Thank God for Sharron Angle. Sharron Angle? You know, the GOP Senate candidate in Nevada running against Harry Reid. Because of her ridiculous gaffes, ideas and missteps, she is doing a great job diverting national attention away from our own GOP Senate candidate, Rand Paul. So, I say Thank God for Sharron Angle. At least for a little while Kentucky is spared the humiliation of having the national spotlight on some of the ridiculous statements and ideas of our GOP candidate.

We are less than 100 days from the election so let's take a look at some of Rand Paul's positions. First of all, let's just forget that he is clueless about some of the areas of the state he wants to represent, as evidenced by his recent statements to a reporter travelling with him to an event in Harlan.

When asked by the reporter what Harlan is famous for, he answered, "I don't know." He noted that the town of Hazard was nearby, "It's famous for, like, The Dukes of Hazzard." Well, not only did the TV show not have a thing to do with Hazard, Kentucky, but apparently Dr. Paul is totally unaware that Harlan is famous for its coal wars, which was the impetus for the creation of the National Labor Relations Act of 1935. A pretty major piece of history, really-one that still has an effect on Americans today and especially many in Eastern Kentucky. But never mind that. Oh, and let's disregard the fact that his lack of knowledge also extends to matters of policy. As he continued to attack federal farm subsidies when he spoke to an audience in Louisville recently, he claimed that three agriculture companies have received $3 billion in aid. "It is really galling to people that three companies in the US. got a billion dollars," he said. Actually, the "companies" are all cooperatives owned by thousands of farmers and the $3 billion was paid out over a 15-year period.

Now, let's get to Rand Paul's platform. But wait; let's also set aside his stand on the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In at least three different interviews, first with the Courier Journal then NPR and finally on the Rachel Maddow Show less than 24 hours after he won the primary, he made clear that he doesn't believe the federal government should play a role in prohibiting discrimination in private enterprise.

"If you decide that restaurants are publicly owned and not privately owned, then do you say that you should have the right to bring your gun into a restaurant even though the owner of the restaurant says, 'Well, no, we don't want to have guns in here... because people might drink & start fighting and shoot each other'? Does the owner of his restaurant own his restaurant? Or does the government own his restaurant?"

Following this logic, he must oppose the Americans with Disabilities Act, as well.

(Isn't it odd that Jeb Bush, son of the man who signed that bill into law presided over a fundraiser for Rand Paul on the 20th anniversary of said bill? But I digress...) Based upon his principles, then he must necessarily oppose the minimum wage, the Clean Air & Clean Water Act, Childlabor laws, Workplace Safety Regulations and OSHA because of the undue burdens they place on private industry, and, don't forget Social Security- that would most definitely have to go. But, we are going to overlook all this because, after all, he did proclaim (after a thorough spanking by the Republican Powers-That- Be, they were nearly trampling each other in their haste to distance themselves from him) that he would not support the repeal of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. And, by golly, that's good enough for me.

Now, let's get to his positions... but wait, is there really anything left if we forget all that? No problem, let's just see what Sharron Angle is up to today.