With Thompson out, Tom McClintock leans to Ron Paul

Los Angeles Times ^ | Jan 25, 2008 | Dan Morain

[CautiouslyHopeful]

With Fred Thompson out of the presidential race, who's a self-respecting conservative to go for? Could it be, maybe, perhaps, a certain Republican-libertarian from Texas?

That's one question perplexing California state Sen. Tom McClintock, possibly the second-most-famous California Republican currently in office after Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

McClintock created a stir two months when he endorsed Thompson’s presidential candidacy. Having run for governor, lieutenant governor and state controller, McClintock has shown that while he has not won a statewide contest, he can win GOP primaries, which conservatives tend to dominate. So heading into the Feb. 5 primary, McClintock’s endorsement is seen as important in California.

[Designer]

"Remember wars end but federal programs never do."

Yea, good point!

[SierraWasp]

I don't do racism and you are a fool for attacking me with that foolish leftist nostrum!!! You're obviously ignorant of the savagery of the indian on indian wars and violence long before the white setlers ever appeared on the scene, or the recent episodic gun battle over at clearlake, CA over "Indian Gaming!!!"

Go back to elementary school for a refresher. Oh! I'm sorry, I forgot! They don't teach accurate American History in pubic school anymore... you lose!!!

[murphE]

But can the Republican Party really endorse an anti-Iraq-War candidate?

Can a big government pro war Republican win in the general election?

[kellynla]

[mnehring]

I think he’s talking about how statists tend to play on peoples’ fears (including LEGITIMATE fears) to grab more power for themselves

This is a conversation I have with liberal friends all the time who talk about how Bush's war on terrorism is just fear mongering. The root of fear is the inability to deal with the problem or situation. In the case of what we are doing, we are not playing the fear card, just the opposite, instead of being afraid, we are fighting. The ones who are really playing on fear are the ones creating a bogeyman out of President Bush and other PTBs as having some sinister conspiracy. Those are playing on people's fears of a situation that is out of their control, but affects them.

[nickcarraway]

Maybe some people feel it’s time to stick a finger in the eye of the GOP establishment, to return the favor. They are contemptious and dismissive of conservatives. I guess they are asking for a lesson.

[backtothestreets]

With Hunter, Tancredo and Thompson gone from the field, many are reassessing the remaining candidates.

[rockinqsranch]

If Tom McClintock endorses Ron Paul, I’m off his list.

[jmc813]

You are on the Wrong website. You should try the Daily Kos.

It's cute how one of the few remaining Giulianites goes on about who belongs at FR.

[Mr. Jeeves]

But can the Republican Party really endorse an anti-Iraq-War candidate?

Maybe the Republican Party needs to seriously re-think the Iraq War and its aftermath, rather than just falling back on a knee-jerk, emotional patriotism. Did the expense of blood and treasure move us closer to any major foreign policy goals? There are some valid arguments that it did not.

[calcowgirl]

I don't know, SW. If I wrote down a list of 10 issues alongside the remaining candidates, and then looked at how many of the candidates' positions on those issues I agreed/disagreed with, Paul ranks equal or above a couple others. It all comes down to which issues you want to rank the highest. All of these darn candidates are anathema on more than one issue. As to the war, I do not believe that any CIC, even the lefties, will put our own troops in danger. (Flame suit on!)

[mnehring]

Maybe some people feel it’s time to stick a finger in the eye of the GOP establishment, to return the favor. They are contemptious and dismissive of conservatives. I guess they are asking for a lesson.

The problem with this is that, first, we have to live in the country that is a result of this, thus, status quo is probably at least 1% better than going backwards (to tide us over until 2012). More importantly however, we have troops being shot at right now, and, while we may want a Patton or Westmoreland to lead them, right now we just need to ensure they don't get someone that will stab them in the back. Remember, the #1 job of the President is Commander in Chief of the US Armed Forces.

[SoCalPol]

L Ron Paul also voted not to condemn Ahmadinejad of Iran when he was here.

His views on national and international affairs are no different than Ted Kennedy

His economic stand won’t make a difference when the enemy takes over.

[nicmarlo]

"If ye love wealth greater than liberty, the tranquility of servitude greater than the animating contest for freedom,
go home from us in peace. We seek not your counsel, nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you;
and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen."-- Samuel Adams

"If you analyze it I believe the very heart and soul of conservatism
is libertarianism. I think conservatism is really a misnomer just as liberalism
is a misnomer for the liberals–if we were back in the days of the Revolution,
so-called conservatives today would be the Liberals and the liberals would be
the Tories. The basis of conservatism is a desire for less government
interference or less centralized authority or more individual freedom and this
is a pretty general description also of what libertarianism is."

~ Ronald Wilson Reagan, Reason magazine. 1975

I won't vote for a Rat with lipstick on an "R" ticket
any more than I would want a wolf in sheep's clothing "guarding" my children.

Taking cyanide, in whatever manner it has been wrapped,
at whatever dosages it is measured, is still poison and will kill you.

The RINO’s are what is killing America, as well as those who continue
spouting the RINO mantra: “the lesser of two evils.”

This country moves ever left, thanks to the RINO’s and
those who support and vote for them.

In order of my support:

1. Tom Tancredo
2. Duncan Hunter
3. RON PAUL

Ain't no way I'm voting for any Rudy McRombee's!

Ron Paul:

RonPaulLibrary.org

Votes (per Washington Post)

Key Votes (as per Washington Post)

OnTheIssues.org

Ronald Reagan on Ron Paul

Immigration Report Card

And a different one from that site:
Immigration Report Card: Career

Ron Paul Against a North American Union
WordPress.com

ChristiansForRonPaul.com

Ron Paul's Statement of Faith, July 2007

[Designer]

"But is immediate withdrawal from Iraq really a viable option? Will it not leave a power vacuum?"

What kind of power are the Iraquis exhibiting now? I see them not helping much, at least from the "news" reports. Could be that when we decide we have had enough, then they will step up. But probably not.

"For that matter, this gold standard business seem odd to me. Or am I just not “conservative” enough for it?"

Yes, it seems "odd" because we have not personally lived it. You don't have to completely buy into a gold standard just now, but do have a look at what the Federal Reserve is doing to our money. The U.S. dollar has been inflated to an embarrassing and dangerous degree, and the only answer coming out of Washington is to inflate it some more. I say that has got to cease.

[jmc813]

You're obviously ignorant of the savagery of the indian

How is that any different than mentioning the "savagery of blacks" or the "cheapness of Jews". My Grandmother's side of the family is Cherokee and none of my relatives are "savages", pale skin.

[calcowgirl]

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?

See 111. Everyone has their "least worst" candidate.

[Mr. Jeeves]

This is a conversation I have with liberal friends all the time who talk about how Bush's war on terrorism is just fear mongering.

Until the southern border is closed with Hammer of God military force backing up that closure, it can easily be construed as fear-mongering by the President's enemies. You don't take your guns to the ghetto to stop your house from being burglarized and leave the garage door wide-open while you are gone.

[nickcarraway]

If Ron Paul is a conservative, so is George Bush.

[mnehring]

Let’s not forget also that Paul himself said that he knows he will be unable to accomplish any of the domestic items he is proposing, as President, his #1 goal is the war.

This actually makes sense in some ways as the power of the domestic overhaul he is talking about lies in Congress, not the Executive anyway. (that is, unless he changes his mind on Unified Executive Authority.)

(SJackson, pinging for the link.. one of these day’s I’ll remember to bookmark it.)