General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsRand Paul has threatened to quit politics -- Help to Write his Resignation Speech for Him...
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/11/06/1253583/-Sen-Rand-Paul-on-plagiarism-Do-I-have-to-be-in-detention-the-rest-of-my-career#
Resignation speech fodder here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AFI%27s_100_Years...100_Movie_Quotes
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
JoePhilly
(27,787 posts)Dyedinthewoolliberal
(15,574 posts)eom
magical thyme
(14,881 posts)no point in trying to be original, here, eh?
LisaLynne
(14,554 posts)Scuba
(53,475 posts)should start a petition asking him to quit.
Ian David
(69,059 posts)But this is my hill. And these are my beans!
And I'm not quitting. It's not over!
Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!
And it ain't over now. 'Cause when the goin' gets tough... The tough get goin'! Who's with me? Let's go!
BillStein
(758 posts)following "It's not over" randy would add "...until it's over"
other than that
MyOwnPeace
(16,926 posts)You didn't cite your source!
kydo
(2,679 posts)"You don't understand! I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I could've been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am."
Ganja Ninja
(15,953 posts)What an absolutely beautiful day it is, and it is my honor to speak to all Alaskans, to our Alaskan family this last time as your governor. And it is always great to be in Fairbanks. The rugged rugged hardy people that live up here and some of the most patriotic people whom you will ever know live here, and one thing that you are known for is your steadfast support of our military community up here and I thank you for that and thank you United States military for protecting the greatest nation on Earth. Together we stand.
And getting up here I say it is the best road trip in America soaring through nature's finest show. Denali, the great one, soaring under the midnight sun. And then the extremes. In the winter time it's the frozen road that is competing with the view of ice fogged frigid beauty, the cold though, doesn't it split the Cheechakos from the Sourdoughs? And then in the summertime such extreme summertime about a hundred and fifty degrees hotter than just some months ago, than just some months from now, with fireweed blooming along the frost heaves and merciless rivers that are rushing and carving and reminding us that here, Mother Nature wins. It is as throughout all Alaska that big wild good life teeming along the road that is north to the future. That is what we get to see every day. Now what the rest of America gets to see along with us is in this last frontier there is hope and opportunity and there is country pride.
And it is our men and women in uniform securing it, and we are facing tough challenges in America with some seeming to just be Hell bent maybe on tearing down our nation, perpetuating some pessimism, and suggesting American apologetics, suggesting perhaps that our best days were yesterdays. But as other people have asked, "How can that pessimism be, when proof of our greatness, our pride today is that we produce the great proud volunteers who sacrifice everything for country?" Now this week alone, Sean Parnell and I we're on the, um, on Ft. Rich the base there, the army chapel, and we heard the last roll call, and the sounding of Taps for three very brave, very young Alaskan soldiers who just gave their all for all of us. Together we do stand with gratitude for our troops who protect all of our cherished freedoms, including our freedom of speech which, par for the course, I'm going to exercise.
And first, some straight talk for some, just some in the media because another right protected for all of us is freedom of the press, and you all have such important jobs reporting facts and informing the electorate, and exerting power to influence. You represent what could and should be a respected honest profession that could and should be the cornerstone of our democracy. Democracy depends on you, and that is why, that's why our troops are willing to die for you. So, how 'bout in honor of the American soldier, ya quite makin' things up. And don't underestimate the wisdom of the people, and one other thing for the media, our new governor has a very nice family too, so leave his kids alone.
OK, today is a beautiful day and today as we swear in Sean Parnell, no one will be happier than I to witness by God's grace Alaskans with strength of character advancing our beloved state. Sean has that. Craig Campbell has that. I remember on that December day, we took the oath to uphold our state constitution, and it was written right here in Fairbanks by very wise pioneers. We shared the vision for government that they ground in that document. Our founders wrote "all political power is inherent in the people. All government originates with the people. It's founded upon their will only and it's instituted for the good of the people as a whole." Their remarkably succinct words guided us in all of our efforts in serving you and putting you first, and we have done our best to fulfill promises that I made on Alaska Day, 2005, when I first asked for the honor of serving you.
Remember then, our state so desired and so deserved ethics reform. We promised it, and now it is the law. Ironically, it needs additional reform to stop blatant abuse from partisan operatives, and I hope the lawmakers will continue that reform. We promised that you would finally see a fair return on your Alaskan owned natural resources so we build a new oil and gas appraisal system, an is an equitable formula to usher in a new era of competition and transparency and protection for Alaskans and the producers. ACES incentivizes new exploration and it's the exploration that is our future. It opens up oil basins and it ensures that the people will never be taken advantage of again. Don't forget Alaskans you are the resource owners per our constitution and that's why for instance last year when oil prices soared and state coffers swelled, but you were smacked with high energy prices, we sent you the energy rebate. See, it's your money and I've always believed that you know how to better spend it than government can spend it.
I promised that we would protect this beautiful environment while safely and ethically developing resources, and we did. We built the Petroleum Oversight Office and a sub-cabinet to study climate conditions. And I promised I'd govern with fiscal restraint, so to not immorally burden futre generations. And we did...we slowed the rate of government growth and I vetoed hundreds of millions of dollars of excess and wtih lawmakers we saved billions for the future.
I promsed that we'd lead the charge to forward funding education, and hold schools accountable, and improve opportunities for special needs students and elevate vo-tech training and we paid down pension debt.
I promised that we would manage our fish and wildlife for abundance, and that we would defend the constitution, and we have, though outside special interest groups they still just don't get it on this one. Let me tell you, Alaskans really need to stick together on this with new leadership in this area especially, encouraging new leadership... got to stiffen your spine to do what's right for Alaska when the pressure mounts, because you're going to see anti-hunting, anti-second amendment circuses from Hollywood and here's how they do it. They use these delicate, tiny, very talented celebrity starlets, they use Alaska as a fundraising tool for their anti-second amendment causes. Stand strong, and remind them patriots will protect our guaranteed, individual right to bear arms, and by the way, Hollywood needs to know, we eat, therefore we hunt.
I promised energy solutions and we have, we have a plan calling for 50% of our electricity generated by renewable resources and we can now insist that those who hold the leases to develop our resources that they do so now on Alaska's terms. So now finally after decades of just talk, finally we're seeing oil and gas drilling up there at Point Thompson. And I promised that we would get a natural gas pipeline underway and we did. Since I was a little kid growing up here, I remember the discussions, especially the political discussions just talking about and hoping for and dreaming of commercializing our clean, abundant, needed natural gas.
Our gas line inducement act, AGIA, that was the game-changer and this is thanks to our outstanding gas line team, and the legislature adopting this law, 58-1. They knew, they know AGIA is the vehicle to drive this monumental energy project and bring everyone to the table, this bipartisan victory, it came from Alaskans working together with free market private sector principles, and now we are on the road to the largest private-sector energy project in the history of America. It is for Alaska's future, it is for America's energy independence and it will make us a more peaceful, prosperous and secure nation.
What I promised, we accomplished. "We" meaning state staff, amazing commissioners, great staff assisting them, and conscientious Alaskans outside the bureaucracy - Tom Van Flein, and Meg Stapleton and Kristan Cole, so many others, many volunteers who just stepped up to the challenge as good Alaskans, but nothing, nothing could have succeeded without my right-hand man Kris Perry. She is the sharpest, boldest, hardest-working partner. Kris is my right-hand man and much success is due to Kris.
So much success, and Alaska there is much good in store further down the road, but to reach it we must value and live the optimistic pioneering spirit that made this state proud and free, and we can resist enslavement to big central government that crushes hope and opportunity. Be wary of accepting government largess. It doesn't come free and often, accepting it takes away everything that is free, melting into Washington's powerful "care-taking" arms will just suck incentive to work hard and chart our own course right out of us, and that not only contributes to an unstable economy and dizzying national debt, but it does make us less free.
I resisted the stimulus package. I resisted the stimulus package and we have championed earmark reform, slashing earmark requests by 85% to break the cycle of dependency on a stifling, unsustainable federal agenda, and other states should follow this for their and for America's stability. We don't have to feel that we must beg an allowance from Washington, except to beg the allowance to be self-determined. See, to be self-sufficient, Alaska must be allowed to develop - to drill and build and climb, to fulfill statehood's promise. At statehood we knew this. At statehood we knew this, that we are responsible for ourselves and our families and our future, and fifty years later, please let's not start believing that government is the answer. It can't make you happy or healthy or wealthy or wise. What can? It is the wisdom of the people and our families and our small businesses, and industrious individuals, and it is God's grace, helping those who help themselves, and then this allows that very generous voluntary hand up that we're known for, enthusiastically providing those who need it.
Alaskans will remember that years ago, remember we sported the old bumper sticker that said, "Alaska. We Don't Give a Darn How They Do It Outside?" Do you remember that? I remember that, and remember it was because we would be different. We'd roll up our sleeves, and we would diligently sow and reap, and we can still do this to carve wealth out of the wilderness and make our living on the water, with strong hands and innovative minds, now with smarter technology. It is what our first people and our parents did. It worked, because they worked. We must be prudent and persistent and press for the people's right to responsibly develop God-given resources for the maximum benefit of the people.
And we have come so far in just 50 years. We're no longer a frontier outpost on the periphery of the world's greatest nation. Now, as a contributor and a securer of America, we can attain our destiny in the promise of our motto "North to the Future." See, the pressing issue of our time, it's energy independence, because there is an inherent link between energy and security, and energy and prosperity. Alaska will lead with energy, we will prove you can be both pro-development and pro-environment, because no one loves their clean air and their land and their wildlife and their water more than an Alaskan. We will protect it.
Yes, America must look north to the future for security, for energy independence, for our strategic location on the globe. Alaska is the gate-keeper of the continent.
So, we are here today at a changing of the guard. Now, people who know me, and they know how much I love this state, some still are choosing not to hear why I made the decision to chart a new course to advance the state. And it should be so obvious to you. (indicating heckler) It is because I love Alaska this much, sir (at heckler) that I feel it is my duty to avoid the unproductive, typical, politics as usual, lame duck session in one's last year in office. How does that benefit you? No, with this decision now, I will be able to fight even harder for you, for what is right, for truth. And I have never felt like you need a title to do that.
So, as we all move forward together, let's vow to keep championing Alaska, to advocate responsible development, and smaller government, and freedom, and when I took the oath to serve you, I promised...remember I promised to steadfastly and doggedly guard the interests of this great state like that grizzly guards her cubs, as a mother naturally guards her own. And I will keep that vow wherever the road may lead. Todd and I, and Track, Bristol, Tripp, Willow, Piper, Trig...I think I got 'em all. We will forever be so grateful for the honor of our lifetime to have served you. Our whole big diverse full and fun family, we all thank you and I am very very blessed to have had their support all along, for Todd's support. I am thankful too. I have been blessed to have been raised in this last frontier. Thank you for our home, Mom and Dad, because in Alaska it is not an easy living, but it is a good living, and here it is impossible to lose your way. Wherever the road may lead you, we have that steadying great north star to guide us home.
So let's all enjoy the ride, and I thank you Alaska, and God bless Alaska and God bless America.
The Second Stone
(2,900 posts)But I wasn't going to post the whole thing, which might be a copyright violation.
Ganja Ninja
(15,953 posts)If you start trying to leave out the gibberish, insane ramblings and superficial patriotism there's not much left but "What a beautiful day."
LonePirate
(13,420 posts)Those words could go from one moronic RWNJ to another.
LisaLynne
(14,554 posts)freshwest
(53,661 posts)hatrack
(59,585 posts)Thanks.
City Lights
(25,171 posts)randome
(34,845 posts)[hr][font color="blue"][center]There is nothing you can't do if you put your mind to it.
Nothing.[/center][/font][hr]
myrna minx
(22,772 posts)Horror! Horror has a face, and you must make a friend of horror. Horror and moral terror are your friends. If they are not, then they are enemies to be feared. They are truly enemies. Look, I ain't in this for your revolution, and I'm not in it for you, princess. I expect to be well paid. I'm in it for the money. After all, it's grease lighting! D'oh.
KurtNYC
(14,549 posts)(The farce is strong with this one.)
Myrina
(12,296 posts)ecstatic
(32,703 posts)Nation.
In the past few days, however, it has become evident to me that I no longer have a strong enough political base in the Congress to justify continuing that effort.
I would have preferred to carry through to the finish-- whatever the personal agony it would have involved, and my family unanimously urged me to do so. But the interest of the Nation must always come before any personal considerations.
From the discussions I have had with Congressional Rush Limbaugh and other leaders, I have concluded that because of the Watergate plagiarism matter I might not have the support of the Congress that I would consider necessary to back the very difficult decisions and carry out the duties of this office in the way the interests of the Nation would require one-issue and/or clueless Libertarians in 2016.
I have never been a quitter. To leave office before my term is completed is abhorrent to every instinct in my body. But as President a junior senator who was elected solely based on my father's reputation, I must put the interest of America first.
Therefore, I shall resign the Presidency my senate seat, as well as any delusions I had about becoming President of the United States, effective at noon tomorrow.
FSogol
(45,484 posts)magical thyme
(14,881 posts)louis-t
(23,295 posts)stevenleser
(32,886 posts)gopiscrap
(23,760 posts)Tommy_Carcetti
(43,182 posts)Doesn't Ayn Rand's literature boil down to little more than rich, entitled crybabies who don't get their way, so they take their ball and go home?
2naSalit
(86,604 posts)so they take a solid whack at everyone on the field with the bat making contact with many innocent by-standers, take their ball and go home!
ananda
(28,859 posts)... (God): to find any sense in any
copyright law on the planet.
JHB
(37,160 posts)magical thyme
(14,881 posts)Last edited Thu Nov 7, 2013, 02:50 PM - Edit history (1)
this one has to win the thread. Plagiarizing Ayn herself!
KurtNYC
(14,549 posts)Laelth
(32,017 posts)Nevertheless, I hope he seriously considers abandoning politics.
-Laelth
DreamGypsy
(2,252 posts)librechik
(30,674 posts)I'm afraid that would recquire tar and feathers at the least. Not gonna happen. Nice dream, tho.
Coyotl
(15,262 posts)AndyA
(16,993 posts)Well, not an idiot, but completely insane. Crazy. Crazy people shouldn't be making decisions for others, because we can't even make sound decisions for ourselves. So, I'm announcing my resignation so that I may spend more time with my family and go back to my private practice as a brain surgeon--err--general practitioner--um--dermatologist--or whatever I'm supposed to be."
Buddha_of_Wisdom
(373 posts)What do I care...
grantcart
(53,061 posts)SoCalDem
(103,856 posts)bmbmd
(3,088 posts)Except this chair.
myrna minx
(22,772 posts)freshwest
(53,661 posts)Oh, I forgot, he's an Ayn Rand groupie. He'd push grandma to take his place at the guillotine. As there is not one drop of love or self-sacrifice within him.
Blue Owl
(50,362 posts)n/t
LibGranny
(711 posts)another non-politician, like Nixon or Edwards, or better yet, Weiner! LOL
Myrina
(12,296 posts)... he just plays one when he wants a title to throw around.
Paper Roses
(7,473 posts)Dopers_Greed
(2,640 posts)Take a high-paying job lobbying for the Hair Club for Men.
Botany
(70,504 posts)Old senators never die; they just fade away. And like the old senator of that ballad, I now close my senate career and just fade away, an old senator who tried to do his duty as God gave him the light to see that duty.
11 Bravo
(23,926 posts)Lifelong Dem
(344 posts)MissMillie
(38,556 posts)I regret deeply any injuries that may have been done in the course of the events that led to this decision. I would say only that if some of my Judgments were wrong, and some were wrong, they were made in what I believed at the time to be the best interest of the Nation.
To those who have stood with me during these past difficult months, to my family, my friends, to many others who joined in supporting my cause because they believed it was right, I will be eternally grateful for your support.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/character/links/nixon_speech.html
fredamae
(4,458 posts)to help fund the U-Haul and moving boxes
JimboBillyBubbaBob
(1,389 posts)ask what you can do for your country..."
Well, since you asked RP, "Go Away!!!"
DallasNE
(7,403 posts)And your shorter response allowed you to beat me to it. Like minds and all of that...
JimboBillyBubbaBob
(1,389 posts)Thanks!
DallasNE
(7,403 posts)Members of my family are not too interested in politics. That is why my father is second to only Harold Stassen in the number of times running for President and why I have contemplated running myself. It is a family entitlement. So just let me conclude by saying ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country and for me that will be to return to my medical practice.
ReRe
(10,597 posts)... you've lost at politics. Go back to your family while you still have them.
.....Write your footnoted resignation letter and leave!
Katashi_itto
(10,175 posts)Fuddnik
(8,846 posts)Sarah Palin quit too. Look at how beloved she is by her followers now.
You can even get a job as a "news journalist" at Faux News, and make way more money than you could being a doctor.
KamaAina
(78,249 posts)graywarrior
(59,440 posts)KurtNYC
(14,549 posts)Ichingcarpenter
(36,988 posts)Paul is dead .... I just played his speeches backwards and they made more sense than when I played them forward.
Pretzel_Warrior
(8,361 posts)But then you knew that, didn't you?
http://jobsearchtech.about.com/od/resumesandletters/a/ResignCircumsta.htm
It is with reluctance that Im submitting this letter. Although my time with (company name) has been, on the whole, satisfying and productive, for quite a while now I have become less and less satisfied with the work situation. The direction of the company, the group in which I work, and the new targets and the methods of accomplishing them are making it increasingly difficult for me to feel that Im contributing sufficiently....
MyNameGoesHere
(7,638 posts)Left Coast2020
(2,397 posts)Start packing.
Wounded Bear
(58,653 posts)Erose999
(5,624 posts)Major Hogwash
(17,656 posts). . oh forget it, it's just too easy. It just takes 2 mouse clicks, *click click* and then cut & paste, why did I even think I could write speeches that have original thoughts? This speechifying stuff is hard!
libodem
(19,288 posts)And I must get off the government dole as I don't believe in taking money for doing nothing or less than nothing, I'm sorry for my treason and seditious hatred of any regulations that would hinder naked capitalism against the ideals of Democracy. I'm sorry that I'm a fucking fascist, as I love money more than liberty, I want to see the marriage of the state to corporate interests and send the kids in this country to private prisons of profit or see them hamstrung by student debt for a lifetime, or sent to war to have their limbs shot off. Because, FFS, we don't want anyone freeloading off the government for a job. Oh, yeah that's right, I must quit so that I don't freeload off the government and have free healthcare, for obstructing the peoples' business and trying to destroy the operating proceedings of the legislative body of the USA. I admit I'm a fucking idiot who would still see the government shutdown, and the US default on it's debts, so that this country would fall into anarchy and could only be saved by Religion and Corporations and the wealthy. The rest of the country can go to Hell or private prison where they may as well make SOMEBODY some money. And, money, money, money,..
malaise
(268,994 posts)What about plagiarism does he not understand? He used other people's work and not once either. Fucking go you self indulgent, entitled prick!! Go!!!
Sunlei
(22,651 posts)money rewards from 'the book'? If he quit today he sure won't be missed.
Jamaal510
(10,893 posts)he was less detrimental to his country and to society.
Tarheel_Dem
(31,234 posts)Beacool
(30,247 posts)He should have continued practicing medicine. One less Bagger in Congress.
applegrove
(118,651 posts)"Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury
Signifying nothing." Randbeth (Act 5, Scene 5, lines 17-28)
madokie
(51,076 posts)Don't let the door hit you in your ass
Skittles
(153,160 posts)hit the bricks, pal
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)"You don't understand! I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I could've been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am."[2]