Is Ron Paul really so crazy? (townhall)

Townhall.com ^ | 10/23/07 | Jason Wharton

[traviskicks]

Is Ron Paul crazy for his position on the war and for criticizing our nation's foreign policy? Many believe this to be the case. But, might we be mischaracterizing Ron Paul by over simplifying or clouding the issues? A much closer examination based on facts and sound principles is in order. In the end I will conclude that Ron Paul is indeed crazy. Sorry to spoil it for you.

There are many things in his favor. To answer pressing questions of our time, Ron Paul relies on historical facts many American's are ignorant of. He isn't afraid to reveal clandestine operations and interventions motivated out of our national self-interest or special-interests that have had detrimental results to other peoples in the world.

He is even bold enough to admit there is a tendency on the part of government to cover-up things to maintain a façade that we are always on moral high-ground in the world. Some see in him a rare privilege to have a candidate step forward with a willingness to reveal these inconvenient truths while others choose to characterize him as a “Blame America First” fringe candidate and dismiss the possibility that he could be on to something.

Ron Paul's tendency towards transparency on these matters is at the root of why he is being attacked and marginalized because there is so much denial due to various forms of conditioning of people's opinions. Some people simply can't accept the reality that we are not always angelic and beneficial to others in the world as we were taught in grade school but this is an area where a reality check is definitely in order.

For example, who is it that "radicalized" Islam to fight against the Russians? We did! We created Osama Bin Laden. We created and installed Sadaam Hussein. We have been purposely destabilizing numerous regions and have and are causing all kinds of malice and strife among nations. Could Al Qaeda actually be like Frankenstein’s Monster? Do we really want to tamper so frivolously with the Law of the Harvest as we have been for decades? We deserve to know the facts as a self-governing nation so that We the People can make the best decisions. It’s our responsibility to search them out.

Ron Paul’s popularity is because there are many who are hungry for answers that make sense of all they see going on in the world who don't buy the idea that we are hated because we are rich and free. These people want the truth and are willing to accept the truth of our nation’s imperfections, even if they are unintended consequences of well-meaning actions. Inevitably, this is the crowd who is willing to face up to the reality this implies and to seek to make the world a better place in as peaceful manner as possible. Does this sound insane to you?

Ron Paul’s impeccable record of public and private conduct gives him a very rare position to speak on all matters of his platform without hypocrisy; especially where Constitutional matters are concerned. Coupled with his obvious absence of guile when he speaks he is greatly enlarging the soul of this nation. He is the heart of a much needed revolution to put aside shaping this world through force and control and replacing it with going back to setting a good example and using persuasion and friendship instead, reserving force of arms strictly for self-defense as a last resort only. Is this crazy?

Ron Paul sees Iran as acting in a very logical manner based on what he knows of the history and current events. He recognizes all we are doing to engender strife and conflict and sees how it is coming back to haunt us as countries seek to defend themselves against our policies of aggression. He sees how the continuation and escalation of these failing policies of our past will simply make our national security more threatened. There is an excellent video hosted by TownHall.com where Ron Paul talks about this: Video Link

I am eager to hear other's perspectives and see if I can discern any blind spots or failings in Ron Paul's platform but so far nobody has prevailed against him. Bill O'Reilley’s attempt was miserable because he refused historical facts and valid parallels to be examined to establish a reasoned perspective. Please watch this video: Video Link

There was a post here on TownHall.com by Phil Harris on 10/23/07 where he says that Ron Paul is giving a prescription for disaster but Phil also failed to convince me. In fact, Phil convinced me all the more that Ron Paul's detractors are the ones prescribing the path to disaster. The path Phil promoted is nothing short of an all-out full scale escalation of war with the defined goal to utterly and totally subdue the Islamic people based on the notion that the Islamic people simply want Israel and the USA exterminated from the planet. He promotes the idea that we either annihilate them pre-emptively or they will annihilate us. He leaves no room for any other scenario in his perspective. In either case he promotes there is certain disaster so by his own admission he is the one issuing the prescription of disaster, not Ron Paul.

This kind of over simplification is a brainwashing tactic that tries to get people to think they are helpless and without alternatives while they accuse their opponent of exactly what they themselves are guilty of. Reasoning from a fear-based viewpoint tends to exhibit this kind of contracted and self-accusing thinking and those doing it are knowingly or unknowingly acting as an agent for those who stand to benefit from the war and destruction this mentality will assure. Phil acts as if we are totally powerless to effect real solutions that will avert the death and destruction an all out world conflict would cause. Thanks to having Ron Paul on the stage we get to hear valid alternatives even if they sound crazy to some.

There is a better way but it involves us humbling ourselves as a nation and repenting of our evils we have perpetrated and forgiving the evils that have been perpetrated against us. The world overall will be a much better place by abiding by these principles and trusting in our Creator who gave us these principles with the promise that “eternal life” comes to all who abide by them. This is Ron Paul's platform and it will save this nation, not sacrifice it.

With all the advances in technology we had better evolve as a people before we self-destruct and render our precious planet uninhabitable in our foolish pride and fears born of false assumptions. Could the “eternal life” spoken of in the Bible actually be referring to the set of principles we must collectively live by in order to avoid a conflict to such a point that this planet is rendered unable to accommodate our presence? This question deserves our most serious and sincere consideration. The last person we want in front of "the button" is a myopic fear-based person who is prone to shoot first and ask questions later.

Our current mentality insists that we have to force and sculpt global conditions to stamp out any potential threat pre-emptively as if there is no Creator watching over and protecting this nation. Unfortunately, this is the very mentality that will cause us to become unworthy of divine protection and we will be left to our own strength and devices and we will become considered as “salt that has lost its savor” and we will end up “trodden under the foot of men”. This is universal law in my book.

I implore everyone to set aside some time to do some sincere and humble research into this issue and even make it a matter of prayer/meditation and fasting. I challenge everyone to assure you are not taking this responsibility to chose our Commander in Chief lightly. I challenge all to step up and articulate their position that strikes against the establishment's headlong plunge of our nation into an abyss of death and destruction as Phil, not Ron Paul, is prescribing.

And, as I promised, I do sincerely conclude that yes, Ron Paul is crazy. He is taking on a very powerful group that have patiently endeavored for generations to acquire the positions of power they control and Ron Paul is courageously standing up and giving our nation an opportunity to wake up and keep this nation a free country governed by We the People. The adversary of our freedom is only authorized to sieze the power we willingly lay down. If we don't wisely govern ourselves the default governance imposes a loss of our liberties and we only have ourselves to blame. There is nothing to fear when we seek with all our hearts, might, mind and strength to be responsible and passionate about maintaining our liberties. Darkness cannot abide the light.

This is a very defining moment in our nation's history. All Americans should do a reality check on Ron Paul before dismissing him. We as a nation of self-governance must be willing to stand up and accept the responsibility to be vigilant in preserving our individual liberties and champion those who take the lead, crazy though they are for doing it.

[SJackson]

In my paranoid moments, Ron Paul’s campaign was spawned by Hillary and he’s her idea of the alternative Republican (like Perot) who will split the Republicans...

A Hillary candidate wouldn't poll at 2% with negatives higher than hers, she's more talented than that.

[traviskicks]

I stand corrected, thanks, I had forgotten the first half of Saddam’s history.

[mnehring]

Just yell “Building 7” and watch their reaction.

[Goodness]

"The path Phil promoted is nothing short of an all-out full scale escalation of war with the defined goal to utterly and totally subdue the Islamic people based on the notion that the Islamic people simply want Israel and the USA exterminated from the planet. He promotes the idea that we either annihilate them pre-emptively or they will annihilate us. He leaves no room for any other scenario in his perspective."

The real crazies are the folks peddling this prescription.

[Schnucki]

Townhall??

[traviskicks]

see post 19, this was also stated in ‘saddam; kind of terror’ by con coughlin, and in fact documented in more detail here, i had just forgotten about it.

[Goodness]

A stack of exaggerations, distortions, and omissions about what RP “thinks?” Who’s the real stupid one?

[traviskicks]

I don’t know what ‘crooksandliars’ is and im not a fan of the daily show, usually. But I posted it cuz it illustrates some of what Dr Paul is speaking of, this never ending chess game that ends up working against us. Domestically conservatives understand that intervention works against us, yet with foreign policy we view government differently, for some reason. Did you watch the video? It’s short.

[SJackson]

From Ron's friends at Red-State. Fair, probably not, but what happens when you wear out your welcome.

BTW, there's a new Paint the Town Ron for Thanksgiving promo coming up. Let your local municipal officials know there'll be signs to take down off the highways.

 

How to spot Ron Paul supporters in your hometown.

http://www.redstate.com/blogs/chrome_plated/2007/oct/24/how_to_spot_ron_paul_supporters_in_your_hometown

 

As the 2008 Presidential Campaign rolls on, it is becoming increasingly clear that a handy, easy-to-utilize "cheat sheet" to aid in the identification of Ron Paul supporters might be a desirable tool. It has been my experience that - despite their assertions that they are sweeping the country - Ron Paul supporters can generally be found in a relatively small number of set locations and that they often display similar characteristics:

 

Sightings:

 

Comic book shops; on the curb outside big-box chain bookstores; mom's basement; the corner booth at Denny's (after midnight only); Star Trek conventions; 4th period AP English; Renaissance fairs.

 

Physical Characteristics:

 

Pasty white skin; split ends; long, dyed black hair (male and female); optional black eyeliner (male and female); black trenchcoat; either exceedingly skinny or exceedingly not.

Paraphernalia:

 

a battered and dog-eared paperback copy of The Fountainhead; clove cigarettes; thirty-sided dice; an i-Pod (containing only music by Nine Inch Nails and Korn); graphic novels; an (unsigned) petition calling for the legalization of absinthe.

 

Daily activities:

 

Dragon-slaying; refusing to dress out for P.E.; brooding; writing "Charmed" fan fiction; complaining about the commercialization of "All Hallows Eve"

 

How to avoid them:

 

Attend any sporting event.

 

Hope this helps. Be careful out there.

 

 

[-=SoylentSquirrel=-]

Hey, made one just for you!

[SJackson]

A stack of exaggerations, distortions, and omissions about what RP “thinks?” Who’s the real stupid one?

Clearly the author in your view. There were other points of his you want included.

[mnehring]

How about “Opposes supporting Israel because Jew isn’t in the Constitution”?

[Badeye]

You need an update, my friend.

They also like to disrupt little Bill Maher’s HBO show these days.

(thirty sided dice cracked me up, btw)

[Dead Corpse]

I've was a past supporter of Dr. Paul's for his stances in BoR enforcement, elimination of alphabet agencies the Fedgov has no Constitutional authority to be operating, and his view on reducing taxes and government spending both.

His recent crap-tastic views on the Islamic Extremist threat made him "jump the shark" in my view. While I don't think we are fighting it like the War we should be treating it as, you will never see me calling it a "quagmire", "un-winnable", nor will you see me calling for our Troops to come home now. I sure as hell wouldn't get up on a stage with the likes of Kucinich and tarnish my otherwise good reputation with moonbat leftism.

[Rick.Donaldson]

Ron isn’t crazy at all. However, he’s a bit over the top on some things. I used to like him, but he’s too anti-Government for me.

The government needs to be there, just doesn’t need to be AS big as it is. If he toned things down a bit, he’d be “Da man” to vote for.

[Dead Corpse]

Not accurate. He only opposes the GOVERNMENT being in control of those things. Looking at the mess government makes of everything it does, it isn’t that crazy an idea...

[traviskicks]

well, republicans don’t seem to be doing much to reduce it, we had control of both houses and the presidency and we grew it like never before. And from the sounds of the presidential debates it doesn’t sound like the other hopefuls would do much to reduce it either.

[Jonathon Spectre]

Ah, look at the thread full of so-called "conservative" supporters of the Endless War.

All aboard the Fantasy Train to Iran! We're in deadly danger and the only way to stay "safe" is to attack someone else who's done nothing to us!

Your vision of the world has already cost us $8,000 a second for four years with no end in sight. No one should pay any attention whatsoever to the opinions of supporters of the Endless War.

[mnehring]

Don't be fooled.. Paul is no Conservative. Votes speak louder than rhetoric.

Ron Paul's 2006 American Conservative Union rating: 76% Lifetime Rating: 82.3%

Ron Paul's Voting Record (ya, ya, I know, there is an excuse for all of these, state's rights are more important than stopping abortion and fixing the border, Ronnie is making a statement, or everyone else was voting against it and he was just playing the game, yadda, yadda, yadda)

Here are some more ‘Conservative(sic)’ votes by Paul:

Voted NO on federal crime to harm fetus while committing other crimes.

Voted NO on forbidding human cloning for reproduction & medical research.

Voted NO on barring transporting minors to get an abortion.

Voted YES on funding for alternative sentencing instead of more prisons.

Voted NO on more prosecution and sentencing for juvenile crime.

Voted NO on military border patrols to battle drugs & terrorism.

Voted NO on allowing school prayer during the War on Terror.

Voted NO on allowing vouchers in DC schools.

Voted NO on passage of the Bush Administration national energy policy.

Voted NO on implementing Bush-Cheney national energy policy.

Voted YES on barring website promoting Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump.

Voted NO on speeding up approval of forest thinning projects.

Voted NO on reforming the UN by restricting US funding.

Voted NO on requiring lobbyist disclosure of bundled donations.

Voted NO on prohibiting lawsuits about obesity against food providers.

Voted NO on prohibiting product misuse lawsuits on gun manufacturers

Voted NO on prohibiting suing gunmakers & sellers for gun misuse.

Voted NO on decreasing gun waiting period from 3 days to 1.

Voted NO on emergency $78B for war in Iraq & Afghanistan.

Voted NO on $266 billion Defense Appropriations bill.

Voted YES on more immigrant visas for skilled workers.

Voted YES on providing $70 million for Section 8 Housing vouchers.

Voted NO on promoting work and marriage among TANF recipients.

Voted NO on treating religious organizations equally for tax breaks.

Let's also not forget Paul's Pork Projects (that he voted for before he voted against when he calls them unconstitutional but he is just playing the game when he submits them because everyone else does it.. yadda yadda yadda..)

Paul also supported the NAU superhighway by funding the TransTexas Corridor

[Rick.Donaldson]

Well, I can’t quote him directly at this moment, since I don’t have the time to pull up his quotes. So, I’ll give that to you for now. However, let’s say that when he starts putting down the US for being in Iraq, and stating that we got hit on 9-11 because of Iraq 10 years earlier, he went over the top.