Changes

|religion=[[Presbyterian]] (see also: [[Rand Paul's religious views]])

|religion=[[Presbyterian]] (see also: [[Rand Paul's religious views]])

|offices=

|offices=

{{Officeholder/senator

{{Officeholder/senator

|state=Kentucky

|state=Kentucky

|terms=January 3, 2011 – present

|terms=January 3, 2011 – present

|preceded=[[Jim Bunning]]

|preceded=[[Jim Bunning]]

}}

}}

:''Rand Paul was [[Conservative of the Year 2010|Conservative of the Year]] in 2010.

:''Rand Paul was [[Conservative of the Year 2010|Conservative of the Year]] in 2010.

'''Randal Howard “Rand” Paul''', born January 7, 1963 (age {{age|1963|1|7}}), is the anti-establishment, fiscally and socially [[conservative]] [[United States Senator]] from [[Kentucky]] who was elected in [[2010 Midterm Elections|2010]] and reelected by a landslide in 2016.  He is critical of federal spending, opposes an interventionalist foreign policy, and rejects the tendency by [[neocon]]s for perpetual war. Paul is a [[movement conservative]] and a potential future presidential candidate, initially running in 2016. The junior senator was a leader for the repeal of [[ObamaCare]]. He is the most prominent defender of President [[Trump]] in the [[U.S. Senate]] on certain issues, particularly in support of Trump's focus on putting America first rather than intervening in foreign countries.<ref>Moran, Sean (August 14, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/08/14/rand-paul-russia-trip-great-success-citizens-prefer-america-first-nation-building/ Exclusive — Rand Paul: Russia Trip a ‘Great Success’; U.S. Citizens Prefer America First to Nation-Building]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved August 14, 2018.</ref>

'''Randal Howard “Rand” Paul''', born January 7, 1963 (age {{age|1963|1|7}}), is the anti-[[establishment]], fiscally and socially [[conservative]] [[United States Senator]] from [[Kentucky]] who was elected in [[2010 Midterm Elections|2010]] and reelected by a landslide in 2016.  He is critical of federal spending, opposes an interventionalist foreign policy, and rejects the calls from [[neocon]]s for perpetual war. Paul is a [[movement conservative]] and a potential future presidential candidate, initially running in 2016. He was a leader for the repeal of [[ObamaCare]]. He is a prominent defender of [[President Trump]] in the [[U.S. Senate]] on certain issues, particularly in support of Trump's focus on putting [[America First]], rather than intervening in foreign countries<ref>Moran, Sean (August 14, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/08/14/rand-paul-russia-trip-great-success-citizens-prefer-america-first-nation-building/ Exclusive — Rand Paul: Russia Trip a ‘Great Success’; U.S. Citizens Prefer America First to Nation-Building]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved August 14, 2018.</ref>.

"Stand with Rand" is a popular slogan among students who support Senator Paul. In addition, [[Julian Assange]] is an admirer of Rand Paul.<ref>https://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/08/19/julian-assange-loves-rand-paul-and-his-very-principled-positions.html</ref>

"Stand with Rand" is a popular slogan among students who support Senator Paul. In addition, [[Julian Assange]] is an admirer of Rand Paul<ref>https://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/08/19/julian-assange-loves-rand-paul-and-his-very-principled-positions.html</ref>.

Sen. Paul lives in [[Bowling Green, Kentucky]]. In November 2017, he was the victim of a cowardly attack by an irate [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] neighbor, Rene Boucher, who trespassed on Sen. Paul's yard, snuck up behind him, and violently broke five of his ribs. The shameful attack caused lung contusions which required removal of part of Sen. Paul's lungs, and also facial injuries. Sen. Paul was peacefully mowing his lawn at the time of the attack. Police initially charged the perpetrator, who reportedly admitted attacking Paul, with merely fourth-degree assault despite the seriousness of the injuries.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2017/11/more-on-the-democrats-assault-on-rand-paul.php|title=More on the Democrat’s Assault on Rand Paul|author=John Hinderacker|publisher=Powerlineblog.com|accessdate=November 5, 2017}}</ref> A federal charge were then filed against the assailant, who pled guilty but was then sentenced to merely 30 days in jail, which is far below sentencing guidelines and which the [[Department of Justice]] has appealed for being too lenient.

Sen. Paul lives in [[Bowling Green, Kentucky]]. In November of 2017, he was the victim of a cowardly attack by an irate [[Democrat]] neighbor, Rene Boucher, who trespassed on Sen. Paul's yard, snuck up behind him, and violently broke five of his ribs. The shameful attack caused lung contusions which required removal of part of his lungs, and also facial injuries. He was peacefully mowing his lawn at the time of the attack. Police initially charged the perpetrator, who reportedly admitted to attacking Paul, with merely fourth-degree assault despite the seriousness of the injuries<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2017/11/more-on-the-democrats-assault-on-rand-paul.php|title=More on the Democrat’s Assault on Rand Paul|author=John Hinderacker|publisher=Powerlineblog.com|accessdate=November 5, 2017}}</ref>. A federal charge was then filed against the assailant, who pled guilty, but was then sentenced to merely 30 days in jail, which is far below sentencing guidelines and which the [[Department of Justice]] has appealed for being too lenient.

Amidst the second Democrat attempt to impeach and convict [[Donald Trump]] in January 2020 over mostly false accusations that he's supposedly directly responsible for the [[2021 Capitol riot]], Paul introduced an amendment to declare the sham impeachment as unconstitutional, which ultimately was defeated by a 55–45 vote; [[anti-Trump]]ers [[Mitt Romney]], [[Ben Sasse]], [[Susan Collins]], [[Lisa Murkowski]] and [[Pat Toomey]] joined all Senate Democrats in voting against it.<ref>Carney, Jourdain (January 26, 2021). [https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/535925-senate-rejects-paul-effort-to-declare-trump-impeachment-trial Just five GOP senators vote Trump impeachment trial is constitutional]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved January 26, 2021.</ref>

Amidst the second Democrat attempt to impeach and convict [[Donald Trump]] in January of 2021 over false accusations that he was responsible for the [[2021 Capitol riot]], Paul introduced an amendment to declare the [[sham impeachment]] as unconstitutional, which ultimately was defeated by a 55–45 vote; [[Never-Trump]]ers [[Mitt Romney]], [[Ben Sasse]], [[Susan Collins]], [[Lisa Murkowski]] and [[Pat Toomey]] joined all Senate Democrats in voting against it<ref>Carney, Jourdain (January 26, 2021). [https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/535925-senate-rejects-paul-effort-to-declare-trump-impeachment-trial Just five GOP senators vote Trump impeachment trial is constitutional]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved January 26, 2021.</ref>.

== 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>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oD-R_OeP6tU</ref>

Paul was born in [[Pittsburgh]], [[Pennsylvania]], to U.S. Congressman [[Ron Paul]] and his wife Carol. ''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 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]] favored by the establishment, and then against [[Democrat]] [[Jack Conway]] in the 2010 Midterms. 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 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.  

In 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 Republican Senators joined him, including [[Ted Cruz]], [[Marco Rubio]], and [[Mike Lee]], as well as 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’ https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2015/04/07/rand-paul-set-to-announce-presidential-run/</ref><ref>https://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>https://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/views==

== Political positions==

[[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>https://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>https://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>https://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>