A rejection of Bushism

Ron and Rand Paul represent a rejection of the destructive ideals of George W. Bush.

Over the past decade, the GOP, led by liberal wolves in sheep's clothing, has badly lost its way. In the Bush Era, conservatism came to represent interventionism abroad, statism at home, an executive abusive of civil liberties, and a disdain for fiscal prudence.

All the while, Ron Paul -- a lonely opponent of the Iraq misadventure in 2003 and a devout fiscal hawk -- banged his drum on the fringe of the party. His views on Iraq particularly were so unpopular that he was once banned from speaking at CPAC.

But since Bush left the scene and the Obama administration entered, Ron and his son, Rand, became heroes of the tea party movement and grassroots conservatives nationwide.

The Pauls' message is one of individual liberty and governmental restraint, both truly conservative ideals. During his short time as Kentucky's junior senator, Rand has called for cuts to both the Pentagon budget and the tens of billions shelled out to rich allies abroad. The Pauls demonstrate a fundamental grasp of the economic calamity that America faces at home and the folly of needless intervention overseas.

George W. Bush was a conservative in name only, a liberal statist masquerading as a crusader for family values. His administration spit on the legacy of Ronald Reagan, destroyed the Republican Party and gifted the White House to the most unqualified president in American history. His inherently destructive policies threw us deep into debt, destroyed America's credibility abroad and made America less free.

It's refreshing that as Republicans attempt to escape Bush's long shadow, Ron and Rand Paul remain stalwart, unapologetic defenders of liberty.