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.
You think it was crazy to counter-protest a group seeking to have the Congress restrict our Second Amendment rights?
I would say that we agree on that point, except that we have the legal precedent of Row already in place, and it has been used to circumvent numbers state legislatures already. Therefore, the federal government has no choice to stick its nose where it otherwise doesn't belong.
Which represents the greater evil to you: The current status quo, or the federal goverment stepping beyond its designated powers?
Just because one doesn't assign 'logic' to a fool like Ahmadinejad doesn't mean one misinterprets that fool's intent. OTOH, assuming someone like Allegra doesn't understand her enemy is error in judgment.
The Congress does not have the power to elect a Congress, nor does the Congress have the powers of the Executive, nor does Congress have the powers of the Judiciary.
The people, in contrast, have the power to elect a Congress and an Executive and through these delegates they also exercise their power to appoint a Judiciary.
Congress' only power is legislative.
Then you're looking at the wrong candidate, because that what he proposes. The Vietnam model is a reasonable one to Paul. And if he's wrong and there are reprecussions, not his fault.
Dennis Miller: Alright, let's get to the war Ron; because here is where you and I go down to the same fork in the road and take the Virgin Pass. Gimmie your stance on it; I guess you just want us out of there tomorrow, right?Ron Paul: Right, because I never wanted us to go in the first place. So, it's pretty easy to want to quit something that's not going well, when you didn't want it to happen in the first place.
----snip----
Dennis Miller: I think it turns into a slaughterhouse.
Ron Paul: After Vietnam that did not happen, which what was predicted; we're trading partners and they're capitalistic now, more so than ever before! So, there's reason to be pessimistic.
Dennis Miller: What if I said that I think it turns into a slaughterhouse that's going to make the killing fields look like a glade in the forest? Let me ask you this; we pull out and within a month we notice that people are starting to be cleaved like a sie through wheat. How do you feel? Does it make you feel guilty, or...
Ron Paul: I would blame it on the people who wanted to go to war unnecessarily and unconstitutionally. They helped create the mess. AND (emphasis added) the people who predict that are the ones who predicted that he had weapons, that it was an easy target, that we'd get the oil, we'd pay all our bills and it'd be over in a couple months! And now, they were completely wrong on everything and now we're listening to them say "well, it's going to turn into a killing field!".
I love to play with these types...pompous and clueless at the same time.
Such a charming combination! :-D
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.
I can only conclude you are five and half years old, and don’t know what happened six years ago just yesterday.
That said, you have an amazing typing ability for one so young.....(chuckle)
Agreed!
although one would never know that from the media or even Free Republic...
I would disagree. His views on many issues have received widespread dissemination on FR. As for the media, that's not our responsibility.
Those other issues need to be publicized, and Ron Paul is the only one I see even attempting to do so.
Can't say if he's the only one or not. But I'd agree that conservative views always need to be publicized. That's what we're here for. But his views fit more into the libertarian realm. And is this really the right venue?
Reid, Clinton, Schumer, Pelosi, Murtha, Wexler, et al, are all antiwar moonbats. Cowards and traitors who refuse to defend the nation when under attack by a foreign enemy. Sadly, Ron Paul is becoming the same. I view them all as the enemy within.
They gave 15 minutes of fame to Barbara Graham and Annette Stevens.
How’s that steady check thing work anyway? Does JimRob sign the checks himself? For some reason, I don’t have any Soros or Hitlery checks in my little fist yet. I must be doing something wrong.
(chuckle)
Me too. I keep getting banned from kook sites, and don’t get banned from here....which is another regular topic of discussion on those other sites. They seem to have this belief if you don’t toe the mods ‘arbitrary line’ you get banned here.
Haven’t seen that yet....the observation of which will generate multiple threads at the usual kook haunts. Hell, they even create plays on my screen name at some of those dens.
Nope. I was pinged to that discussion downthread. (Don't you hate being caught making an assumption like that?) What are you? Another Self-Appointed Posting Policeweinie?
BTW, "snotbagging" didn't make it through spell check.
Don't whine just because you have no sense of fun or play. Or creativity for that matter. And likely no sense of humor. I enjoy playing around with words and there's nothing you can do about it. Doesn't that just suck?
One of the most memorable Texas Barbecues was at Lakeway Resort on Lake Travis. It was an annual business meeting and the resort served up one of the best dinners I’ve ever had. I’ve tried to replicate it at home with a brisket and all the pickings, but it’s never been the same. Oh, well.
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.