Posted on 01/11/2007 6:06:07 PM PST by Rodney King
Texas Congressman Ron Paul files for GOP presidential bid
HOUSTON -- Ron Paul, the iconoclastic nine-term congressman from southeast Texas, took the first step Thursday toward launching a second presidential bid in 2008, this time as a Republican.
Paul filed incorporation papers in Texas on Thursday to create a presidential exploratory committee that allows him and his supporters to collect money on behalf of his bid. This will be Paul's second try for the White House; he was the Libertarian nominee for president in 1988.
Kent Snyder, the chairman of Paul's exploratory committee and a former staffer on Paul's Libertarian campaign, said the congressman knows he's a long shot.
"There's no question that it's an uphill battle, and that Dr. Paul is an underdog," Snyder said. "But we think it's well worth doing and we'll let the voters decide."
Paul, of Lake Jackson, acknowledges that the national GOP has never fully embraced him despite his nine terms in office under its banner. He gets little money from the GOP's large traditional donors, but benefits from individual conservative and Libertarian donors outside Texas. He bills himself as "The Taxpayers' Best Friend," and is routinely ranked either first or second in the House of Representatives by the National Taxpayers Union, a national group advocating low taxes and limited government.
He describes himself as a lifelong Libertarian running as a Republican.
Paul was not available for comment Thursday, Snyder said.
But he said the campaign will test its ability to attract financial and political support before deciding whether to launch a full-fledged campaign. Snyder said Paul is not running just to make a point or to try to ensure that his issues are addressed, but to win.
Paul is expected to formally announce his bid in the next week or two, Snyder said.
Snyder said Paul and his supporters are not intimidated by the presence of nationally known and better-financed candidates such as Sen. John McCain of Arizona or former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts.
"This is going to be a grassroots American campaign," he said. "For us, it's either going to happen at the grassroots level or it's not."
Paul limits his view of the role of the federal government to those duties laid out in the U.S. Constitution. As a result, he sometimes casts votes that appear at odds with his constituents and other Republicans. He was the only Republican congressman to vote against Department of Defense appropriations for fiscal year 2007.
The vote against the defense appropriations bill, he said, was because of his opposition to the war in Iraq, which he said was "not necessary for our actual security."
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not b
Yes, I do. And it amazes me that there is a liberal bastian in southern Texas. Most folks I know down that way have no use for people who would surrender their nation.
I think that was the beginning of the pc war, when our flag was yanked off his statue so as not to offend their senseabilities.
Did you just hear there was an explosion in US Embassy in Athens, Greece?
At least you have a sense of humor.
I don't know about that, but a simple advanced google search will show that he is totally and completely obsessed with Ron Paul. Practically stalks the guy.
Then let's start correcting that now... But the Pubbies pretty much shot themselves in their collective feet by being nothing but Rats-lite. Of course, you have a lot of RINOs here who would not support a Conservative republican if he were the only one on the ballot. Look how many turned against Tom McClintock both times he was on the statewide ballot.
ROFLMAO. You are truly a world class putz.
I only know a hanful of people down in that general area, but I've gotten the general impression that they value individual liberties such as the right to life and 2nd Amendment rights. Would you even doubt that Paul is terrific in these regards?
OK then let the Generals do it. But we don't need nukes to do it. Have Bush untie the troops hands. But understand this part. To win means this. Take out all infrastructure including roads, bridges, utilities, communications, etc. It means putting them to a primitive existence. It means elimination any possibility of them gaining enough strength to fight us again. We are by no means headed in that direction. This nation in one form or another has been at war either with itself or other nations for 3000 plus years. It is the home of ancient Babylon. The hate is that old. It is that deeply embedded in tribal warfare and hate. I do not believe we will ever teach them to be kind and gentle to each other.
I guess that would explain your support for Cut-N-Run-Ron.
Touché. ;-)
Yes and I pinged you to the thread.
Perhaps so... but he doesn't seem to be a liar...
Chief, don't you figure that the folks in his district have had years and years to admire his single-mindedness on constitutional issues and see him like the beloved crazy cousin that is always taking care of the old widowed aunts that everyone else is too busy to care for and love him for his careful concern while putting up with his farting at the picnic table every year?
It's kind of hard to consider those issues when we have men and women fighting our nations enemies and Ron Paul calling for our nation to surrender.
Yes, he's very honest in selling our his nation and our people in uniform. What an admirable jerk.
"It's kind of hard to consider those issues when we have men and women fighting our nations enemies and Ron Paul calling for our nation to surrender."
For some reason, it's hard for you to consider the Constitution ANY TIME. Wonder why that would be?
The beloved crazy cousin thing lasts until the first soldier, marine, airman, sailor, coast guardsman comes home to be buried.
I'm not supporting anyone at this time for president, I remain in "wait and see" mode, but if he were the Republican nominee, then I would support him.
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.