Rand Paul: Tariffs Have Brought Down the GOP Before

Thursday, April 03, 2025

"When McKinley put tariffs on in 1890, they lost 50 percent of their seats ... When Smoot-Hawley put their tariffs In the early 1930s, we lost the House and Senate for 60 years," Sen. Rand Paul said. "So not only bad economically, they are bad politically."

Posted by qcp at 03:33 PM | 57 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry |

Alternate links: Google News | Twitter

It's comforting to know that our economy is now being driven by Howard Lutnick channeling the ghosts of Smoot & Hawley rolled out by a front man in orange makeup and high heels who bankrupted casinos.

[image or embed]
-- Ron Filipkowski (@ronfilipkowski.bsky.social) April 2, 2025 at 7:31 PM

Comments

Admin's note: Participants in this discussion must follow the site's moderation policy. Profanity will be filtered. Abusive conduct is not allowed.

No ----

#1 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2025-04-03 01:53 PM | Reply

He puts ketchup on his steak. That should have been a dead giveaway that he cannot be trusted.

#2 | Posted by Sycophant at 2025-04-03 03:36 PM | Reply | Funny: 2 | Newsworthy 1

GOP tariffs even caused a revolution and war of secession

The tariff was so unpopular in the South that it generated threats of secession

#3 | Posted by itchyp at 2025-04-03 03:42 PM | Reply

That's why the GOP was smart to hack the whole election system first this time and install a dictator.

Now it doesn't matter what the peasants think about their policies.

#4 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2025-04-03 03:55 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

GOP tariffs even caused a revolution and war of secession

The tariff was so unpopular in the South that it generated threats of secession

#3 | Posted by itchyp

Is that what trump is going to teach kids in school now? That the civil war was over trade policy?

#5 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2025-04-03 03:55 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Stellantis Pauses Canada, Mexico Plants

doh! that's gonna leave a mark.

#6 | Posted by itchyp at 2025-04-03 04:16 PM | Reply

#5
trade policy and taxes

Moreover, Lincoln's proclamations exempted a million slaves under his control from being freed (including General U.S. Grant's four slaves) and offered the South three months to return to the Union (pay 40 percent sales tax) and keep their slaves.

#7 | Posted by itchyp at 2025-04-03 04:19 PM | Reply

When Rand Paul is your voice of reason, you are seriously screwed.

#8 | Posted by morris at 2025-04-03 04:19 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

all we need now is for blue states to nullify these tariffs of abomination and secede from the union. again.

#9 | Posted by itchyp at 2025-04-03 04:26 PM | Reply

Re 7

Again. Is this sarcasm or what you actually believe to be true? So hard to tell when the world is upside down.

Defeated confederate soldiers were NOT allowed to keep their slaves. No one was given "exemptions" to the 13th amendment when all forms of indentured servitude (except in prisons) were outlawed in America. Maybe it did take some time to fully enforce ( like until the 1960s) being as how the south made sure that Reconciliation would fail.

#10 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-04-03 04:30 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

#10 | Posted by donnerboy

Know-nothings support a know-nothing president

#11 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2025-04-03 04:32 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

(including General U.S. Grant's four slaves)

U.S. Grant had freed his ONLY slave, William Jones, BEFORE the Civil War in 1859.

#12 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-04-03 04:46 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Stellantis Pauses Canada, Mexico Plants
doh! that's gonna leave a mark.

Yup... 900 US workers laid off.

#13 | Posted by REDIAL at 2025-04-03 04:55 PM | Reply

#5
trade policy and taxes

#7 | Posted by itchyp

Oh so republicans are not only going to pretend the civil war wasn't about slavery, they're going to paint the north as pro slavery in order to help slavery side look better in comparison.

#14 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2025-04-03 05:13 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

all we need now is for blue states to nullify these tariffs of abomination and secede from the union. again.

#9 | Posted by itchyp

Your whole economy would be like west virginia if they did.

#15 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2025-04-03 05:14 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

U.S. Grant had freed his ONLY slave, William Jones, BEFORE the Civil War in 1859.

#12 | Posted by donnerboy

The Formerly Enslaved Household of the Grant Family
White House Historical Association
https://www.whitehousehistory.org the-formerly-enslav...

In 1859, Grant's financial problems (worsened by a bad harvest and a national economic panic that began two years earlier) led him to relocate his wife and four children to St. Louis. At this time, Julia asserted ownership of four enslaved individuals "gifted" to her by her father: Eliza, Dan, Julia (Jule), and John.Apr 17, 2020

#16 | Posted by itchyp at 2025-04-03 05:24 PM | Reply

#12: And George Washington relentlessly pursued one female runaway slave named Ona Judge, even while he was POTUS: www.nhpr.org

#17 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2025-04-03 05:28 PM | Reply

#10 | Posted by donnerboy
Defeated confederate soldiers were NOT allowed to keep their slaves.

of course they weren't. the setting of Lincoln's offer was pre-war.

Abraham Lincoln repeatedly stated his war was caused by taxes only, and not by slavery, at all.

"My policy sought only to collect the Revenue (a 40 percent federal sales tax on imports to Southern States under the Morrill Tariff Act of 1861)." reads paragraph 5 of Lincoln's First Message to the U.S. Congress, penned July 4, 1861.

"I have no purpose, directly or in-directly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the States where it exists. I believe I have no lawful right to do so, and I have no inclination to do so," Lincoln said it his first inaugural on March 4 of the same year.

#18 | Posted by itchyp at 2025-04-03 05:30 PM | Reply

Insanity is "repeating same thing that didn't work over and over expecting a different result"

#19 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2025-04-03 05:37 PM | Reply

More from the cited article ...

... After Trump's "Liberation Day" tariffs slapped 25 percent tariffs on Canadian imports and a minimum 10 percent duty on all countries, the Kentucky senator crafted the opposition resolution with Democrat Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia.

Four Republicans, including Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, and Susan Collins of Maine, joined every Democratic senator in voting against Canadian duties.

In a 51-48 vote, they rejected Trump's declaration of a national emergency earlier this year to justify tariffs on Canadian imports. ...

#20 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-04-03 06:17 PM | Reply

@#20 ... In a 51-48 vote, they rejected Trump's declaration of a national emergency earlier this year to justify tariffs on Canadian imports. ...

Whoa, wait... what?!?!?!

Four Republicans joined all the Democrats in the Senate to vote for the bill?

Did I read that correctly?

#21 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-04-03 06:20 PM | Reply

Why didn't Biden cancel the Trump Tariffs when he had the chance?
Why'd he even make up a new set of tariffs himself?
most importantly, where was the orchestrated outrage then?

#22 | Posted by itchyp at 2025-04-03 06:24 PM | Reply

#22 | Posted by itchyp

Biden kept Trump's China tariffs ... and only on certain goods. Keep up!

#23 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2025-04-03 06:46 PM | Reply

@#23 ... Biden kept Trump's China tariffs ... and only on certain goods. ...

Yup.

... Keep up! ...

Yea, I am of two opinions here ...

Is that current alias a victim of intentional ignorance?

Or is its purpose here is merely to troll?

For the latter, I do note that the appearance of that new alias seems to correspond with a diminished participation of other trolling aliases.

But, who knows ...

#24 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-04-03 07:35 PM | Reply

Or is its purpose here is merely to troll?

#24 | Posted by LampLighter

Exactamundo!

#25 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2025-04-03 07:44 PM | Reply

Why didn't Biden cancel the Trump Tariffs when he had the chance?
Why'd he even make up a new set of tariffs himself?
most importantly, where was the orchestrated outrage then?

#22 | Posted by itchyp

Biden did it the smart way - by offering tax incentives to companies to move their factories here. Not by punishing the middle class so the rich can have a tax cut.

#26 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2025-04-03 08:00 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

@#26 ... Biden did it the smart way - by offering tax incentives to companies to move their factories here. Not by punishing the middle class so the rich can have a tax cut. ...

Bingo!

#27 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-04-03 08:06 PM | Reply

offering tax incentives to companies
vs
the rich can have a tax cut.

-They're literally the same thing

#28 | Posted by itchyp at 2025-04-03 09:26 PM | Reply

Biden finalizes increases to some of Trump's China tariffs
CNN
www.cnn.com 2024 politics china-ta...
Sep 13, 2024 " The tariff rate will go up to 100% on electric vehicles, to 50% on solar cells and to 25% on electrical vehicle batteries, critical minerals, ...

- Even as Biden was doubling up on tariffs, leftinistas still labeled "Trump's China tariffs" because TDS

#29 | Posted by itchyp at 2025-04-03 09:33 PM | Reply

#29

Still exhibiting Trump Devotion Syndrome with obfuscations for traitors.

Perhaps a horse pill would cure him?

#30 | Posted by Corky at 2025-04-03 09:40 PM | Reply

Daddysfist has TTS. Trump taint sucker.

#31 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2025-04-03 09:45 PM | Reply

@#29 ... Even as Biden was doubling up on tariffs ...

Does your current alias even read what it posts?

Fmr Pres Biden moved to target the tariffs, "some of Trump's China tariffs."

As opposed to the blanket 54% tariffs on China goods that Pres Trump has currently put into place.

Going back to a prior comment of mine, is your current alias intentionally ignorant, or just ignorant?

Trump tariffs provoke world condemnation and fears of a $2,300 iPhone
www.reuters.com

... Elsewhere, China vowed retaliation for Trump's 54% tariffs on imports from the world's No. 2 economy, as did the European Union, which faces a 20% duty. ...

#32 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-04-03 09:46 PM | Reply

@#26 ..., Biden did it the smart way - by offering tax incentives to companies to move their factories here. ...

Bingo!

Yeah, reduce the cost to relocate factories to the US.

And not place a huge regressive tax upon consumers in the US.

#33 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-04-03 09:49 PM | Reply

#32

Why Do Sea Lions Bark? - YouTube
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com Smithsonian Channel

I don't want to talk to you no more, you empty-headed animal food trough wiper. I fart in your general direction. Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries.

#34 | Posted by itchyp at 2025-04-03 09:52 PM | Reply

Biden did it the smart way - by offering tax incentives to companies to move their factories here.

This is funny, I suppose you also agreed when AOC didn't want Amazon in NYC due to the tax "incentives".

Lumpers complain about "subsidies" when they hate the company, but agree with "incentives" when "subsidies" need to sound good.

#35 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-04-03 10:02 PM | Reply

#34 | Posted by itchy

Your a child and in a cult.

Swallow it.

#36 | Posted by rstybeach11 at 2025-04-03 10:06 PM | Reply

Trump tariffs provoke world condemnation and fears of a $2,300 iPhone
www.reuters.com

This isn't how the tariffs work, its a tariff on the declared value of the good before it entered, the US not its retail value.

#37 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-04-03 10:07 PM | Reply

Eczema bitch is a ------- stupid ----.

#38 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2025-04-03 10:07 PM | Reply

#37

You're a stupid ----. Go ---- yourself, idiot.

#39 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2025-04-03 10:08 PM | Reply

And not place a huge regressive tax upon consumers in the US.

No this isn't a regressive tax, like a sales tax. The consumer can choose a US manufactured model and pay none of your fake "tax".

Just so you know some counties in CA have increased their sales tax to 11.25%, I didn't see anyone here complain about the "regressive" tax on consumers.

#40 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-04-03 10:11 PM | Reply

Just so you can understand, for an iPhone, the COGS is estimated to be around $293, while the revenue generated is about $650, resulting in a gross margin of roughly 55%.

Apple could possibly absorb the whole tariff of ~$100.00.

#41 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-04-03 10:14 PM | Reply

"I didn't see anyone here complain about the "regressive" tax on consumers."

You must have them plonked or something.
The fact that the sales tax is regressive is widely understood and occasionally preached by people who know most taxes are regressive.
People who can name taxes other than the Federal Income Tax, for example.
Social Security tax is regressive, for example. Once you make more than $168,600 in wages in 2024, your tax rate goes from 6.2% to 0%.
You'd know that, if you were interested in knowing it.

#42 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-04-03 10:15 PM | Reply

@#40 ... No this isn't a regressive tax, like a sales tax. The consumer can choose a US manufactured model and pay none of your fake "tax". ...

According to your current alias' comment, it does seem to be a regressive tax.

A regressive tax that, according to your current alias' comment, forces a consumer to make a choice that the consumer may not want to make.

#43 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-04-03 10:25 PM | Reply

@#37 ... This isn't how the tariffs work, its a tariff on the declared value of the good before it entered ...

So, your current alias admits that tariffs increase the cost of goods entering the Country?

#44 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-04-03 10:27 PM | Reply

@#36 ... Your a child and in a cult.

Swallow it. ...

Yeah, it looks like that troll farm has given up with that alias and now id presenting a different alias.

#45 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-04-03 10:29 PM | Reply

"by offering tax incentives to companies to move their factories here."

Who took advantage of them? Surely we can agree that it's only smart if it actually worked.

So ... ..who took advantage of it?

#46 | Posted by eberly at 2025-04-03 10:34 PM | Reply

@#46 ... Who took advantage of them? Surely we can agree that it's only smart if it actually worked. ...

... and why did it not work?

#47 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-04-03 10:39 PM | Reply

"Yeah, it looks like that troll farm has given up with that alias and now id presenting a different alias."

Must be a day ending in a Y.

I wonder why they are so intent on cracking our elite inner circle.

#48 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-04-03 10:51 PM | Reply

Biden did it the smart way - by offering tax incentives to companies to move their factories here.

This is funny, I suppose you also agreed when AOC didn't want Amazon in NYC due to the tax "incentives".

Lumpers complain about "subsidies" when they hate the company, but agree with "incentives" when "subsidies" need to sound good.

#35 | Posted by oneironaut

Thats funny. Then it's appropriate to LUMP you in with those morons that complain about raising taxes but applaud for tariffs which have the exact same effect.

Not only was biden's approach WORKING, it was building toward the economy of tomorrow, instead of trying to recreate the economy of the 1950s through isolationism.

But when you elect a russian puppet you get destructive policy.

#49 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2025-04-03 11:25 PM | Reply

Republicans in Congress
Could probably make this work (!!!)
And usher in the Trump Golden Age
By simply passing a
Massive Government Spending Bill
That all Democrats will agree with
To make it happen.

Trump is certainly playing a higher dimensional game of chess than Republicans are.

#50 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-04-03 11:33 PM | Reply

Thats funny. Then it's appropriate to LUMP you in with those morons that complain about raising taxes but applaud for tariffs which have the exact same effect.

Not only was biden's approach WORKING, it was building toward the economy of tomorrow, instead of trying to recreate the economy of the 1950s through isolationism.

But when you elect a russian puppet you get destructive policy.

#49 | Posted by SpeakSoftly

Exactly. These tariffs will be a huge tax increase for all of us. Meanwhile, they're slashing the IRS, which will further reduce America's revenues.

These tariffs and gutting the government are ALL so the Trump tax cuts will be renewed, further putting us in the hole.

#51 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2025-04-04 12:06 AM | Reply

" So ... ..who took advantage of it?"

Chip manufacturers, for one.

#52 | Posted by Danforth at 2025-04-04 12:22 AM | Reply

I can't stand the tribble headed midget, but from his lips to Gawd's ears, hopefully this sends the MAGAt party out to the wilderness until the end of this century or longer, but the only way that can happen is if we get back to teaching civics and real history in our schools, and destroy the Reichwing propaganda machine.

#53 | Posted by _Gunslinger_ at 2025-04-04 01:02 AM | Reply

#53 | Posted by _Gunslinger

As the article states, the last time a president did this the GOP lost control of Congress for 60 years.

#54 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2025-04-04 02:58 AM | Reply

I wonder why they are so intent on cracking our elite inner circle.

#48

there's that narcissistic delusion again, TDS up to eleven.

#55 | Posted by itchyp at 2025-04-04 04:20 AM | Reply

Itchyp turn off the Nazis on Fox and Newsmax and pick up a c****ng history book, that is, if you can actually read!

#56 | Posted by danni at 2025-04-04 08:25 AM | Reply

Republicans don't realize it apparently but Smoot Hawley resulted in the election of FDR four time and fifty years of Democratic Party dominance which created the largest and most prosperous middle classss in the history of the world and I suspect it is going to happen again. I'm not sure yet who will be our FDR but there are several waiting to lead us out of the Republican Recession/Depression we are about to sink into. Trump will be the new Herbert Hoover who led us into ecnodepression but couldn't lead us out of it. He's so f****ng o he doesn't even know catastrophe he has, single handedly, created! I doubt that he has ever read a history book in his spoiled brat life.

#57 | Posted by danni at 2025-04-04 08:44 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1