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 2 of 7)
16. I think the comments on this blog accurately reflect what Scott is saying. The minute anything critical is said about Ron Paul, all of the sudden ALL of the comments (except for 2 here) are one version or another of pro-Paul. I asked 3 people today what they thought of Ron Paul - and all three said "who is he?"
Personally, if young Republicans think he's a valid choice then I say go for it. It he loses the nomination, he can always run as an independent, and many Republicans might join in. However the vast majority of registered voters, us Democrats, don't even watch Republican debates because none of them have anything to offer the American people. We'll continue to support compassion and fairness for all, not just uber-capitalists who don't realize it IS possible to have a capitalist society that is also compassionate.
Phil at 8:00PM on Jun 9th 2007
17.
Scott prefers the charade that the current administration has provided him for the past 7 years.
Incompetence, arrogance, and corruption - that's the ticket. This bunch will make the Harding administration look like reformers and LBJ and Nixon look like genuises at running a war.
max at 8:47PM on Jun 9th 2007
18. Scott, This is the worst coverage I have seen in the mainstream media on the honorable Ron Paul. The reason Paul recieves most of his support on the internet is because their is no censorship on the internet. Many of us are independant thinkers and have no problem picking apart puff pieces like yours. You claim "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." Do you have any proof of this? Of course you don't. I for one haven't voted for him once. You go on to say about the debate polls and say, "These polls mean nothing." In the same paragraph you claim "Ron Paul is carrying at best 3% and is not even a footnote at Real Clear Politics." Listen up everybody, Scott from AOL says that only Real Clear Politics is the only true poll. All the other polls don't mean nothing. Thanks for your political expertise.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Paul
Justin Mckay at 9:17PM on Jun 9th 2007
19. I don't understand why you have a problem with Paul's support and defense of the Constitution... do you have a problem with the Constitution? Idiot.
bob at 9:30PM on Jun 9th 2007
20. I'm a proud supporter of Ron Paul and a Libertarian. The so-called Patriot Act needs to go. Those who are willing to sacrifice freedom for safety deserve neither. I'm tired of candidates who have been baught by corporations. The IRS needs to go. Poor people can be helped without having government take from people who work hard. If people weren't forced to pay money to the IRS, can you emagine how much more they could afford to donate to private charities who are actually accountable to the people that support them! If they are inefficient, people will stop supporting them. However, the government can be just as inefficient as it wants because you'll be thrown in jail if you don't pay the income tax. People should read Healing Our World: The Other Piece of the Puzzle - By Dr. Mary J. Ruwart. An on-line version can be found at http://www.ruwart.com/Healing/ruwart_all.html
.
Ryan Mann at 11:22PM on Jun 9th 2007
21. Just another member of the Vast Ron Paul Conspiracy dropping in......
Jim Rongstad at 11:48PM on Jun 9th 2007
22. Scott needs to read more. If he did he would know that the US hasn't declared war since 1941. Scott apparently doesn't care about following the Supreme Law of the land, but then again neither do most politicians even though they swear that they will uphold it.
Jim Rongstad at 11:57PM on Jun 9th 2007
23. I wonder if any of those other republican candidates have even read a word of the constitution. How can they honestly say that they will follow the constitution if they haven't read a word of it? Presidents do have to take an oath to uphold the constitution. Oh, I forgot that we don't use that any more.
my bad
Ryan Mann at 12:35AM on Jun 10th 2007
24. There was some talk about compassion from a couple anti-Ron Paul people. The IRS is not compassionate at all. My parents have personal experience with the cold-harded employees that work at IRS offices. My parents hired somebody to help take care of my uncle who has a head injury. This person didn't pay some taxes that she owed, so the IRS wrote my parents a letter saying that they owed the money. When my mom tried to talk to an IRS employee about the situation, the lady was such a skumbag that she made my mom cry. My parents couldn't afford a lawyer to fight the government, so they ended up paying money they didn't even owe. That's how government works.
Ryan Mann at 1:06AM on Jun 10th 2007
25. "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."
This is a lie. Despite thousands of illegal intrusions into Americans personal lives, next to nothing has turned up. Learn the truth before you tap away aimlessly on your keyboard, Scott. You are an ignorant fraud.
Brian at 1:19AM on Jun 10th 2007
26. Ron Paul seems like the only decent Republican running. I never thought I'd say that lol.
TC at 2:30AM on Jun 10th 2007
27. The country that we love, the first in the history of the universe to be founded on the concept of individual rights, is being taken back to the pre-Revolutionary dark ages of omnipotent rulers and powerless slaves. We MUST resist. There IS an alternative. We've followed Dr. Ron Paul and watched his record for three decades. He's the only person in our government who CONSISTENTLY votes for the Constitution ... and against EVERY bill that gives government powers not specifically enumerated in the Constitution (which is most of the bills).
Dr. Ron is risking his life to lead us, as our next President. If you care to help, please click "Join Us" & register at http://www.ronpaul2008.com & help as many friends as possible to do the same. If they don't yet know about America's only honest politician, be sure they explore that website! We have just a few months to wake enough real Americans to ensure Ron receives the Republican nomination. He's our last chance.
--lou & dr. bob
www.wynman.com
lou & dr bob at 3:39AM on Jun 10th 2007
28. Ron Paul mania is sweeping the mation. You and the rest of the MSM shall see. Whcha gonna do when Ron Paul runs wild over you!!
Ty at 5:02AM on Jun 10th 2007
29. The Constitution is not open to interpretation. It says what it says and it is the law of the land. Congress, the President and the Supreme Court are bound by oath to obey the Constitution. NO ONE is allowed to "interpret" it, it is LAW and must be obeyed to the letter.
If you want it changed, go through the process and change it, but until that happens the Constitution must be obeyed.
Ron Paul is THE ONLY candidate worth voting for. All the others are scam artists who only want to get their hands on the power. Paul is the "unpolitician" who wants to restore the proper level of power to the Federal government.
Oh, BTW - Ron Paul's odds have dropped to 7 to 1, and his fundraising is now approaching $5 million and that's in the same league as McCain.
Get used to it, Ron Paul is the next President of the US.
Michael Wagner at 9:45AM on Jun 10th 2007
30. Its nice to see that, even though you obviously dislike the good doctor, you are still taking the time to contribute to his campaign by publishing more articles about him.
thank you, we appreciate your effort.
Kristian at 10:51AM on Jun 10th 2007