Rand Paul wins CPAC straw poll

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., speaks at the 40th annual Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor, Md., March 14, 2013. / AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., rode a wave of conservative acclamation to claim victory in the straw poll at this year's Conservative Political Action Conference, winning 25 percent of the votes cast and joining a roster of past winners that includes two former presidents and several former presidential candidates.

Nippping at Paul's heels, in second place, was Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., who also earned 25 percent of the vote. Coming in third was former Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Penn., with 8 percent, and rounding out the top four was Gov. Chris Christie, R-N.J., who won 7 percent of ballots cast.

Paul, whose father, former Texas Rep. Ron Paul, has twice won the poll in years past, has emerged as a bonafide conservative star in his own right after his epic, 13-hour filibuster earlier this month, which he staged to object to the Obama administration's policy on targeted drone strikes.

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To claim victory, Paul bested a parade of high-profile Republican names, including Rubio, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., and Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., along with Christie, Gov. Bob McDonnell, R-Va., Gov. Bobby Jindal, R-La., Gov. Scott Walker, R-Wis.

Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., last year's Republican vice-presidential nominee, and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the 2008 Republican vice-presidential nominee, were also included, along with several also-rans from past presidential cycles, including Gov. Rick Perry, R-Texas., and Gov. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., who is also a former senator.

The CPAC straw poll is considered an important but informal gauge of the enthusiasm of the conservative base - a rough verdict from the right wing on a variety of rising stars in the Republican Party. The winner of the straw poll has frequently, but not always, gone on to bigger and better things.

In 2012, during the heat of a contested Republican presidential primary, eventual nominee Mitt Romney won the straw poll with 38 percent of the vote. Romney also claimed victory in 2009 and 2008.

The 2010 and 2011 straw polls went to Ron Paul, a libertarian iconoclast and former presidential candidate whose CPAC fans were able to successfully push him over the top.

Christie and McDonnell were not invited to address the conservative confab this year but were included on the list nonetheless. Former Gov. Jeb Bush, R-Fla., addressed CPAC on Friday evening but opted out of being included in the straw poll.

Just under 3,000 participants - 2,930 - cast ballots in the straw poll. This year, after complaints about the unscientific nature of past surveys, CPAC ran a national poll alongside the straw poll. The top three finishers were identical in both surveys.

[bobw101]

RolloOfTheNormans replies:

Never mind bob, I went and got it myself:

http://www.bls.gov/emp/ep_table_303.htm

As I suspected, you distorted the BLS data.

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ftp://ftp.bls.gov/pub/special.requests/lf/aa2008/aat3.txt

http://www.bls.gov/cps/cpsaat03.htm

[bobw101]

@ RolloOfTheNormans, I said the only groups with positive growth in participation since 2008 were 60+, I also said boomer's retiring were not the only reason for the participation rate drop.

Never said anything about bush or obama.

[FOX_PARROTS_LIE]

JSMITH2600 replies: It does not matter what you "accept" bobw101, but here's the reality:

Since 2000, the labor force rate has been steadily declining as the baby-boom generation has been retiring. Because of this, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago expects the labor force participation rate to be lower in 2020 than it is today, regardless of how well the economy does.



Labor force projections to 2014: retiring boomers

The baby boomers' exit from the prime-aged workforce and their movement into older age groups will lower the overall labor force participation rate, leading to a slowdown in the growth of the labor force

http://www.cse.sc.edu/~buell/References/BureauLaborStatistics/art3full2014.pdf

[bobw101]

Since 2008 the only age groups with positive growth in labor participation is 60-75+. All other age groups 16-59 have had reductions in participation. I'm sure boomers retiring has had an impact on the participation rate, but it is certainly not the entire story.

[bobw101]

@ RolloOfTheNormans, from the BLS.

[jsmith2600]

bobw101 replies:
And no I do not accept your theory that the participation rate drop is caused by boomers retiring.


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The incredible shrinking labor force

Economists say the story is considerably more complicated. For one thing, the trend predates President Obama. And while part of the story is clearly that the labor force is shrinking because the bad economy is driving workers out, another significant factor is that baby boomers are beginning to retire early -- a trend that has worrying implications for future growth.

---

The other 65 percent are people who have left the labor force and do not want a job. The biggest chunk of that group seems to be composed of baby boomers, those 55 and older, who have decided to retire early.

www.washingtonpost.com/...labor-force/.../gIQANXAy1T_blog.html

[jsmith2600]

It does not matter what you "accept" bobw101, but here's the reality:

Since 2000, the labor force rate has been steadily declining as the baby-boom generation has been retiring. Because of this, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago expects the labor force participation rate to be lower in 2020 than it is today, regardless of how well the economy does.

[bobw101]

RolloOfTheNormans replies:

GAWD! You are truly ignorant. Now you are calling workforce participation rate the job creation rate. LOL, bob, better find better information than that cr-p they post over at CATO. I frankly give a big rat's rear end what you do or don't believe bob. But I will be right here to expose your lies at every step of the way.

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Look at the table you burned out baby killer, it includes job creation (total jobs) as well as participation rate. Put down the heroin syringe and snap into reality this isn't Sagan in 1968.

BUSH FIRST TERM:
135,999,000 - JAN 2001 Participation Rate 67.3%
140,241,000 - JAN 2005 + 4,242,000 Participation Rate 65.8%

BUSH SECOND TERM:
142,099,000 - JAN 2009 + 1,858,000 Participation Rate 65.5%

OBAMA FIRST TERM:
142,099,000 - JAN 2009
143,322,000 - JAN 2013 + 1,223,000 Participation Rate 63.5 %

[FOX_PARROTS_LIE]

Labor force projections to 2014: retiring boomers

The baby boomers' exit from the prime-aged workforce and their movement into older age groups will lower the overall labor force participation rate, leading to a slowdown in the growth of the labor force

http://www.cse.sc.edu/~buell/References/BureauLaborStatistics/art3full2014.pdf

[bobw101]

cubscout09 replies:

"We find these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal..."

Bob you seem to be very confused.

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On what?

[bobw101]

RolloOfTheNormans replies:

bobw101 replies:

House Hold Survey Employment:

BUSH FIRST TERM:
135,999,000 - JAN 2001 Participation Rate 67.3%
140,241,000 - JAN 2005 + 4,242,000 Participation Rate 65.8%

BUSH SECOND TERM:
142,099,000 - JAN 2009 + 1,858,000 Participation Rate 65.5%

OBAMA FIRST TERM:
142,099,000 - JAN 2009
143,322,000 - JAN 2013 + 1,223,000 Participation Rate 63.5 %

Why bob, we've already had words about the participation rate previously when you jumped with both feet trying to explain away my contention that the lower participation rate was at least partially based on the number of people leaving the workforce through retirement. You still trying to maintain that the President's economic policies are the root cause of the lower participation rate? You already admitted you didn't know how the participation rate was constructed and now you're back at the same old stand, trying spread your weaselly lies. Shame bob, that's why nobody but other Liberloon's believe anything a Liberloon has to say.

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I posted the job creation statistics based on the house hold survey, the participation rate is part of that. You didn't read the thread. And no I do not accept your theory that the participation rate drop is caused by boomers retiring.

[FOX_PARROTS_LIE]

Labor force projections to 2014: retiring boomers

The baby boomers' exit from the prime-aged workforce and their movement into older age groups will lower the overall labor force participation rate, leading to a slowdown in the growth of the labor force

http://www.cse.sc.edu/~buell/References/BureauLaborStatistics/art3full2014.pdf

[sandy 1027]

Rand Paul cannot win a presidential election.He came on the national scene by saying that he isn't sure that the Civil Rights Act was Constitutionally correct in mandating that private businesses ( hotels, restaurants, etc.) serve people of color.He also doesn't think that there should be an automatic citizenship or birthright for the children of people who are here illegally, which is also Constitutionally- mandated.These are just a couple of issues in which he is out of the mainstream.I am an independent, but I think that we need two strong and viable political parties that offer the best of both worlds in good candidates and policies.For the GOP to begin to gravitate towards someone who would be a very polarizing figure would be reminiscent of the 2012 primary season, which looked like a circus on the Republican side.

[bobw101]

Libertarians argue on the basis of individual rights (property) that they have the right to refuse service to who they please. That's part of living in a free society.

Of advanced economies, Canada and the United States are the only countries that grant automatic citizenship to children born to illegal aliens.

[cubscout09]

"We find these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal..."

Bob you seem to be very confused.

[GOP-R--Con-Men]

"Life isn't fair but government should be"

Ann Richards Former Texas Governor and Democrat

[FOX_PARROTS_LIE]

CESSPOOL says:
"focusing like a laser on the economy over the last twelve months..........After four years of dem control in D.C."



Considering that DESPITE the Grand Obstructionist Party doing everything they possibly could do to slow economic growth and slow job creation, we saw over 2.2 million private-sector jobs created in 2012 -- more than was created in 7 out of 8 years of bushworld!

As a matter of fact, we just saw almost 250,000 private-sector jobs created just last month -- more than in 94 out of 96 months of bushworld!

Apparently you didn't get the memo 'cesspool,' but party control in D.C. is highly-overrated today, with RECORD GOP Senate filibusters blocking all legislation since 2006, and a tea potty House that only has a need to pass legislation repealing the PPACA and denying women's health care!

Nice try though, but next time, stick with the facts and not fox propaganda!

[FOX_PARROTS_LIE]

You do remind me like so many other conservatrolls, that the GOP today is Pale, Male, and Stale, telling their Tall Tales!

[bobw101]

House Hold Survey Employment:

BUSH FIRST TERM:
135,999,000 - JAN 2001 Participation Rate 67.3%
140,241,000 - JAN 2005 + 4,242,000 Participation Rate 65.8%

BUSH SECOND TERM:
142,099,000 - JAN 2009 + 1,858,000 Participation Rate 65.5%

OBAMA FIRST TERM:
142,099,000 - JAN 2009
143,322,000 - JAN 2013 + 1,223,000 Participation Rate 63.5 %

[FOX_PARROTS_LIE]

Rand Paul wins CPAC straw poll



Interesting that the ultra-conservative wing of the GOP has picked a libertarian like his old man ron -- an isolationist willing to cut defense to the bone, end foreign aid to Israel, and calling for a more 'tolerant' GOP and working to soften the stance of his party on social issues.


Rand Paul calls for more 'tolerant' GOP

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/03/13/rand-paul-calls-for-more-tolerant-gop/

[FOX_PARROTS_LIE]

In an interview with National Review Online Tuesday, Paul suggested taking marriage out of the tax code, so that gay couples are not treated differently from straight ones.

I would imagine this would be upsetting to many social conservatives!