
I no longer consider myself as part of the tea party. They are not founded in principal or values. They only represent fiscal responsibility and as our Kentucky primary has shown, people are willing to forgo all conservative social principals in exchange for a rogue eye doctor who ran as a republican and is now being outed as a libertarian. I will not have a part in that. His life stance, ever evolving, is purely libertarian and to believe otherwise is disingenuous.
I have lots of "dirt" on Rand Paul. Some of it has been scrubbed from the internet after the primary(or after Maddow's show, I should say). The generalized problem with libertarian thought is that it teeters on anarchy. I doubt the GOP will be able to rebrand Paul and Adams after all the skeletons in the past.
For the record, Conway, his opponent, is pro-abort, pro-cap n' trade, pro-ObamaCare among other things. I get that, don't point it out to me.
I knew the democrats were sharpening their teeth waiting to sink into Paul quickly and forcefully. And they though Grayson ran a negative campaign? He was trying to save us from this schlock.
I will sit back and see what transpires. I don't have an iron in this fire now so I can be less emotional regarding the outcome. You can't answer the radical that is Obama with another, being Rand Paul. There are those of us in the middle that realize you are all nuts and you won't change our minds. I believe you need to have a generous serving of social conservatism or you won't get my nod. I know many who feel that way. You can't win elections without social conservatives.

NKRTL and Rand Paul endorsement nonsense

I have been following different outlets on the so-called pro life endorsement of Rand Paul. There are troubling "connect-the-dots" events that override this endorsement. I am a firm believer that they should have left well enough alone, singly endorsed the true pro life candidate Buckmaster(D) and let this go. When, in the history of NKRTL did they have to call a candidate in for questions and a sit down? A Kentucky blogger has tied the some of the money trail to a company in NKY that also donates to NKRTL. The "family" also has a bit of cross pollination going on with campaigns.

"He’ll also speak at a fundraiser for Rick Brueggemann, who’s running for Boone/Gallatin District Court Judge in the May 18 primary."

So you can connect the dots and look at the landscape and come to your own conclusions. I'm not saying you cannot have candidates support each others campaigns but I have felt this NKRTL endorsement is far from typical. It is dangerous and as Graas has surmised, even Judie Brown has recently stated the Paul brand of support for the cause is "pro-abortion", allowing the federal government to call the unborn "persons" but then states can allow them to be killed anyway. This would also allow for more widespread late term abortions.
This talk in Cothran's article of "allegations" is unfounded. There are actual quotes of Rand Paul's that can be found online, which I have put here(on this blog) of his questionable stance on life issues(not to mention gay marriage, etc.) An allegation is a claim or accusation. Rand Paul's own words in print to media outlets prove his stance on the life issues.
I have talked with the diocesan Pro-Life Commission and they are even taken aback by the behavior of NKRTL and they are worried because the confusion still exists that NKRTL is part of the Diocese of Covington. They have reason to worry. This PAC organization has definitely gone rogue and it is a blessing that our bishop had the discernment to distance NKRTL from the people in the pews. As a local catholic, I am feeling the fallout from this mess. Do you know that people are unaware of any other candidate because the blindly trust NKRTL's endorsement? To be honest, their endorsements have never been questionable to me in the past. This is truly a departure from the way they have operated in prior election cycles.
If you have any questions regarding Paul's dangerous stance on the lives of the unborn, you can find his quotes on social issues, partial birth abortion ban, Plan B, the falsely termed "states rights" argument for the unborn and more.
Anyone can answer the NKRTL and give 100% pro life responses. Are they genuine? Are they truthful? Does NKRTL really want to take a new direction on the life issue and align with the Ron/Rand Paul brand and dismiss Judie Brown of ALL, who has been a guest at their pro life events? Again, should have endorsed Buckmaster and stayed out of the rest.

NKRTL and Kentucky politics

So life on the political front is not well. Being involved in the dirty side of politics is not interesting or fun. I have been corresponding with the people at Northern Kentucky Right to Life which has been frustrating and worthless. Here's the bottom line; if you are going to give candidates questionnaires to fill out, make sure they are sort of being honest. When someone says they will not spend public money on abortion related issues, how is it okay if they support the use of Plan B? So it's okay as long as tax payer money is not funding it? That makes a candidate pro life now? Rand Paul says he "probably" would have voted for a partial birth abortion ban, that the morning after pill works most of the time and he has outrageous views on the fourteenth amendment. But he still got a pass from NKRTL. Now my question is, why not endorse the democratic candidate, conservative catholic, Buckmaster? He received a 100% on the questionnaire. Don't endorse a republican. They had to publish an explanation that said "Grayson made allegations". Um, it's more than that. These are Rand Paul's words. These aren't allegations, these are actual quotes. It's as if they wanted to endorse Rand Paul and looked for a way to make that happen.
So that is why I am growing tired of politics. Endorsements, pay offs, riding on coattails, it is all a dangerous game. I am more a conservative now than I ever was before. I have seen how everyone wants to ride the tea party and use it for their own benefit. It should belong to the people. Just as the constitution, the government and our freedoms belong to us, we the people. They are not yours to take, they are God-given. Jim Bunning, another huge let down. Sarah Palin, stay out of our state. I don't want to have to live with your mistake. Stop letting the libertarians of the nation in the conservative movement, they are not conservative. They know the time is ripe to waltz in and play the game and dig in to do what they want. They are opportunists. Kentucky is not a libertarian state, why do you think the man had to switch affiliations before running? Exactly how much more deceitful do you have to get? He supported his father and his father's politics his whole life now -poof- he's a republican AND conservative? Kentucky....are you awake? Did you drink the koolaid? Yes, I'm miffed and fed up. Bunning, you are either unhinged or drank some libertarian koolaid. He is the opposite of everything you have stood for. Meh. I'm done.

Political switch and Northern KY Right to Life

I have been in "mourning" since Bill Johnson withdrew from the senate race here in Kentucky. I have been quietly doing some research and became quite appalled when I saw that my local pro-life organization, Northern Kentucky Right to Life(NKRTL) is endorsing Rand Paul for senate. This was quite shocking since Trey Grayson received an endorsement from Kentucky Right to Life recently. NKRTL has been a hotbed of controversy here in recent years. I have generally supported them(both here and financially) but after this endorsement, I will no longer do so. I am dismayed that good Catholics and pro-life activists from Northern Kentucky can support such an individual. I will be voting for Grayson in the primaries(yes, my heart is still with Johnson but KY needs our votes since primary turnout is usually quite weak).
For those in Kentucky that will have a voice in the primary, here is the deal. Did you know Rand Paul supports women using the morning after pill?

Middlesboro Daily News: What about instances of rape or incest or where the outcome may not be death, but severe medical problems for the mother or child. Do you think that in these cases the decision should be left to the government rather than the families? Paul: In cases of rape, trying to prevent pregnancies is obviously the best thing. The morning-after pill works successfully most of the time. Ultimately we do better if we do have better education about family planning. With partial-birth abortion, there were five women who testified that it threatened their life. It wasn’t completely true in all cases. They were non-viable babies. They were babies with awful genetic mutations that were not going to survive, and I tend to think we let nature take its course. (Lorie Settles, "US Senate Hopeful Rand Paul Visits Middlesboro," The Middlesboro Daily News, 1/26/10)

This disgusts me. Next, he has a socially liberal agenda. He can't even tell us how he will vote on social issues once in office:

"Libertarian would be a good description," Rand Paul told CNN, "because libertarians believe in freedom in all aspects of your life – your economic life as well as your social life as well as your personal life." (CNN’s Political Ticker, 5/4/2009)

Standard libertarian fare is freedom on recreational drugs, prostitution, gay marriage, free speech(to the extent that our national defense would be vulnerable) and the list goes on. Paul knew he couldn't win a race as a libertarian in KY so hijacking the GOP here as if he owns it has become the norm. He has also flip-flopped on The Patriot Act, closing Gitmo and other items that threaten our national defense.
I hope others who are likely voters in the Kentucky primary will research this well. We need to take back the senate and have KY well represented. As a conservative catholic and American patriot, I have to say thumbs down to Northern Kentucky Right to Life, Sarah Palin, FreedomWorks and all the other organizations who believe they are endorsing a conservative pro-life candidate. If you are going to be throwing endorsements around like free candy to kids, have the sense to do the research, listen to what the "candidate" has said(in print and old interviews) BEFORE they threw their name in the hat. It speaks volumes, people. Rand Paul is a wolf in sheep's clothing and I will not be voting for him(even in the November election). I hope Grayson stays true to the conservative views of his constituents and does us proud. For those out-of-state(readers), make sure you know who you are voting for. Don't just read what they are saying now, look into what they said to the media prior to seeking election. Trust me, it's very telling.

I hope if Johnson comes out to support another candidate that he chooses Grayson.


More tidbits and quotes:

"And on abortion, Paul expressed discomfort with federal laws but said he "probably" would have voted for a federal ban on a procedure that has been called partial-birth abortion by its opponents." (Joe Gerth, The Courier-Journal, 10/19/2009)

"I would introduce and support legislation to send Roe v. Wade back to the states." (Rand Paul Speaking in Paducah, 5/9/2009)

"But he [Paul] was more evasive when it came to some social issues like abortion and gay marriage. He said he believes marriage is between a man and woman but wouldn’t say how he’d vote on such issues in the Senate, instead saying such matters should be left up to states." (Ronnie Ellis, "Paul Touts Fundraising Success, Stakes Positions On Federal Issues," The McCreary County [KY] Record, 10/20/09)

Rand Paul spokesman resigns as controversy swirls over writings

Anyway, you get the picture.