Three for 2016 - Rand Paul – Pragmatic Approach to the Middle East, the Borders and Voting Rights, Chris Matthews on Elizabeth Warren, and the Left on Rick Perry

Senator Rand Paul (K), on Meet the Press with David Gregory (link here to full video interview at NBC), (synopsis) was asked and answered a few topical questions regarding his stance on the issues of the day. He suggested that we stay out of the Middle East, (but also not for total isolationism), laid the crisis in the region on the laps of both parties in suggesting the Congress of 2002 should have given more thought to the process. He spoke to the need of securing the borders first, and that immigration as de facto amnesty would not pass. In addition he suggesting allowing non-criminal felons, who had paid their dues, be reinstated with the right to vote and spoke to Hillary Clinton and the Benghazi Scandal. It is well worth watching as he comes across as measured and looking out for both the right left and center, while maintaining his core conservative values.

Elizabeth Warren (MA) was “grilled” by Chris Matthews, in a rather unusual testy interview for the Progressive Matthews, who, one would have thought, would treat Warren as the feminine version of President Obama (Video here – Breitbart-TV) - Warren, when interrupted suggested that he “stop” his line of questioning, while she continued to harangue the Republicans, Matthews asked what would you do about it?

Apparently she preferred to answer a serious question from Matthews with rhetoric.

Finally Rick Perry, who in his sometimes gruff Texas non-politically corrects way of explaining anything, ruffled feathers of gay activists by suggesting they were comparable to alcoholics (which, could be taken in so many ways, its mind boggling). The thought police have apparently pulled an equivalent of the Texan’s “I misspoke”

"I got asked about issues, and instead of saying, 'You know what, we need to be a really respectful and tolerant country to everybody,' and get back to talking about, whether you're gay or straight, you need to be having a job," he said. "I readily admit I stepped right in it."

(AZ Central- read full article here)

Summarizing, two men potentially running in 2016, one is pragmatic, the other apologetic, but at the same time, a straight shooter, versus a woman, who is also a potential 2016 (more of a bet on her than on Hillary Clinton) promising 4 more years of Obamanesque rhetoric (and a do nothing attitude to boot), should she be elected.

Rand Paul best Hillary Clinton in 2016 Hypothetical match-up - Elizabeth Warren, Republican Turned Progressive, responds being credited with the Occupy Movement.

From the Lexington Herald Leader: Rand Paul has “narrowly” bested Hillary Clinton in a 2016 Hypothetical matchup – the Leader called it a “home court advantage”. The final advantage 48 (Paul) to 44 (Clinton) –which is the spread that separated President Obama from Mitt Romney.

Although several sources suggest that Clinton may not run and that the opponent from the left of center will be Elizabeth Warren, until the dust clears, there is little that can be gleaned from these polls other than who is better recognized at the time of the poll. As in 2012 when many top tier polling candidates eventually did not run, it may just be that early polling in 2016 will go the same way. That said, Mass Live (Springfield Republican)’s story this morning on Warren suggests she does not respond well to the truth:

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren is taking exception to a characterization put forth by former student, Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Cotton, as he tries to unseat Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor in Arkansas.

In a fundraising letter sent this week, Cotton, who studied under Warren at Harvard Law School prior to her 2012 Senate election, described his former professor as the "intellectual founder of the radical Occupy Movement" and someone who supports a "European-style, single-payer" health care system, according to Talking Points Memo. And on Saturday, Warren struck back with a fundraising plea sent to her thousands of supporters on behalf of Pryor, her colleague in the Senate.

Of interest in the Mass Live article is Warren’s going to bat for endangered Democrats: i.e. Franken in MN and Sheehan in NH and well as Pryor because should she fail, and these Democrats lose their seats, which appears likely in two of the three instances, then, that will leave her little credence with the democrats as to her “star power”. Additionally, using the tire d war on women may not be the best method to denigrate a GOP challenger at this point, given how that panned out after the 2012 elections.

Speculation abounds, however, the players are bound to change, especially should Clinton not run, and Warren become similarly toxic, who then? Joe Biden?

Elizabeth Warren, Junior Progressive Democrat from Massachusetts - -2016 – Picking up Steam with the Media

Warren, Clinton and like-minded John McCain -there's also a split ticket option, Clinton-Warren 2016 image Yahoo News

It may happen again, a little know Senator from a prominent Democrat state, might just well come into the Democrat convention and pull the rug out from under one Hillary Clinton – in much the same manner that one Barack Obama did in 2008. That Senator, Elizabeth Warren, is now seeing a daily increase in press attention – similar to that seen for the current occupant of the White House. In addition, she makes Hillary Clinton appear to be a moderate, at best.

Two articles of note this morning: How Elizabeth Warren is Winning the Internet and Why it Matters (The Washington Post), and Wall Street’s Nightmare – President Elizabeth Warren (Politico)

Both articles insinuate that the Senator is in position to run for the office through the primary, and she may well be preparing. However, although it is far too early to speculate on who may or may not run, on this particular choice, she reminds a great deal of Barack Obama, therefore, and one must give her a closer look.

She mightily appeals to the Progressive base of the Democrat party –which includes the media, unions, and some rank and file Democrats, in recent days she’s been the attack dog on Republicans’ – spelling out the two party system as the only one available.

Experience: Harvard Professor, newly elected Senator to the State of Massachusetts – that’s it. (One could go into her real estate dealing in Oklahoma, or her college applications, or what have you, but suffice it to say, any aspersions cast on Warren, will be maligned, and those types of "stories" ignored by the media, as it refuses to vet those with similar ideologies.

One suspects that it will not be long before the media starts with the cut of pantsuits and hairstyles if the two hypothetically anointed candidates – Clinton and Warren – Clinton as it’s her due (following the logic of two major political parties who give the runner up the option of being fist in line to the next general election (See McCain, Romney and others to numerous to mention (brevity).

Leader of the free world? – Let that sink in a moment – Clinton, for all of her “baggage”, would be ready, however, the neophyte from Massachusetts – not so much – we’ve been down that road for the past 8 years and the results were less than perfect.

As it is early, way too early to make judgment calls on the Republican side, and hoping some will have the wherewithal to run as Independents, a third party, in this climate, would be the way to upend the major players - given the anti-incumbent sentiment seen 2009 local elections –As the Congresses (and that lumps in those Senators – continues to decline or even remain at the status qua – one finds this political season perfect for that type of introduction into the political landscape.

Elizabeth Warren, Junior Progressive Democrat from Massachusetts - -2016 – Picking up Steam with the Media

Warren, Clinton and like-minded John McCain -there's also a split ticket option, Clinton-Warren 2016 image Yahoo News

It may happen again, a little know Senator from a prominent Democrat state, might just well come into the Democrat convention and pull the rug out from under one Hillary Clinton – in much the same manner that one Barack Obama did in 2008. That Senator, Elizabeth Warren, is now seeing a daily increase in press attention – similar to that seen for the current occupant of the White House. In addition, she makes Hillary Clinton appear to be a moderate, at best.

Two articles of note this morning: How Elizabeth Warren is Winning the Internet and Why it Matters (The Washington Post), and Wall Street’s Nightmare – President Elizabeth Warren (Politico)

Both articles insinuate that the Senator is in position to run for the office through the primary, and she may well be preparing. However, although it is far too early to speculate on who may or may not run, on this particular choice, she reminds a great deal of Barack Obama, therefore, and one must give her a closer look.

She mightily appeals to the Progressive base of the Democrat party –which includes the media, unions, and some rank and file Democrats, in recent days she’s been the attack dog on Republicans’ – spelling out the two party system as the only one available.

Experience: Harvard Professor, newly elected Senator to the State of Massachusetts – that’s it. (One could go into her real estate dealing in Oklahoma, or her college applications, or what have you, but suffice it to say, any aspersions cast on Warren, will be maligned, and those types of "stories" ignored by the media, as it refuses to vet those with similar ideologies.

One suspects that it will not be long before the media starts with the cut of pantsuits and hairstyles if the two hypothetically anointed candidates – Clinton and Warren – Clinton as it’s her due (following the logic of two major political parties who give the runner up the option of being fist in line to the next general election (See McCain, Romney and others to numerous to mention (brevity).

Leader of the free world? – Let that sink in a moment – Clinton, for all of her “baggage”, would be ready, however, the neophyte from Massachusetts – not so much – we’ve been down that road for the past 8 years and the results were less than perfect.

As it is early, way too early to make judgment calls on the Republican side, and hoping some will have the wherewithal to run as Independents, a third party, in this climate, would be the way to upend the major players - given the anti-incumbent sentiment seen 2009 local elections –As the Congresses (and that lumps in those Senators – continues to decline or even remain at the status qua – one finds this political season perfect for that type of introduction into the political landscape.