Rand Paul is the New Face of Conservatism and Freedom in the Senate

Senator Jim DeMint for the most part is a noble guy for his conservative efforts. There are some things I don't agree with DeMint on like his continuing support for the Bill of Rights killing Patriot Act, but he has challenged RINOs continuously in the Senate falling on the right side of the argument more times than not.

With Rand Paul in the Senate, Jim DeMint looks moderate. Consider this from the Politico:

DeMint has proposed cutting $250 billion per year for the next decade. Paul has proposed $500 billion worth of cuts for just one year. Paul has vowed to oppose on constitutional grounds an extension of the PATRIOT Act, an anti-terrorism law DeMint has repeatedly backed in the past.

While DeMint supports Paul’s goal on budget cutting, he said it’s a “political quagmire” to pinpoint specific programs to cut before Republicans try to push through a constitutional amendment to force Congress to balance the budget.

Paul, on the other hand, has already laid out an aggressive series of cuts — including ones slashing foreign aid to Israel. DeMint has said it’s a “real mistake to suggest we might reduce support to Israel.”

Citing states’ rights, Paul was the lone senator to vote against an amendment that would criminalize the shining of laser pointers at aircrafts — but DeMint said there’s already a federal role on aviation security and backed the plan.

You know, DeMint doesn't look all that conservative anymore. Justifying a silly federal law about laser pointers... Paul is right, there is no Constitutional authority for the federal government to make laws like this about laser pointers. Don't they have a deficit problem to take care of?

I hope DeMint will reconsider some of his positions, especially over the Patriot Act.