CONSPIRACY ALERT: I think the Paulite takeovers MAY have been facilitated by Rand to advance his own career, even if it makes his father look bad. The base for a potential Rand Paul campaign in 2016 will be much stronger.
Seems possible, but will the Paulites turn out for Rand? I, for one, like the father but don't really like the son (he seems too neoconny for me...)
That's what I wonder. Even at the Paul forums, Rand's recent comments on Obama and gays [Stupid but overblown, in my view] have really looked like they've turned a lot of people off on him. There's a big divide between the social liberals and social conservatives in the movement, and Rand is not looking like he'll be able to bridge that to the same extent that his father did. I think he runs the risk of being seen as just another Republican to the young when he runs in 2016, and those were a big part of Ron's activist base.
I mostly like Rand and he's my first choice in 2016, but he did not do himself any favors with this one.