I’ll have more to say about Rand Paul’s candidacy later.

But about these announcements generally: I’m already exhausted. It was no surprise when Ted Cruz announced he was running for president. It is no surprise Rand Paul is announcing he is running for president. It will be no surprise when Marco Rubio, Ben Carson, Rick Perry, Jeb Bush, Scott Walker and Carly Fiorina make their announcements. We get these dances of a thousand veils because of the stupidity of campaign finance law. After the long march of hinting, teasing, organizing, studying, contemplating, considering, water-testing and noodling, there’s really not much reason to get excited. It’s like waiting at someone’s apartment for a surprise party where the honoree knows everyone is waiting for him and even calls with advance warning on his cell phone “I’m getting out of my car. I’m walking up the stairs. I’m getting my keys….”

Candidates deserve their debuts on their terms. But this is going to get old, fast.