Texas Congressman Ron Paul files for GOP presidential bid

kristv.com ^ | today

[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

[JeffAtlanta]

What you are saying might have had meaning two or three years ago. It no longer does. The dems now control the Congress. I can't say that enough.

If Bush had fought the war the way dcwusmc has laid out the Dems wouldn't be in control of Congress.

Contining to fight anti-American islamic groups the way we have is a fool's errand. If we're not going to do it right then why do it all?

[Ditter]

Thanks for the vote of confidence. I am not familiar with Duncan Hunter, you will have to fill me in on him.

[jmc813]

Sen. Latenberg from NJ was a name that make a big stink of this. Try putting his name into the research that you may (or may not) do.

Trust NOTHING that Frank Lautenberg says. He is about the biggest dope in the Senate, and that's saying a lot. My one and only letter to a newspaper that got published was in regards to that schmuck violating gun safety rules while giving a gun-grabbing speech.

[jmc813]

Did you happen to catch the video of the President giving the Medal of Honor to the parents of the young Marine today? If you did, compare the humble humility we saw there with this.

As stupid as Paul is on the war, he is very very good about honoring troops and veterans in his district.

[jmc813]

I know its galling to see too much of one you would like to have just shut up and go away, but I think I sometimes need to have those with whom I don't constantly agree with share the microphone with me to have me reach down deep to make the most sincere points.

Remember, there is no thread too small to make some truely harsh comments that will drive away at least one reader who otherwise might be our countryman.

I like your attitude. One of my New Years resolutions is to be nicer to people on FR. I was looking back at some old school threads the other day (mostly on the drug war, remember those days CWO?) and realized I would say things on here that I would NEVER say to somebody in person.

So I'll start here. I'm a Duncan Hunter/Ron Paul guy. As much as Guiliani turns my stomach due to his gun-grabbing and pro-abortion stances, I'll go out of my way to be nice to those freepers who choose to support him. Don't get me wrong, I'll still have plenty of venom towards Rudy, and bash him at every opportunity I get, but I'll take seriously his candidacy and not belittle people for supporting him.

[rob777]

"well, in these things you have to weigh positives vs negatives. My first priority, personally, happens to be downsizing the federal government and repealing socialism. Ron Paul will do that, no question. In large part, I don't agree with him on the war in Iraq or WOT. However, I fear socialism and homegrown threats to liberty greater than I do islamic terrorists."


My thoughts exactly, Ron Paul is the ONLY political figure in Washington D.C. who is really serious about actually reducing the role of our federal government to its constitutional mandate. I doubt that he will win the GOP primary, but I am hoping that he can force the issue of a constitutionally limited government into the debates. I will be supporting him in hopes that he has an affect on the debates.

[A Balrog of Morgoth]

Don Quixote rides again.

[cva66snipe]

I agree 100% with that.

[A Balrog of Morgoth]

Three words: No bid contracts

What, exactly do those three words mean?

In what context?

How many companies are there that are capable of fulfilling major logistics contracts in a combat zone?

Are they American companies?

[cva66snipe]

There is nothing to surrender in Iraq. We have won. Saddam is dead. Unless you want to kill every Shiite and Sunni in Iraq, there is no amount of American troops that will make them stop killing each other. It's what Muslims do. They have done it since the middle ages. I don't understand why that is so hard for you to understand? Muslims are not like us. they don't want freedom, or democracy, or human rights. These things are not allowed by their religion. As long as they are Muslims they will never want these things and so will never be able to live in peace. Better to seal off Muslims from the west and let them kill each other instead of us.

Right. The best way to handle terrorism at this point is to bring our troops home and immediately begin rebuilding our military. Smaller Pentagon ran covert operations should replace our current policy in dealing with heads of state who support terrorism.

In the meantime every POTUS and congress since 1989 has been running our troops both active duty and reserve into the ground but not a single soul of them has yet to call for an increase in End Troop Strengths. The idiots would rather run those we do have into the ground first. We are at war with a 1996 Troop Strength Level and everybody thinks it's all fine a dandy because a Republican is POTUS.

[rmlew]

I like Ron Paul on many issues. However, he is under the delusion that we can ignore Islamism. That disqualifies him as far as I am concerned.

[A Balrog of Morgoth]

In the meantime every POTUS and congress since 1989 has been running our troops both active duty and reserve into the ground but not a single soul of them has yet to call for an increase in End Troop Strengths. The idiots would rather run those we do have into the ground first. We are at war with a 1996 Troop Strength Level and everybody thinks it's all fine a dandy because a Republican is POTUS.

I have to concur with you there. It made perfect sense to me to cut some of the older ships and aircraft, and even some of the ground forces, but they went way to far.

Just had to have that "Peace Dividend" to underwrite our little vacation from history in the go-go 90s.

[cva66snipe]

I like Ron Paul on many issues. However, he is under the delusion that we can ignore Islamism. That disqualifies him as far as I am concerned.

I think you would see them dealt with in a different approach and likely more effectively with many of our troops lives spared. We know who they are. They being the leaders. Make the covert targets of opportunity. We could stay over in the M.E. the next 50 years and still not change it OR we can have our troops except some special ops back home rebuilding for a probable major war and by major I mean on a WW scale while the leaders of terrorist cells are being eliminated.

If we don't get out troop levels and associated equipment back up at lest by half soon every piss ant nation with a dictator like North Korea is gonna try for a piece of us. Peace through strength. Our troops need a rest and we can accomplish more now via other means rather than being in their shooting and road side bomb killing gallery. Why should we fight on their terms?

[cva66snipe]

I have to concur with you there. It made perfect sense to me to cut some of the older ships and aircraft, and even some of the ground forces, but they went way to far. Just had to have that "Peace Dividend" to underwrite our little vacation from history in the go-go 90s.

Gulf War one cost us a carrier due to poor deployment rotations. We were already cut too short before Slick Willie even got his turn at it. Look at this one though for my point. USS KITTY HAWK was the head of her class or the oldest. USS AMERICA was the last one built. Which one still floats? A carrier lost because we were downsizing during war then as well. The ship made three deployments in three years time missing needed yard work and maintenance. Upon return to the US 1994 she had a boiler explosion and had to be taken to the yards Cold Iron. {towed} Even the JFK which is the newest conventional & junior to the AMERICA is fixing to go even before the KITTY HAWK.

[rmlew]

We are not just dealing with terrorist groups or even their ideology. There are governments which support them.

I do not believe in democratising the middle east and never have.

[ConservativeDude]

Just an fyi here. Paul's district in Texas, I am told, is actually marginally Democratic.

If he gives up his house seat, which under Texas law he would not be required to do, by the way, it will likely go to a D.

[softengine]

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[KC Burke]

That is one of the most sincere compliments that anyone on FR has ever offered to me.

I go back about nine years, although my registration doesn't show the full length.

I have made good fellowship with many that I have disagreed with the strongest as well as those that have been my compaitriates. I have met many in person, and no surprise, they are often more interesting and genuine as real people then as posters.

Because we like the board, we invest a lot in the debates, often too much, and to get where we want in over-powering our fellows, we loose sight of the fellowship.

There are some on this board, and others now gone, that are so far superior people than what we imagine that I have always maintained that I better stay cautiously generous.

I love to use the old fashioned word "countrymen" for the guys and gals on this board. It is a pure delight to share this nation with them. I know my nation has a future because of what I have seen here.

Thanks again for the kind words.

[JeffAtlanta]

I do not believe in democratising the middle east and never have.

Agreed - in fact I really don't think that democracies work until a country has a dominant middle class.

Look at South America, Africa and Haiti - those countries elect a person by then they are overthrown a year later. Venezuela is a democracy (or was before voter fraud made it moot) but with such a large number of uneducated poor, it is easy to sway the masses.

The Iraqis have shown that they are not, as a population, willing to do what it takes to have self rule. It's great with the purple fingers and all, but why are they not directly helping in rooting out the terrorists among them?

[txrangerette]

Congressman Duncan Hunter - Proudly Serving the 52nd District of California : Biography

http://www.house.gov/hunter/biography.shtml

Congressman Duncan Hunter -
Proudly Serving the 52nd District of California : Home Page

http://www.house.gov/hunter/

DNC: "Duncan Hunter Out of Touch on Iraq"(Demonrats on attack)

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1766468/posts

(Rep.Duncan Hunter) Rotate Iraqi Troops Through Baghdad .... (27 Iraqi battalions)

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1765895/posts

[Duncan] Hunter supports president's plan for more troops in Iraq

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1765157/posts

California rep touts conservative appeal(Duncan Hunter)

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1764645/posts

Ditter, you can go to any one of these thread links and post to the one who pings us to these Duncan Hunter threads that you would like to be on the ping list. So that when a new Hunter thread is posted you will be automatically pinged, if you are interested. I've also included links to his Congressional Home Page and to his Official Biography Page. Also, Jim Robinson has put a poll at the bottom of the FReeRepublic sidebar that actually polls us on Duncan Hunter support here at this site.