Changes

== Life ==

== Life ==

Paul was born in [[Pittsburgh]], [[Pennsylvania]]. His father is [[Ron Paul]]. Rand Paul was '''''not''''' named after the objectivist and libertarian author [[Ayn Rand]].<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oD-R_OeP6tU</ref>

Paul was born in [[Pittsburgh]], [[Pennsylvania]]. His father is [[Ron Paul]]. Rand Paul was '''''not''''' named after the objectivist and libertarian author [[Ayn Rand]].<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oD-R_OeP6tU</ref>

In 2010, he won the Republican primary after defeating the more moderate candidate [[Trey Grayson]] by a landslide.  Despite intense opposition by [[liberals]] and the [[lamestream media]], Rand Paul won by an overwhelming margin first against a [[RINO]] Republican favored by the establishment, and then against [[Democrat]] [[Jack Conway]] in the [[2010 Midterm Election]]. This was the seat formerly held by [[Jim Bunning]], one of the [[Essay:Greatest Conservative Sports Stars|greatest conservative sports stars]], who endorsed Paul in the Republican primary.

In 2010, he won the Republican primary after defeating the more moderate candidate [[Trey Grayson]] by a landslide.  Despite intense opposition by [[liberals]] and the [[lamestream media]], Rand Paul won by an overwhelming margin first against a [[RINO]] Republican favored by the establishment, and then against [[Democrat]] [[Jack Conway]] in the [[2010 Midterm Election]]. This was the seat formerly held by [[Jim Bunning]], one of the [[Essay:Greatest Conservative Sports Stars|greatest conservative sports stars]], who endorsed Paul in the Republican primary.

On March 2013, Rand led a [[filibuster]] of Obama's CIA nomination [[John Brennan]] due to the fact that the administration was unwilling to forbid ordering [[drone]] targeting of Americans on American territories, in violation of the 5th Amendment. A month of letter writings without a reply and March 6 testimony from Attorney General [[Eric Holder]] prompted the filibuster. A number of GOP Senators joined him including [[Ted Cruz]], [[Marco Rubio]], [[Mike Lee]], among others and one Democrat Senator, [[Ron Wyden]]. A vote on a non-binding statement clarifying that Obama shall not kill Americans with drone warfare was denied by Democrats in the Senate.  

On March 2013, Rand led a [[filibuster]] of Obama's CIA nomination [[John Brennan]] due to the fact that the administration was unwilling to forbid ordering [[drone]] targeting of Americans on American territories, in violation of the 5th Amendment. A month of letter writings without a reply and March 6 testimony from Attorney General [[Eric Holder]] prompted the filibuster. A number of GOP Senators joined him including [[Ted Cruz]], [[Marco Rubio]], [[Mike Lee]], among others and one Democrat Senator, [[Ron Wyden]]. A vote on a non-binding statement clarifying that Obama shall not kill Americans with drone warfare was denied by Democrats in the Senate.  

On April 7, 2015, Paul announced that he would seek the Republican nomination in the [[2016 presidential election]].<ref>Rand Paul launches 2016 White House bid: ‘We have come to take our country back’ http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2015/04/07/rand-paul-set-to-announce-presidential-run/</ref><ref>http://www.c-span.org/video/?325139-1/senator-rand-paul-rky-presidential-campaign-announcement</ref> He dropped out shortly after the [[Iowa Caucus]].

On April 7, 2015, Paul announced that he would seek the Republican nomination in the [[2016 presidential election]].<ref>Rand Paul launches 2016 White House bid: ‘We have come to take our country back’ https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2015/04/07/rand-paul-set-to-announce-presidential-run/</ref><ref>http://www.c-span.org/video/?325139-1/senator-rand-paul-rky-presidential-campaign-announcement</ref> He dropped out shortly after the [[Iowa Caucus]].

== Political Positions and Views==

== Political Positions and Views==

[[File:Rand Paul 2013 CPAC by Gage Skidmore.jpg|thumb|250px|Paul at CPAC in 2013.]]

[[File:Rand Paul 2013 CPAC by Gage Skidmore.jpg|thumb|250px|Paul at CPAC in 2013.]]

Unlike many politicians of both major political parties, Rand Paul supports sharply reducing the size of government.  Notably in 2018 he single-handedly shutdown the entire Federal government (for a few hours, at least) while he spoke against the hypocrisy of his own party in desiring to pass a 700-page bill that nobody had read and that would create the same deficit spending that his party opposed during the Obama administration.<ref>http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/373069-rand-paul-blockade-pushing-senate-to-late-night-budget-vote</ref>

Unlike many politicians of both major political parties, Rand Paul supports sharply reducing the size of government.  Notably in 2018 he single-handedly shutdown the entire Federal government (for a few hours, at least) while he spoke against the hypocrisy of his own party in desiring to pass a 700-page bill that nobody had read and that would create the same deficit spending that his party opposed during the Obama administration.<ref>https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/373069-rand-paul-blockade-pushing-senate-to-late-night-budget-vote</ref>

Paul opposes [[gun control]]<ref>http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2013/01/14/rand_paul_on_gun_control_executive_order_obama_is_not_king.html</ref> and [[same-sex "marriage"]].<ref>http://www.ontheissues.org/senate/Rand_Paul.htm</ref> He opposes prison sentences for minor drug offenders.<ref>http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2013/03/24/1767241/rand-paul-is-right-on-marijuana-and-that-should-scare-democrats-into-action/</ref> Paul sued the Obama administration because the Espionage of American civilians through the [[NSA]].<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/01/04/sen-rand-paul-to-sue-over-nsa-spying-practices/</ref> Paul is distrustful of [[capital punishment]] but also thinks that it should be a state issue.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/us/elections/rand-paul-on-death-penalty.html Rand Paul on the Death Penalty]</ref>

Paul opposes [[gun control]]<ref>http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2013/01/14/rand_paul_on_gun_control_executive_order_obama_is_not_king.html</ref> and [[same-sex "marriage"]].<ref>http://www.ontheissues.org/senate/Rand_Paul.htm</ref> He opposes prison sentences for minor drug offenders.<ref>http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2013/03/24/1767241/rand-paul-is-right-on-marijuana-and-that-should-scare-democrats-into-action/</ref> Paul sued the Obama administration because the Espionage of American civilians through the [[NSA]].<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/01/04/sen-rand-paul-to-sue-over-nsa-spying-practices/</ref> Paul is distrustful of [[capital punishment]] but also thinks that it should be a state issue.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/us/elections/rand-paul-on-death-penalty.html Rand Paul on the Death Penalty]</ref>

=== Foreign Policy ===

=== Foreign Policy ===

He has criticized pro-war politicians and won the [[CPAC]] [[straw poll]] in 2013 and 2014. Paul is against an American intervention in the [[Syrian Civil War]]<ref>http://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/item/14691-sen-rand-paul-is-obama-administration-hiding-arms-trade-to-jihadists</ref> and was opposed to the [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]] or the [[Patriot Act]]. Paul is an opponent of the [[United States embargo against Cuba]].<ref>http://www.frontpagemag.com/2014/dgreenfield/the-cuban-embargo-isnt-just-about-the-embargo/</ref>

He has criticized pro-war politicians and won the [[CPAC]] [[straw poll]] in 2013 and 2014. Paul is against an American intervention in the [[Syrian Civil War]]<ref>https://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/item/14691-sen-rand-paul-is-obama-administration-hiding-arms-trade-to-jihadists</ref> and was opposed to the [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]] or the [[Patriot Act]]. Paul is an opponent of the [[United States embargo against Cuba]].<ref>http://www.frontpagemag.com/2014/dgreenfield/the-cuban-embargo-isnt-just-about-the-embargo/</ref>

Paul supports [[Israel]] and proposed to cut off the flow of U.S. taxpayer dollars to the [[Palestinian Authority]].<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bOeYFUphWo Dr. Rand Paul on Israel]</ref>

Paul supports [[Israel]] and proposed to cut off the flow of U.S. taxpayer dollars to the [[Palestinian Authority]].<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bOeYFUphWo Dr. Rand Paul on Israel]</ref>

==External links==

==External links==

* [http://www.paul.senate.gov/ Senate website]

* [http://www.paul.senate.gov/ Senate website]

* [http://www.facebook.com/RandPaul2010 Facebook page]

* [https://www.facebook.com/RandPaul2010 Facebook page]

* [http://twitter.com/DrRandPaul Twitter page]

* [https://twitter.com/DrRandPaul Twitter page]

* [http://www.youtube.com/user/RandPaul YouTube channel]

* [https://www.youtube.com/user/RandPaul YouTube channel]

* [https://www.randpaul.com Rand Paul 2016 campaign website]

* [https://www.randpaul.com Rand Paul 2016 campaign website]