Ron Paul, the Real Republican? (Announcing the Great Ron Paul Ping List)

Fox News ^ | February 20, 2007 | Radley Balko

[OrthodoxPresbyterian]

Ron Paul, the Real Republican?

Tuesday, February 20, 2007
By Radley Balko

When you read about a vote in Congress that goes something like 412-1, odds are pretty good that the sole "nay" came from Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas. He so consistently votes against widely popular bills, in fact, that the Washington Post recently gave him the moniker "Congressman 'No.'"

Paul isn't a reflexive contrarian--he doesn't oppose just to oppose. Rather, he has a core set of principles that guide him. They happen to be the same principles envisioned by the framers of the U.S. Constitution: limited government, federalism, free trade and commerce -- with a premium on peace.

When most members of Congress see a bill for the first time, they immediately judge the bill on its merits, or if you're more cynical, they determine what the political interests that support them will think of it, or how it might benefit their constituents.

For Paul, the vast majority of bills don't get that far. He first asks, "Does the Constitution authorize Congress to pass this law?" Most of the time, the answer to that question is "no." And so Paul votes accordingly.

This hasn't won him many friends in Congress, or, for that matter, his own party. It hasn't won him influential committee assignments or powerful chairmanships, either. Those are generally handed out to the party animals who vote as they're told. An incorruptible man of principle in a corrupt body almost utterly devoid of principle, Paul is often a caucus of one.

Paul recently announced his intentions to run for president in 2008. For the few of us who still care about limited government, individual rights, and a sensible foreign policy, Paul's candidacy is terrific news....Continue reading

[TexasCajun]

Ron Paul & John MeCain?

That's your team for 2008?

[Eighth Square]

Yes, but what's he gonna do about 'Goball Hotting'?

[capt. norm]

Just because his vote was tallied with the Dems does not mean his rationale was the same.

It had the same effect on our troops and military capability...and I couldn't care less about his "nuanced" (a la Kerry) reason for voting that way.

The damage has been done and he was an accomplice.

How disgusting!

[dynoman]

"Government dominated by convicted Islamic Terrorists who "

What about this Iraqi MP??

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzLnMk-bO8w

I've read that many Iraiqs feel this way, those are the ones we are there for.

I've voted for Ron Paul in the past but his willingness to hang guys like this Iraqi MP out to dry does not sit well with me at all.

[OrthodoxPresbyterian]

Your question is based on a false premise. How about the real question: Now that Saddam Hussein is DEAD: do you believe the Federal Government should: (A) abandon those people of Iraq who put their trust in the USA (e.g., the Kurds) and our promises of support, such that no other people would EVER trust the USA again and (B) surrrender the people and oilfields of Iraq to the terrorists state of Iran, so as to help Iran dominate the Middle East, have more money to build nuclear weapons, and create an unstable venue and a bunch of desperate people for terrorists to exploit who will eventually come to the USA and kill us? Yes, or No?

Those people voted convicted Islamic Terrorists guilty of murdering hundreds of US Marines into Ruling Government office, such that Iraqi oilfields are NOW under the control of Iranian-backed Islamic Terrorists.

"Democracies" which vote Terrorists into Power are unworthy of US support.

So, having answered your question, you answer mine:

Now that Saddam Hussein is DEAD, do you believe that the Federal Government should spend hundreds of billions of dollars and thousands of American Lives to provide military and financial support to a Government dominated by convicted Islamic Terrorists who attacked our Embassies and murdered hundreds of United States Marines in cold blood?

YES, or NO?

[Spiff]

Ron Paul just eliminated any possibility that I would vote for him for any office. I was a fan of his. I even tried to overlook some of the things he was saying about the WoT. Last week he voted with the Democrats FOR the non-binding resolution to betray our troops in Iraq. He's a disgrace to the Republican Party and will never get my support.

[MeanWestTexan]

As a person who loves Israel (and has many family members there), Ron Paul's position to abandon Israel to the Arabs "because it is a mess over there" is particularly disheartening and wrong-headed.

[Suzy Quzy]

White Flag Paul.....I'll pass.

[USMMA_83]

He could have abstained, and drafted a resolution that stated his point rather than the cut-and-run resolution. So, in fact he did cut-n-run...you can't spin that any other way. He's a loser, and we are going to offer him retirement during the next election cycle.

[OrthodoxPresbyterian]

Ron Paul and... whomever he picks for Veep, it won't be McCain.

[pissant]

Ron Paul would get us killed.

[AmishDude]

I would take your position much more seriously if you didn't misspell Lebanon.

Twice.

[wideawake]

Oooh! "Dr." Paul! How fancy!

How is he able to be corrupted?,p>He took a principled stand on term limits and pledged not to serve more than three terms.

He is now in his 6th or 7th term, I forget which.

I guess principle goes out the window for Ron Paul when he stands to benefit from violating his principles.

[MeanWestTexan]

You didn't answer the question, you merely repeated your lie.

[Brian Sears]

Sorry, Ron Paul is a cowardly, spineless White Flag Republican, and that "Republican" is stretching it.

[OrthodoxPresbyterian]

Regardless, the Parties in Iraq are made up of Islamic Terrorists who have attacked our Embassies and murdered our Marines.

The Iraqi government is thus unworthy of any further support.

[dread78645]

Add please.

[capt. norm]

I love fanatics. They are very entertaining and immune to all logic.

You are now in that category and I'm enjoying the show.

The Ron Paul campaign has already 'peaked' and will soon descend even further into irrelevance.

[USMMA_83]

The guy's a loon. Daffy Duck looks like a genius next to our orthodox FRiend.

[AmishDude]

Ron Paul could have voted "present". That he didn't is telling.