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Texas Congressman Ron Paul files for GOP presidential bid
kristv.com ^ | today

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


TOPICS: Announcements; Constitution/Conservatism; Front Page News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2008; antiamerican; awesome; bestrepublican; donquixote; electionpresident; liberal; rlc; ronpaul; sheehansfavorite; spiritofgoldwater; texas; truerepublican; weakonterror
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To: dcwusmc
"For some reason, it's hard for you to consider the Constitution ANY TIME."

LOL! For some reason you have a hard time considering surrendering to our enemy ANY TIME. I totally understand...no loss too great to sooth your politican angst...not even the loss of a war.

281 posted on 01/11/2007 9:24:49 PM PST by CWOJackson
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To: daybreakcoming
Your post #114 I believe that the president and his buddies do want to see a stable and free Iraq.

That wasn't my post at #114. New glasses?

I asked for a link to your statement in #114....blah, blah, blah

Look, I find some pesky women sexy- but not when all they ask for are "links". Unless it's the "Jimmy Dean", that is.

282 posted on 01/11/2007 9:25:14 PM PST by budwiesest (I approve of this message.)
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'Explosion' at US Athens embassy

An explosion has been heard in the US embassy compound in the Greek capital, Athens, reports say. Police have surrounded the building and cordoned off the nearby area as they begin to investigate the disturbance.

There was no immediate information about what caused the suspected blast, and no word on any damage or possible injuries.

Fire engines rushed to the scene, amid reports of a third floor blast shortly before dawn, AFP news agency said.

QUICK...SURRENDER!

283 posted on 01/11/2007 9:27:00 PM PST by CWOJackson
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To: CWOJackson

Who? Rodney King, the one you're calling a world class putz? He's not selling out the troops. It's more like people like you selling them out... When they take that oath to protect and defend the Constitution, people like you are back here using that same document to wipe your nasty a$$ with... No wonder you don't have either the time or the inclination to consider it... you're too busy trashing it.


284 posted on 01/11/2007 9:27:21 PM PST by dcwusmc (We need to make government so small that it can be drowned in a bathtub.)
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To: Jim Robinson
Well, I tell you, we (the collective we) didn't do Bush or ourselves or our borders any favors by turning control of the Congress over to the treasonous rats. That was a monumental error in someone's calculations.

I don't know what voters were thinking when they put "ethics in Washington" above national security on their lists of priorities. The rats are morally bankrupt and in this post 9/11 era, they couldn't care less about national security.

I understand the need to "throw the bums out", but my God, there isn't a clean finger in Washington, regardless of which party one is talking about.

285 posted on 01/11/2007 9:28:44 PM PST by BigSkyFreeper (There is no alternative to the GOP except varying degrees of insanity)
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To: onyx
We have nukes and I'd use 'em, but I do not agree with cut and run. Iraq must be won.

What is your take on Duncan Hunter's run for '08?

286 posted on 01/11/2007 9:28:45 PM PST by jmc813 (Go Jets!)
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To: dcwusmc
LOL! You're in the same world class he is. You're so damned tightly wrapped in "your" narrow view of the Constitution you don't care about the nation. To the point where you would support a politician who would surrender in time of war simply to sooth your politican angst.

What a tool.

287 posted on 01/11/2007 9:29:51 PM PST by CWOJackson
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To: CWOJackson

"For some reason you have a hard time considering surrendering to our enemy ANY TIME."

That is the first thing you have said in a LONG time that I can agree with... Of course it's hardly what you meant to say... but oh, well...


288 posted on 01/11/2007 9:30:02 PM PST by dcwusmc (We need to make government so small that it can be drowned in a bathtub.)
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To: dcwusmc
Look how many turned against Tom McClintock both times he was on the statewide ballot.

Apples and oranges. You're referring to the California primaries, as opposed to a national election. That's like saying Hillary will be the next president because she's got a lock on New York City.

289 posted on 01/11/2007 9:31:37 PM PST by BigSkyFreeper (There is no alternative to the GOP except varying degrees of insanity)
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To: dcwusmc

It's what I've been saying from the start on both these threads. Don't blame me if you have reading comprehension problems.


290 posted on 01/11/2007 9:32:04 PM PST by CWOJackson
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To: dcwusmc
When they take that oath to protect and defend the Constitution...

Al Qaeda is in Iraq. Ron Paul would have us leave.

IMO, Ron Paul does not defend this country.

291 posted on 01/11/2007 9:34:38 PM PST by FreeReign
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To: CWOJackson
"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?"

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.

In my opinion you're being too one-issue oriented. I agree with you that Paul sucks on the WoT. Are you willing to agree with me that Bush is weak on growth of the government and other traditional concervative concerns?

292 posted on 01/11/2007 9:34:47 PM PST by jmc813 (Go Jets!)
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To: CWOJackson

Stay well. I doubt that you really need to worry about his delegate count, but I know that you won't let him pass your duty station without the constant challenge.


293 posted on 01/11/2007 9:35:30 PM PST by KC Burke (Men of intemperate minds can never be free...their passions forge their fetters.)
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To: Rodney King
The GOP/RINO equivalent of the Dem Dennis Kucinich! LOL
294 posted on 01/11/2007 9:35:47 PM PST by nopardons
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To: jmc813

I want a full field of GOP candidates. I like Duncan Hunter, but think his chances are mighty slim, but he'll bring courage and enlightment on several issues into the debates.


295 posted on 01/11/2007 9:36:51 PM PST by onyx (DONATE NOW! -- It takes DONATIONS to keep FR running!!)
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To: CWOJackson

If you read my responses to JimRob, you'd know better than that... but I expect nothing more from you and you have yet to disappoint me.

What I have been saying is that we have not fought to WIN, any more than we did in Vietnam. W has all but squandered our best chance to win by trying to fight a "compassionate" war instead of kicking our enemy in the nuts, then kicking him some more until he can't even move. Now he's into that unconstitutional nation-building thing and more "compassion" and we are just wasting our time and our kids' lives and lots of our national treasure pissing in the wind.


296 posted on 01/11/2007 9:37:09 PM PST by dcwusmc (We need to make government so small that it can be drowned in a bathtub.)
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To: jmc813
"In my opinion you're being too one-issue oriented."

We're not talking midnight basketball...we're talking a war of survival.

297 posted on 01/11/2007 9:37:14 PM PST by CWOJackson
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To: KC Burke
"I know that you won't let him pass your duty station without the constant challenge."

Yes, an odd thing about me...I don't suffer traitors or fools lightly.

298 posted on 01/11/2007 9:38:12 PM PST by CWOJackson
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To: CWOJackson

Did you actually read what you wrote to me? Try it.


299 posted on 01/11/2007 9:38:28 PM PST by dcwusmc (We need to make government so small that it can be drowned in a bathtub.)
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To: BigSkyFreeper
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.

For better or for worse, we are in the primary campaign. If you're looking for someone great on both domestic and foreign issues, please look into Hunter. He's the only chance of the GOP possibly winning in '08.

300 posted on 01/11/2007 9:38:48 PM PST by jmc813 (Go Jets!)
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