Ron Paul

Full text of the thread after the jump, updates here:

0:10AM OK, ladies and germs, I'll be signing off now. Thanks for joining me. Keep talking, and I'll check back here tomorrow. Kat, you hang in there, and don't let anybody rub it in. O, it's time to make nice. Tom, John, nice commentary tonight. MG, so quiet tonight. Diana says "hi!"

Russert just compared Hillary to an aging ballplayer, an analogy I thought of earlier. I hope tomorrow is Hillary's "Lou Gehrig Day," and not the start of a "Vegas Elvis" phase, to mix a metaphor. Good night, everybody!

11:33PM OK, I don't think much is going to change in NC. I closing, I was just talking to Diana, and we agreed that it looks like the Supes will fall to Obama, and I was saying, "Yeah, but the wild card here is that they're Democrats, y'know?" and she said, "Yeah, they could spoil a wet dream."

Funny, and true. The herd of cats needs to get its stuff together quickly and not let Hillary twist in the wind. They need to announce the ticket quickly.

11:02PM That's more like it! I just got an email from the Clinton Press Office. A memo called "Tie-breaker," a very long one.

10:58PM Famous last words:

On May 2, Hillary told a rally in Kinston, NC the following:

"This primary election on Tuesday is a game changer. This is going to make a huge difference in what happens going forward. The entire country--probably even a lot of the world is looking to see what North Carolina decides."

10:56PM Classy speech. It reminded me of her Texas speech after South Carolina.

10:55PM NC is at 56-42 for Obama.

10:53PM Another shift in rationale: Now, Red states matter.

10:52PM Chelsea!!!... Doesn't this sound like a curtain call?

10:49PM Evan Bayh is another guy who didn't call me back today. Does anyone still care what Rendell's press secretary told me?

On my right bicep, to be exact.

Operation: RonDemption is beginning to build up steam, at least among the Ron Paul community. To help things along, I am offering to do my part. If Ron Paul wins the Idaho Republican Primary, I will get a Ron Paul tattoo. It will be either "Ron Paul 2008" or the "Ron Paul Revolution" design. So if you want to see a lifelong Democrat sporting some Ron Paul ink, forward this story to everyone in your address book.

For those of you unfamiliar with Operation:RonDemption, click here for details. Here's the Cliff's Notes version:

The plan is simple. Any Democrats or Independents who didn't vote in February's Idaho Democratic Caucuses are eligible to vote in the Republican Primary on 5/27/08. Idaho is one of only a few open nominating contests left.

It wouldn't take much for the Democrats, aided by the Ron Paul Army, to put a serious dent in John McCain, especially considering the low turnout for the Dem caucus.

I have even mended fences somewhat with the Paul campaign's press office. After the jump, more on the campaign's reaction, some suggestions, and a roundup of Operation:RonDemption quotes.

Ron Paul is on a roll. While not exactly a threat to John McCain for the GOP nomination, the Texas congressman still enjoys rabid support from the so-called Paulites. They're nothing if not dedicated, and they're not about to give up on their candidate over a few minor setbacks like primary losses and delegate counts. Prediction: Ron Paul supporters will make their presence known, loudly, at the Republican convention.

Paul's latest book "The Revolution: A Manifesto" is currently number one on Amazon.com, beating out some Oprah selections, which is no small feat. He broke all kinds of fundraising records and as a result he remains flush with cash. Now his campaign is considering getting creative with finance regulations and using those excess millions to set up a for-profit publishing company that would churn out books that push Paul's Libertarian-leaning agenda.

And some people who are really, really (really, really) devoted to the man and his mission are packing up and moving to Paulville. No, that's not metaphorical. Paulville is a real place. It's a community, in Texas of course, set up by Paul people, for Paul people. No Romney voters allowed, presumably. Naturally, they have a Web site that really must be seen to be believed:

The goal of Paulville.org is to establish gated communities containing 100% Ron Paul supporters and or people that live by the ideals of freedom and liberty.

The process is forming a co-op of people buying shares in the community and these people would be granted land use at a minimum of 1 acre per share, for as long as they homesteaded the land.

This isn't a political pipe dream. Apparently it's really happening. They've actually bought up a bunch of land in West Texas and put up a sign that says Paulville.

Laugh all you want but I can't help but give the Paulites some credit. They're putting their money where their mouths are. You don't see any erstwhile Rudy supporters planting a flag in Giulianiland.

Yesterday, on Rush Limbaugh's radio show, the self-described Commander-in-Chief, US, Operation Chaos, issued new orders to his army of Dittoheads:

Ladies and gentlemen, I am calling an operational pause in Operation Chaos. We have a week to figure out now what's best to do...My gut reaction here, after hearing Obama, was to issue orders changing directives, i.e., vote Obama in remaining primaries. But I'm holding back.

He went on to explain that he wants to see how the mainstream media covered Barack Obama's reaction to the Reverend Jeremiah Wright's fresh gems from the National Press Club meeting.

Still, coming as it does on the heels of the commencement of Operation RonDemption, the plan to give Ron Paul a state primary victory while damaging John McCain's campaign, one has to wonder if the Dittoheads are quaking in the face of the combined might of the Ron Paul Revolution and Idaho Democrats Who Didn't Caucus.

Being a liberal, I'm more comfortable with Head of the Operation RonDemption Steering Committee, and I have some new plans, too. After the jump, a little more on both "Operations," and Limbaugh's assessment of the Democratic race.

Rush Limbaugh is at it again, trying to wreak havoc on the Democratic Primary race. From Buzzfeed:

Rush Limbaugh urges his conservative fans to vote for Hillary so that neither Democrat can win the primaries. In Limbaugh's own words: "The endgame is to see that neither of these candidates can win by virtue of the primaries" assuring that Hillary and Barack "will be so bloodied and brought down to earth that neither can win in the general." A few outside observers think that Operation Chaos is actually working while others are skeptical. Of course, Rush is happy to take full credit for the current Obama Clinton fatigue.

Unfortunately, Rush Limbaugh has met his match. Welcome to "Tommy Christopher's Operation RonDemption."

The plan is simple. Any Democrats or Independents who didn't vote in February's Idaho Democratic Caucuses are eligible to vote in the Republican Primary on 5/27/08. Idaho is one of only a few open nominating contests left.

It wouldn't take much for the Democrats, aided by the Ron Paul Army, to put a serious dent in John McCain, especially considering the low turnout for the Dem caucus. Since the GOP already has its nominee, their turnout should be low, too, inflating the percentage of Paul votes. Who knows, maybe Dr. Paul can deal McCain a defeat. Just forward and post this link wherever you can, especially to people in Idaho. Let's see how the Paul-ites do against the Dittoheads.

As I touched on earlier in Videos of the Week, Ron Paul had his best primary finish ever in Pennsylvania this pat Tuesday. From a campaign press release:

Presidential candidate Ron Paul received at least 128,111 votes, or 16 percent, in the closed Republican Pennsylvania primary yesterday. Dr. Paul made four stops in the Keystone State during the month of April and spoke to overflow crowds of young people and other passionate supporters.

"Americans are hungry for leadership that will protect the traditions that made our country so great," said campaign spokesman Jesse Benton. "Dr. Paul's grassroots supporters in Pennsylvania and across the country are doing a tremendous job spreading our message, winning votes and laying a strong foundation for the future."

16% is nothing to sneeze at, even if you take into account much lower turnout due to the fact that the Republicans already have a nominee. The mainstream press has pretty much ignored the result, as usual, but to paraphrase George Clinton, they have no concept of the truly awesome power of a fully operational Ron Paul Revolution. After the jump, what could happen, and I'll tell you where to find the story of the Ron Paul interview that never was.

Welcome to Videos of the Week Sneak Peek! Today, I will be posting the video that I shot in Philadelphia at the Hillary Clinton celebration, then I'll update Sunday with the rest of the VOTW.

It was a big week for me. I covered the Pennsylvania Democratic primary, and spent the rest of the week milking that for all it was worth. One of our readers, Michelle G, dubbed me a "speckled puppy." John from Philadelphia invited me, via the comments section, to meet some of his pals, but I just saw the comment yesterday. Sorry, John, I would have totally been there. Email me, and we'll arrange it for next time I'm there. And if you all go to my Youtube channel and comment these videos, maybe we can get them on a list. C'mon, do it.

Also, before I start, go check out my evil twin, Tom Fitz's hilarious, biting satire at The Specious Report, home of much fine satire.


This week on VOTW: Ron Paul is back! Check him out inside. I wasn't about to bump myself off the front page, but you gotta see this. Also, there are a lot of downers this week, even the funny ones. If I'm noticing a trend, it's that people seem to be waking up to what's happened to our country, and they don't seem all that thrilled with the new applicants.


Right off the bat, I have to apologize. I know earlier this week, I promised you all an Obama Sobriety Test. Here's the thing: I am a moron. I'll explain during our first video, which contains all that is left of the aforementioned test, but also is a neat commentary on the level of engagement of the average voter. Katherine, hear me out before you decide I'm just covering for Obama.

I woke up this morning to the sad news that film icon Charlton Heston had passed away, reported beautifully by my colleague, Justin Paulette. Heston was a singular personality, but also a controversial one, politically. It is a tribute to Heston's charisma and charm that many liberals, myself included, had no problem overlooking his status as the face of the gun lobby to enjoy his films.

I want to pay tribute to him, but I don't want to give him short shrift, so I will continue this ode to Charlton Heston at the conclusion of VOTW with a look at my own personal Heston Trilogy, three films, and three roles, that would not have been possible with another actor.

This week, we've got Hillary with another tall tale, McCain telling us all to stay off his lawn, President Bush pitching to the enemy, Ron Paul swinging big wood, Obama getting f@cked, Oprah doing good and evil, and an absolute must see, can't miss trainwreck from Mike Gravel.

To lead off this week's VOTW, here's a great clip from The Young Turks. My pal, Cenk Uygar, deconstructs Rachel Maddow deconstructing John McCain's straight talkin' maverick narrative. Extra points for making Joe Scarborough look foolish.

According to the same financial experts who didn't manage to predict the current housing crash/credit crunch recession, the next step in this miserable process will be a full-blown Great Depression.

There are many causes for our new national nightmare, and it's no more fair to say "George W. Bush personally caused the entire catastrophe and ruined America forever" than it's fair to say "George W. Bush personally piloted those jets into the World Trade Center and Pentagon."

The important thing is to prepare for your new life during the New Great Depression, which will probably last at least a dozen years and end with the United States being one of the world's poorest, most-backward nations. But there's a bright side, too!

There is something that offends the soul of free people everywhere, an injustice, an anti-justice, that cannot be allowed to stand, yet is. We, as a nation, enjoy liberty and prosperity unequaled in all of history and in all the world. These were earned on the backs of men who would never reap their reward, and defended by many who would be crushed in the gears of it's own machinery.

We are the beneficiaries of their sacrifices, yet time and again, we have turned a blind eye to the struggles of others who would wish to have even a crumb of what we take for granted. In Darfur, in Rwanda, Uganda, and to lesser degrees in countless places around the world, the people of this country have trusted in their government to do the right thing, to extend the protections to which all humans are entitled, and they have failed, we have failed.

Our government has made unacceptable compromises with the government of China in the name of greed. They have tolerated brutal oppression, unsafe manufacturing processes that have resulted in the poisoning of our children, the pollution of our common atmosphere, all to the detriment of our people and the people of China. Now, the Tibetan people, victims of decades of repression by the Chinese government, stand once again as a bone to be chewed in the jaws of that repression.