Bill Maher is an ass. I agree with Rand Paul's position but I would also like it if Bill Maher would just shut up.

A recognition that there is a difference between Isolationism and non-intervention is essential.

I find the ad hominem direction of the discussion disturbing. I disagree with Maher most of the time, but I agree with him about Rand Paul and atheism. At least he has seen this much light. Who knows, maybe Maher will see more light later and join us.

Such comments from someone as obviously progressive as Bill Maher because he's always reaching for his younger audience just serves to tell us how important Rand Paul is becoming within that demographic. Yea for liberty.

Right you are. In America our government does it the right way. It STEALS money from its taxpayers and uses it to prop up failing industries. I suspect Mr. Maher would think it proper but I don't know for sure as I pay very little attention to him.

Can't agree.
When an avowed Socialist like Bill supports it, I look at why and usually avoid it.

The vast majority of our engagements around the world are for three things:
1) To prevent some Socialist or other type of dictator from "nationalizing" some industry - NOT buying them out, NOT asking them to leave, but simply STEALING it. We let that happen and the freedom our country has to do business around the world and the subsequent increase in our standard of living here in the states will drop precipitously as other nations follow suit due to our paper tiger responses.

2) We also get involved if our allies, economically intertwined in our interests, have similar problems, supporting them.

3) We then rebuild enough to prevent the same thing happening again. HOWEVER, if the Pauls mean to say we should stop doing all the other stuff we do...then I utterly agree. If it is not in the USA's interests, if it does not help us compete, then let's not do it.

No one told all the other nations to stop competing and they have no Pauls demanding that THEY stop competing in the world economically or otherwise.

Why would we stop?
Saying we must sacrifice freedom for our world involvement is simplistic, though true.

If we stop competing; if we stop delaying the conquering of Islam of their neighbors and their annexation of sections of countries (Chechnya as an obvious example), if we step out of the way of Socialists and Communists and stop impeding them, then, yes, the world would treat us nicer and we wouldn't need much of the security traded for our freedoms we now have.

We might not change our minds to put security first for decades, when they finally reach our shores with far greater resources at their disposal that we abandoned.

Not a good trade.
Foresight is an essential trait in a leader.
The Rands don't have it.

That's about the only sensible thing Bill Maher has said in a long time. I did not know foreign policy was that important to him. Would he really put it above domestic policy? After all: Rand Paul would stand the government down from almost everything it does today.

Bill Maher fits e.e. cummings' definition of a politician:
"a politician is an ass upon which everyone has sat except a man."

No Paul will ever get the nod from the GOP. Oh...I'd vote for him in a heartbeat. But, instead, they'll push forward some beltway guy, a deranged veteran or some fat guy with a big mouth.

He will bow as all will. His choice and maybe just maybe someone will convince him Yahushua is coming. As I said all will bow.