Rand Paul: Helping out the Kentucky GOP

Rand Paul was at a fund raising event for conservative Republican candidate, Jimmy Higdon, in Bardstown Monday Night.

Thanks to BlueGrass Bulletin for this photo of Paul being introduced by Senate Floor leader Robert Stivers, flanked by Senator Dan Seum and Congressman Brett Guthrie..

This is really an impressive display I think and goes to show that this disconnect Rand Paul talks about between the national leadership and grass roots Republicans on the local level is real. At an event of local Republican KY state senators and reps, Rand Paul is welcomed with open arms. While at the same time, Trey Grayson (again) is nowhere to be found.

BlueGrass writes:

First, his status as a featured guest shows that he has been taken seriously by the mainstream GOP. Second, it shows that he and at least one other federal candidate, Brett Guthrie, know the importance of keeping a balance of power in Frankfort as the legislature takes up the important duty of re-drawing Congressional Districts and state senate and representative districts following the 2010 census.

Read the rest

Here are parts 2 and 3 of Rand Paul's Jimmy Higdon event.
(Sorry. Part 1 not uploaded yet. I'll update this post as soon as it is.)

Part 2


Part 3






Rand Paul
Trey Grayson

Rand Paul To Host Fund Raiser For Jimmy Higdon In Bardstown

Blue Grass Bulletin picked up the story about Rand Paul hosting a fundraiser for GOP state senate Candidate.

I think it's healthy that Rand Paul is using his influence to raise money for local candidates. Rand can prove to the party that he can be a valuable asset, while at the same time he spreads his message and builds up his name recognition.

Bluegrass thinks the main issue for Republicans is redistricting.

With a new census next year the legislature will take up the issue of re-districting. In Kelly's old district only a balance of power in the Kentucky Legislature can prevent the potential harm to at least one of Kentucky's current republican votes in Congress, Brett Guthrie, who holds the seat vacated by Ron Lewis.

It's important that districts aren't gerrymandered. There needs to be some competition and gridlock in any given state legislature, or the government looses touch with their voters. Here in South Dakota, we pretty much have a 1 party state, and it creates a sense of "If you want to be in power, join the Republican Party." As such, the Republican party in this state isn't very small government or conservative, compared to states where the party has to work to maintain power. So for the benefit of liberty in Kentucky, it's important that the Republicans hold their seats, so a Democrat majority can't redistrict to their benefit. Especially if Higdorn is a small government conservative, I think this is a great move on Rand's part.


Rand Paul
Trey Grayson

Memo to GOP: Nominate A Conservative, or LOSE!

Erick Erickson, editor of RedState.com campaign recently issued a blog post regarding the NY-23 race:

“First, the GOP now must recognize it will either lose without conservatives or will win with conservatives. In 2008, many conservatives sat home instead of voting for John McCain. Now, in NY-23, conservatives rallied and destroyed the Republican candidate the establishment chose.”

“I have said all along that the goal of activists must be to defeat Scozzafava. Doug Hoffman winning would just be gravy. A Hoffman win is not in the cards, but we did exactly what we set out to do — crush the establishment backed GOP candidate.”

Read the rest

New York isn't the only state with third parties. Kentucky has both a Libertarian and a Constitution Party both of which I'm sure would be more then happy run a hard campaign in the General if the Republican party doesn't nominate a principled conservative.

The Paul Campaign follows up on Eric's post thus:

Rand Paul is leading in the latest public polling because he is gaining the trust of Kentuckians who want balanced budgets, honest, market-based health care solutions, and real job creation spurred by capitalism, not socialism.
Read the rest

I hope the establishment will wake up, and listen to the people. Because one way or the other, the people will be heard.

Rand Paul
Trey Grayson

Rand Paul responds: "I too am a Kentuckian"

Ron Paul responded to Grayson's recent attack on him being a Kentuckian:

"I've been a Kentuckian longer than Grayson's been a Republican!"

"I've voted in every Kentucky Republican primary since 1993. When did Grayson start voting in the Republican primary?" Paul said in a statement issued by his campaign.

"I've raised all of my children here. Kentucky is the only home they've ever known. My wife's family arrived in Kentucky in the 1790's as surveyors. I've spent my entire medical career in Kentucky."

Paul then takes it further in a recent news interview saying that Grayson should either apologize, or if he really thinks Rand Paul isn't a Kentuckian he should write Paul a personal check for all the income taxes I've been paying the last 18 years. Paul says, "I've been paying his salary after all."
Watch the clip


Rand Paul
Trey Grayson