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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: presidio9

I want Ron Paul home.


21 posted on 09/12/2007 7:34:06 AM PDT by Corin Stormhands
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To: presidio9

Paul is an embarrassment to the Republican Party and his supporters are moonbats.


22 posted on 09/12/2007 7:34:43 AM PDT by West Coast Conservative (Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists.)
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To: presidio9
Saw him on the FOX interview yesterday....

I was expecting his head to keep on turning counterclockwise...
(That's a LEFT turn...)

Until it fell off and hit him in the foot...

Alas....
That remains a physical impossibility...
With both feet ... IN HIS MOUTH!!!!

What an idiot....

23 posted on 09/12/2007 7:35:23 AM PDT by Wings-n-Wind (The main things are the plain things!)
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To: Ditter
“I’m cheesy with money. I’m the Weenie King. Invented the Texas Weenie. Lay off ’em, you’ll live longer.”

The Palm Beach Story.


24 posted on 09/12/2007 7:36:00 AM PDT by dighton
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To: Petronski

Do you have the Wyler’s ready? You know the Paulestinians will be here momentarily.


25 posted on 09/12/2007 7:36:01 AM PDT by rightwingintelligentsia (You know a liberal has lost the argument when he calls you a Nazi.)
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To: presidio9

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

mega bump.


26 posted on 09/12/2007 7:36:47 AM PDT by KantianBurke
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To: presidio9; DreamsofPolycarp; The_Eaglet; Irontank; Gamecock; elkfersupper; dcwusmc; gnarledmaw; ...

ping.


27 posted on 09/12/2007 7:37:06 AM PDT by George W. Bush
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To: rightwingintelligentsia
Do you have the Wyler’s ready? You know the Paulestinians will be here momentarily.

It took two pings after yours.

28 posted on 09/12/2007 7:38:01 AM PDT by bcsco ("The American Indians found out what happens when you don't control immigration.")
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To: wideawake
My, what a champion of the unborn.

Yep. . .just like John Kerry.

29 posted on 09/12/2007 7:39:15 AM PDT by MEGoody (Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.)
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To: presidio9
Why do they keep calling cut and run Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul

He is no more a Republican than Denise Kookcinich.
30 posted on 09/12/2007 7:39:26 AM PDT by John D
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To: presidio9

I might have been able to repect his view in respect to the troops in Iraq, I.E. get then out as soon as possible(assuming we have the situation stable over there), but in the same breath he wants to pull out all our troops around the world.

To say nothing of saying that Iran wasn’t a problem and we should just let them be. This guy is a loon of the highest order.


31 posted on 09/12/2007 7:40:41 AM PDT by Post-Neolithic (Money only makes Communists rich Communists)
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To: presidio9
on stands that used to define "conservative" in America -- defense of individual liberties, a minimalist federal government and freedom from foreign entanglements.

Not anymore. 'Conservative' is now defined by whatever the administration says it is for that day.

32 posted on 09/12/2007 7:40:46 AM PDT by billbears (Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it. --Santayana)
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To: wideawake
Goldbugs say the silliest things.
33 posted on 09/12/2007 7:41:18 AM PDT by Toddsterpatriot (Ignorance of the laws of economics is no excuse.)
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To: presidio9

34 posted on 09/12/2007 7:41:45 AM PDT by reagan_fanatic (Ron Paul put the cuckoo in my Cocoa Puffs)
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To: Wonder Warthog
Actually, his position is the correct one under the Constitution.

That's certainly debateable.

The primary right all humans were endowed with by their creator is the right to life. Obviously, without life, none of the other rights matter.

Seems very strange to me that some think it is constitutional to allow the taking of innocent life.

35 posted on 09/12/2007 7:41:54 AM PDT by MEGoody (Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.)
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To: rightwingintelligentsia
Do you have the Wyler’s ready? You know the Paulestinians will be here momentarily.

Actually, it's more of a bar crowd from what I can gather.

Typical reports of a Ron Paul event by his Meetup supporters: So we don't seem to drink the Wylers or even the Koolaid.
36 posted on 09/12/2007 7:43:19 AM PDT by George W. Bush
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To: presidio9
...Failing to get elected as a Libertarian Party presidential candidate, Rep. Ron Paul turned to the Republican Party to win Texas' 14th Congressional District...

Throw the bum out!

37 posted on 09/12/2007 7:43:19 AM PDT by McGruff (If I can't have Cheney, Fred will have to do.)
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To: KantianBurke
“Asked what role he sees for the federal government in education, Paul replied: “None. Nothing in the Constitution provides for a federal role.”

Nothing in the Constitution provides for a federal role in the shrimping industry either, but as we all know, Ronnie submitted earmarks for the shrimping industry in his district.

38 posted on 09/12/2007 7:44:12 AM PDT by MEGoody (Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.)
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To: angelcindy

He is worse than a ranting liberal, he is raving moonbat, and worse yet he managed to get on our side of the isle!


39 posted on 09/12/2007 7:45:53 AM PDT by chaos_5 (The Democrats are Communists)
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To: Post-Neolithic
I might have been able to repect his view in respect to the troops in Iraq, I.E. get then out as soon as possible(assuming we have the situation stable over there), but in the same breath he wants to pull out all our troops around the world.

Aren't there at least a few of those 700 bases that could be closed with the collapse of Western civilization? How about even one?

Personally, I'd close some of the other bases outside Iraq first. Iraq's neighbors are greedy for land and population and oil. We probably have to defend them from Turkey at the very least. And unlike Arabs, the Turks have a real army.
40 posted on 09/12/2007 7:46:33 AM PDT by George W. Bush
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