Posted on 10/08/2007 11:18:25 AM PDT by Baladas
For presidential candidate Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, the quest for the Republican Party nomination is an all or nothing game.
While Paul ran for the White House in 1988 on the Libertarian ticket, earning 0.47% of the vote, the lawmaker told Washington Wire Friday that he’s not going to make a separate effort to get on the general election ballot if the Republican nomination doesn’t come through.
“The thought does not cross my mind about a third party,” Paul told us today after speaking at the Americans for Prosperity conference, a forum for fiscal conservatives. “I did it and I know what the problems are. Unfortunately this country does not offer democratic opportunities. There’s too many rules and laws and bias against an alternative party whether you’re left or right or wherever you’re coming from. You can’t get on debates, you can’t get on ballots.”
Paul’s camp has shot down suggestions since he launched his campaign that he might try a third party bid. But the question seems increasingly salient after Paul’s recent financial successes. He raised a notable $5 million in the third quarter and reported $5.3 million in the bank — more than candidates like Sen. John McCain of Arizona. Paul insisted, however, that he’s not interested in being a potential spoiler in 2008. “That’s the way it stands,” he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.wsj.com ...
In NJ up until 1997, no third party candidate for governor had ever gained over 5% of the general election vote. So the Democrats and Republicans, several generations ago, created laws requiring third party candidates to get over 5% in the prior general election to get an automatic line on each county ballot for the next election. This law in effect blocking third party candidates was further strengthened 5 times, as recently as last year (regarding matching funds laws), in an attempt to make sure no third party candidate for governor ever attempts to shake up the corrupt duopoly in the state.
This country does have very serious barriers to entry for all third party candidates. Paul had to run that gauntlet, the beatings from the bureaucracies leave permanent scars.
my info on paul ping, thanks for your work.
Yes, in several states the barriers to third party candidates now effectively costs a million dollars per state. Blame the exorbitant hourly rates of election law specialty law firms, but that’s how it is.
If Paul holds to this statement (and I think he will) the end is near for him, though he will stay in to push his points. Paul polls at 5% here on FR, which tells you all you need to know about his chances. If he can’t beat Giuliani and Romney here, he’s toast.
+200 cool points for Ron LOL. ;)
I don't know about NJ, I presume Ron Paul would leave that decision to the states.
California had around 130 candidates in their last Governors race, their choice too.
The Florida butterfly ballot above has 11 candidates. The Libertarians were on 48 ballots last time round, Reform and Constitution about 3 dozen states, Green a couple dozen, six parties on 2/3 of the states in 2000, so Paul's complaint isn't that he can't get on the ballot as a "third party", the fact is he's really talking about 6th or 7th or in Florida 11th party run.
He will probably run with cynthia on the green ticket because they are alike in so many ways
The first level headed thing Ru Paul has said.
To the Inhabitants of America
I should forfeit, even in my own opinion, the place I have so long held in yours, if I could be indifferent to your approbation, and silent on the motives which have induced me to join the King's arms.
A very few words, however, shall suffice upon a subject so personal; for to the thousands who suffer under the tyranny of the usurpers in the revolted provinces, as well as to the great multitude who have long wished for its subversion, this instance of my conduct can want no vindication; and as to the class of men who are criminally protracting the war from sinister views at the expence of the public interest, I prefer their enmity to their applause. I am, therefore, only concerned in this address, to explain, myself to such of my countrymen, as want abilities, or opportunities, to detect the artifices by which they are duped.
Having fought by your side when the love of our country animated our arms, I shall expect, from your justice and candour, what your deceivers, with more art and less honesty, will find it inconsistent with their own views to admit.
When I quitted domestic happiness for the perils of the field, I conceived the rights of my country in danger, and that duty and honour called me to her defence. A redress of grievances was my only object and aim; however, I acquiesced in a step which I thought preciptate, the declaration of independence: to justify this measure, many plausible reasons were urged, which could no longer exist, when Great Britain, the open arms of a parent, offered to embrace us as children, and grant the wished-for redress.
And now that her worst enemies are in her own bosom, I should change my principles, if I conspired with their designs; yourselves being judges, was the war the less just, because fellow subjects were considered as our foe? You have felt the torture in which we raised arms against a brother. God incline the guilty protectors of these unnatural dissentions to resign their ambition, and cease from their delusion, in compassion to kindred blood!
I anticipate your question, Was not the war a defensive one, until the French joined in the combination? I answer, that I thought so. You will add, Was it not afterwards necessary, till the separation of the British empire was complete? By no means; in contending for the welfare of my country, I am free to declare my opinion, that this end attained, all strife should have ceased.
I lamented, therefore, the impolicy, tyranny, and injustice, which, with a sovereign contempt of the people of America, studiously neglected to take their collective sentiments of the British proposals of peace, and to negociate, under a suspension of arms, for an adjustment of differences; I lamented it as a dangerous sacrifice of the great interests of this country to the partial views of a proud, ancient, and crafty foe. I had my suspicions of some imperfections in our councils, on proposals prior to the Parliamentary Commission of 1778; but having then less to do in the Cabinet than the field (I will not pronounce peremptorily, as some may, and perhaps justly, that Congress have veiled them from the public eye), I continued to be guided in the negligent confidence of a Soldier. But the whole world saw, and all America confessed, that the overtures of the second Commission exeeded our wishes and expectations; and if there was any suspicion of the national liberality, it arose from its excess.
Do any believe were at that time really entangled by an alliance with France? Unfortunate deception! they have been duped, by a virtuous credulity, in the incautious moments of intemperate passion, to give up their felicity to serve a nation wanting both the will and the power to protect us, and aiming at the destruction both of the mother country and the provinces. In the plainness of common sense, for I pretend to no casuistry, did the pretended treaty with the Court of Versailles, amount to more than an overture to America? Certainly not, because no authority had been given by the people to conclude it, nor to this very hour have they authorized its ratification. The articles of confederation remain still unsigned.
In the firm persuasion, therefore, that the private judgement of an individual citizen of this country is as free from all conventional restraints, since as before the insidious offers of France, I preferred those from Great Britain; thinking it infinitely wiser and safer to cast my confidence upon her justice and generosity, than to trust a monarchy too feeble to establish your independency, so perilous to her distant dominions; the enemy of the Protestant faith and fraudulently avowing an affection for the liberties of mankind, while she holds her native sons in vassalage an chains.
I affect no disguise, and therefore frankly declare, that in these principles I had determined to retain my arms and command for an opportunity to surrender them to Great Britain; and in concerting the measures for a purpose, in my opinion, as grateful as it would have been beneficial to my country; I was only solicitous to accomplish an event of decisive importance, and to prevent as much as possible, in the execution of it, the effusion of blood.
With the highest satisfaction I bear testimony to my old fellow soldiers and citizens, that I find solid ground to rely upon the clemency of our Sovereign, and abundant conviction that it is the generous intention of Great Britain not only to leave the rights and privileges of the colonies unimpaired, together with their perpetual exemption from taxation, but to superadd such further benefits as may consist with the common prosperity of the empire. In short, I fought for much less than the parent country is as willing to grant to her colonies as they can be to receive or enjoy.
Some may think I continued in the struggle of these unhappy days too long, and others that I quitted it too soon-- To the first I reply, that I did not see with their eyes, nor perhaps had so favourable a situation to look from, and that to our common master I am willing to stand or fall. In behalf of the candid among the latter, some of whom I believe serve blindly but honestly--in the bands I have left, I pray God to give them all the lights requisite to their own safety before it is too late; and with respect to that herd of censurers, whose enmity to me originates in their hatred to the principles by which I am now led to devote my life to the re-union of the British empire, as the best and only means to dry up the streams of misery that have deluged this country, they may be assured, that concious of the rectitude of my intentions; I shall treat their malice and calumnies with contempt and neglect.
Please, please, please Ron Paul. Please stop torturing me. Just go away. Please?
That’s almost too bad. I think Ru Paul would draw more from the kook base of the Democratics. He sounds like like a Kos Kid or a DUmmie a lot of times.
Actually; Paul had told his wife a while back that he wouldn’t seek a ‘third party’ nomination...this is old news.
They always do."
Yup, they sure do. At least all the politicians we have known in the past.
But not this one.
Because he is Dr. Ron Paul, (R)Texas.
Oh, you're SO funny!
Not. even smart enough to be funny.
Remember, Badeye; humor, in order to be successful, ought to have at least a hint of truth.
Apparently your tinfoil hat is too tight.
I wasn’t being humorous, or even attempting to do so. Primarily because most of the Paulie Girls left their sense of humor in the same box they used to discard their rationality.
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