Time Magazine has put out a special issue every year for a while now called The Time 100. It picks the 100 most influential people it can think of and then asks other influential people to write a hundred words or so flattering them. It’s mostly harmless, but sometimes you find nuggets that tell you things about the flatterer. Case in point, Rand Paul, writing about the libertarian Koch Brothers:

Charles and David Koch are well known for their business success, their generous philanthropic efforts and for their focus on innovation in management. Some also know them for their activism in the political realm. All of these are important contributions to society. What is underappreciated is their passion for freedom and their commitment to ideas. Unlike many crony capitalists who troll the halls of Congress looking for favors, the Kochs have consistently lobbied against special-interest politics.

Senator Paul, you have just confirmed to me that you’re a damned fool. I know that you share their libertarian point of view. I don’t agree with it, but that’s fine. But to tell me that they lobby “against special-interest politics” is just disingenuous. When they spend millions on political-action committees, what are they doing but acting as their own special interest? When they say they’ll spend $900 million to

influence legislation and campaigns across the country, leveraging Republican control of Congress and the party’s dominance of state capitols to push for deregulation, tax cuts and smaller government.

that’s certainly a special-interest goal.

I think Senator Paul is hoping some of that $900M will flow his way.