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As soon as the Senate received the lone article of impeachment accusing President Donald Trump of incitement of insurrection in the Jan. 6 mob assault on the Capitol, Rand Paul rose to object.

The Senate, he said, has no right to try a private citizen, which Trump now is. Thus, what we are about to do is flatly unconstitutional.

Forty-five of 50 Republican members agreed with Pauls motion.

This vote indicates its over. The trial is all over, said Paul. If you voted that (the Senate trial is) unconstitutional, how in the world would you ever vote to convict somebody for this?

Consistency says you would not.Max Beauty Autunm Wint...Buy New $10.99(as of 03:23 EST - Details)

Susan Collins of Maine, one of five Republicans who voted against Pauls motion, agreed that the vote portends the final vote on conviction.

Do the math, Collins said. Its extraordinarily unlikely the president will be convicted.

Rand Paul may have just derailed the second impeachment of Donald Trump.

Chief Justice John Roberts, the constitutional officer designated to preside over Senate impeachment trials, has said he will not preside over this latest trial of the ex-president. With Roberts seeing no constitutional duty, and declining the honor, his replacement as the presiding officer will be Patrick Leahy of Vermont, the longest-serving Democrat and the president pro tempore of the Senate.

But Leahy is viscerally hostile to Trump and one of a Democratic bloc that voted twice last January to convict Trump of high crimes and misdemeanors. How will it look to the world if this partisan is installed as both judge and juror at the trial of his political enemy?

Welcome to Zimbabwe.

Does the liberal establishment, now back in power and controlling the House, Senate and presidency, not see how this is all going to look in the history books, generations hence?

Blinded by hatred of Trump, enraged by the mob that stormed the Capitol, Nancy Pelosis House, in a rush to judgment, without hearing a single Trump witness and without letting his lawyer offer a defense, impeached, i.e., indicted, Donald Trump for incitement of insurrection.

But how could Trump have incited the riot and the attack on the Capitol when the mob swept up the stairs before Trump finished speaking a mile away? And he would end his rally remarks by urging the crowd to march to the Hill peacefully and patriotically.

We have subsequently learned that plans and plots were being hatched days before the assault on the Capitol began.

Was the Trump White House, or Trump, privy to those plots?

In August 1974, it was a near certainty that the House would vote to impeach Richard Nixon. But after the president resigned, the House did not impeach, and Ford pardoned Nixon so the country could move on.

The rage of the establishment at being deprived of its revenge against Nixon who had turned the Silent Majority against it, not unlike today, knew no bounds. And, though history has vindicated Ford, his pardon of Nixon precipitated a plunge in his poll numbers.NOVICA Blue Floral Kni...Buy New $154.00(as of 03:23 EST - Details)

Half a century on, however, history says Ford did the right thing.

Why then are the Democrats continuing with this exercise in vengeance?

They want Trump convicted so that he will be prohibited from ever again holding public office. The establishment fears that Trump could make a comeback, win the Republican primaries in 2024, become the nominee, and return in triumph as president.

They are determined to abort that possibility. Many openly admit it.

What does that say about the liberal establishments love of democracy when they would disqualify, in advance, the largest vote-getter their opposition party ever had, out of fear he might come back to win the presidency as he did in 2016?

Trust the people! was a campaign slogan made famous by George Wallace. Our national establishment prattles endlessly on about its devotion to democracy, but it does not trust the people.

But the establishment is going to pay a price for trying to squeeze the last ounces of juice out of this rotting fruit. President Joe Bidens call to unity are being drowned out by Democratic howls for a trial, conviction and banishment.

This effort to convict and disqualify Trump from running again tells us more about the people behind it than it does about Trump.

For the odds are slim at best that Trump would or could, at 78, win the nomination and the presidency a second time, as Grover Cleveland did in 1892.

Yet, a fearful establishment does not want to take the chance.

For all the babbling about democracy we have heard in recent days, the establishment wants to eliminate the possibility that the people could rise up, and, horror of horrors, elect Trump once more.

You can smell the fear.

The Best of Patrick J. Buchanan

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Is the Establishment Still Terrified of Trump? - LewRockwell

This week's Republican primary in Ohio's congressional special election was a relatively crowded affair. Given the partisan leanings of the state's 15th district, locals realized that the winner of the GOP nomination would inevitably end up in Congress, and so plenty of candidates competed for the prize.

Not surprisingly, with nearly a dozen Republicans on the ballot, different candidates lined up support from different allies: Donald Trump backed former coal lobbyist Mike Carey; former Rep. Steve Stivers supported state Rep. Jeff LaRe; Sen. Rand Paul rallied behind state Rep. Ron Hood; while Debbie Meadows, a conservative activist who's married to former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, stood behind local church leader Ruth Edmonds.

At first blush, this wouldn't have seemed especially notable. But just below the surface, there was a problem: Donald Trump didn't want different GOP leaders endorsing different candidates; he wanted everyone to ignore their preferences and support his chosen candidate -- because he said so.

Politico reported a few weeks ago that Team Trump saw the intra-party diversity of thought as an example of "disloyalty."

The same article quoted former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski saying, "Organizations that endorse candidates against the president's endorsement do so at their own peril." He added, "[I]t will be remembered."

Evidently, he wasn't kidding. The former president issued a written statement yesterday, not only celebrating the fact that his candidate prevailed, but also calling out Rand Paul by name for daring to back his own candidate in a Republican special-election primary.

"Do you think Rand Paul will apologize for spending nearly $1 Million on another candidate in Ohio's 15th District congressional race after I had already endorsed Mike Carey? ... Rand's candidate came in a distant third out of eleven. Rand is a different kind of guy.... Do you think he learned his lesson?"

Trump didn't specify what "lesson" the Kentucky senator is supposed to have learned, but there's no great mystery here.

It's not enough to be loyal to Trump; the failed former president also expects Republicans to be loyal to those who are loyal to Trump. He gets to pick the candidates; his endorsement must be paramount; his preferences must be honored above others'. The job of other Republicans is to smile, nod, and do what the former president says they should do.

Trump's authoritarian instincts in governing are well known, but no one should forget that he brings a similar style to his role as the effective head of the contemporary Republican Party.

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Why Rand Paul is suddenly having to deal with Donald Trump's ire - MSNBC

Senator Rand Paul joined "Fox News Primetime" to weigh in on National Institutes of Health director Francis Collins' comments saying parents should wear masks at home to protect their children from COVID-19.

SENATOR RAND PAUL: How can people who are sosmart say such stupid things?There is no science to defendputting your kids in masks orparents wearing masksno science whatsoever.If there were, we would bewearing masks for years andyears because for kids, thedeath rate is about the same asthe seasonal flu.It may be less than the seasonalflu. So,is Francis Collinsproposing that because the flu iswith us forever that parentsshould be wearing masks aroundtheir kids that have the flu?It is absolutely and utterlywithout scientific evidence! Now, theyre all freaking outright now about the Deltavariant.One thing isin all likelihood trueit ismoretransmissible, significantly more transmissible, butguess what?Every bit of evidence shows that it's less deadlysignificantly less deadly.Public Health England looked at92,000 people.If you were vaccinated andunder 50, there were no deaths.If you were unvaccinated andunder 50, .08%still very, very small.So, its not an argument for notgetting vaccinated.Its an argument for not gettinghysterical over the Deltavariant.We shouldnt be changing anymandates and really, in alllikelihood, the masks didntaffect the trajectory of thevirus at all.The only thing thats slowingthe virus down is the vaccineand natural immunity and theycontinue to ignore naturalimmunity because they think weare too far behind. Wegot to vaccinate thechildren but, in reality I thinkits 90% of people over 65have been vaccinated.Thats extraordinary.We should be celebrating.

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Rand Paul hits NIH Director for mask-at-home comments: How can people who are so smart say such stupid things? - Fox News

Even as COVID-19 cases surge, the traditional start to the fall campaign season in Kentucky will go on as planned this weekend.The 141st Fancy Farm picnic will be held Saturday in Graves County. The church fundraiser always attracts politicians from across the commonwealth for "unique" political speeches, but sometimes less so on years when there are no statewide races on the ballot -- like this year. Who's opting outSome of the most powerful politicians in the state who have declined to go are Gov. Andy Beshear (D), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R) and U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R).Beshear said along with it not being an important election year for the state, he's worried it'll be a super-spreader event for COVID-19. "I don't want anybody harmed at Fancy Farm and there's the opportunity for that to happen especially these sit-down dinners that get packed or packed in. That, in an area of the state that doesn't have a high vaccine rate and maybe has a larger group of unvaccinated individuals than you'd otherwise see. It's dangerous and I don't want anybody to get hurt," he said at a news conference this week.Lt. Gov. Jaqueline Coleman won't be there either.And they're hardly the only democrats opting out. Many are taking part in a counter-event in Louisville aimed at promoting vaccines. (Scroll down to learn more about it.)McConnell and Paul said they backed out because they will be in Washington, D.C., over the weekend working on the infrastructure bill.Charles Booker (D), who will run against Paul next year, also couldn't go as his baby is due "at any moment."Who's still inCongressman James Comer (R) has already been spotted in Graves County and Kentucky's Secretary of State Michael Adams (R) is likely to be in attendance as well.Attorney General Daniel Cameron (R) told radio station WHVO he's looking forward to the event and will be bringing his pregnant wife.We've also heard Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles (R) and State Auditor Mike Harmon (R) will speak.Additional event detailsThe picnic is a fundraiser for St. Jeromes church and school.It starts at 10 a.m. and goes until 10 p.m. The political speaking starts at 2 p.m.Picnic goers can expect to eat "world famous" pork and mutton. The counter-eventMany Democrats who declined to go will attend a new counter-event called "FancyVaxx" in Louisville.The event was created with the intent to have something safer in the midst of the delta variant's rapid spread. It'll take place from noon to 2 p.m. at the IUE-CWA, 5153 Poplar Level Road.Free COVID-19 vaccines will be available, walk-ups welcome.Among speakers will be Congressman John Yarmuth (if in town), state Sen. Morgan McGarvey and Kentucky House Minority Leader Joni Jenkins, along with the majority of the Jefferson County Delegation and "most federal, state and local candidates for 2022 elections."The public can call 502-582-1999 or go to the LDP website and their Facebook page for more information.

Even as COVID-19 cases surge, the traditional start to the fall campaign season in Kentucky will go on as planned this weekend.

The 141st Fancy Farm picnic will be held Saturday in Graves County.

The church fundraiser always attracts politicians from across the commonwealth for "unique" political speeches, but sometimes less so on years when there are no statewide races on the ballot -- like this year.

Some of the most powerful politicians in the state who have declined to go are Gov. Andy Beshear (D), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R) and U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R).

Beshear said along with it not being an important election year for the state, he's worried it'll be a super-spreader event for COVID-19.

"I don't want anybody harmed at Fancy Farm and there's the opportunity for that to happen especially these sit-down dinners that get packed or packed in. That, in an area of the state that doesn't have a high vaccine rate and maybe has a larger group of unvaccinated individuals than you'd otherwise see. It's dangerous and I don't want anybody to get hurt," he said at a news conference this week.

Lt. Gov. Jaqueline Coleman won't be there either.

And they're hardly the only democrats opting out. Many are taking part in a counter-event in Louisville aimed at promoting vaccines. (Scroll down to learn more about it.)

McConnell and Paul said they backed out because they will be in Washington, D.C., over the weekend working on the infrastructure bill.

Charles Booker (D), who will run against Paul next year, also couldn't go as his baby is due "at any moment."

Congressman James Comer (R) has already been spotted in Graves County and Kentucky's Secretary of State Michael Adams (R) is likely to be in attendance as well.

Attorney General Daniel Cameron (R) told radio station WHVO he's looking forward to the event and will be bringing his pregnant wife.

We've also heard Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles (R) and State Auditor Mike Harmon (R) will speak.

The picnic is a fundraiser for St. Jeromes church and school.

It starts at 10 a.m. and goes until 10 p.m. The political speaking starts at 2 p.m.

Picnic goers can expect to eat "world famous" pork and mutton.

Many Democrats who declined to go will attend a new counter-event called "FancyVaxx" in Louisville.

The event was created with the intent to have something safer in the midst of the delta variant's rapid spread. It'll take place from noon to 2 p.m. at the IUE-CWA, 5153 Poplar Level Road.

Free COVID-19 vaccines will be available, walk-ups welcome.

Among speakers will be Congressman John Yarmuth (if in town), state Sen. Morgan McGarvey and Kentucky House Minority Leader Joni Jenkins, along with the majority of the Jefferson County Delegation and "most federal, state and local candidates for 2022 elections."

The public can call 502-582-1999 or go to the LDP website and their Facebook page for more information.

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Fancy Farm 2021: Who's going, who's not and the counter event - WLKY Louisville

Unvaccinated people who have had Covid-19 may be more than twice as likely to get infected again than those who tested positive and bolstered their natural immunity with a vaccine, according to a small study that assessed the likelihood of reinfection.

The study, published on Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, examined the risk of reinfection during May and June among hundreds of Kentucky residents who tested positive for the virus in 2020.

Those who did not get vaccinated this year faced a risk of reinfection that was 2.34 higher than those who did get their shots. Released on Friday, the study suggests that for those who had overcome an infection, the addition of a vaccine offered better protection than the natural immunity generated by their original bout with the virus alone.

Even though the study examined only a small number of people in Kentucky, it would seem to counter the argument by one of its home-state U.S. senators, Rand Paul, who has repeatedly asserted that vaccination is unnecessary for people like him who had the virus and developed immunity.

Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky, the director of the C.D.C., said the data reinforced the importance of vaccination, even for those who had already had the virus.

If you have had Covid-19 before, please still get vaccinated, Dr. Walensky said on Friday. Getting the vaccine is the best way to protect yourself and others around you, especially as the more contagious Delta variant spreads around the country.

The studys authors cautioned that much is still not known on how long natural immunity to the virus lasts and that genomic sequencing was not conducted to confirm that the reinfections were not simply flare-ups of the remains of the subjects initial infection.

The C.D.C. and the Biden administration have been aggressively campaigning to increase vaccinations in recent weeks as cases and hospitalizations have soared in the last month, largely because of the Delta variant, and especially in regions of the country where immunization rates are low.

In the last week, the number of new virus cases reported each day has averaged 100,200, as of Thursday, the first time the daily average surpassed 100,000 since mid-February, according to a New York Times database. On Friday, the country logged 106,723 new daily cases.

Another study published on Friday reported that vaccinations dramatically reduced Covid hospitalizations among the elderly in February, March and April. The study examined data on 7,280 patients from a Covid hospitalization surveillance network, using state records to look at their vaccination status. The vast majority of the hospital patients had not been vaccinated or were only partially vaccinated; only 5 percent were fully vaccinated.

Although vaccination did not entirely eliminate infections, the risk of being hospitalized was significantly lower for those who were fully vaccinated. Among those 65 to 74, the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines reduced the risk of Covid-related hospitalization by 96 percent and the Johnson & Johnson one-dose vaccine reduced hospitalizations by 84 percent. In the age group of 75 and older, the Pfizer vaccination reduced hospitalizations by 91 percent; the Moderna vaccine by 96 percent; and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine by 85 percent.

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Unvaccinated Adults Who Had Virus Face Risk of Reinfection, C.D.C. Says - The New York Times