Rand Paul at CPAC: GOP Budget Cuts Not Enough

As soon as Senator Rand Paul takes the stage at CPAC 2011, the follow Paulians in the bloggers' area where I'm camped out begin a loud chant of "End the Fed."

You know it’s an audience full of Ron Paul fans when the crowd applauds to the introductory speaker saying that the next speaker wants to "End the Fed."

And indeed, as soon as Senator Rand Paul takes the stage, the follow Paulians in the bloggers area where I am camped out begin a chant of "End the Fed."

Rand Paul opens up by quoting several lines from Conscience of a Conservative and then turns his attention to the constitutional bait that the audience really wanted. He makes clear that this is about Wickard v. Filburn, and about changing the definition of what the commerce clause can be allowed to do.

Sen. Paul also evokes the infamous "vegetable mandate" from the Elena Kagan confirmation hearings, a sign that this meme is picking up traction.

But the real red meat comes when Rand Paul announces that the House GOP budget proposal is too small. Paul, of course, is proposing $500 billion worth of cuts.  And everyone hear is aware that Paul Ryan is speaking soon after, so it will be interesting to know who in the audience knows that Rep. Ryan is responsible for the “small” cuts that Paul considers unacceptable.

Of course, only a Paulian audience would stand up and applaud when a speaker says "we have to tackle the defense budget". There was more excitement for this line than there was for entitlement reform.

One other thought: only an audience of Rand Paul fans will applaud happily when a speaker says that Social Security can't last.

The next question: how many libertarian fans will stay in the audience when Rumsfeld gets his award?

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