It's good to get out from behind the desk here in L.A. and find some perspective. I just spent a long weekend in southeast Texas, home of 100+ degree temperatures, finger-licking-good BBQ and...... Ron Paul. In the tiny town of Driftwood (population: a few hunnerd) there were a host of signs along the main drag touting the maverick Republican -- dozens of them, in numerous front yards, all hand-painted. One said: "Ron Paul will end the war." Throughout the Hill Country, there were tons of Paul bumper stickers on the backs of trucks. Nary a sign of support for Giuliani nor Romney. None of that surprised me too much though. After all, Paul is a Texas boy with a libertarian streak and it makes sense that the pickup-and-gun-rack crowd would rally behind him.
But I was really shocked during the time we spent in Austin -- an oasis of blue in one big red state. Yeah, there were a few Obama '08 t-shirts, some Hillary stickers. But not a lot. Then my friends started pointing out the Paul bumper stickers alongside the Nine Inch Nails and Queens of the Stone Age decals on the backs of beaters, presumably the cars of UT students. The owner of one old pickup truck had painted "What do you think of Ron Paul?" on the sides of his vehicle, along with Paul's web site address.
In a bar I spotted a dude -- tattoos, rocker haircut -- in a Ron Paul shirt with the sleeves ripped off. We chatted briefly and he told me he's never voted Republican in his life but is pulling for Paul because of his stated intention to yank U.S. troops from Iraq immediately. Wow.
Obviously all this is anecdotal and the random counting of bumper stickers is hardly scientific polling. But if Ron Paul is a fringe candidate, as he loves to say he is, he's got to be awfully pleased with his support on the fringes. Down there in Texas, the grassroots appear to be growing strong.
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Reader Comments ( Page 3 of 4)
31. Ron Paul's a better candiadate then most. He's a little too republican for me but whatever. We need a Liberatarian more then anything now.
David at 12:50AM on Aug 17th 2007
32. I do find it quite interesting that a lot of liberal Democrats support Ron Paul. They do so without looking into Paul's platform past Iraq. He is a true small goverment conservative. He wants to abolish many of the cabinet-level Departments. While I would love to see smaller goverment, I think many of the liberals are very much blinded by Ron Paul's position on Iraq.
Mike Crossman at 1:40PM on Aug 17th 2007
33. The Presidential canadiates being Republican or Democrat look insignificant meaning nothing changes if they are elected. They have been given the money to be where they are and prompted on positions by the status quo establishment. There is one canadiate that is different and he is RON PAUL of TEXAS. He gets my vote even if the actor Thompson gets into the race.
Ken at 12:44PM on Aug 17th 2007
34. Mitt Romneys money and support of the Bush family qualifies him to be President; Giuliani can't get his own kids support nor the support of the NYFD; the actor Thompson comes on stage to better articulate the cliques' position; McCain wants to open the borders to illiegals and put more troops in Iraq; and then there is RON PAUL who has demonstrated statesmanship as a United States Congressman and supports our freedoms, a balanced budget and the constitution, opposes the occupation of Iraq and he is running last? GOD HELP US ALL.
Ken at 1:01PM on Aug 17th 2007
35. Ron Paul is too long in the tooth! The fight has been taken out of him and he will do nothing to prevent another 9-11. Younger versions of the principled man Paul used to be are: Brownback, Huckabee, Tancredo, and Hunter! Any of them would make make a fine president. No RINO's like Guiliani, Romney, McCain, or Thompson!
geocentre at 2:27PM on Aug 17th 2007
36. Look at All the canadiates on both sided, Then Look At ROB PAUL THAT IS A AMERICAN TRUE AND TRUE
JD at 2:28PM on Aug 17th 2007
37. LOOK AT THE DEM. &REP. THEY ALL LOOK LIKE COOKIES CUTERS ONLY 1 STANDS OUT RON PAUL A TRUE AMERICAN . JWD
JOHN W. DONAHUE at 2:39PM on Aug 17th 2007
38. I'm a lifelong democrat, but will be voting for Dr. Paul by any means necessary, even if its a write-in.
This country has been going off course for years, and we need a strict constitutionalist like Dr. Paul to bring us back.
and Kris, your argument of fighting over there or fight them here has been debuncted. various federal security groups have said that will not happen. BUT, fighting over there will kill more US soldiers over there.
KF at 2:40PM on Aug 17th 2007
39. From what I'm hearing, the polls must be wrong. Paul must be getting higher numbers than the msm is reporting. Either that or the sampling is rigged to produce a desired result. Either way 2% has to be way off. My guess is it's more like 8-10% or more. The one thing he's not getting is publicity like the others. That would help a lot. It's a catch-22. They say get better numbers and get better PR. I don't know the answer to that one. Good luck is all I can say.
M Hays at 5:16PM on Aug 17th 2007
40. Finally, a TRUE candidate to support and not have to choose between the lesser of two evils. We the people are supposed to be the government, and our rights were given to us by our creator and are not up for debate. Ron Paul stands for all that is right in this country. I can't wait till he breaks through and people learn there's actually someone in politics who is not controlled by big money groups that are really against us. Ron Paul in 08'
Trevor at 6:12PM on Aug 17th 2007
41. RON PAUL is the best candidate to vote for. im sure i don't need to tell u that just read what everyone wrote. he is not the type of candidate to win ur vote by paying for it (romney) he tells u the truth and expose the govt for the fraud and deceits. if u check the records of all the candidates running u will see that he cleanness and most honest candidate. he is separate from the field of wolves. VOTE RON PAUL 2008!!!!!
kenisthaman2005 at 7:19PM on Aug 17th 2007
42. guilani sucks, he uses 9/11 to his advantage when in fact the fire fighters of NYC are furious with him watch it on youtube.
Hillary blows, she's sold out to the federal reserve and a devout globalist, which is highly unamerican, obama isn't saying anything nearly as impressive as ron paul.
Ron Paul is my last hope in this country, if he's not elected i'm going to canada. As far as politics goes I'm an Anarchist until i see the constitution restored.
justin at 8:02PM on Aug 17th 2007
43. Here in San Antonio, a Ron Paul fundraiser drew almost double the number of supporters that Barack Obama drew just a week before- and San Antonio, like Austin, is a "Democrat Town."
It wasn't just Republicans- his supporters included Independents, Libertarians, and Democrats as well!
Jeff at 1:20AM on Aug 18th 2007
44. I'm a pacifist, and I support Ron Paul. I support Ron Paul because he is the only candidate brave enough to address our corrupt fiat economic system. As a member of the middle class, I feel every day the effects of our fiat currency which transfers wealth from people like me to the top 1$ of the population. Ron Paul is like Robin Hood. He wants to give the gold back to the people, and stop taxation and oppression of the poor.
I also support him because he wants to keep americans free, and keep our private business private. he also wants to keep our natural medicines and herbs and vitamins out of the hands of the FDA and pharma companies. He wants to ensure I have the right to not be vaccinated, and pursue the advice of natural physicians, and even try unproven therapies if I so choose. he wants to ensure that my food can be free of GMOs, and pesticides and other toxins if I choose to stay away from them.
God Bless You Ron Paul! A legend in the making.
Shalema at 2:35AM on Aug 18th 2007
45. The people voted for Gore and he didn't get elected ! The people want Ron Paul and he won't even get nominated ! Wake up GOP before we change this Government from the top down !!
John Lewis at 8:02PM on Aug 19th 2007