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 4 of 7)
46. Why is it that everyone continues to focus on the WAY a message is conveyed, but no one pays attention to the actual message itself? Is it so hard to believe that a good message and a medium for getting it across is ALL that is needed to inspire people?
I found Ron Paul because someone blogged about him and i decided to investigate for myself. I "google" Ron Paul every day because i am genuinely interested in everything that he has to say. I comment on the pages i read because i want to - because i have a voice, NOT because of some mass conspiracy to overload the internet. If you pay attention - you will notice that every message posted is unique - this is not a form letter mailed to us by Paul's campaign. We are independant thinkers with independant voices for Ron Paul - and for me personally, this is the first message in my entire life that has ever truly been worth standing up for and actually doing something about it!
Santana28 at 3:02PM on Jun 11th 2007
47. His logic on "how would we feel if China came into our country and started telling us how to run our country" is true. Too bad logic and reality aren't the same anymore. Reality tells us we are already in this mess so we have to do something to fix it. I am not a Ron Paul fan and I won't vote for him but some of his opinions I feel are valid and I know I am tired of the status quo. I'm just not willing to go as far as support him for the Presidency.
Angie Druetta at 9:15PM on Jun 15th 2007
48. "Ron Paul is one of the outstanding leaders fighting for a stronger national defense. As a former Air Force officer, he knows well the needs of our armed forces, and he always puts them first. We need to keep him fighting for our country." -- Former U.S. President Ronald Reagan
Brian at 4:19PM on Jun 11th 2007
49. "Ron Paul is one of the outstanding leaders fighting for a stronger national defense. As a former Air Force officer, he knows well the needs of our armed forces, and he always puts them first. We need to keep him fighting for our country." -- U.S. President Ronald Wilson Reagan
Brian at 4:18PM on Jun 11th 2007
50. Scott is clearly deluded. By using Ron Paul's words he is only confirming the brilliance of this candidate and his understanding of the historical roots of America's foreign policy. Our current adventurism is just stirring up the pot and the result of our foolish aggression could potentially be more devastating than any previous attack on our nation. Ron Paul is a truth teller and moronic conservatives like Scott see their small minded checklist as the only standard by which to choose candidates. If you are not a woman you have nothing say about abortion and if you are a true American you will pick competence over ideology.
Lou at 4:27PM on Jun 11th 2007
51. Scott, or what ever your real name,(Karl Rove) is . To make some sort of half assed analogy comparing Paul's ideals to the LaRouchians, is like lowering Albert Einstein to the same intellectual level as the BS artist, Rev. Pat Robertson. You Bushites are through as a legitimate political movement. Give it up. Your argument doesn't hold oil!
toothmouth at 4:55PM on Jun 11th 2007
52. Ron Paul is the only member of Congress that doesn't belong in JAIL!
john black at 5:19PM on Jun 11th 2007
53. Hey slackers, here's an LA Times internet poll you didn't spam yet. My guy, Fred Thompson is leading by an overwhelming margin while you guy is in single digits.
Get with it Paulites, your candidate needs you to take him to the top of the easily manipulated internet polling world.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/la-na-poll12jun12,0,6280343.story?vote30409925=1
Scott at 8:23PM on Jun 11th 2007
54. Another country removes and demonizes your elected leader in 1953,
Then installs the Shaw, who proceeds to torture and execute hundreds
of thousands of Iranians. Osama bin laden (trained by the cia to fight the
Soviets in Afghanistan), attacks nyc on 9/11/2001. We go to Afghanistan
after OUR CREATED attack dog (I can partly agree). Since Osama is having trouble recruiting jihadists, we go (again) into Iraq to destroy their infrastructure.
This greatly increases osama’s recruiting, enabling the “false-flag experts”
to call for more enhancements to their UN-PATRIOT-IC act, resulting in more
erosion of our liberty. And now, not to be outdone by 1953, they’re salivating
at another MIS-ADVENTURE in Iran, which I’m sure will result in more terrorism,
and even more loss of our freedom..
If another country attempted this in the Americas, we would certainly hate them, AND PROBABLY NUKE THEM.
Maybe that is why they are worried about Iran developing nukes…
If not for all our intervention, the worry might not have much merit.
THE ANSWER TO CONSTANT INTERVENTION AND MEDDLING IN THE AFFAIRS OF OTHERS CANNOT BE MORE INTERVENTION AND MEDDLING.
Albert Einstein once said “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”. Think about this quote for a second and ask yourself, does this quote apply to the way they have been running our country?
It’s time for a change. Vote for liberty, Vote for freedom, VOTE FOR RON PAUL.
rich at 5:33PM on Jun 12th 2007
55. scotty:
When you've lost the last of your freedom and some corrupt cop is beating your head into the ground...
Remember: you were willing to trade liberty for security and now you have neither...
And to the cop who would beat your head into the ground: the globalist scum doesn't give a rats
behind about you and considers you expendable...
Your surfing on the waves of the peoples liberty for now....You'll be riding the last flush of their american standard when they're through with you...
rich at 5:32PM on Jun 12th 2007
56. You've put "REAL CLEAR POLITICS" and MSNBC in charge your decision as to who is a viable candidate. Because they don't mention Ron Paul, then you say that he does not meet your test. Personally, I cannot allow anyone else determine who is a viable candidate for my own choice.
Fred at 1:30PM on Jun 12th 2007
57. Well, this is quite a little hit piece if I do say so myself. Readers, please see through this trash piece and ask yourself WHY this person would write this, are they from another party or a rival candidate's camp or just trying to back up the status quo. Don't let these people decide what's important to you, look for yourself. The strength of Ron Paul's movement is that his ideas are inspiring, his honesty refreshing, and his character is top notch. I am a life-long Democrat and I'm changing party affiliation just to vote for him, what would inspire me to do that after the last 6 years of the worst president ever? Ron Paul.
Garrett Babb at 2:18PM on Jun 12th 2007
58. Listen up you Ron Paul addict,He doesn't have a single vision of what America really is and it's purpose for the World Peace.I think he's a TODAYs candidate not a TOMMORROWs candidate,he's the I candidate not a WE candidate finally he's a 50meters not a 200,400,800,or a 1500meters type of a candidate.
Realistic at 3:24PM on Jun 12th 2007
59. Scott is obviously engaged in disinformation here (probably associated with Rudy), but at least he isn't as bad as those hosers over at 2008horserace.com.
"Ron Paul Waits for Spaceship Home
73 year old will take cult followers to distant planet... In response to spam attacks and intimidation tactics racetrack officials issued a ruling banning Ron Paul and Ron Paul's entire barn workforce from the racetrack indefinitely. All prior and future wagers placed on Ron Paul were declared invalid and deleted from the toteboard. A large flying saucer will soon arrive to take Ron Paul and his most faithful devotees to Ron Paul's home planet. Ron Paul is perhaps best known for his role as TV's "My Favorite Martian"."
I may be posting on Ron's behalf, but I wouldn't stoop as low as Scott and the folks at horserace.com.
Craig at 4:07PM on Jun 12th 2007
60. Thanks Paulians. Not one of you actually rebutted any argument I made. You only atacked as I predicted.
Your candidate is a farce, a sham. He's got zero chance of wining anything nationally.
Enjoy your little games because your boy is out come the end of summer or late fall at the latest.
sswenviron at 4:14PM on Jun 12th 2007