WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM DOSTOYEVSKY?

One of my favorite literary characters, at least for purposes of snarking references, is Smerdyakov, the bastard son of old Fyodor Karamazov  Smerdyakov admires and seeks uncomprehendingly to imitate Ivan Karamazov, with disastrous results.

I see that Rand Paul has officially announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for President.  He is this cycle's Smerdyakov.