Ron Paul on Eliot Spitzer: He acted badly but didn't deserve this

Politico ^ | 3/14/08 | Staff/Ron Paul

[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!"

[Admin Moderator]

my short time on this site.

Yeah sure.

[ArrogantBustard]

The word "breeder" is more likely encountered in Mein Kampf or in paleoagitprop

Not sure if they originated it or not, but militant queers seem to be the most frequent users of the term.

[Etoo]

[I mean groups or movements proclaiming some vaguely generalized, undefined]

 

There's no membership card required to see the truth in some of the issues being raised by Dr. Paul.    His assesment of the FED is spot on.   His opinions on foreign policy are rather shocking at first, but they begin to make sense when viewed within the historical context of the past 100 years; when corporatist/communists subjugated soveriegn individual freedom for the worship of, and obedience to, the collective politicaly correct, hive. 

 

Though the plutocracy were unable to control the Democratic Party as they controlled the Republican Party, they did not cease their efforts to control both and in 1904 and 1924, Morgan was able to sit back with a feeling of satisfaction to watch presidential elections in which the candidates of both parties were in his sphere of influence.

Tragedy and Hope: A History of the World in Our Time', by Carroll Quigley, Page 74

 

It's a Republic - Not an Empire.

 

[ vaguely generalized, undefined]

 

The goal of H.R. 2755 is quite specific:

 

 

Scissors cuts CreditCard.

Fortunately, Congressman Ron Paul has introduced legislation to restore financial stability to America's economy by abolishing the Federal Reserve.

Click here to contact your congressional representative and ask him/her to co-sponsor H.R. 2755.

[Etoo]

[and obedience to, the collective politically correct, hive.]

I should add that the hive is above all Secular, and Godless - save for the worship of its own image.

[mnehring]

I believe Phil Gramm put it best several years ago when asked about Paul's bills- they are so poorly written and lack any details of how to achieve the goals, most never make it out of committee. Or, as William F. Buckley put it (he paraphrased another quote by Ayn Rand), ..all theory, no teeth (substance)... Paul loves to say ‘get rid of the Fed’ as the solution to the problems, yet his solution is to go to an Austrian Economic theory system. He claims that this will end all these ups and downs, yet he is ignorant that the Mises-Hayek business cycle theory specifically states that not only will you have recessions and depressions, they are regularly required. The market would replace the fed. In theory, it would be better as the ultimate free market, but people, including Paul are deluding themselves into thinking it will eliminate these ‘problems’ we are having now; it would only shift the responsibility. Mises himself even said this principle would only work in a ‘closed system’- which I guess makes sense considering Paul's isolationist tendencies.

[mnehring]

ping 325- pinged the wrong person.

[Etoo]

The smoke has all blown away, the mirrors have shattered; and the sheeple are no longer mesmerized, shocked, and awed by the blaring of the siren from your ivory tower.

Our Great War is a spiritual war... our Great Depression is our lives. We've all been raised on television to believe that one day we'd all be millionaires, and movie gods, and rock stars. But we won't. And we're slowly learning that fact. And we're very, very pissed off about it. 

- Tyler Durden

 

 

 

["all theory, no teeth"]

 

Ah, but we've got teeth.  Just ask Argent Mortgage about the volume of fraudlent loans that didn't flow through their pipeline after key, systemic, loopholes that were being exploited got slamed shut (via 100% legal, by-the-book means).  

 

 

 

The Truth is mightier than either the sword or the soap.

 

Veritas Honor!

 

 

[mnehring]

Figures, Paultard quoting the great philosopher Tyler Durden. While you are at it, I bet you can find a lot of great philosophical quotes here.

[Etoo]

The Truth is what it is.

[Etoo]

[I bet you can find a lot of great philosophical quotes here.]

 

V For Vendetta? Fodder for Anarchists and those who would profit from anarchy.  But you've reinforced the point of the popularity of the product.

 

I choose the Republican Ideal. 

 

A Republic is a system of government characterized by the Rule of Law -

 

That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men

 

 

The Rule of Law is hardly characterized by the current, systemic, facade.

[mnehring]

sarcasm is lost on you isn’t it?

[Etoo]

>>sarcasm is lost on you isn’t it?

Not getting the effect you wanted eh?

[BlackElk]

Good point!

[Etoo]

[So you think that money is the root of all evil.]

 

BTW, your tag line is incorrect.   It's the LOVE of money that's the root of all evil, not the money itself.

 

1 Tim 6:10
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
KJV

 

[Etoo]

Woops, clicked on the wrong reply button. This was for you:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1986188/posts?page=334#334

[jmc813]

above all, do not join the wrong ideological groups or movements, in order to 'do something.' By 'ideological' (in this context), I mean groups or movements proclaiming some vaguely generalized, undefined (and, usually, contradictory) political goals. (E.g., the Conservative Party, which subordinates reason to faith, and substitutes theocracy for capitalism; or the 'libertarian' hippies, who subordinate reason to whims, and substitute anarchism for capitalism.) To join such groups means to reverse the philosophical hierarchy and to sell out fundamental principles for the sake of some superficial political action which is bound to fail. It means that you help the defeat of your ideas and (hand) the victory to your enemies.

I take it you''re done trying to talk people into voting for McCain?

[mnehring]

Nope, my suggestion is to stock up on Scotch and make the best of whatever liberal or moderate we get.

[Etoo]

[If anyone takes significant steps to impose Atzlan, I will join you on the barricades but not until the Atzlan fantasy of antiAmericans on the one hand and bordermanics on the other becomes credible.]

 

Go visit Santa Ana or Anaheim California - where the last census indicates more than 80% of the population are Latino.

 

Sit in the heart of down town Santa Ana at 4th and Broadway - right up the street from the Ronald Reagan Federal Building; and tell me how much Spanish you hear being spoken and how little English.  Count the Mexican flags.

 

I have.  I've lived there and I can tell you that a growing majority of those folks have no intention of assimilating.

 

Aztlan is already there.

 

Maybe you can't see that from your gated trailer park community in Illinois.

 

 

 

[BlackElk]

If I went to Bedford Stuyvesant in Brooklyn, would I find proof of an African invasion setting up a separate government and what not analogous to the hysterical beliefs for and against the Atzlan myth that would make Klan revival among border manics allegedly respectable?

Likewise, French Canadian population concentrations in Maine or Acadians in the bayou country of Louisiana??? Irish in South Boston??? Was there a Native American invasion of Pine Ridge, South Dakota???

Italian flags on Mulberry Street in NYC????

But the key passage in your bordermanic post is that Atzlan is already here. What rank baloney!

[Etoo]

[ But the key passage in your bordermanic post is that Atzlan is already here. What rank baloney!]

“I have said that Mexico does not stop at its border,
that wherever there is a Mexican, there is Mexico,”
-- Felipe Calderón, President of Mexico

My observation is that President Calderon's sentiment is shared by a substantial number of the residents of Santa Ana and other Southern California cities.

They are economicaly linked to their homeland and they are slowly taking control of local government via demographic fiat.  

Just ask Bob Dornan(R), who lost his congressional seat to Loretta Sanchez(D).  Sanchez won via voter fraud by registering illegal aliens to vote.

The mayor of Los Angeles is a member of Mecha; as is California Leutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante, who oddly received the support of Tom Metzger, leader of the White Aryan Resistance.  Can you say Race War?

But there's no problem.   BlankElk says Nothing to see here so Move along.