Posted on 03/15/2008 9:13:01 AM PDT by pissant
Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas), he of the quixotic GOP presidential campaign and unique policy positions, is never one to be shy about his opinions. Take the case of fallen New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer (D), whose political career fell apart this week after his liaisons with high-priced call girls became public. Spitzer resigned his office effective Monday.
Most politicians from both sides of the aisle publicly (at least) offered condolences for Spitzer and his poor family, including his three daughters, but didn't — of course — defend Spitzer's atrocious behavior.
But for Paul, Spitzer's downfall at the hands of a Justice Dept. investigation shows government at its worst. Yes, Spitzer climbed to power on the backs of political enemies he destroyed, making him not a swell guy, but he didn't deserve what happened to him. The FBI should have never been allowed to listen in to his phone call in the first place, according to the Texas Republican.
Here's the statement Paul made on the House floor last night. It's worth reading, at least for the enlightenment it gives into Paul's view of the world, which basically comes down to who controls the money:
"Madam Speaker, it has been said that 'he who lives by the sword shall die by the sword.' And in the case of Eliot Spitzer, this couldn't be more true. In his case it's the political sword, as his enemies rejoice in his downfall. Most people, it seems, believe he got exactly what he deserved.
"The illegal tools of the state brought Spitzer down, but think of all the harm done by Spitzer in using the same tools against so many other innocent people. He practiced what could be termed 'economic McCarthyism,' using illegitimate government power to build his political career on the ruined lives of others.
"No matter how morally justified his comeuppance may be, his downfall demonstrates the worst of our society. The possibility of uncovering personal moral wrongdoing is never a justification for the government to spy on our every move and to participate in sting operations.
"For government to entice a citizen to break a law with a sting operation — that is, engaging in activities that a private citizen is prohibited by law from doing — is unconscionable and should clearly be illegal.
"Though Spitzer used the same tools to destroy individuals charged with economic crimes that ended up being used against him, gloating over his downfall should not divert our attention from the fact that the government spying on American citizens is unworthy of a country claiming respect for liberty and the Fourth Amendment.
"Two wrongs do not make a right. Two wrongs make it doubly wrong.
"Sacrifice of our personal privacy has been ongoing for decades but has rapidly accelerated since 9/11. Before 9/11, the unstated goal of collecting revenue was the real reason for the erosion of our financial privacy. When 19 suicidal maniacs attacked us on 9/11, our country became convinced that further sacrifice of personal and financial privacy was required for our security.
"The driving force behind this ongoing sacrifice of our privacy has been fear and the emotional effect of war rhetoric — war on drugs, war against terrorism and the war against Third World nations in the Middle East who are claimed to be the equivalent to Hitler and Nazi Germany.
"But the real reason for all this surveillance is to build the power of the state. It arises from a virulent dislike of free people running their own lives and spending their own money. Statists always demand control of the people and their money.
"Recently we've been told that this increase in the already intolerable invasion of our privacy was justified because the purpose was to apprehend terrorists. We were told that the massive amounts of information being collected on Americans would only be used to root out terrorists. But as we can see today, this monitoring of private activities can also be used for political reasons. We should always be concerned when the government accumulates information on innocent citizens.
"Spitzer was brought down because he legally withdrew cash from a bank — not because he committed a crime. This should prompt us to reassess and hopefully reverse this trend of pervasive government intrusion in our private lives.
"We need no more Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act! No more Violent Radicalization & Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Acts! No more torture! No more Military Commissions Act! No more secret prisons and extraordinary rendition! No more abuse of habeas corpus! No more Patriot Acts!
"What we need is more government transparency and more privacy for the individual!"
“Bill and Hill were already working for them”
Oh, I am sure the Mester and Mees Clinton would disagree.
They think the KGB is working for them.
Wo. I certainly agree that would be entrapment: but looks to me like in the Spitzwad case, Ron Paul was addressing :pervasive government intrusion," specifically, requiring the banks to report legal withdrawals of large amounts of cash:
Ron Paul: "Spitzer was brought down because he legally withdrew cash from a bank — not because he committed a crime. This should prompt us to reassess and hopefully reverse this trend of pervasive government intrusion in our private lives."
So in this statement, anyhow, Ron Paul is making a legitimate limited-government point.
“Rationale” suggests that the paleopipsqueak is capable of reasoning. Sadly, if he ever was capable of reasoning, he is no longer as was repeatedly proven during his idiotic embarrassment of a POTUS bid.
I understand. It’s just I don’t understand how the word entrappment applies in the Spitzer case.
No, he was brought down because he commited a crime.
Had he withdrawn them money for legal purposes, nothing would have come of it.
The withdrawel of money only sent up red flags.
Rep. Paul is correct Spitzer didn’t deserve what he got. He deserved worse.
The Story of Eliot (the Dick).
See Dick.
See Dick kick (people).
See Dick run (governor).
See Dick putz (around).
See Dick fall (from power).
Don't be a Dick.
(Just elaborating on your accurate observation...)
Man is blinded by his ideology.
What exactly do you mean by "objective?" It is your proposition of morality.
Oh, so much here.
Beyond there, there's the flawed tacit assertion that any "amoral" argument is inherently immoral by simply failing to address morality.
An amoral argument doesn't "fail to address morality," it excludes it by definition.
But I think you're smart enough to figure that and everything else out.
You'll have to argue with yourself now.
No, it shows that we have become a nation of degenerate sinners.
Our society has become very tolerant of sexual sins as is made evident by the increase of sexual disease, out of wedlock births, and the breaking up of marriages.
He's wrong on some issues just like McCain is wrong on campaign-finance reform, illegal immigration, and global warming for example. Nobody's perfect.
And that makes sexual sins right?
Stop using the hypocrisy of others to justify sins.
This was the libertarian view, Tucker was saying the same things.
Maybe that is why he is now off the air.
Ron Paul has NO tolerance for government sniffing around the private activities of Americas citizens. US government officials certainly have made it difficult for us to investigate their public actions.
Years ago, it required court ordered warrants for government officials to look at a persons banking transactions. These days it is the norm and the bank employees are doing it for them.
When these same government officials chose not to enforce a duly written law, try and bring them up on charges. Go ahead, I would love to see you try it. Before you can take a deep breath the IRS will be examining every dollar that has passed within your reach to determine if you paid ALL the taxes THEY believe are due. They will use YOUR tax dollars to investigate your actions and should they wish to do so, they will use YOUR tax dollars to prosecute you with no fear of penalties should the Court determine that you are innocent.
Do you own any registered weapons? Expect a visit from the BATFE to determine if all of your private weapons and magazines are within legal limits.
Still curious what them governemt officials are doing? Get ready for the visit from the local building inspector who wishes to walk through your home because they received a call about illegal modifications. Yes, he will report to the fire department that you have more than the legal amount of gasoline stored on your property.
Have you been to a medical lab for some blood work lately? Don’t be surprised if the lab didn’t send a fax of your tests to some government office that you’ve neverheard of. Yeah, now they know that you smoke pot thanks to the lab tests. You do know that the government is legally authorized to examine your medical records don’t you?
But don’t you worry. The US Government only hires the smartest employees and they perform multiple checks to varify that those tests are yours and not those of a convicted felon who has the same name.
Keep your faith in goverment!
If you study our history you shall see that most of our Founding Fathers were libertarians. The base of what free peoples believe in is libertarian in concept.
Ron Paul is an educated moron but it appears that his most of his statements always seem to go beyond reason. Although most feel Spitzer got what he deserved. How can thinking person feel its OK to have your bank spy on you. Police can not arrest you without Due Cause. What makes it OK for a bank to report you to the Government for withdrawing your money from their bank. We do not need our banks spying on us.
Yes, that is a serious concern for most Americans.
LOL!
On what grounds? I would guess that there are plenty of "moderate" GOP members who vote against the GOP leadership's position more frequently than Paul. The GOP needs a libertarian conscience, even though there are significant issues where not everyone will agree with Dr. Paul.
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