A new Ron Paul Thread

Ardentfrost · 07-10-2007, 11:23 PM

Buzz builds for longshot Ron Paul*-*Nation/Politics*-*The Washington Times, America's Newspaper

Aides helping Texas Rep. Ron Paul with his longshot run for the Republican presidential nomination never thought they'd need more than the corner of a one-bedroom apartment.

They were wrong — and have outgrown their second headquarters, a 348-square foot office. Mr. Paul has more campaign cash available than former Republican front-runner Sen. John McCain of Arizona, Federal Election Commission records show, and the antiwar conservative has become an Internet sensation.

Though political pros say Mr. Paul's chances of moving into the White House are somewhere between slim and none, some expect him to have an impact on the 2008 Republican campaign.

"I watched the Republican presidential debates with neighbors, and two of the five people in the room said, ‘Who is that guy? I really like him,'" said Republican media consultant Tom Edmonds. "My gut tells me he's a sleeper and will indeed have an impact on the Republican race."

The Texas obstetrician — whose habit of opposing measures he deems unconstitutional won him the sobriquet "Dr. No" — is admired as a man of principle by many conservative leaders and has already won attention from voters across the land, including Democrats.

Iowan Alex Gabis, for example, attended an event for Sen. Barack Obama, Illinois Democrat, in the Fairfield town square last week, but another candidate was on his mind.

"There is a Republican I like — he's from Texas," volunteered Mr. Gabis. "I don't look at the label. I listen to what he says. I think his name is Ron Paul. I like him. I'd vote for him."

Des Moines resident Rod Shutt likes Mr. Paul for his "secure our borders now" position on immigration and said young people "like what they hear him say."

Mr. Paul, who raised most of his campaign dollars in the past quarter on the Internet and has $2.4 million cash on hand, wowed young voters across the country last month when he appeared on Comedy Central's "Colbert Report."

When host Stephen Colbert introduced Mr. Paul as having voted against the Patriot Act and the Iraq war, the liberal audience went wild with cheers. Mr. Colbert asked, "Are you a Republican or are you not a Republican?" Mr. Paul responded: "You're confused because I'm a constitutionalist. ... It's not that unusual to put those together if you believe in the rule of law, and you believe in the American tradition, and believe in limited government and you believe in liberty."

Mr. Paul was one of six House Republicans to vote against the Iraq war in 2002.

Commentator Patrick J. Buchanan says Mr. Paul's impact will depend on the size of the vote he attracts.

"If he starts running up 15 percent or 20 percent of the vote in Republican primaries, it says: The GOP is headed in the wrong direction, secure the border, get out of Iraq, come home, America," Mr. Buchanan told The Washington Times.

Influencing the Republican stance on major issues is the most likely outcome of the Paul candidacy.

"While I am very skeptical that he will win the nomination, historically challengers' biggest impact has been in shaping the debate — forcing the more popular candidates to address issues they might like to gloss over," said Merrill Matthews, resident scholar at the Institute for Policy Innovation (IPI) in Dallas. "I suspect Paul's principled opposition to massive government spending and the war could reach out to two different GOP groups — one large, one not so large — with the message: 'You are not alone.'"

Mr. Matthews sees a twofold impact for Mr. Paul: "His libertarian bent makes him the most principled of the Republican candidates. The large segment of the conservative base shares his rebellion against the GOP's willingness to become part of Washington's big-spending establishment. And as the only antiwar Republican candidate, he may provide a safe harbor to conservatives who are increasingly growing dissatisfied with the war."

Sympathetic conservatives say most of the Republican establishment just wishes Mr. Paul would get lost.

"The Republicans have made a serious mistake in making it difficult for Ron Paul to participate in the debates," said Paul M. Weyrich, founder of the Free Congress Foundation, a conservative policy organization. "Do all candidates have to be in lockstep? It may be that some conservatives have now forgotten, but Paul actually represents the authentic views on foreign policy of the late Sen. Robert A. Taft of Ohio, who articulated these views prior to the 1952 Republican convention."

Still, even some admirers are skeptics.

"Certainly there is a case to be made for a GOP protest vote in favor of Ron Paul,” said Jameson Campaigne Jr., an Illinois-based director of the American Conservative Union. “But I don't think small-‘c" conservative voters dare waste a vote on such a thing — unless the three front-runners in January are all discredited — Mitt Romney, Rudy Giuliani, and Fred Thompson. And while I greatly admire Ron Paul's strict constitutionalism, his campaign lacks the creativity to solicit a 'send them a message' protest vote."

Mr. Buchanan thinks the Texan is in it for the duration.

"If he stays in the race he will have a solid, hard-core but small following the whole way through the nomination contest," the former Nixon and Reagan White House aide said. "He has the money to go the distance because he harbors his resources."

As for the tiny office, Paul campaign chairman Kent Snyder told supporters recently they'd outgrown it. The campaign will expand to the second floor of a "modest" building in Arlington near the Metro rail line.

"Large windows will be perfect for a 'Ron Paul 2008' banner," Mr. Snyder said. “But most importantly, the new office will give us the space to build a national campaign.”

It's cool that they keep outgrowing their offices. I can't help but hoping all these people saying he doesn't have a chance get the opportunity to eat their words.

If nothing else, noticeable progress is being made in that this major media outlet did an article about RP.

DosEquis · 07-10-2007, 11:51 PM

I could only hope that this race comes down to the two best candidates that actually have valid plans for Iraq, that being Ron Paul vs. Joe Biden in the end. Joe has had a plan that he and a key republican senator (lugar) have been working on for a couple years now.

Ron is all about not using our military for imperialism and nation building. If it does come down to those two for 2008 I will have a renewed confidence in our democracy.

nerfball · 07-11-2007, 09:23 AM

I usually vote with a resentful apathy, holding my nose as I make my selection, but not this time! Dr. Paul has the most integrity of any politician I have ever heard of in recent times. He is on point every time I hear him speak. His voting record can speak for him and he seemingly can't be bought.

I'm in for the ride! Give 'em hell Ron!

nerfball · 07-11-2007, 11:03 AM

kinda dramatic, but a nice delivery, nonetheless. YouTube - /* this is the revolution */

to arms!

thomez · 07-11-2007, 12:17 PM

Originally Posted by nerfball

I usually vote with a resentful apathy, holding my nose as I make my selection, but not this time! Dr. Paul has the most integrity of any politician I have ever heard of in recent times. He is on point every time I hear him speak. His voting record can speak for him and he seemingly can't be bought.

I'm in for the ride! Give 'em hell Ron!

I love it

nerfball · 07-11-2007, 01:07 PM

Originally Posted by thomez

I love it

I just changed my political affiliation, from independent to republican, so I can vote in the Florida primaries and get Paul another vote. I really hope people get out in numbers for him. I can't wait for the media to be forced to recognize his candidacy.

Publius · 07-11-2007, 05:46 PM

Ron Paul will be on KLIF 570AM in Dallas in about 20 minutes, talking about immigration and the Iraq War with some local guy named Jon-David Wells.

I've never listened to him or the station, but you can listen online @ 570 KLIF - Stimulating Talk

thomez · 07-11-2007, 06:09 PM

on now

Publius · 07-12-2007, 08:54 AM

Originally Posted by thomez

on now

How was it? i didnt get a chance to listen

thomez · 07-12-2007, 11:16 AM

Originally Posted by Publius

How was it? i didnt get a chance to listen

it was okay, I listened to as much as I could

the interviewer rushed through a ton of issues and seemed like he wanted to put Ron on the spot on things

one example: he asked Ron about abortion, then followed that up with a question about what medical procedure he would do if he had to deal with a fetus dying in utero

Ron said that most likely a c-section would be done, but other options could be explored such as removal

the interviewer exclaimed "YOU MEAN PARTIAL BIRTH ABORTION???!!!"

and Ron was like... uhh... you said the baby was already dead!

but it was overall good, maybe it is on youtube or something if you wanted to hear it

lew · 07-12-2007, 11:47 AM

Originally Posted by thomez

it was okay, I listened to as much as I could

the interviewer rushed through a ton of issues and seemed like he wanted to put Ron on the spot on things

one example: he asked Ron about abortion, then followed that up with a question about what medical procedure he would do if he had to deal with a fetus dying in utero

Ron said that most likely a c-section would be done, but other options could be explored such as removal

the interviewer exclaimed "YOU MEAN PARTIAL BIRTH ABORTION???!!!"

and Ron was like... uhh... you said the baby was already dead!

but it was overall good, maybe it is on youtube or something if you wanted to hear it

thomez · 07-12-2007, 11:50 AM

yeah, I was like wtf.... this explains why the show has Fox News highlights every hour...

Publius · 07-12-2007, 11:51 AM

Originally Posted by thomez

yeah, I was like wtf.... this explains why the show has Fox News highlights every hour...

like i said, i've never listened to the station, let alone that guy. The only talk radio I listen to is entertainment talk (Russ Martin), not political talk.

AVengeance · 07-12-2007, 01:53 PM

Does anyone else find it irritating when the major media calls him Mr Paul instead of Dr Paul. He IS a doctor, after all. Even if his doctorate was in education or something, he should be acknowedged for what he is. Thing is, he's an expert at something in the real world, not just being a slithering lawyer like the vast majority of them.

Linzyhop · 07-12-2007, 02:02 PM

Originally Posted by AVengeance

Does anyone else find it irritating when the major media calls him Mr Paul instead of Dr Paul. He IS a doctor, after all. Even if his doctorate was in education or something, he should be acknowedged for what he is. Thing is, he's an expert at something in the real world, not just being a slithering lawyer like the vast majority of them.

see, i didn't even know that. well, it's shows good for his character that he doesn't correct them. humbled at least.

Ardentfrost · 07-12-2007, 03:32 PM

Doctor of education? Dude, he's a medical doctor.

thomez · 07-12-2007, 03:45 PM

Originally Posted by Ardentfrost

Doctor of education? Dude, he's a medical doctor.

he said "even if his doctorate was in education" that he should be called Dr. Paul

nerfball · 07-12-2007, 05:00 PM

Ron Paul has been owning motherfuckers since waaaay back in the day...

YouTube - Ron Paul vs. Morton Downey Jr.'s audience 1988

Ardentfrost · 07-12-2007, 09:38 PM

Originally Posted by thomez

he said "even if his doctorate was in education" that he should be called Dr. Paul

Ah, missed the "even if" part

jimeigh · 07-13-2007, 12:50 AM

one of my most fulfilling conversations this summer was at my job as a lifeguard. i had a chat with a very disgruntled old guy who was fed up with income tax and "bitches like hillary." he said "universal healthcare? fuck that. voting for anyone who supports that is like voting for the devil himself." then he mentioned, "im a libertarian, and always have been," and at that i jumped and told him about Ron Paul. the old man didnt even know Ron Paul was running, and he claims to be on the internet a lot and that he watches the debates. i told him some things about Ron Paul, and told him to go look him up on the internet, and the old guy's face lit up like a guy who just got laid for the first time in 20 years.