Rand Paul, the darling boy of Tea Party activists, has won the GOP nomination in Kentucky, and will be running as the Republican candidate for Senate. His opponent, Trey Grayson, was a GOP favorite, touted by high level Republicans and formally endorsed by Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell. Major media outlets such as the New York Times and Los Angeles Times are portraying Mr. Paul's victory as a major victory for the Tea Party, and suggest that his arrival in Washington may stir things up.
There is one problem with this analysis. Rand Paul hasn't really won the election yet. I am not suggesting that a Democrat will pose much of a threat to him, but hailing Paul's coming to Washington as anything but a possibility does seem a bit like putting the cart before the horse.
And anyway, what would it mean? Republicans, from old-school conservatives like McCain to idiots like Sarah Palin to intriguing libertarians like Rand Paul, vote as a block. They maintain discipline, and Republican politicians show an almost disturbing ability to shake off personal convictions in the name of blocking any Democratic initiative. This is how a minority party in Congress has held up much needed social, economic, and environmental programs introduced by the Obama administration. I, for one, doubt that Rand Paul - who espouses legalizing marijuana, opposes the war in Afghanistan, and seems quite reasonable on immigration - will be an exception to the invariable block of "No" that is the GOP.
But I do hope he will be.
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