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Tuesday, Sep 14, 2010 9:15 PM UTC

Rand Paul doesn’t understand how budgets, the Senate, math work

The Kentucky candidate promises to filibuster every unbalanced budget -- but that isn't allowed

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Topics: Rand Paul, War Room, 2010 Elections, Federal Deficit, Rand Paul vs. Jack Conway, U.S. Senate,

Rand Paul doesn't understand how budgets, the Senate, math workRepublican U.S. Senate candidate Rand Paul responds to a question during a candidate forum in Louisville, Ky., Thursday, July 22, 2010. (AP Photo/Ed Reinke)(Credit: AP)

Republicans and “moderate” “deficit hawk” Democrats have a brilliant plan to balance the out-of-control federal budget: Never raise taxes on anyone, ever again, for any reason. Also, raise the Social Security retirement age. But that’s not radical enough for rebel libertarian Rand Paul. Should Kentucky voters send Paul to the Senate, he promises not just to vote against, but to actively filibuster every budget bill that’s not balanced.

OK! Good on you, Rand. That’s true fiscal conservatism. Of course, that means you’ll have to single-handedly close a $1.3 trillion budget gap in one year. So … good luck with that one, I guess. You’ll need to get rid of like 10 Departments of Agriculture.

Oh, wait, there’s one other very small problem: Senators can’t filibuster budgets.

Paul continues to prove my theory that he’s just kind of dumb.

Alex Pareene

Alex Pareene writes about politics for Salon and is the author of "The Rude Guide to Mitt." Email him at apareene@salon.com and follow him on Twitter @pareene More Alex Pareene.

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Rand Paul is a U.S. Senator from Kentucky.

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