WHY VOTE RON PAUL? Conservative Issues which are MORE IMPORTANT than Iraq

Ron Paul now 3rd Place on Free Republic ^ | May 4, 2007 | Orthodox Presbyterian

[OrthodoxPresbyterian]

WHY VOTE RON PAUL?
Conservative Issues which are MORE IMPORTANT than Iraq:

With the recent surge of support enjoyed by United States Congressman Ron Paul in response to the first GOP Primary Debate (in terms of Viewer Reaction to the Debates, Ron Paul is now ranked Third Place on the Free Republic Poll, Third Place on the Drudge Report Poll, and First Place on the MSNBC Poll), it behooves all Conservatives to examine the Candidacy of Ron Paul and ask: as the former Leader of Ronald Reagan's Electoral Delegation from Texas, is Ron Paul the Right candidate to carry forward the Reagan Legacy in the new millennium?

Of course, it goes without saying that Ron Paul is the most Fiscally Conservative Candidate in the race; that he is the greatest defender of the First Amendment, the Second Amendment, and indeed the entire Bill of Rights; and that he is a strong defender of the Right to Life and of US National Sovereignty -- none of that is in dispute. And it goes without saying that a "humble" foreign policy of Non-Interventionism is the traditional Conservative and Republican foreign policy, as opposed to the Liberal Interventionist policy of Nation-Building – which Conservatives have traditionally opposed.

However, given the recent ascendancy of Nation-Building "Neo-Conservatives" in the Republican ranks -- so-called "conservatives" who proclaim that Nation-Building in Iraq is utterly integral to the War on Terror and, indeed, outranks EVERY other issue in importance:

There is nothing more important than the WOT. All else takes the back seat.
67 posted on 05/03/2007 11:30:12 PM PDT by jrooney

We must ask ourselves -- is Iraq truly more important than ANY other Issue? Let us assume for a moment that Iraq IS a central front in the "War on Terror". And let us assume that being occupied by 140,000 foreign troops does NOT cause any Iraqi to consider joining the Jihadists when his wife or son or brother gets killed in an unfortunate spate of "collateral damage". And let us assume that trying to Police an Islamic Civil War while attempting to successfully engage in long-distance "Nation-Building" at the same time somehow IS even remotely Constitutional. Yes, let's assume ALL that!

The Question, then, is this: Are there any Issues which should be MORE important to Conservatives than Nation-Building in Iraq?

And the Answer... is a resounding YES.

• ABORTION: More Unborn Children in America die EVERY DAY from Abortion than all American Citizens who lost their lives in the 9/11 Attacks. source

  ABORTION is therefore FAR MORE IMPORTANT than spending Hundreds of Billions of Dollars trying to referee an Islamic Civil War in Iraq – and Ron Paul is RIGHT on Abortion. Ron Paul introduced the Sanctity of Life Act of 2005, recognizing the Personhood of every unborn baby and removing Abortion from the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.

• ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION: More American Citizens are Murdered EVERY YEAR by Illegal Immigrants than all American Citizens who lost their lives in the 9/11 Attacks. source

  ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION is therefore MORE IMPORTANT than spending Hundreds of Billions of Dollars trying to referee an Islamic Civil War in Iraq – and Ron Paul is RIGHT on Illegal Immigration. Ron Paul voted for the Secure Fence Act of 2006. “Amnesty for lawbreakers is not the answer, and it’s time to rethink birthright citizenship,” Paul added. ("Paul Votes for Stronger Border Security")

• GUN CONTROL: In the 20th Century, nuclear weapons were used to kill a few hundred thousand people, whereas "gun control" was used by governments to pave the way for killing over 100,000,000 people. source

  Opposing GUN CONTROL is therefore MORE IMPORTANT than spending Hundreds of Billions of Dollars trying to referee an Islamic Civil War in Iraq – and Ron Paul is RIGHT on the Second Amendment. Ron Paul is one of only five Congressmen to have an A+ Rating from the Gun Owners of America.

• COMMUNISM: According to the MW Hodges Economic Report (endorsed by Nobel Laureate Economist Dr. Milton Friedman), the total Government Share of the US Economy (defined as total Government Spending at all levels PLUS the total cost of Regulatory Compliance) under Presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush has now significantly exceeded the Private Share of the US Economy. No wonder our workers can't compete with "Chinese Slave Labor" – even though we're much more Productive than they are, our Government is now actually more Communistic than that of the Red Chinese!
  
  Rolling Back COMMUNISM is therefore MORE IMPORTANT than spending Hundreds of Billions of Dollars trying to referee an Islamic Civil War in Iraq – and Ron Paul is RIGHT on Limited Government. Ron Paul is ranked by Human Events as the biggest Tax Cutter in all of Congress. Paul Named #1 Tax Cutter in Congress: “(Paul) is a co-sponsor… of a constitutional amendment to repeal the 16th amendment and end income, gift, and estate taxes. Regularly pushes for tax cuts. Sponsor of bills to allow tax credits for private school tuition, to permit tax deduction of college tuition, and to stop all taxation of Social Security benefits. Opposes all unconstitutional spending programs.”

ABORTION. ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION. GUN CONTROL. Rolling back Domestic COMMUNISM. Taken individually, any ONE of these issues should be MORE IMPORTANT to True Conservatives than the War in Iraq. Taken as a group -- they are, together, FAR more important than the War in Iraq.

Rudy Giuliani is 100% Wrong on all of these issues -- and Ron Paul is 100% Right.

And that is why a Vote for Ron Paul is a Vote for True, Reagan-Republican Conservatism.

[oblomov]

>>Koresh=more then SLIGHTLY NUTTY.....ditto Ron Paul

I understand why you think so- the BATF cowboys are still around to tell their side of the story, but Koresh isn’t.

[Hop A Long Cassidy]

All of these issues are critical, but there’s no more important issue than ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION.

Once another amnesty goes through, there’s no looking back: there will never be a GOP win at the ballot box (in any way a conservative sense). After the next amnesty, forget: abortion, taxes, free trade, economic freedom. There will only be socialism from here to eternity. Ron Paul gets this issue correct.

Bush and his Neo-Cons failed the post-VietNam “2 year rule” (the public can only take overseas wars for 2 years). Now, by not partitioning nor putting in a dictator, our current strategy is going to let the Democrats negotiate the withdrawal from Iraq. The current policy is stuck on “stupid” and has past the voter’s patience.

[Capitalism2003]

Paul is the only one who truly intends to get rid of the I.R.S., and to get us out of Vietnam #2.

I know he comes off as a bit extreme...but fellow Freepers...when you get an extra 20 minutes, I highly recommend you skim the text below. Ron delivered this speech on the House floor last year. If you still disagree with him after reading his full opinion, so be it...You definately have my respect because you will be fully informed on where he stands (unlike most here):

Neoconned

[TheZMan]

Or perhaps I don’t know enough about this guy given your response. My apologies. I’ll do some more research.

[OrthodoxPresbyterian]

Abortion is not threatening me and my family nor does it threaten my way of life.

I thought that Conservatives stood up for Life, Liberty, and Property on Principle.

What you have just demonstrated, is that Liberal Interventionist Nation-Builders HAVE no Principles -- save for the Worship of Raw Government Power.

If we lose the WOT we lose our way of life. It is that simple.

Ridiculous.

Islam has not accomplished any major geographical advances in at least 500 years. Meanwhile, the Hindus kicked them out of power in India save for the minor rump of Pakistan, and the Catholics kicked them out of Spain and the Balkans (even now, the Muslims are at best reclaiming their foothold in Europe -- and as long as Europe pursues pro-Muslim Immigration policies, that's not really something we can do anything about, is it?)

The USA faced a far more deadly enemy in Soviet Communism, armed with 40,000 nuclear weapons and sworn to destroy us, than we face in a backwards medieval death-cult which is primarily concerned with killing "heretics" in their own ranks when Foreigners AREN'T OVER THERE.

[jmc813]

We should have an IQ test on Free Republic and I am sure Ron Paul supporters will rank last.

You do realize that Paul is the only candidate from either party to hold a doctorate, right?

[pfony1]

You said:

“...[Ron Paul] called for a formal Declaration of War as the Constitution demands.”

How quaint!!

No doubt Mr. Paul also believes that no enemies would EVER attack America unless they themselves “declared war” FIRST. One has to wonder if Mr. Paul is even AWARE of the events of 9/11.

Mr. Paul may be a nice person, but I see him as the kind of person, who, if he simultaneously:

(1) found a fire blazing in his bedroom and
(2) heard the buzzer on his clothes dryer

would run to the laundry room, saying “It’s TIME to fold the laundry”, while his house burned down around him.

IMHO, his “priorities” are mixed up. Big time.

[OrthodoxPresbyterian]

If Ron Paul is the Republican candidate for President I will not vote.

So... if you knew that the Election would come down to your one vote, you'd GLADLY stand back and allow Hitlery to gain power rather than vote for a proven Reagan Republican Constitutionalist like Ron Paul?

You don't belong on Free Republic. Plain and Simple.

[383rr]

Everyone conveniently forgets that, however.

[jmc813]

What kind of dog is that? He’s adorable.

[Dick Bachert]

Ron Paul DOES have it right. I haven’t discussed it with him personally, but previous conversations with him cause me to believe that — with some possible alterations — he’d endorse MY foreign policy as posted below.

Ron Paul LOVES America — the IDEA — not just the place and will defend them BOTH if threatened.

What he would NOT do is engage in this pissing away of American blood and treasure “nation building” for folks who have no or a very rudimentary understanding of what freedom means to them and what it takes to gain it. He SAID as much when he declared that if we’re going to go to war, the congress must vote for it and we go in to WIN — then get the hell out!

I could go on but, if those who read this think we CAN be the policeman of the world, you get the idea.

Without further ado, let the flamings begin!

**********

NOTICE TO ALL FOREIGN CITIZENS and THEIR GOVERNMENTS!
(EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY)

1. As a sovereign nation, you have the same rights to govern your nation as we have. Whether freely elected or despotic tyranny, how you run your government and DOMESTIC affairs is between you and your leaders. If you people don’t like how your government is behaving, we suggest you read some American history for the period between, say, 1774 and 1789. The world is awash in various sorts of small arms and other weapons. Getting enough to turn out your tyrant-du-jour ought not be a problem. Yes, many people will die (just as they did HERE in the late 1700s). It’s the price of freedom. But — and this is important to us — our SOLDIERS will not be among them. But trust us when we tell you that the casualties of your revolution will pale compared to those you will suffer should we be forced to invoke Clause 3!

2. Please pay SPECIAL attention to the word “domestic” in number 1.

3. The MINUTE we become privy to firm, corroborated intelligence that you have plans to harm the United States or one of our recognized allies — or, worst case — DO, in fact carry out such an operation, the United States and any such allies who wish to assist will come to you and request that you cease and desist. If you refuse to do so, we will TURN MOST OF YOUR LAND INTO A SMOKING RUIN. We include in this list of threats AIDING, ABETTING, HARBORING, TRAINING OR SUPPLYING THOSE WHO, ALTHOUGH NOT CITIZENS OF YOUR NATION, MAKE PLANS TO HARM US OR AN ALLY.

We wish to live and trade in peace with all peoples — BUT harm us or injure/kill American/allied citizens AND YOUR WORLD AS YOU HAVE KNOWN IT WILL SIMPLY GO AWAY — FOREVER.

(If you have never seen it, slide on down to Blockbuster and rent “The Day the Earth Stood Still” with Arabic/Farsi subtitles, of course. REREAD 3 AND THINK “GORT.”)

4. Once those smoking ruins have sufficiently cooled – and the radiation levels have fallen — we will put boots on the ground, clear any remaining resistance and seize your former property for the benefit of those who participated in the neutralization of the threat you posed. Casualties among our troops should be very limited because, as we think you have seen, the weapons possessed by the United States will leave very few to resist. REREAD 4 AND THINK 51st STATE!

QUESTIONS????

Thank you for your support in this vital matter.

The People of the United States of America

[OrthodoxPresbyterian]

No! No! No! Social issues are NOT more important than the war on terror and Iraq is the central front in the war on terror. Failing to understand this is an automatic disqualifier for POTUS.

Yes, they are.

Iraq is 7,000 miles away.

Abortion, Illegal Immigration, Gun Control, and Domestic Communism are RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW, IN AMERICA.

These Issues are not only more important than Iraq; the Fact is, they are FAR more important than Iraq.

Anyone who does not understand that (like Rudy Giuliani) should be immediately disqualified for POTUS. Now and FOREVER.

[jmc813]

True, we’re not perfect and we have problems. But do you honestly think our country is about to flat-line?

Once Social Security and the other entitlement programs collapse, well, yeah.

[billbears]

How quaint!! No doubt Mr. Paul also believes that no enemies would EVER attack America unless they themselves “declared war” FIRST. One has to wonder if Mr. Paul is even AWARE of the events of 9/11.

And yet somehow that's exactly what happened on 12/7. 1941 that is. The Japanese had not declared war, attacked, and yet the next day the President was able to go to Congress and request a declaration of war. Interesting how that works isn't it?

You see that's how it's done according to the Constitution of these United States. Not declaring a general war on a noun that can freely jump from sovereign nation to sovereign nation depending on the whims of the President's advisors is not how it's done.

[TheKidster]

I like Hunter but I don’t see him getting anywhere in the polls. Right now my ideal is RP but if Thompson announces he’ll probably get my vote.
I switched from R to L in the middle of Bush’s first term because he was growing the fed at such an alarming rate. I just switched back so that I could vote for RP or maybe FT in the primaries.
RP/Hunter or FT/hunter would be an awesome general election line up.

[RatsDawg]

Ron Paul is endorsed by many big names in the Libertarian Party, big names like Michael Badnirik the 2004 Libertarian candidate for president. He should be running as a Libertarian.

[longtermmemmory]

I guess ron paul broker through that 1% barrier.

His people were calling c-span this am.

The “debate” changed nothing for Ron Paul.

[Neville72]

“I understand why you think so- the BATF cowboys are still around to tell their side of the story, but Koresh isn’t.”

I don’t think what the BATF did was right. It was a crime. But that doesn’t make Koresh any less nutty. Still you shouldn’t be killed by the government for being nutty.

Maybe my comparison of Ron Paul to Koresh is a little over the top but Paul is 100% wrong on the crucial issue of our time. Historically, he reminds me of the Republican isolationists of the late 30s and early 40s, determined to turn the other way while the enemy grew stronger and our allies were overwhelmed.

Paul is a latter day Neville Chamberlain and just as wrong as those pre-Pearl Harbor isolationists were on the fundamental issue of the day.

[OrthodoxPresbyterian]

There is a candidate named Duncan Hunter.

Judging by every single Viewer Reaction Poll to the first GOP Primary Debate, from every available source -- no, there isn't.

Ron Paul is crushing Hunter in Name Recognition, Fundraising, and now Popular Reaction to the first National Debate.

Duncan "porkbarrel" Hunter has never been a strong enough Fiscal Conservative for my liking; and, like it or not, after his first shot at a national audience -- he's "Duncan WHO??"

[SolidWood]

What’s your take on Duncan Hunter. He endorses all issues you deem most important. Plus he is for fighting and winning the WoT. Why vote only for WoT (Giuliani, McCain) or only for domestic issues (Paul), if you can have both?