The Budding Rand Paul–Bob McDonnell Flame War

Gov. Bob McDonnell (R-Va.).Andrew Shurtleff/ZumaPress.com

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On Saturday, Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) signed into law a sweeping transportation funding bill that lowers the state gas tax, raises the sales tax, and ultimately aims to bring in $1 billion a year in new funding. It was, as Politico‘s Alex Burns wrote, just the kind of signature accomplishment McDonnell had been looking for as he prepares to leave office next January.

But for allies of Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, McDonnell’s possible 2016 presidential rival, the transportation bill is something else entirely: disqualifying. Here’s a fundraising email blasted out on Monday by the Campaign for Liberty, the organization chaired by former Rep. Ron Paul (Rand’s father) and actively supported by the senator:

As the Chairman of the Republican Governors Association, Bob “Tax Hike” McDonnell’s sellout has ramifications for EVERY man, woman and child in America.

It’s no secret Bob McDonnell has ambitions to run for President.

Needless to say, after this massive tax hike on Virginia citizens – and cave in on ObamaCare – a dog catcher with a record like this is the last thing we need, let alone a President.

And here’s a piece Campaign for Liberty president John Tate published at Business Insider on Wednesday:

Business Insider

The good news for McDonnell, anyway, is that he’s finally being associated with something other than transvaginal ultrasounds.

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BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things they don’t like—which is most things that are true.

No one gets to tell Mother Jones what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. Please help with a donation today if you can—even a few bucks will make a real difference. A monthly gift would be incredible.

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