Rand Paul sure is happy today. He’s practically gleeful that Trump has announced a pullout from Afghanistan and Syria.
And it was just in time for his annual Festivus ritual:
I came to say Happy #Festivus to my friend Elizabeth Warren. Cant find her. pic.twitter.com/A4xSJ7Nf7x
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) December 23, 2018
You’ll be surprised to learn I have some grievances with people in Washington, fellow members and others. It’s time to talk about them now, because it’s the holiday season.
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) December 23, 2018
Let’s start with POTUS I like the President, I honestly do. I know people don’t believe me. But the man seems to have a problem keeping staff around him. But they solved the problem. I went to the White House the other day and there were at least 14 ppl in Mick Mulvaney masks. pic.twitter.com/u0nnGWQ7V0
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) December 23, 2018
Mick is a good friend of mine, in fact a lot of people probably don’t remember he was the national co-chair for my Presidential campaign. Uh oh, probably just got him fired. pic.twitter.com/3jH3ZsZh8r
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) December 23, 2018
On Jared Kushner:
Speaking of criminal justice reform, I have to give Jared Kushner credit. He was great on this. And I’m glad I got to know him, because before that I was a bit suspicious he was the kid from the Omen movie all grown up.
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) December 23, 2018
And folks, that is NOT who you want in charge of your Middle East peace plans.
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) December 23, 2018
On Ted Cruz:
So moving down the road to Congress. Oh, Congress. Every year it seems things get more absurd. They were so bad this week they made my friend Mike Lee say “doggone”. It was nuts.
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) December 23, 2018
Congress has now decided to shut down the government because they aren’t spending enough money. I got suspicious when Ted Cruz came back from Thanksgiving break with that beard. pic.twitter.com/y0r3dpFbbG
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) December 23, 2018
Ted really should have grown that beard before he ran for President. He looks less Canadian now.
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) December 23, 2018
On Lindsey Graham:
My friend Lindsay Graham is a bit mad right now. You see, he’s never seen a war end before. He’s going to have to console himself with the fact that we still are in about 8 more. I know it will be hard for him, but I think he’ll get by.
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) December 23, 2018
I have to tell you; I haven’t seen a Senator who loves war this much since the Star Wars Prequels. pic.twitter.com/UFU242XYQK
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) December 23, 2018
Lindsay and I were on the same side on foreign policy for about 5 minutes a few weeks ago, regarding the Saudis. He said it was a sign of “end times”. I guess we are all gonna live a bit longer after all.
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) December 23, 2018
Grievance against the foreign policy establishment of both parties in DC:
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) December 23, 2018
Many of these people hold these two views: 1 - that it was horrible to leave the war in Syria and 2 - that it is horrible that General Mattis left, since he was what kept the President from starting WWIII or something. I don’t understand how you hold both of those views.
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) December 23, 2018
And the NeoCons and the Weekly Standard:
I’m going to go a bit easier on the grievances against the neocons and warmongers this year though. The Weekly Standard has folded, wars are ending — I really think their holiday is already bad enough, I don’t want to pile on.
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) December 23, 2018
He also made fun of John Bolton:
Well, actually…let’s talk about John Bolton. I don’t have a grievance. I just really would have liked to have been in the room when the POTUS told him to END a war. How many times do you think he made the President repeat it because he didn’t even know what the words meant?
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) December 23, 2018
I opposed John Bolton being hired. But I really can’t think of anything that makes me happier then thinking of him having to end wars for the rest of his time in the White House.
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) December 23, 2018
All kidding aside, they were important, bipartisan reforms that show how Washington CAN work if people from both sides of the aisle get together on things that make sense. I’m proud to have been a part of both.
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) December 23, 2018
So everyone enjoy your feats of strength today. Air your grievances here or in your home. But remember, thanks to Donald Trump we are ALL saying Merry Christmas this year — so repeat after me: MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY HOLIDAYS to everyone even the haters and losers.
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) December 23, 2018
And here’s how gleeful he was earlier today:
“When the President declares victory over ISIS, he’s exactly right. We took back 99% of their land. Aren’t these people going to stand up and now fight for themselves? Can they not do anything?” GOP Sen. @RandPaul says. #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/oUXAIwgeT0
— State of the Union (@CNNSotu) December 23, 2018
Well that’s it for the weekend. It’s Christmas Eve tomorrow – so have yourselves a merry little open thread on me.
Here’s some comment fodder:
Renowned philosopher of religion William Lane Craig: "The media shun intelligent and articulate Christians in favor of inflammatory preachers and televangelists." Thanks, @NickKristof, for initiating these conversations.https://t.co/NOl1w9cLrC
— Justin Taylor (@between2worlds) December 23, 2018
A prominent Republican strategist confides, uneasily, today to WashPost: "Can you imagine if the Democrats were able to convince Mattis to be their VP nominee in '20?"
— Robert Costa (@costareports) December 23, 2018
Not gonna happen.