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Except W is the father of that little program.

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Except W is the father of that little program.

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What better way to move on?

NSA spying in its current form is just one rogue away from STASI repression.

Legalized pot
Ending mandatory minimums
Ending domestic spying
Bringing home troops

Rand has got 3 out of those 4

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No offense, Haydel, because I think that domestic spying is a legitimate issue, but I have to ask: are you a libertarian?

The reason I ask is that I suspect you are vastly over-estimating the importance of this issue to the public at large. Even many people who do care about the issue - such as myself - see the issue as far from a "slam dunk" because of the security interests at stake. In my view, you have a a lot of people who don't rank the issue very high and others who see it as nuanced or even muddled if you press them on exactly how to balance privacy vs. security.

For what it's worth, I would to see the GOP run as the "Growth Party" and explain to the people (much as Reagan did) how economic vibrancy is the force that does the most to decrease economic suffering in our country.

Finally, I humbly suggest caution to all of us who spend any amount of time on the Poli Board to remember how much more prevalent libertarian viewpoints are here than in the world at large. (Not a "hater" at all - I am glad that more people care about liberty - but I find that this Board can be a libertarian echo chamber).

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The exact same thing the previous administration did.

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Interesting move by a lib who railed against it.

"Legalized pot"

Not so much a lead issue but AT LEAST don't let the Dems have this one to themselves. I say support federal decriminalization (to a large degree; feds can't help but be responsible for weed imported from foreign countries) and allow states to regulate.

"Ending mandatory minimums"

Praise the Lord, and Amen. These have always been an abomination. Let judges judge. No system is perfect but the one we had before mandatory sentencing is better than what we have now.

"Ending domestic spying"

I don't think this is a good lead issue even though I'm sympathetic (I posted elsewhere in more detail).

"Bringing home troops"

It is popular enough, but I would urge caution here for policy reasons. I would attempt to rephrase the argument entirely. The wars are LONG since over and having some military presence in foreign lands after a war is hardly unusual. Hell, we still have bases in Germany. I would encourage a message of "restraint and caution in the use of military force."

Good OP and good ideas.

"Also domestic spying scares the shite out of people my age. (College age kids) almost everyone I chat about it with is invested in what happens with the NSA."

I really appreciate your response. I am around people of a great many ages, but one "hole" in my web of acquaintances (with an exception or two) would be folks 18-25. I am GLAD to hear that your age cohort cares about such matters, and maybe I am incorrect about how much the issue would resonate. Also, we live in a world of niche marketing where different messages are tailored to different groups. Maybe some NSA reform program could be touted especially to the younger voters who seem to have lost some of their faith in Obama. Also, as the GOP de-emphasizes or moves away from some social issues (e.g., opposing gay marriage), I think inroads can be made with the younger set. What I have found (anecdotally, of course) is that younger folks were so turned off by certain positions on social issues that they never even considered whether they were with the Dems on the big-government approach. They just knew that they were turned off by the GOP.

Anyway, good stuff!

Which tax cuts are the r's pushing for?