While I really appreciate Rand Paul's efforts against the Patriot Act, I've also seen some crazy talk from him, like the claim that universal health care would lead to slavery. It's fine if you think it's a bad idea, but unhinged rhetoric like that severely undermines your credibility.

I realize that unhinged rhetoric is part of the toxic political culture in the US, and almost all US politicians are guilty of similar bizarre polemic, but from what I've seen, Bernie Sanders actually seems to be a rare exception to this. Might he actually be an honest politician? It's hard to believe one really exists, but he gives me hope.