Posted on 10/24/2007 12:03:08 PM PDT by 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 Frankensteins 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. Its our responsibility to search them out.
Ron Pauls 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 nations 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 Pauls 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'Reilleys 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.
Winning friends and influencing people, working on raising their negatives.
47% of Voters Would NEVER Vote for Ron Paul; 50% Would NEVER Vote for Hillary Clinton
Their blog, not a columnist. He's with the Mesa, AZ East Valley Ron Paul 2008 Meetup & Education Group
Actually, I think your text is actually funnier than mine, which is a tough one, because I am very darn funny.
"Ron Pauls 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."
If we aren't hated because we are (or used to be) rich and free, then why is it that the UN, the Europeans, the Chinese, Russians, third world Communists, etc., spend all their time trying to figure out how to fleece us of our last dime, meanwhile criticizing and reprimanding us to "fix" all the things that go wrong in the world that everyone else is too lazy or uninterested to be bothered to do?
That's the NAU conspiracy highway isn't it? He voted to fund that? A bit inconsistant.
RP: The NAFTA Superhighway. And uh Theyre talking about the Omero as a currency. Its the early stages Its exactly what happened in the early stages of the European Union.HE: Whos responsible -- whos behind that?
RP: Those people who are really in charge of our government.
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Even more troubling are reports that under this new "partnership," a massive highway is being planned to stretch from Canada into Mexico, through the state of Texas. This is likely to cost the US taxpayer untold billions of dollars, will require eminent domain takings on an almost unimaginable scale, and will make the US more vulnerable to those who seek to enter our country to do us harm.
http://muslimsvoteronpaul.com/
Why should YOU vote for Ron Paul?
Assalaamu Alaikum Brothers and Sisters,
(snip)
Brothers and Sisters, please vote for Ron Paul in the Republican Primaries. Its our obligation to come together and try to stand up for not only our best interests, but the best interests of the entire Ummah. Living here in the West, we are obligated to do so. Otherwise, we are partly to blame for all the actions our government takes in our name.
American Muslims must RISE and UNITE. Let your voice be heard. InshAllah (God-willing), we can spread the word and make a difference.
Sounds like something a DUmmie would say.
“Iran is harmless!”
“Useless, endless war!”
“Islamofacism doesn’t exist!”
I didn’t read the article but the WOT is the one thing Paul is crazy on. His ‘stick to the Constitution’ views on most everything else are right on the money. Tancredo, Thompson, Huckabee and even Romney echoed the same principles on various things. I don’t think Huckabee or Romney actually believe in federalism though.
Sometimes alliances are transitory. Yeah, okay, I accept the simplistic premise we put Saddam in power and kept him there.
And then, realizing our mistake, took his freakin’ a$$ OUT!
If Ron Paul gets the nomination, he will lose the election.
3 percent doesn’t equal a winning presidential candidate. Having 8 more years of Clinton makes me want to throw up. Not just a little spittle, but massive endless projectile vomiting that feels like you are vomiting up stuff from your toes type of vomiting.
Save your condescending attitude for someone who will appreciate it.
Does this mean that any complete idiot is allowed to borrow Townhall's name and "blog" whatever comes out their butts?
For example, who is it that "radicalized" Islam to fight against the Russians? We did!
B.S. Islam has been radical for longer than we have been the United States. We did not radicalize Islam so they would fight against the Russians. We did supply radical Muslims with weapons and training with which to fight the Russians, because we felt that the Russians were a greater threat at the time, but we aren't at fault for making them radical.
We created Osama Bin Laden.
Osama Bin Laden created himself. We helped arm his fighters in their battles against the Russians, but we didn't create him or drive him to attack innocent people.
We created and installed Sadaam Hussein.
We have many. many times supported what we believed to be the lesser of two evils. That does not mean that we created those people or that we are responsible for their actions.
Should we all stay home on election day because we are afraid the candidate we vote for might not be perfect? Should we just refuse to get involved in anything because we might have to make a choice between two less than perfect options?
I guess I really don't understand why Paul gets any votes. If you follow non-interventionism shouldn't you just stay home and not vote?
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.
What a load of crap. I don't know anyone who is blind to the fact that our government has taken actions in other parts of the world and those actions haven't always worked out well. Ron Paul doesn't lack in support because everyone is blind to our Country's past mistakes. He lacks support because most people realize that it is easier to criticize than to act. They also realize that inaction allows others to choose for you.
Inaction rarely solves serious problems. If a problem simply goes away it probably wasn't that serious, however we have plenty of historical references where inaction allowed problems to grow into worldwide conflicts.
Where would non-interventionists draw the line? Are they complete pacifists that wouldn't raise a hand to defend themselves or those they love? Will they take action within their own home? How about within their neighborhood? Their city? Their state? The United States? Where does our responsibility end? Where can we safely ignore events without them eventually effecting us?
Non-interventionism lacks consistency and rationality. Ron Paul is insane. Not because he's taking on some powerful group out of this author's conspiracy theory. He's insane because he isn't consistent or rational.
It's much easier to stick your head in the sand and accuse those trying to actually solve problems of being part of some conspiracy than to actually do anything. It seems to be human nature to rationalize inaction and accuse others.
However rationalization is the attempt to make the unreasonable seem reasonable. It is an attempt to make irresponsibility appear like responsibility. It is an effort to trick yourself into believing something that isn't true. When it's about something as serious as this, it's insane.
Paul Poses Serious Threat to Hillary Clinton in a General Election Match up
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1895689/posts
I've never tried, but that's my understanding. If you go to their Blogs page, they have several thousand, with a create your own blog button.
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