Rand Paul Slams Military Parade Idea And Calls Out GOP Hypocrisy On Spending

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Paul has not been holding back these days in attack. Recently, the Kentuckian vehemently called the idea of a military parade frivolous and Soviet-like. Paul said: “If I say picture in your mind a military parade, I challenge anybody not to think of the Soviet Union or Korea. Missiles and tanks in the streets just aren’t a great symbol of a free country.” His blunt criticism comes at a time Washington apparently is preparing for what many consider to be a gratuitous parade and show of military might.

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But Paul did not stop there: he even poked fun at the party’s sudden case of fiscal amnesia. “When Biden was president, I had a bill to reform the Emergency Act,” said Paul. “There were at least two Republican bills and probably a dozen Republicans on board.” Fast forward to the present situation, a Republican in the White House, and, all of a sudden, those same Republicans have gone silent. “The vast majority of people who used to be against executive power…they no longer are there,” Paul added in a rather annoyed voice.

The senator did not halt at executive overreach. What he also laid out was the sudden embrace of big spending by the GOP, especially concerning border security. “‘They want $46.5 billion for the wall!’” Paul exclaimed. “‘The Border Patrol said two weeks ago it costs $6.5 million per mile. They have no explanation for being three and a half times greater than the actual expectations.’” What is terrible is that behind closed doors in Washington, some Republicans actually agreed with him. “In private, it looked like there was a little bit of courage,” Paul added. “I sure evaporates when they get in public, though.”

This sort of frankness has made him somewhat of a target, particularly in staunch Trump-supporting quarters. “If you read my Twitter feed, it’s like haters anonymous,” he joked. “A lot of them are morons, and it’s hard to tell the difference.” But the attacks didn’t slow him down at all. He still speaks out against tariffs said to be privately opposed by many Republicans, even those from farm states. “They all know tariffs are bad because farmers have been exporters for decades,” Paul said. “But they’re scared to death of the president.”

The interview went even more corrosive, after Paul laid out the numbers on the national debt. “We’re at $2.2 trillion for the deficit this year,” he said. “They’re going to borrow $5 trillion because they’re anticipating another two and a half trillion the following year.” Despite this talk of fiscal responsibility, Paul saw no real change. “This ship of state which Mike Johnson says he’s changing is plowing ahead,” he said. “It’s not moving an iota away from the debt cliff.”

Some reactions to Paul’s remarks were predictably—and sharply—heated. “Finally someone in the GOP with a spine!” exclaimed one user, to which a second responded, “Rand Paul is just mad because nobody listens to him anymore.” A third chimed in with, “He’s right about the parade though. We’re not North Korea.”

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Rand Paul is brave enough to auntie what few dare to speak for. With loyalty oftentimes coming first, this is fast becoming a rarity. Now, the question is whether anyone will listen before it is too late.

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