In a rousing acceptance speech Tuesday evening, GOP Sen.-elect Rand Paul of Kentucky struck a confrontational note in his message to the establishment political forces in the nation's capital, putting them on notice that a different era is coming to Washington, D.C.
"I have a message," Paul declared to a cheering throng. "A message from the people of Kentucky. A message that is loud and clear and does not mince words: We've come to take our government back!"
Paul went on: "They say the U.S. Senate is the world's most deliberative body. Well, I'm going to ask them to deliberate upon this: The American people are unhappy with what's going on in Washington.
"Eleven percent of the people approve of what's going on in Congress . . . but tonight there's a tea party tidal wave, and we're sending a message to them."
Paul's speech indicated that it will not be business as usual when tea party legislators arrive in Washington.
"When I arrive in Washington I will ask them respectfully to deliberate upon this," he said. "We are in the midst of a debt crisis.
"I will ask them respectfully to deliberate upon this: Governments do not create jobs. Individual entrepreneurs, men and women, create jobs."
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