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Although he has faltered in the three previous Republican presidential debates, the Fox Business Network/Wall Street Journal debate was Kentucky Senator Rand Paul’s moment to shine. Yes, Texas Senator Ted Cruz stepped ahead of Paul on the Federal Reserve (SEE: Is Ted Cruz stealing Rand Paul’s thunder on monetary policy?), Paul had a few of his moments on other political issues.

Paul decided to attack Florida Senator Marco Rubio’s plan to add $1 trillion worth of military expenditures to the federal budget. He asked the rising GOP candidate how it’s conservative to impose such a costly item. There was an intense exchange between the two candidates.

Rubio responded by calling Paul “a committed isolationist,” which is a comment far from reality.

“How is it conservative to add a $1 trillion expenditure to the federal government?” Paul asked. “How is it conservative to add $1 trillion in military expenditures? You cannot be a conservative if you keep promoting new programs that you’re not going to pay for.”

Rubio then responded with the typical neo-conservative, statist approach to foreign policy:

“We can’t even have an economy if we’re not safe. There are radical Islamists in the Middle East beheading people and crucifying Christians … Yes. I believe the world is a safer — No, no. I know that the world is a safer and better place when America is the strongest military power in the world.”

Don’t worry, Rubio will just add it to the credit card. He should know a few things about racking up the credit cards…

The other good moment Paul had was when he interrupted Donald Trump and notified him that China wasn’t even a part of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP). This happened when Trump was going on and on about China in relation to TPP for whatever reason.

Paul’s chances of being the GOP nominee are very slim at this point because of his constant flip-flopping and cozying up with known statists like Mitch McConnell. But if he had these moments in the CNBC, Fox and CNN debates and maintained a principled record in the senate then he’d likely be right up there with Ben Carson and Trump.