Newly re-elected senator Rand Paul says he's inclined to oppose both of the two most frequently mentioned names to run Donald Trump's State Department: former Ambassador John Bolton and Rudy Giuliani.

 

Essentially means neither could even get a majority in committee and so would never see a confirmation vote in the full senate.

 

It's not surprising that both men would be too hawkish for Rand Paul's liking. We'll see if he changes his tune in the coming weeks.

 

Sen. Rand Paul says neither Giuliani nor Bolton would get his vote

I would prefer either Bolton or Giuliani over Rank Paul for Sec. of State, but I have no clue why Trump thinks Rudy is qualified for that position. Bolton would probably be my choice. Trump has no foreign policy experience and it would make no sense to appoint a novice like Giuliani to that position.

 

Hopefully, Trump learned something from Obama's appointment of Hillary Clinton to his cabinet. If he wants to reward Giuliani for his role in the campaign, then he should appoint him as the Ambassador to Italy, where his inexperience would not make him a risky choice.

Dagnabit! Rand Paul is always leaving me in flux. He does and says some stuff and I never want to hear from him again. Then, the next thing you know, I'm all like "Go Rand! Go Rand!"

I personally like Bolton more than Rudy. Rudy has flatly said he will not be AG, so I guess it's all or nothing for him...maybe watching Madam Secretary has him stoked to be Sec State!

It's not surprising that both men would be too hawkish for Rand Paul's liking. We'll see if he changes his tune in the coming weeks.

 

Both of those seem like bizarre choices anyway. Trump hammered the point he was (allegedly) against the war in Iraq from the beginning and has otherwise favored a roll back of some of the US's security arrangements with other countries, but would then make the neocon's neocon his SoS? And then Giuliani?

I was ok with Rudy as AG but SoS? I don't like that at all.

Add me to the list who do not like Rudy as Sec. of State. Not good at all.

Too bad KY supported Rand again, he really needs to go.

I was ok with Rudy as AG but SoS? I don't like that at all.

 

I am ok with Rudy for absolutely nothing because I think he is a few fries short of a Happy Meal. For SOS is about the worst post to place him. Bolton - for better or worse - at least gets what is going no outside of the US and has experience in an international capacity.

Trump likes Bolton because of his hair style.

Sen Paul wrote me back about my asking to label the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist group.

 

This is his reply.

 

Thank you for contacting me about the Muslim Brotherhood. I appreciate hearing your thoughts on this organization's goals and activities.

 

Founded in 1928, the Muslim Brotherhood is an influential movement within the Sunni branch of Islam. Although it was originally founded in Egypt, today the Muslim Brotherhood is active in the political and civil societies of several countries across the Middle East. However, there are other countries where they are not welcome; among others, the governments of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Egypt consider the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization.

 

On November 3, 2015, Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) introduced S. 2230, the Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act of 2015. This bill would state that it is the sense of the Congress that the Muslim Brotherhood meets the criteria for designation as a foreign terrorist organization and that the Secretary of State should so designate the Muslim Brotherhood. Additionally, S. 2230 would require a public report from the State Department as to whether or not the Muslim Brotherhood meets the criteria for designation as a foreign terrorist organization.

 

S. 2230 has been referred to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, of which I am a member, and where it awaits further consideration. Rest assured that should this bill come before me for a vote, I will consider it carefully.

 

Again, thank you for contacting my office. It is an honor and a privilege to represent the Commonwealth of Kentucky in the United States Senate. For more information on foreign affairs and my other legislative work, please visit my website at U.S. Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky.

 

 

 

Sincerely,

 

Signature

 

Rand Paul, MD

United States Senator

Sen Paul wrote me back about my asking to label the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist group.

 

This is his reply.

 

Thank you for contacting me about the Muslim Brotherhood. I appreciate hearing your thoughts on this organization's goals and activities.

 

Founded in 1928, the Muslim Brotherhood is an influential movement within the Sunni branch of Islam. Although it was originally founded in Egypt, today the Muslim Brotherhood is active in the political and civil societies of several countries across the Middle East. However, there are other countries where they are not welcome; among others, the governments of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Egypt consider the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization.

 

On November 3, 2015, Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) introduced S. 2230, the Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act of 2015. This bill would state that it is the sense of the Congress that the Muslim Brotherhood meets the criteria for designation as a foreign terrorist organization and that the Secretary of State should so designate the Muslim Brotherhood. Additionally, S. 2230 would require a public report from the State Department as to whether or not the Muslim Brotherhood meets the criteria for designation as a foreign terrorist organization.

 

S. 2230 has been referred to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, of which I am a member, and where it awaits further consideration. Rest assured that should this bill come before me for a vote, I will consider it carefully.

 

Again, thank you for contacting my office. It is an honor and a privilege to represent the Commonwealth of Kentucky in the United States Senate. For more information on foreign affairs and my other legislative work, please visit my website at U.S. Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky.

 

 

 

Sincerely,

 

Signature

 

Rand Paul, MD

United States Senator

 

Nice. I like that you got a reply ref.

Dagnabit! Rand Paul is always leaving me in flux. He does and says some stuff and I never want to hear from him again. Then, the next thing you know, I'm all like "Go Rand! Go Rand!"

 

I feel exactly the same!!!