The Rand Paul civil rights comment may allow Democrats an opportunity to paint the Tea Party as too extreme for the voting public. And apparently they have been banking on something like this happening. The public will not automatically see Paul as extreme unless Dems can successfully portray him as such.
Paul is apparently continuing to stir the pot, seemingly suggesting that the feds shouldn't dig into the BP and Masset Coal disasters. Accidents happen.
While this is going on, moderate Republicans may be making a comeback in New England.