Posted on 07/20/2007 4:27:18 PM PDT by KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle
NEW YORK A feature piece in this coming Sunday's New York Times Magazine on Republican candidate for president, Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, portrays his followers as including a wild mix of "wackos" on both ends of the political spectrum. Paul, a libertarian, has been gaining media and public attention of late.
The cover line reads: "A Genuine Radical for President." The headline inside: "The Antiwar, Anti-Abortion, Anti-Drug-Enforcement-Administration, Anti-medicare Candidacy of Dr. Ron Paul."
The article closes with the author, Christopher Caldwell, attending a Ron Paul Meetup in Pasadena. The co-host, Connie Ruffley of United Republicans of California, admits she once was a member of the radical right John Birch Society and when she asks for a show of hands "quite a few" attendees reveal that they were or are members, too. She refers to Sen. Dianne Feinstein as "Fine-Swine" and attacks Israel, pleasing some while others "walked out."
Caldwell notes that the head of the Pasadena Meetup Group, Bill Dumas, sent a desperate letter to Paul headquarters: "We're in a difficult position of working on a campaign that draws supporters from laterally opposing points of view, and we have the added bonus of attracting every wacko fringe group in the country....We absolutely must focus on Ron's message only and put aside all other agendas, which anyone can save for the next 'Star Trek' convention or whatever."
Asked about the John Birch Society Society by the author, Paul responds, "Is that BAD? I have a lot of friends in the John Birch Society. They're generally well-educated and they understand the Constitution. I don't know how many positions they would have that I don't agree with."
The writer concludes that the "antigovernment activists of the right and the antiwar activists of the left" may have "irreconciable" differences. But "their numbers -- and anger -- are of considerable magnitude. Ron Paul will not be the next president of the United States. But his candidacy gives us a good hint about the country the next president is going to have to knit back together."
Among many other things, we learn from the article that Paul had never heard of "The Daily Show" until he was a guest and referred to the magazine GQ as "GTU." It also notes that he was the only congress member to vote against the Financial Antiterrorism Act and a medal to honor Rosa Parks, among many others tallies, based on principle, not politics. He also is praised by liberal Rep. Barney Frank as "one of the easiest" members to work with because "he bases his positions on the merits of issues."
Well, well. You must not be too happy with your current candidate.Presumptuous and premature; I have no 'fave' and have made no selection at this time.
'Platitudes and high ideals' is what you've got; YOUR candidate, mustering a hodge-podge of so-called supporters from Troofers to DUers to DailiKossacks since that is who Ron Paul is OBVIOUSLY pandering to is exhibiting ALL the traits of the Howard Dean phenom ... with no REAL basis in the electorate (I guess you don't remember how he FELL FLAT after looking so FORMIDABLE in the 'early going'.)
In a year, heck, in six months from now, things will be completely different; Ron Paul won't be in the race and we'll be arguing some other facet of politics.
Go play in the street.You're approaching abuse level now.
I don’t know about tactics for the cold war era, but it’s a tactic of self professed liberals. You can watch it on FOX any night, with Colmes. Instead of discussing facts, assume your opponent is wrong, and explain why their opinion is not worth considering. It diverts the conversation, and most folks just don’t notice.-Glenn
You contribute nothing but name calling to these threads, your microcephalic rants mean nothing to me.
Yawn.
Stretch.
CLick abuse button.
Yawn.
“DON’T flatter yourself; you are lookling more and more decidely like whack jobs ... the contrast you show - nay, the parallels you show with DU and DailyKOS are beginning to become very unnerving.”
When the pariah of fed govt largess arrives, you’re having an effect.
_Jim has never found a fed.gov law or policy he does not like. His time passed him in or about circa 1945 on another continent, and he’s still PO’d.
Oh, great—now the “Catoistas” can’t even have their own political ideology, they have to hijack the “we’re the REAL conservatives” mantra.
Seriously, if you (or L. Ron) had the courage of your convictions, you’d convince him to run as the Libertarian he is. But you know that if you don’t hijack one party or another, you’re simply going to be reviled (correctly) as just another fringe group along the same lines as the Constitution Pary, the Green Party, et al.
Swear ta Gawd, if these people don’t realize they’re being played by the DU crowd, well...if you want to lemming yourself, I guess they’re more than entitled.
However, if we have to put up with L. Ron at Republican debates, shouldn’t we be able to put Bob Dornan up at Dim debates?
You two really need to grow up. Settle your differences on the thread.
Swear ta Gawd, if these people don?t realize they're being played by the DU crowd, well...if you want to lemming yourself, I guess they're more than entitled.Isn't that the truth; and witness the 'uproar' if I accuse one (or two) of them of being 'plants' or trolls (from DU) under deep, deep cover!
Huh?
He’s the one with an anger mgmt problem; rag on him!
You have a bad case of projection going on. You just described your own method of operation. Come into a thread and start name calling.
Hey crybaby, wasn’t I supposed to have been tossed out of here by now?
I have to ask this too -
- are you, Abcdefg, a DU or DailyKos plant?
Hell, even 10 percent of the population still thinks Elvis is alive.The "L. Ron contingent."
The seriously deluded contingent.
I'd like to see how much of that demographic also thinks the Moon landings were faked!
I guess I got carried away and had some fun with you because you are so sensitive. Now you call me a DU plant?
Go ahead, show us just how silly your act gets.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.