There are a lot of reasons that people hate politicians, but one of them is that they so frequently do things not because they have any intrinsic merit but simply to score cheap political points. For example, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky is introducing amendments to the immigration bill that he hopes will make him look better than Marco Rubio to the Republican base should they wind up squaring off against each other for the 2016 presidential nomination. These amendments have no chance of passing, and if they did pass they would scuttle the bill. One amendment would “eliminate the pathway to citizenship for 11 million illegal immigrants and lift the caps on guest workers.” Another “would give Congress — and not Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano — ultimate authority on deciding when the southern border is secure.”
Robert Haus, an Iowa-based Republican strategist who worked for Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s (R) 2012 presidential campaign, said Paul’s amendment would give him a political edge.
“Yes, I think it probably does. Whether or not that early advantage holds sway remains to be seen,” Haus said.
“It at least gives him a calling card and talking point to start some of that early work. I don’t know how it functionally works to have Congress certify. Congress can barely tie its own shoelaces.”
Think about what Mr. Haus is saying. He’s saying that Paul’s idea is the dumbest idea ever, but it will probably give him a leg-up with Iowa’s Republican caucus-goers because they are predominately morons.