Don't Shut Up Paul

slate ^ | yesterday | john dickerson

[Rodney King]

Fred is a globalist. NO THANK YOU. If that’s his wife, she’s a doll, though.

Of the top 4 (including Fred as a top 4) I could vote for him, and I think he could win, too. I will not vote for Giuliani or McCain. I am unsure on Romney. I actually think he is telling the truth that he was lying before rather than now (on being a conservative..unlike Giuliani who is lying now rather than before), but, that is not a very inspiring reason to vote for someone.

[GovernmentIsTheProblem]

“Ron Who???”

I’m not a Paul fan but - GOP who?

The RNC is selling us out with this amnesty bill, as they did with NCLB, CFR, the Medicare drug bill, and the border fence that isn’t being built.

[Tax Government]

Republicans should take blood oaths to support Ron Paul’s core ideas: return of limited federal government, upholding the original intent of the Constitution, avoiding international entanglements.

[Maelstorm]

No one is scared of Paul. I do like some of his ideas but he is a fellow traveler with the left which seeks to find a reason to blame America first. That is not to say that we have not made mistakes in foreign policy but most of those mistakes in my opinion have been in demonstrating weakness to the world. Are we to wring our hands about the feelings of an individual like Bin Ladin? The Bin Ladin’s of the world always find a reason. America and Israel are routinely blamed for things that are utterly false if not a misrepresentation of events.

[SamuraiScot]

When George W. Bush repeatedly asserts unpopular opinions in the face of withering criticism, it's seen as a sign of strength and resolve. But when Paul asserted unpopular opinions in a debate, his remarks became the grounds for derision and threats.

What's that expression? "In a good cause, 'tis called persistence. In a bad one, obstinacy."

The difference is that Pres. Bush is right and Ron Paul is from Jupiter on this issue. Paul is so confused, he's an embarrassment. My instinct is that it makes the GOP look bad, and weakens the other candidates. I could be wrong about that.

I was formerly a big fan of Paul's, dating from long before he ran for Congress; I got his newsletter and talked to him periodically on the phone (I worked for a business magazine).

But at least at this point in Paul's career, foreign policy is not his strength. He may (like Pat) have an out-dated view of the effect of miniaturized technology on modern warfare and terrorism. Ironically, for two guys who claim to be hard-bitten realists, they under-rate the degree to which nut-cases with no prospects will commit evil just because the opportunity presents itself. He is ab-so-lutely clueless about bin Laden, and a hazard to good men's morale when he opens his mouth.

I pray for him, but I won't vote for him, and don't especially want to listen to him.

[doug from upland]

Oh, I thought this might be about Peter Paul. Instead, it was about an *ssclown.

[elhombrelibre]

No, it’s not a novel theory. We’ve always had people who sympathize with and showed empathy for our enemies. For example, during the Cold War there were many people who’d explain why the U.S.S.R. feared us - our intervention in their Civil War, our forces in Europe, our nuclear weapons, our unwillingness to allow Wars of “Liberation” to succeed, their peace-loving motivations, our support for authoritarian regimes, our defense spending, our racist culture, our militarism, our Military Industrial Complex, our missiles in Greece, and on and on. The Ron Paul school of understanding is nothing new; we’ve always had apologists out there carrying water for our enemies. Yeah, bin Laden has motives. He’s also a friggin socio-path. And I don’t think his motives in the largest mass murder in American history are worthy of deep reflection.

[Howie66]

“Republicans should take blood oaths to support Ron Paul’s core ideas: return of limited federal government, upholding the original intent of the Constitution, avoiding international entanglements.”

Republicans should take blood oaths to support RONALD WILSON REAGANs’ (arguably the GREATEST PRESIDENT of the past 159 YEARS)core ideas: return of limited federal government, upholding the original intent of the Constitution, avoiding international entanglements (yet taking NO CRAP out of tin-horn dictators).

FIXED!

[Rodney King]

So you also think the CIA and the 9/11 commission sympathize with the enemy for daring to mention blowback?

[elhombrelibre]

I think if they’re like Ron Paul they are screwy. I think if you look at Lebanon today you’ll see that they’re under renewed attack by al Qaeda. Al Qaeda kills many people in the Phillipeans too. Is that blowback? And by the way, we were helping the Afghans to win their independence, so if anything there should have been gratitude. Should the Spanish leave Spain to please al Qaeda? Yes, al Qaeda has motives, but we should not change our policies to please them as Ron Paul would.

[Rodney King]

Al Qaeda kills many people in the Phillipeans too. Is that blowback?

No. We are getting into the problem where when people debate wars they tend to focus on one, or even two key issues, when in reality wars are very complex. The Phillipeans is an issue of al Qaedas naked agression, supported by friendly islamic bases somewhat nearby. It is interesting to note that Islam usually goes after weak targets. Their going after us was somewhat unusual.

And by the way, we were helping the Afghans to win their independence, so if anything there should have been gratitude.

There also should have been gratitude for our helping the muslims in Kosovo.. but there wasn't. There also should have been gratitude for helping the muslims in Afghanistan when we helped them against the Soviets... but there wasn't. It should be quite clear that you can't make friends with them by doing them favors.

Should the Spanish leave Spain to please al Qaeda?

No. I am not saying that you should please your enemies whatever their demands.. but that doesn't mean you shouldn't be aware of what their demands are. For example, if the reason Japan attacked Pearl Harbor was because we had troops on the Japanese mainland, then I might have considered their grievences.

Yes, al Qaeda has motives, but we should not change our policies to please them as Ron Paul would.

Well, I actually don't think we should either, but that doesn't mean we should ignore that 50 years of messing around in the middle east has only brought us hatred.

[Tax Government]

Reagan was elected on a small government platform, but presided over a vast increase of federal spending. Because we were in a cold war with the Soviet Union, we can forgive most of that. Nevertheless, with respect to economics, Reagan did not set a standard that future, small-government presidents should follow.

[Rodney King]

Reagan was elected on a small government platform, but presided over a vast increase of federal spending. Because we were in a cold war with the Soviet Union, we can forgive most of that. Nevertheless, with respect to economics, Reagan did not set a standard that future, small-government presidents should follow.

I disagree. Reagan tried. He failed, but he tried. As opposed to say our fearless leader who is a bigger spender than LBJ was.

[elhombrelibre]

Not being a Muslim brings the hatred. They hate other Muslims too. Don’t waste your time trying to figure out why they [al Qaeda] hate. They are unworthy of our time. They’ll say anything about motives that might spin things their way. They’re evil sociopaths; it’s pure and simple.

[The_Eaglet]

Thanks for the flag.

[Moonman62]

I agree, keep talking. Some people aren’t convinced you’re a kook yet.

[The_Eaglet]

The ‘smear the messenger’ tactics betrays the lack of opposing argument.

This is a common left-wing strategy.

[Rodney King]

Not being a Muslim brings the hatred. They hate other Muslims too. Don’t waste your time trying to figure out why they [al Qaeda] hate. They are unworthy of our time. They’ll say anything about motives that might spin things their way. They’re evil sociopaths; it’s pure and simple.

I don't disagree... but, where do the recruits come from? How do these teenagers from egypt decide they hate the US so much that they want to die fighting us?

I believe that if we had minded out own business for the last 50 years that there would not be Egyptian teenagers wanting to die fighting us.

[Tax Government]

What you say points out the fact that it is not just the president, but mostly congress, that really decides what will happen. Reagan stood for the right things economically, but didn’t go to the mat for them. Arguably, beating the Soviet Union was more important.

Republicans need to be clear about what we want economically, and then work to elect congress to match. Small government, restoration of limited federal government, and control of fiat currency should top the list of priorities.

[Ditter]

I made my first visit to France in 1959, that wasn’t 50 years ago but close. The French hated Americans in 1959, they were horribly rude to American tourist. Why? I never have figured out. That wasn’t that far after we saved their bacon from Hitler. Is that why they hated us because they knew they owed us?

It’s a little easier to figure why Muslims hate us, it’s because we aren’t Muslims and don’t want to be. Staying out of their country isn’t going to change that. Face it, nothing we can do is going to make them like us. Electing Ron Paul president is not going to do it either.