I wrote previously about Ron Paul’s newsletters, and I still think there’s reason to condemn not only the writings but the worldview they espouse, one which Paul embraces even as he disavows some of the finer points of the newsletters. But I think there’s more to say about this incident and what it means about American politics.

Paul Ryan gave his big speech in Chicago today, desperately trying to reset the debate over his flailing plan for Medicare privatization. And he can pretty up the rhetoric as much as he wants, but in the end, it remains a program to get rid of Medicare.

In case you haven’t heard, today Rand Paul became only the third “major guest” in history to bail on Meet The Press, pleading “exhaustion.” At first that seems kind of strange, but it’s really not all that surprising when you consider that he spent most of the last few days sticking his foot all the way into his mouth, then trying to pull it back out again… while tap dancing.

Last night’s interview with Rachel Maddow is what Rand Paul will face for the next six months. And if he continues with these kinds of performances, he’ll show the ugly side of the liberty movement has has cultivated.