Senator Rand Paul Plays Messenger Boy Between Trump and Putin

Last updated on: August 8, 2018 at 1:29 pm by Susan Wright

Senator Rand Paul Plays Messenger Boy Between Trump and Putin 2018-08-08T13:29:22-04:00 Susan Wright

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Seriously. What has happened to Kentucky Senator Rand Paul?

Did I miss something?

I get that as the offspring of Ron Paul, there’s going to be a bit of “weirdness” to endure. I haven’t always agreed with his positions. I’ve found him to be a bit of an isolationist, like his pop, and I don’t see that as a winning position, given the fast-moving connectiveness of the world, today.

I’ve never, however, doubted the sincerity of Rand Paul, or questioned his motives.

As has happened with so many in the age of Trump, I now have to step back and look at the senator with a certain level of suspicion.

How is it that the bold, free-spirited Libertarian-leaning Paul is now the subservient lackey and messenger boy, running notes between President Trump and Russia’s Vladimir Putin?

Paul, once a critic of President Trump’s, has of late been toeing the Trump-Kremlin approved line, regarding the ongoing Russia probe, as well as the relationship between the United States and Russia.

He recently went on a weeklong trip to Russia, in order to meet with Russian officials. Today, he announced that he delivered a note from the president to Putin.

“The letter emphasized the importance of further engagement in various areas including countering terrorism, enhancing legislative dialogue and resuming cultural exchanges,” Paul said in a statement.

Questions regarding the note were directed to the White House, but at this point, they’re not really commenting.

I was honored to deliver a letter from President Trump to President Vladimir Putin’s administration. The letter emphasized the importance of further engagement in various areas including countering terrorism, enhancing legislative dialogue and resuming cultural exchanges.

— Rand Paul (@RandPaul) August 8, 2018

Paul’s trip to Russia comes after a July 4th weekend trip by a group of Republican lawmakers to speak with Russian officials in Moscow.

This is part of the GOP’s “Please forgive us for Ronald Reagan” tour of fallen communist regimes.

In addition to delivering the letter, Paul met this week with Konstantin Kosachev, the chairman of the Russian Federation Council Committee on Foreign Relations, and invited Russian lawmakers to Washington, D.C.

He also met with former Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev, saying he understood the “critical necessity of engagement” between the United States and Russia.

Will Russia interfere in the 2018 election process?

Some in Washington have that concern.

Sen. Claire McCaskill (Mo.), one of the most vulnerable Democratic incumbents, said late last month that Russian intelligence agents had targeted her staff with an attempted breach ahead of the November midterms.

Because of that, senators are considering hitting Russia with more sanctions – a move Senator Paul voted against last year.

He also blocked a resolution last month from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) to support the intelligence community’s findings that Russia meddled in the 2016 presidential election and back Trump sitting down with special counsel Robert Mueller.

“We should stand firm and say, ‘Stay the hell out of our elections,’ but we should not stick our head in the ground and say we’re not going to talk to them,” Paul said from the Senate floor.

Talk to them, yes, but from a position of strength, not a position of surrender.

If you’re not willing to stand with the U.S. intelligence community, openly, and you don’t want every move to be made to get to the truth, then one must wonder whose side you’re on.

Previous Post

August 8, 2018

Cronyism, Part I: How Trump Indulges Rich Pals With Influence in Policy

Next Post

August 8, 2018 Jumping Ship: Fox Network Staff Disgusted With Being the Trump Propaganda Network

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month December 2021 November 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz