Rand Paul Threatens Fauci With Criminal Referral After Heated Clash - The 11th Hour - MSNBC

[Rhiannon12866]

Rand Paul is now threatening Dr. Fauci with a criminal referral after their heated clash during a Senate hearing. We discussed that and more with Ashley Parker and Sam Stein. Aired on 07/20/2021.

[CentralMass]

1. Rand Paul is clearly in the running for the biggest asshole in the Senate

Last edited Wed Jul 21, 2021, 04:33 AM - Edit history (1)

[ancianita]

2. Agree that this could gain traction as a right wing supplement to the Big Lie.

It's Trumpian bullshit to keep up fear and distrust of science and scientists, as part of the "deep state" to blame for MAGA deaths.

I like Williams' "Trumpian cultural straw man" description for Paul, who panders to the base's ignorance.
Cultural straw men are really the most commonly used dark money donors' tool in the corporate toolbox -- to hollow out government, then fill it with privatizers and racketeers.

Prosecuting some alleged evil intent of bench scientists probably won't even get investigations. Proving any chain of harm will be the legal hurdles for what looks to be a pretty weak Republican legal bench these days. Actual Wuhan lab research documents won't be forthcoming, so there's only competing expertise to line up. Last but not least, a DOJ with a full plate right now will likely sit on that referral through at least one election cycle.

[Rhiannon12866]

3. Good analysis. And I agree with Brian Williams, too.

Rand Paul is using his office to continue the Trumpian meme of dismissing and undermining truth and science. Dr. Fauci is only his convenient target - Paul just took up where TFG left off, sidelining important information - as TFG did during those insufferable Covid press conferences - to dismiss and obfuscate important medical information. He may well have an agenda.

[multigraincracker]

4. Love to see the smug taken off his mug

in a court of law.

[Javaman]

5. Snowflake

He can dish it out but can’t take it.

Just another ivory tower repuke that thinks he’s above reproach

He’s around suck ups all day and gets offended when called out on his bullshit

[Ford_Prefect]

6. A bully is a bully, is a bully...and often a whiner as well.

They can only maintain their power by escalating their threats.

They can't deal with being challenged on any level.

[JohnSJ]

7. While Fauci put Paul in his place, that harassment by Paul should have never been allowed, and

it is way past due why that is even allowed to happen

He should be shut down immediately whenever he does that sh*t

[Rhiannon12866]

8. I agree, he's always mouthing off and harassing a witness has to be against the rules

Rand Paul needs to be censured himself, we know he's done this before.

[Warpy]

9. He's right, Rand Paul was engaging in a pissing contest

and trying to score points for King Dumdum, what a good little vassal he is., trying to play"gocha." It's too bad Dr. Fauci let him have it, it might have been better had he patiently explained that some US researchers traveled to that lab to participate in coronavirus research and were funded by NIH grants BUT THE LAB WAS NOT. It's just tough to get through to an ignorant man who insists on talking over anything that doesn't echo some stupid Republican talking point.

Dr. Fauci made him look like a Pox News wannabe and a twerp, both of which he likely is.

Sen. Marshall was even funnier, in a way, with his plastic model of the coronavirus spike, asking about protein sequences and obviously having little idea beyond having skimmed a research paper that was later retracted about what they represented. Fauci was a little more patient with him (hey, this guy can read, at least) but Marshall was really peeved that his gotcha didn't work, either.

Republicans just don't know how to cut their losses and STFU.

[malthaussen]

10. Sorry, dude, "Seditious Libel" is not a thing anymore...

... I'm sure that breaks your autocratic little heart.

-- Mal

[RVN VET71]

11. I imagine a similar scene played out when Galileo sat before the Roman Inquisition

and had to field ignorant and venemous questions from pedophile cardinals who knew nothing of science but wanted to roast another free thinking scientist at the stake.

(Galileo, of course, refused to give them their sacrifice. Unlike Girodano Bruno, another brilliant scientist-philosopher of the time, he recanted and lived out his life under house arrest. Bruno refused to recant and suffered terribly in consequence.)