Since it's Friday, I thought I'd write something on the light side. I couldn't think of anything lighter than the gravitas of the Ron Paul campaign.
Paul is a congressman from Texas who calls himself a Republican but is more of a neo-libertarian. He constantly refers to the Constitution and acts as if his interpretation is the only true interpretation. He has a rabid, small following who Google his name three times a day (this will help them find this piece: Ron Paul, Ron Paul, Ron Paul) and comment on every Web site that mentions him. If what is said is derogatory, they become venomous and launch ad hominem attacks at the writer, kind of like LaRouchians. They go to every Internet presidential poll and vote for him repeatedly and then carp that America loves the man because he won a poll they rigged.
But let's look at Ron Paul on the issues. Let's start with national security:
Note that the only one to ever call or talk about a draft is Ron Paul and Charles Rangel and Rangel did it purely for political reasons. For the record, Congress did vote. I believe Paul was serving at the time. Note also every answer has the word "Constitution" in it.Both Jefferson and Washington warned us about entangling ourselves in the affairs of other nations. Today, we have troops in 130 countries. We are spread so thin that we have too few troops defending America. And now, there are new calls for a draft of our young men and women.
We can continue to fund and fight no-win police actions around the globe, or we can refocus on securing America and bring the troops home. No war should ever be fought without a declaration of war voted upon by the Congress, as required by the Constitution.
He's against the Patriot Act, which has been used successfully in numerous cases and has proved to not be as intrusive as Paul and liberals have said.
I do agree with Paul on several issues -- immigration reform and tax relief -- but his stand on national security is one I'll never get past. We are fighting them over there and not here. We have not been attacked in the U.S. because of the WOT and Paul knows this. He just chooses to ignore it.
He's a small-time candidate who will maybe get as many votes as Ralph Nader in a good year. He has a bit of an Internet recognition thing going but ask 100 or so average Americans on the street what they think of Ron Paul and you'll get 99 blank stares and one guy who will agree with Paul (or his ghost-writing staffers) that the Israel lobby runs the U.S.
But Scott, you'll all say, "he's won every major poll after the debates on MSNBC, CNN, blah, blah, blah.."
I'll say, "so what?" These polls mean nothing. Does anyone think that Hillary or Rudy have an e-mail list that they send out information on these votes urging their supporters to vote? Of course not, because it means nothing. Look at Rasmussen or any of the other polls, at present, Ron Paul is carrying at best 3% and is not even a footnote at Real Clear Politics. In other words, his campaign is a sham.
It's nice that he has automaton supporters who bristle at every cross word said about their hero (believe me, I'm glad they're occupying themselves on the net), but that and twice as many of you might give you .0008% of the total American vote.
Bring it Ron Paul fans, vent your ire. I predict that the first comment comes within ten minutes of this being posted and it's a slam at me for either "hating the Constitution" or "supporting those who wish to create and oligarchy".
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 7)
1. Please everyone no comments. If you stir SHIT it onlt stinks!
Rob at 6:06PM on Jun 8th 2007
2. Scott, you are entittled to your oppinion, as is everyone in this constitutional republic. I however see how the business as usual politicians have steadily destroyed our liberties and freedoms, and totally ignored the constition, that they've sworn to uphold and defend against all enemies, foreign and domestic. If one of the mainstream candidates gets elected it won't change anything, and our republic will continue to go downhill. I for one am tired of the same old, same old,and think that we need to try something completely different, someone who actually takes his sworn oath seriously, RON PAUL.
Ken at 7:22PM on Jun 8th 2007
3. Oh right, Im sure we 'spammed' his donation page too. Dipshit.
http://www.freemarketnews.com/WorldNews.asp?nid=43192&fb=1
eric kuhlmann at 8:52PM on Jun 8th 2007
4. Out of 137 blogs on MySpace, I've received a total of one comment. You guessed it, it was a complaint about something I said about Ron Paul.
Steve Bonomo at 11:41PM on Jun 8th 2007
5. I wonder if Romney is gay. Why else would he use spray on tan?
redfox_1969 at 11:45PM on Jun 8th 2007
6. I trust Ron Paul and I believe he is the only candidate to beat Hillary .
According to the Bookies in Vegas , Paul went from 100-1 , to 15-1 .
Lets face it , the Builderberg meeting just ended ,
they have selected the next President .
Mark Ralin at 12:17AM on Jun 9th 2007
7. Ron Paul is right. The only hope for a republican victory in 08 is Ron Paul. Pro war platform is a looser! By the way why do we have troops in over 50 countries??? Bring the home to defend our borders. Paul is the only true "Regan" republican all the others say they are but look how spending has increased during the last 6 years. Freedom is not just a word. It comes from the right to a trial. I don't any one but Paul speaking out for freedom.
Phil at 1:26AM on Jun 9th 2007
8. About this Ron Paul desease which party is he competing for,an opposition party? He'll do well in Europe or Asian Politics.Overhere he is a hard nut to crack.Good luck Run Paul and your supporters.
Pen at 2:35AM on Jun 9th 2007
9. Our country would be much better off if people could be bothered to respect the COnstitution by actually changing it, or even reading it, instead of "ineterpreting' it.
It's not dance, it's law.
Angela Thornton at 10:02AM on Jun 9th 2007
10. Dear Scott,
You don't take the Paul campaign seriously... yet you overtly beg for the fabled traffic of his supporters to your article...
I'm sure you're disappointed by how little ire you actually raise. That's because it's obvious that you're a partisan hack who has been spoon-fed all the bumper-sticker ideas you regurgitate in this blog.
Ron Paul on the other hand has real ideas. He's a 'breathe of fresh air' as millions of Americans are discovering. Ron Paul is not a corporate shill like all the other Republican candidates. His policies will not line the pockets of defense companies, big oil, and other corporate blood-suckers. These special interests will get behind the mainstream candidates.
If any of these candidates, RudyMcRomthompson, are elected you can guarantee it will be more of the same... more war, bigger government, less liberty, more debt...
Paul is the only candidate with real integrity...
He has never voted to raise taxes.
He has never voted for an unbalanced budget.
He has never voted for a federal restriction on gun ownership.
He has never voted to raise congressional pay.
He has never taken a government-paid junket.
He has never voted to increase the power of the executive branch.
He voted against the Patriot Act. (That's a good thing Scott.)
He voted against regulating the Internet.
He voted against the Iraq war.
He does not participate in the lucrative congressional pension program.
He returns a portion of his annual congressional office budget to the U.S. treasury every year.
Congressman Paul introduces numerous pieces of substantive legislation each year, probably more than any single member of Congress.
When people take a moment to learn about Paul, they're usually impressed by what they find:
http://www.ronpaul2008.com/issues/
The American people are sick of partisan nonsense. The Paul campaign is real ideas for real people and that's no charade.
http://GoRonPaul.com
Go Ron Paul at 10:29AM on Jun 9th 2007
11. Here’s what I suggest Scott. Take 3 deep breaths and look at Dr. Pauls next Federal Report on funds raised. I will bet you that he joins or beats the top tier contenders.
In the next round I believe he will have more funds available than, John McCain. Dr. Paul may become the new Ronal Reagan.
Wayne K Dolik at 12:29PM on Jun 9th 2007
12. Steve Bonomo writes: "Out of 137 blogs on MySpace, I've received a total of one comment. You guessed it, it was a complaint about something I said about Ron Paul."
Steve, take a gander at Jeff Hoard's blogs in News Bloggers. Jeff enjoys national healthcare in Canada, and Wikipedia says national healthcare is a leading reason for US investment in Canada. He apparently believes, along with Paul's fanatical supporters, that national healthcare is "stealing" because it relies in part on taxes. Also, God forbid anyone say anything critical about Ron Paul and his idiotic ideas of raw uncontrolled capitalism which will inevitably lead to an oligarchy with everyone else in the cold. He wants to remove all restraint on capitalism, such as unions and environmental monitoring and enforcement. He supports a true capitalistic society where people who can afford healthcare get it, those who can't die. I guess food stamps are out too for those on the edge of starvation. Of course, the idea of becoming energy independent is "socialist" because we should just let Big Oil do whatever it wants. Quite frankly, I'm sick of talking about him. The second you criticize his crackpot philosophies, you get a mountain of fervent Paul supporters talking about how an "only the strong survive" economy with no worker protection whatsoever is a "good" thing. He's a flash in the pan and has no chance of winning anything except another term in the house of representative.
Phil at 12:30PM on Jun 9th 2007
13. Yes. It is true. There is an elaborate conspiracy of Dr. Paul's supporters to spam every available on-line forum. The other parts of this conspiracy are to spam his campaign with donations and to spam the voting booths with Ron Paul votes.
Richard at 2:29PM on Jun 9th 2007
14. Scott,
You are an uninformed little turd.
dogster at 4:39PM on Jun 9th 2007
15. Ron Paul is waking up the people of this country. We have been lied to long enough, and people sense the truth of Ron Paul's Constitutional talks. Why not talk about the Constitution? We need to be re-educated on what it is and what it means. We need Ron Paul!
Nancy at 7:47PM on Jun 9th 2007