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.
What have you done personally for a government reduction dear to my heart: abolishing gummint skewels??? What better place to start putting gummint on a starvation diet than abolishing the leftist indoctrination centers and their Planned Barrenhood curricula?
‘I’m voting for small government and freedom.’
An amazing assertion, given the Ron Paul backers love to talk about adhering to the Constitution.
I’d love to know exactly where you find the power Ron Paul would require to reduce the size of the government as it exists, all by his lonesome.
To be blunt, what you are citing as a reason for voting for Paul, simply isn’t viable...here in the ‘real world’.
Thats the problem with Ron Paul. He operates in a world known to everybody else as ‘theory’.
common sense
Even when they don't mean to reveal anythng significant about themselves... ;)
He does sell stuff, Ron Paul stuff.
Why do you assume he's a socialist trying to preserve his gains in America, because he's a Muslim, because he's an Arab, or because he supports Ron Paul?
Support Ron Paul By buying shirts Bumper stickers and Pins from www.zazzle.com/RonPaul2008* all 17% of the proceeds I make will go to Ron Paul 2008.
Support Ron Paul By buying shirts Bumper stickers and Pins from www.zazzle.com/RonPaul2008* all 17% of the proceeds I make will go to Ron Paul 2008.
$3.95, save in bulk.
Personally I don't mind that Muslims support Ron Paul, or that they preserve his [their] gains in America, though I admit I don't know exactly how supporting Ron Paul does that. But why do you characterize the Arab Muslim's participation in politics, specifically the Ron Paul campaign, sinking to depths?
More like nonsense. If you have a source, post it.
Take care,
bcsco [Jim]
I hope we meet!
So Ron Paul thinks going into Iraq was a mistake which means that all those American soldiers who gave their lives gave their lives for NOTHING? Never!
Thank you for pointing out how the media distorts the issues.
All the conservatives I talk to believe the same thing.
Bush lied and our children died.
The war was planned failure at Nation Building and no in our national security interest.
If the administration truely thought there was a current and immediate threat, why are our borders wide open?
Thank you. So do I. I'm very fond of Texas for obvious reasons, its history, its people, its heritage, not to mention we have friends down there. And I remember so well those Texas barbecues. God's blessings, Jim
You've been talking to the wrong ones. Adios.
Why do all Paulestinians reflexively hack up the exact same DailyKos/Democratic Underground hairballs, I wonder? Can they possibly believe that jibber-jabbering in perfect phonetic cindysheehanese somehow makes them sound more "conservative" to the trained ear...?
‘Just so you know, I’ll be voting Republican in November 2008, even if it’s that jerk Guliani.’
I can understand that...even thought at this point I don’t think I could vote for Guiliani.
Just what is he for??? no homeland security????
I had no idea any of the demos were calling for the restoration of our Constitution along with the restoration of our national sovereignty.
Whoa! I just experienced deja vu. Anyway, please tell me which one of the demos is supporting the restoration of either our Constitution or our national sovereignty?
Are you serious? Not one? And not one is calling for the abolition of the IRS and Social Security and Dept of Ed, nor to get out of the UN?
If not, as you offer, that no demo running for President shares these positions, then I concur, to compare his positions to theirs' is just plain ignorant.
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