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U.S. Senator for Kentucky | I fight for the Constitution, individual liberty and the freedoms that make this country great.
No libertarian writer reached mainstream audiences over the course of decades more than P.J. O'Rourke, who left us this week.
Whether he was writing at Rolling Stone or entertaining NPR listeners, O'Rourke's entertaining style is what made him famous, even as he promoted liberty ideas for audiences that did not necessarily always share his politics or philosophy.
But they loved P.J. O'Rourke.
That he was not afraid to criticize both left and right endeared him to many, left, right or in between. Or as O'Rourke once put it, "The Democrats are the party that says government will make you smarter, taller, richer, and remove the crabgrass on your lawn. The Republicans are the party that says government doesn't work and then they get elected and prove it."
Few summed up basic libertarian ideas better. O'Rourke wrote, "There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences."
Probably one of O'Rourke's most famous or shared quotes over the years was, "Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys."
In 2017, O'Rourke and I had a fun conversation about many things including the practical application of libertarianism to politics and daily life.
O'Rourke wrote at The Daily Beast:
I said to Sen. Paul, "I don’t know if what I need is an interview or a socio-political therapy session. Libertarian political principles must be applicable to practical politics or what are political principals for? But I’m not feeling it. I’m deeply conflicted. Although I know you’re not that kind of doctor.”“I could do an exorcism,” Sen. Paul said. He described his own political situation, “If I try to be a pretty good libertarian I get attacked by the left, by the right, and by the libertarians.”This was General Ferdinand Foch’s message to Marshal Joseph Joffre during the First Battle of the Marne -- “My center is giving way, my right is retreating, situation excellent, I am attacking” -- except not in French and said with a smile.As for political principles, Sen. Paul said, “In Washington principled individuals are in the minority. There’s a good side to this. The majority can be influenced by public opinion.
I said to Sen. Paul, "I don’t know if what I need is an interview or a socio-political therapy session. Libertarian political principles must be applicable to practical politics or what are political principals for? But I’m not feeling it. I’m deeply conflicted. Although I know you’re not that kind of doctor.”
“I could do an exorcism,” Sen. Paul said. He described his own political situation, “If I try to be a pretty good libertarian I get attacked by the left, by the right, and by the libertarians.”
This was General Ferdinand Foch’s message to Marshal Joseph Joffre during the First Battle of the Marne -- “My center is giving way, my right is retreating, situation excellent, I am attacking” -- except not in French and said with a smile.
As for political principles, Sen. Paul said, “In Washington principled individuals are in the minority. There’s a good side to this. The majority can be influenced by public opinion.
Few writers or talents did more to influence public opinion in promoting libertarianism than P.J. O'Rourke, who was beloved for the wit of his pen as much as its bite.
In our discussion on the Fourth Amendment, O'Rourke wrote, "That is, the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, and papers – which should forbid the government from poking around in my iPhone looking for sexts. I’m almost 67. I don’t know how to text. And I don’t remember much about sex either."
On the temptation of surrendering liberty for security, O'Rourke observed, "We surrender certain of our natural liberties to a government of our own making in return for public safety and order. Government is a necessary evil, and like all evils, however necessary, should be kept as small as possible."
"My example would be servings of vegetables," he continued. "Some varieties of kale grow to a height of six or seven feet. I don’t want that on my dinner plate next to a T-bone steak the size of a Susan B. Anthony dollar."
Nothing I could say about P.J. O'Rourke will be as good as the millions of words he penned throughout his spectacular career and life.
RIP. There will not be another like him.
If civil libertarians on the left cared a lick about consistency, they’d join me in calling for the US Senate to fully investigate Clinton spying on the Trump campaign! https://t.co/SR8OqSBFkX — Rand Paul (@RandPaul) February 15, 2022
If civil libertarians on the left cared a lick about consistency, they’d join me in calling for the US Senate to fully investigate Clinton spying on the Trump campaign! https://t.co/SR8OqSBFkX
When will the MIA principled civil libertarians on the left condemn the abuse of intelligence agencies spying on campaigns? Whether you’re on the left or right the constitution exists for a reason. GET A WARRANT.https://t.co/clqqoSBCmZ — Rand Paul (@RandPaul) February 14, 2022
When will the MIA principled civil libertarians on the left condemn the abuse of intelligence agencies spying on campaigns? Whether you’re on the left or right the constitution exists for a reason. GET A WARRANT.https://t.co/clqqoSBCmZ
The Washington Examiner reports, “So, there is ample evidence to say that the FBI spied on the Trump campaign. Now we are learning about another type of spying — the Clinton campaign spying on the Trump campaign. The revelations are coming from the investigation of John Durham, the special counsel appointed by the Trump administration, and retained by the Biden administration, to investigate the origins of the Trump-Russia collusion investigation.
In a court filing Friday, Durham reported that in July 2016, a tech executive named Rodney Joffe (he is unnamed in the court papers, but the name has been widely reported) worked with the Clinton campaign's law firm to 'mine Internet data,' some of it 'non-public and/or proprietary' — that means secret — to search for information that could be used to claim a Trump-Russia connection. “
Read the entire story.
“Given what we understand about the immunity caused by infection, policies that rigidly require three vaccine doses . . . simply don’t make sense.” People who have had covid-19 don’t need three vaccine shots - The Washington Post https://t.co/WAoHYOKnxs — Rand Paul (@RandPaul) February 13, 2022
“Given what we understand about the immunity caused by infection, policies that rigidly require three vaccine doses . . . simply don’t make sense.”
“Mandating boosters for people who have been infected with the coronavirus means that unnecessary vaccine doses may be given to many tens of millions of Americans. “ — Rand Paul (@RandPaul) February 13, 2022
“Mandating boosters for people who have been infected with the coronavirus means that unnecessary vaccine doses may be given to many tens of millions of Americans. “
"I hope the truckers do come to America," says @RandPaul. "I hope they clog up cities." New interview on COVID tyranny and civil disobedience with Dr. Rand Paul dropping shortly via @DailySignal! pic.twitter.com/b5EDvsUloy — Mary Margaret Olohan (@MaryMargOlohan) February 10, 2022
"I hope the truckers do come to America," says @RandPaul. "I hope they clog up cities." New interview on COVID tyranny and civil disobedience with Dr. Rand Paul dropping shortly via @DailySignal! pic.twitter.com/b5EDvsUloy
NEW @randpaul on RS today: if Biden had made human rights the center of his foreign policy he has a lot to explain with this $2.5B arms package to Egypt. https://t.co/G8tv4CrviD @Doug_Bandow @jackhunter74 @sarahleah1 @medeabenjamin @LibertarianInst @scotthortonshow — Responsible Statecraft (@RStatecraft) February 10, 2022
NEW @randpaul on RS today: if Biden had made human rights the center of his foreign policy he has a lot to explain with this $2.5B arms package to Egypt. https://t.co/G8tv4CrviD @Doug_Bandow @jackhunter74 @sarahleah1 @medeabenjamin @LibertarianInst @scotthortonshow
“A State Department human rights report details how President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi converted a country into a prison. Among other horrors, Egyptian security forces engage in extrajudicial killings, torture, as well as harsh crackdowns on anyone who wishes to practice the right to freedom of speech…
Egypt uses American treasure to buy American weaponry. Since 2009, the United States has sold Egypt $3.2 billion in fighter aircraft, $1.3 billion in tanks and armored vehicles, $750 million in missiles, $369 million in munitions, $328 million in military technology, and $240 million in naval craft. As the United States prepares to effectuate yet another military sale, perhaps we should review how one of our most reliable customers treats its people.
Human Rights Watch reports 'Egypt’s security apparatus has arbitrarily arrested and prosecuted tens of thousands of persons,' and that 'torture crimes against detainees in Egypt are systematic, widespread and likely constitute crimes against humanity.”
Read the entire column.
"There's never been any good science on any of these edicts," —Watch @RandPaul discuss #NaturalImmunity #MaskMandates and more with @robbysoave @KimIversenShow and @ryangrim on Rising! Full discussion here: https://t.co/HVbINqaQU3 pic.twitter.com/kdQLMBIwhH — HILLTV (@HillTVLive) February 8, 2022
"There's never been any good science on any of these edicts," —Watch @RandPaul discuss #NaturalImmunity #MaskMandates and more with @robbysoave @KimIversenShow and @ryangrim on Rising! Full discussion here: https://t.co/HVbINqaQU3 pic.twitter.com/kdQLMBIwhH
Sen. @RandPaul: Democrats have overplayed their hand, will 'lose the public' over COVID-19 mandates https://t.co/g1puGXXxS4 — Fox News (@FoxNews) February 8, 2022
Sen. @RandPaul: Democrats have overplayed their hand, will 'lose the public' over COVID-19 mandates https://t.co/g1puGXXxS4
LEAVE THE KIDS ALONE: Sen. @RandPaul uses his medical expertise to tear apart the left’s argument for forcing kids to get vaccinated and wear masks on 'Hannity.' @seanhannity pic.twitter.com/iPW4CMRFLK — Fox News (@FoxNews) February 5, 2022
LEAVE THE KIDS ALONE: Sen. @RandPaul uses his medical expertise to tear apart the left’s argument for forcing kids to get vaccinated and wear masks on 'Hannity.' @seanhannity pic.twitter.com/iPW4CMRFLK
Rand Paul seeking answers on COVID origins, gain-of-function research from 'convention of civilized countries' | Fox News https://t.co/gbHP92G2qi — Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) February 4, 2022
Rand Paul seeking answers on COVID origins, gain-of-function research from 'convention of civilized countries' | Fox News https://t.co/gbHP92G2qi
“Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., says he will advocate for an ‘international convention of civilized countries’ to gather and discuss the dangers of gain-of-function research.
Paul has been one of few leaders in Congress pressing for a hearing on the origins of COVID-19. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) last year acknowledged its efforts to fund gain-of-function research on bats infected with coronaviruses at a lab in Wuhan, China, before COVID-19 broke out and forever altered life around the world.
‘Not only do we need restrictions in our country,’ Paul told Fox News Digital in an interview of the research method. ‘I’m going to be advocating for an international convention of civilized countries to come together and discuss gain-of-function research and the potential harm it could cause on a global scale.’
‘The chances are that [COVID-19] came from the lab — and…we're up to approximately six to seven million people dead throughout the world now — and this with about 1% mortality. If the next virus that gets out has a 15% or 50% mortality…we essentially destroy the underpinnings of civilization,' Paul said.”