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.
Interesting, these Paulistans.
Well then you'll just have to join us Houston FReepers sometime when I'm home on leave. THOSE guys can barbecue like there's no tomorrow. I kid you not.
‘What would they talk about?’
Fake moon landings, how much they hate their government, Haliburton, how much they hate their government, Karl Rove, how much they hate their government, Ron Paul, how much they hate their government, tax scams, how much they hate their government, Eeeevil Dick Cheney, how much they hate their government, other websites that have banned them, how much they hate their government, ‘its the joooossss fault’, how much they hate their government, Free Republic sucks, how much they hate their government, etc etc etc.
Oh, and then they’ll talk about how much they hate their government.
I’m not sure if their collective mommies mind it or not. Its pretty apparent from the time stamps it does keep them in the house 24/7/365.....(chuckle)
Well, you're most welcome to use it. My friends and co-workers tend to enjoy my made-up words and I'm always flattered when they add them to their respective lexicons.
Think about it: if you had the chance to live in either 1: a totalitarian or collectivist society (maybe a Muslim country) that outlawed abortion, or 2: a free society that allowed abortion, which would you choose? I would choose the free society.
Forty million human lives say you are wrong. We are not talking about establishing totalitarian or collectivist societies here. That's your own fantasizing at work. We are talking about the right to life, which is the most fundamental human right. There IS no free society for an aborted baby, even if it was nice of you to choose it for yourself. Why is this such a difficult concept for you? Sacrificing somebody else's life in the of some political ideal that you cherish doesn't make you noble.
Oops! I'll stay out of it.
Maybe you would have more, ummm, sober judgment if you did drink Wylers. Not only that but you would waste a lot less cardboard.
I love to have others join the fun. The more, the merrier, I always say. :)
There, corrected it.
Try again:
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. 313 posted on 09/12/2007 2:48:14 PM EDT by Jim Robinson (Our God-given unalienable rights are not open to debate, negotiation or compromise!) [ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 266 | View Replies | Report Abuse ]
Well, the wife and I are leaving for Leonard, TX on Sunday to see our new granddaughter. While not in the Houston area (by a long shot), maybe we'll be treated to a little barbecue action. But I'll keep your invitation in mind next time we're down Houston way.
Oh, BTW, if any of you are ever up in North-Central Illinois, you're invited to a good German cookfest. No, it's not typical for Northern Illinois beyond the fact that a lot of Germans immigrated here (legally). But we do tend to keep some traditions alive. And the food is something to experience. :D
If you still don’t see it, maybe you Birchers need better lens.
With the risk of being banned, I believe you owe Pat Paulson an apology. At least he and his followers had a sense of humor.
This looks more and more like an internet campaign being run out of the DNC. My guess is there are alot of deep moles just like we have over at DU.
There are some legitimate Pukeannanites, but they are being played and amplified by the seminar posters. Just analyze the main posters and see if you notice a pattern??
Pray for W and Our Troops
There, fixed that one too.
Achmedinejad has his goals and he has his reasoning for carrying out those goals just like Stalin had his goals and he had his reasoning for carrying out those goals. I wouldn't call Stalin a fool. He was just a very very evil man. His maneuvering more than anything else made the Soviet Union a temporary superpower. Dismissing him as a fool who doesn't follow logic was the mistake of many of his enemies that were crushed ruthlessly. For the same reason, I would not dismiss Achmedinejad as a fool. And I would not only focus on what we think is his intent. Before you know it he may perform a play-fake on us while we are unaware.
I know this wasn't addressed to me, but for us 'clueless' folks, would you please who you believe these moles are? Inquiring minds and all that, you know?
This article just shows why the MSM likes Ron “the kook” Paul in the race.
He is a nutjob but he is espousing the identical comments the MSM wants in order to show the fiction of people against the war.
You know, the spousal unit and I tried to find that Lakeway place and drove around for almost 2 hours before we gave up! It’s way out in the boonies!
We love BBQ, but the gas grill out back is so much closer!
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