Posted on 05/09/2011 6:10:17 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Here’s a news bulletin — it is becoming increasingly clear that we are living in a time when Republican politics are being shaped by a 75-year-old, 12-term Texas congressman with a son in the Senate. And incredibly, it is no longer out of the realm of possibility that this outcast of the GOP establishment may win the party’s presidential nomination.
If you have not been paying attention, it is time to look around and realize that we are living in the political age of Rep. Ron Paul.
A CNN/Opinion Research poll released late last week shows Paul faring the best against President Obama of any potential Republican candidate. He trails the president by only 7 points, 52-45 percent, in a head-to-head matchup. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee trails by 8 points, with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney down 11 points to Obama.
In February, Paul won the presidential straw poll at the Conservative Action Conference for the second straight year.
Last Thursday, the day of the first GOP debate, one of Paul’s fabulously-labeled “money bombs” exploded with the announcement of $1 million in contributions for the Paul campaign.
The Tea Party, which drove the GOP to claim a majority of the House in the mid-term elections, grew largely out of the ashes of his 2008 presidential campaign, which emphasized limited government and a return to constitutional principles. Since then, the Tea Party has bullied the Republican leadership in the House to force budget cuts at the risk of shutting down the government and collectively become the most persistent critic of the Obama presidency on financial regulatory reform and health care.
The roots of all of this are in the libertarian mind of Rep. Paul.
At last week’s debate, put on by my other employer, Fox News Channel, I was struck by the libertarian flair the iconoclast injected into the evening. First, his presence along with another libertarian Republican — former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson — allowed for Republicans nationwide to witness a debate in which strong arguments for immediate U.S. withdrawal from Iraq and Afghanistan came from the right. But that was just the start. There are instances where Paul’s views make the Republican establishment want to scream.
For example, I asked him about his stated concern that Israel will launch a unilateral military strike against Iran. He replied that Israel had become too dependent on U.S. military and foreign aid and that it should be responsible for its own security and sovereignty. In the past he has blasted the “neoconservatives” and their influence on U.S. foreign policy.
He has been adamantly opposed to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan since the beginning and has called for an immediate pullout of all U.S. troops. He rails against the American “empire” and argues that U.S. spending on a global military presence should be cut.
Paul’s thinking is also having an impact on conservative views about domestic policy.
Even when he called for legalization of marijuana, cocaine and heroin at the debate it did not elicit hooting but cheers from South Carolina’s famously right-wing Republicans.
Ron Paul’s son, Rand Paul, was elected as a senator from Kentucky in 2010 with 55 percent of the vote. Paul is a chip off the old block — espousing many of the same libertarian views as his father. Because of this, he has become one of the most distinctive newcomers in the United States Senate.
It was almost exactly four years ago when Ron Paul sparred with former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani in a 2008 Republican presidential primary debate. Paul said about the role of U.S. policy in bringing about the 9/11 attacks: “They attack us because we’ve been over there, we’ve been bombing Iraq for 10 years. We’ve been in the Middle East. I think Reagan was right. We don’t understand the irrationality of Middle Eastern politics.”
Giuliani shot back: “That’s an extraordinary statement of someone who lived through the attack of Sept. 11, that we invited the attack because we were attacking Iraq. I would ask the congressman to withdraw that comment and tell us that he didn’t really mean that.”
Who could have guessed that, four years later, Giuliani would be off the stage while the persistent Paul is growing, exhibiting more and more power in Republican politics, shaping the GOP debates and in the absence of any strong establishment candidate, looking like a strong contender for the party’s 2012 nomination?
juan has got to be dropping acid... he is trippin’!
LLS
FOX needs to stop this madness by having these lefty freaks come on and give their loon made up so called facts and wht is best for our party
Ron Paul is a libertarian and why he runs on our ticket is mind boggling except to get attention.
We all know he will never get elected and we don’t fall for his loud in your face supporters trying to make it look like he’s popular/
As for the other retreads, then please go away Huck etc.
If the GOP had balls then they would get behind Palin or Michelle Bachmann but alas it seems they are not the old crusty establishment elitist party who will do what the elitists like Charles K , National review etc tell them
They will use any means necessary against her and what she believes in. Her natural charisma is what they are deathly afraid of. She has what they hope to create for their candidates (almost universally a collection of freaks, creeps and deviants.)
Sarah does not have the achievements which should engender such fears so it is beyond ideologies. She, in fact, appears to be as much a Populist as a Conservative which does not affect my regard for her. But the lib/media is hysterical with fear of her so she is my candidate to the end.
Vet another thing pal.
If we are to get a decent candidate then we have to stop those with no party and Dems voting in our primary.
Look at NH where these non party folk can vote in our primary but we have no way of knowing if they are rats either and then change party before the national election
Primaries should be for republicans and that is all, plus get rid of early voting to stop the left , union, illegals, students from cheating as usual
Oh man... you are singing my song... I agree 1000%! Photoi ID’s too.
LLS
Sadly, Paul is in my top tier with the current crop running.
Oh man... you are singing my song... I agree 1000%! Photo ID’s too.
LLS
Is Juan stoned?
damn right.
Photo ID’s and two pieces of bills if poll workers suspect something.
The early voting I hate, Mccain won this state on the night 53% to 47% and yet because of vote early and often bozo the clown win it
I know this state and counties and there is no way he won a couple of those counties and no way won this state .
Remember NH where non party folks voted Mccain and gave him the wind behind his back?
Why do we let the media and the non party folks elect our guy or gal anyway, stop this madness for once GOP
Juan may be a nice guy but a pundit! May a donut whole! My urge when Juan is on ... change the channel.
LLS
Wallace said on Sunday that Ron Paul was the original founder of the tea party.
It seems that FNC has lost it’s mind completely.
Ron Paul is certifiably insane, IMO
No, he does not have that excuse. Juan Williams is simply epic stupid.
Nice try Juanito.
NOT
I don’t know but I bet the mini bar needs a full restocking each time he checks out.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.