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GOP's Ron Paul wants all troops home
Seattle Post-Intelligencer ^ | 09/12/07 | JOEL CONNELLY

Posted on 09/12/2007 7:21:50 AM PDT by presidio9

Amid a lineup of what ought to be called "big government conservatives," Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul stands out like the Lonesome End on Army's 1950s football teams.

Asked his policy on U.S. troops fighting in Iraq, the Texas congressman, now serving his 10th term, replies: "I would get them home as soon as possible."

And U.S. troops in Europe?

"I would get them home," Paul said in an interview Tuesday. "Having them stationed abroad doesn't serve our national interest, and that goes for forces in Japan and Korea.

"We should only send U.S. forces abroad when our security is directly threatened. Right now, nobody threatens our national security."

Such sentiments make Paul the odd man out in GOP debates. Other candidates have been seen smirking as he speaks.

Although described as a libertarian, the physician-politician is a throwback on stands that used to define "conservative" in America -- defense of individual liberties, a minimalist federal government and freedom from foreign entanglements.

"I call it a non-interventionist, constitutional foreign policy," he said Tuesday. "We should have a strong national defense. But we should stay out of other countries' internal affairs. Our role is not nation building, and not to be world policeman."

In Paul's view, the U.S. invasion of Iraq worked to encourage al-Qaida. "The motivation by suicide terrorists is that we have invaded territory that is not ours," he argued.

Paul will spend a hectic Friday in Seattle this week.

The events on his schedule range from a public lecture on the U.S. Constitution, set for 1:30 p.m. Friday at Seattle University's Campion Tower Ballroom, to a $2,000 private briefing scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at the College Club. Then a $1,000-per-person reception at the Westin reception will be followed by a 7:30 p.m. rally in the Grand Ballroom.

If you missed the movie "Twister," the Republicans' 2008 field offers lots of blustery, changing winds. Mitt Romney has reversed past stands on abortion and gay rights. Fred Thompson is trying to explain how he gave legal advice to a pro-choice feminist group. The thrice-married Rudy Giuliani is seeking to court the religious right.

Paul is not a man for campaign conversions -- even on a week that takes him to three liberal West Coast cities.

"My message is exactly the same wherever I go," he said. "If it is a liberal city where I am speaking, I try to teach them the virtue of economic liberties. If it is a conservative religious town, I try to stress why individual liberties are important."

Paul was a lonely Republican vote against passage and reauthorization of the USA Patriot Act. He feels the landmark post-9/11 law violated the Fourth Amendment, which provides Americans with guarantees against unreasonable search and seizure of their property.

If elected, said Paul, "I would do everything I can to repeal it. ... We do not need to spy on the American people to provide for our national security."

Born in Pennsylvania, Paul served in the Air Force as a flight surgeon, and moved to Texas to practice obstetrics and gynecology near Houston. He was drawn to politics when President Nixon severed the connection between the dollar and gold in 1971.

He would radically downsize the federal government. "I don't think there is any need for the Department of Education, the Department of Energy or particularly the monstrous Department of Homeland Security," he said Tuesday.

Asked what role he sees for the federal government in education, Paul replied: "None. Nothing in the Constitution provides for a federal role."

Paul would seek to divest the federal government of its vast landholdings in the West. "I would always move in the direction of moving those lands to the states, except in special circumstances such as national parks."

The Paul campaign has taken in about $3 million as of midyear, a fraction of money raised by the Romney ($43.5 million) and Giuliani ($35.4 million) juggernauts. In the West, Paul registers among donation leaders only in Montana and Wyoming.

Yet, the physician-politician has become a hit on the Internet. He is the candidate of voters, left and right, who would otherwise fill in "None of the Above" on pollsters' questionnaires.

Paul relishes being apart from the field, especially in talking about two favorite subjects -- Iraq and individual liberties. Of Democrats, he said: "They were elected to do something last fall, and they've done nothing. They've identified themselves as the party of civil liberties, and done nothing."

Nor does Paul have any sympathy for Republican "conservatives" who stress economic liberty but see nothing wrong with a government that pushes around its citizens. "You cannot have a Supreme Court that protects economic liberties and not individual liberties," he said.

On assisted suicide, talking as a physician, Paul said: "Taking someone's life is not something I want to get involved in." Yet, he describes legalization as "a state issue."

"I don't support abortion, but I don't want to pass any federal law to regulate it," he added.

In Texas, it is possible to run simultaneously for Congress and president. Paul intends to file for re-election to his House seat.

Has he seen any other Republican candidate he could support for the White House? "So far, nobody," he replied.


TOPICS: Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: chitchat; hisislamicoverlords; jumpedtheshark; morethorazineplease; moveon; muslimsforronpaul; paulestinians; quiter; ronpaul; tehronpaul; thelillipopguild; theweenieking
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To: Badeye
Aw, now come on GWB. Its no worse than any other campaign discussed and argued over in political forums over the past four election cycles.

On another thread yesterday, some newb was compiling lists of "known RP supporters" as a Nixon-style enemies list. As far as I know, quite a number of them were not RP supporters. They were like Iwo, interested in a few RP positions, certainly not regulars on RP threads, etc. I don't like seeing old time FReepers or just people who stray through a thread to get hit in the crossfire.
281 posted on 09/12/2007 11:23:32 AM PDT by George W. Bush
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To: ksen

See post #277.


282 posted on 09/12/2007 11:23:35 AM PDT by mnehring (What does the Ron Paul Rorschach test say about you?)
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To: bcsco
If RP's intention is to replace a good ol' Texas Barbeque with a Shrimp Boil, forget it. It'll never fly. Anyway, why he gets the shrimp industry em'broiled' in 'pork'barrel spending is beyond me :)

GROAN!!

ROFL

283 posted on 09/12/2007 11:25:16 AM PDT by Allegra (Turning Vanity Threads Into New Socks Threads at Every Opportunity)
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To: Allegra
And anyone who can assign "logic" to someone like Ahmadinejad has got to be of the moonbat persuasion.

And anybody who doesn't try to understand the reasoning of an opponent is a fool (and is probably really really bad at chess). Assuming that your opponent is just crazy is a grave mistake.

284 posted on 09/12/2007 11:26:06 AM PDT by burzum (None shall see me, though my battlecry may give me away -Minsc)
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To: mnehrling
Reading this portion of the post to which you responded might answer your question:

While I do not at this point support Ron Paul for president, I am glad that he is in the presidential race so that views such as these can get public exposure.

Terrorism is a very real and serious problem which requires an aggressive response. But it is not our only problem and IMO not even our most critical one.

Ron Paul's campaign consists of far more than his views on the war in Iraq, although one would never know that from the media or even Free Republic. Those other issues need to be publicized, and Ron Paul is the only one I see even attempting to do so.
285 posted on 09/12/2007 11:28:11 AM PDT by Iwo Jima ("Close the border. Then we'll talk.")
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To: ksen; mnehrling
Does that mean the proper reading of the Second Amendment should be that Congress has the right to keep and bear arms?

The individual members of Congress certainly have that right - but you are pulling a bait-and-switch from the people's powers (embodied in Congress) and the people's rights (retained by them individually).

286 posted on 09/12/2007 11:29:38 AM PDT by wideawake (Why is it that so many self-proclaimed "Constitutionalists" know so little about the Constitution?)
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To: mnehrling
See post #277.

I read it.

It doesn't change my observation any.

Why not argue that the President is representative of "the People" since he is their elected enforcer?

Maybe by the time we are done we can define individual American citizens right out of "the people."

287 posted on 09/12/2007 11:30:02 AM PDT by ksen ("For an omniscient and omnipotent God, there are no Plan B's" - Frumanchu)
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To: Iwo Jima
Ron Paul's campaign consists of far more than his views on the war in Iraq, although one would never know that from the media or even Free Republic.

I engaged in a detailed discussion of Paul's proposal to monetize federal lands, and you completely ignored it.

So if anyone on FR is guilty of not discussing Ron Paul's various policy views, you are.

288 posted on 09/12/2007 11:31:15 AM PDT by wideawake (Why is it that so many self-proclaimed "Constitutionalists" know so little about the Constitution?)
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To: All
A reminder.

...Failing to get elected as a Libertarian Party presidential candidate, Rep. Ron Paul turned to the Republican Party to win Texas' 14th Congressional District...

They can have him back.

289 posted on 09/12/2007 11:31:44 AM PDT by McGruff (If I can't have Cheney, Fred will have to do.)
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To: burzum
And anybody who doesn't try to understand the reasoning of an opponent is a fool (and is probably really really bad at chess).

And anybody who just comes snotbagging out of nowhere onto a thread to sling an insult is a jerk who doesn't know what he's talking about.

Assuming that your opponent is just crazy is a grave mistake.

Ooooohhhh...grave?? What's going to happen? You gonna come cover my place in tinfoil? Recite Star Trek episodes in their entirety at me incessantly?

I'm s-s-skeered.

290 posted on 09/12/2007 11:32:31 AM PDT by Allegra (Turning Vanity Threads Into New Socks Threads at Every Opportunity)
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To: Allegra
GROAN!!

Just having some fun out of all this. Sorry for being silly.

Anyway, I've fond memories of Texas barbecues, but a shrimp boil? No way!

291 posted on 09/12/2007 11:33:11 AM PDT by bcsco ("The American Indians found out what happens when you don't control immigration.")
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To: Badeye

Gee I don’t know, maybe worry about securing this country, and worry about them when they have the ability to strike with more than an AK 47 and a scud missile. Then they can get back to doing what they do best, killing each other.


292 posted on 09/12/2007 11:33:22 AM PDT by NPursuit357
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To: ksen; mnehrling
It doesn't change my observation any.

because your observation is based on clouding the distinction between powers and rights.

293 posted on 09/12/2007 11:33:26 AM PDT by wideawake (Why is it that so many self-proclaimed "Constitutionalists" know so little about the Constitution?)
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To: SJackson

Is your name Ron Paul?

If not, an immediate withdrawl, consulting the military on safety, means an immediate withdrawl.

And the fact that to you safety means safety for the Iraqi people and our reputation means absolutely nothing. That's not Paul's position, you made it up.

To suggest that Ron Paul supports the deployment of troops to provide a safe enviornment for the Iraqi people is absurd. It flies in the face of his many statements that troops be deployed only in the interest of a direct security threat to the homeland.

Thanks for another example of how the Ron Paul BS artists twist his positions.

You missed my point. I was proposing what I, personally, see as a reasonable way of extricating ourselves from Iraq. And I am not Ron Paul. I will not tolerate a miserable VN-style cut'n'run.

294 posted on 09/12/2007 11:34:31 AM PDT by US at Risk (There are times when the important trumps the urgent.)
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To: ksen
Er, he said he counter-protested the Million-Mom march.

I'm not sure how that makes the counter-protest any less crazy, but, um, okaaaayyy...

295 posted on 09/12/2007 11:35:08 AM PDT by presidio9 (Islam is as Islam does.)
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To: Iwo Jima
Ron Paul's campaign consists of far more than his views on the war in Iraq, although one would never know that from the media or even Free Republic. Those other issues need to be publicized, and Ron Paul is the only one I see even attempting to do so.

Something interesting from his appearances at townhall style meetings that you notice on the videos is that, while he'll mention withdrawal from Iraq, that isn't the biggest focus of the crowds. They are more about abolishing the IRS, smaller government, less nanny-state policy, more liberty, the incompetence of the bloated federal agencies, etc. And the young people really dig the Austrian economics, abolishing the Fed, moving the young to private retirement accounts instead of SS, etc.

If RP flipped tomorrow and was the most hawkish candidate in the race, I would still support him the same way I do now. But, you see, there's the rub. You get the feeling from the Paul-haters that they're hiding under their beds, waiting for the terrorists to come kill them and that they'd like anyone who isn't as frightened as they are to be dead. Hence, the calls to lynch the RP faction here at FR. Hysteria, as you probably know, loves company.
296 posted on 09/12/2007 11:35:45 AM PDT by George W. Bush
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To: wideawake
because your observation is based on clouding the distinction between powers and rights.

Ok, lets talk about powers then.

Do "the people" have any powers that Congress doesn't have?

297 posted on 09/12/2007 11:36:28 AM PDT by ksen ("For an omniscient and omnipotent God, there are no Plan B's" - Frumanchu)
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To: George W. Bush

On another thread yesterday, some newb was compiling lists of “known RP supporters” as a Nixon-style enemies list. As far as I know, quite a number of them were not RP supporters. They were like Iwo, interested in a few RP positions, certainly not regulars on RP threads, etc. I don’t like seeing old time FReepers or just people who stray through a thread to get hit in the crossfire.

(chuckle)

Yesterday, some clown put up a post naming ME as a GUILIANI supporter based on ‘their research in the FR database’....OTFLMAO!

I’ve had posters at this site, and kook central (liberty post) claim repeatedly I’m a paid shill for the administration....that I’m a paid shill for Hillary Clinton....that I’m a paid shill for Jim Robinson and Free Republic (kook central, the old Clown Posse site)....on and on and on, for eight years now.

I guess my point to you is ‘take the long view’, and don’t spend much time worrying about what relatively anonymous screen names think, or say, about your relatively anonymous screen name.

“Its only the internet...its only the internet’ sometimes helps....(chuckle)

Anyway, just don’t want to see ya going away, despite the political differences. That doesn’t help this site.


298 posted on 09/12/2007 11:37:08 AM PDT by Badeye (You know its a kook site when they ban the word 'kook')
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To: Jim Robinson

btw, according to Clown Posse and Liberty Post, you owe me quite a bit of cash....(chuckle)


299 posted on 09/12/2007 11:38:15 AM PDT by Badeye (You know its a kook site when they ban the word 'kook')
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To: bcsco
Just having some fun out of all this. Sorry for being silly.

Nevah apologize for being silly! I live for and admire silliness! SmileyCentral.com

Anyway, I've fond memories of Texas barbecues...

Oh, I do miss my Texas barbecues and my friends and I always have at least one whenever I go home. Nothing in the world like a good ol' Texas barbecue.

300 posted on 09/12/2007 11:39:38 AM PDT by Allegra (Turning Vanity Threads Into New Socks Threads at Every Opportunity)
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