Posted on 01/14/2008 2:28:06 PM PST by mnehring
It was supposed to be a revolution. Ron Paul was set to take America and the world by storm by winning primary after primary on his way to the White House. The supporters of the ten-term US Congressman from Texas were convinced that the money he raised would equal support at the actual ballot box. Now in the cold hard days of January, the truth has broken though.
So what has happened to Ron Paul? The answer isn't difficult; his support was never very large to begin with. It was magnified by a presence on the Internet (or the "Internets" if you prefer) and it would never push through into the real world of voting. This was never really anything more than an online revolution that could never come close to cracking the mainstream of political thought.
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For a dark horse candidate, he made all that he could out of his Libertarian philosophies. He brought forward a whole bunch of young folks that didn't really understand the political process and they are now excited and involved. Of course, Iowa and New Hampshire slapped many of them across the face and Michigan and New Hampshire will do the same. Come February 5 even the staunchest Paul political supporter will have to realize that it isn't going to happen.
The problem that many didn't really understand is that Paul wasn't preaching anything new. This was the same Libertarian Party line that had been regurgitated over and over in one form of another for election after election. I'm not certain why so many thought it might be "magical" this campaign season.
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There is a reason that the Libertarian Party exists in relative obscurity. Though many of us hold several of the ideas of the party dear to our hearts and believe them fully, once the movement of the fringe takes hold it is too much to bear for most people.
Many scoffed at the "mainstream" and believed they didn't need them as their man Ron Paul would rise above and dominate. They didn't believe the polls that showed little support and the true believers don't even believe the votes that have been cast at the ballot box. I'm not certain if Paul and his supporters will go away quietly, but one thing is certain, they won't win this election or even come close enough to move the political debate.
“How can that be if Paul’s support is only coming from the Left?”
Because the left knows that he’ll draw just enough votes away to allow their side to squeak by in the general election.
The same thing happened the last time there was a clinton and a big eared village idiot with a funny voice from Texas running for President.
The left was only going to support paul in the primaries just so he can get the nomination. In the general election they were going to leave him standing with the flaming bag of dog poo while they vote for hillary.
Ron Paul Library
There's a lot of good stuff in there, but it's mostly a collection of speeches and introduced legislation, all written at different times. It would help a lot of the material in each category were pulled together into an organized position document.
And just what is it YOU are trying to conserve? From where I sit, it sure is NOT the Constitution and Bill of Rights and the Republic for which they stand. Nor is it smaller government, vastly smaller taxation and spending. Nor protecting the linchpin of ALL our God-given rights, the Second Amendment. Nor securing our borders. Nor even fighting the war against Jihadist terrorists. So what ARE you trying to conserve besides your so-called “Party?” Not principles, apparently. If you are willing to cast votes for Rudy McJuilieRomney for ANY reason, you are voting to send this nation farther and faster down the path to total government than anyone can possibly imagine. Yet you want to refer to people who support a candidate we can vote for without holding our noses as “paultards” and other names and wish that JimRob would ban people, some of whom have been here ten years or longer, based solely on that support.
You are no conservative, by any stretch of anyone’s most vivid imagination. I have no idea what you are; I do know what you are not.
He is a bully, plain and simple. And the conservative movement of Reagan and Goldwater has simply been supplanted by bullies and people who love exercising state power especially against the weaker and more marginal elements of society.
I am in the Napa Valley most every day and the ONLY signs I see for ANY candidate, R or D, are Ron Paul signs... and more of them all the time. It’s delightful!
Barry Goldwater didn’t bash this nation or its soldiers. Constructive criticism is one thing, hating the greatest nation on this earth and blaming it for all the world’s ills is another. I used to have some respect for Paul but since I saw him in the debates, he disgusts me. We are at war, for heaven’s sake.
Agree. Perhaps someone among Ron Paul's army of volunteers will offer to do it, after the election. :/)
Let's hope not.
He’s been made the pivot man in the Libertarian circle jerk and likes it so much he has little interest in campaigning.
Generally, it is best for people to reap the natural consequences of their actions. Liberals won't let people suffer the consequences of bad behavior; many 'conservatives' seem to want to counterbalance this by creating artificial 'consequences' to balance the natural ones that are stifled by liberals.
Unfortunately, liberals are able to blur the distinction between natural and artificial consequences, to the point that they can argue (not unreasonably) that since the primary perceived consequences of certain bad behaviors are imposed by conservatives, those actions would have no consequences if conservatives were removed from power.
In fact, of course, even without conservatives imposing artificial consequences for various actions, those actions would have negative consequences that liberals wouldn't be able to totally stifle. The liberal leaders who are pushing for a morals-free existence are almost certainly aware of this, but they're also aware that 'conservatives' will be sufficiently effective in setting themselves up as scapegoats that the liberals' followers are unlikely to catch on.
States have the authority to implement many sorts of laws, be they wise or silly. I am not doubting the authority of states to pass laws like you describe, but I do question the wisdom of so doing.
How Right You Are!!!
I couldn't have said it any better myself, worth repeating:
"Freepers who shill for Ron Paul should be shown the Zot Kitty as well."
Yet he still can’t place better than fifth in the only place numbers really count.
It’s early enough in the season that he could well surprise a LOT of folks... and I would take great delight in seeing a whole bunch of you who do NOTHING but badmouth him and trash his supporters get to eat a whole great helping of humble pie. Not saying it WILL happen. I’m not God and don’t do predictions... but were it to happen, I would, for the very first time, be able to vote for a Republican and not have to use industrial-sized vicegrips to hold my nose.
Try not to be jealous, Big Tuna.
had you been least while attentive to circumstance, you'd note I rarely comment on paul threads except to ping the group.
You engaged me - Ive merely responded
You fit in well with his band of delinquent delusional foolish supporters.
predictably you repeat the pattern.....simple exclamation, followed by an insult as self esteem issues rear their head.
We are creatures of habit, no?
likewise here in rochester ny - many yard signs - some hillary - no other candidates apparent
the Republican Party has moved on, don'tcha know?
More "programs", bigger government, higher taxes, less freedom, etc. Just like the dummycrats, only maybe not quite so obvious, and only half as fast.
Half-fast socialism.
No, dear, there simply is no such thing anymore as an "old style Republican".
Except one. He's the last of the breed, and when he's gone, there will be no memory of what once was.
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