Time Magazine (which I haven't read since they put Anne Coulter on the cover) reports that Rand Paul has gone to Ferguson, MO and met with community leaders there. From what was reported, he actually seemed to have some sensible ideas:
Friday’s discussion was free-ranging, less a speech than a question and answer session. People at the event said that they remained concerned about the GOP’s opposition to federal funding for job training and education and other social programs. Paul said that he would support increases in federal spending for job training in urban communities that could be paid for with cuts to the costs of incarceration. “I think there would be money for job training if you greatly lessened criminal sentencing,” he said.
Of all the major Republicans, Rand Paul is the only one who seems to think the Republican party needs the votes of African Americans. So, while I would sooner vote for
Gothmog, Lieutenant of Morgul then I would a Republican, I am heartened in an overall civics way to see at least some movement towards social sanity on the part of at least one R. And it seems that he may have done a bit more listening and less time talking. So that's good.