Libertarian ping! To be added or removed freepmail me or post a message here.
Posted on 06/16/2008 9:19:33 AM PDT by traviskicks
While most Republicans are likely to consider Rep. Ron Paul of Texas a mere pest, his devoted followers could be a problem for Sen. John McCain in November.
Paul, the GOP congressman with the squeaky voice but with a following of vocal supporters, will not go away. He's suspended his presidential campaign but his crusade goes on.
Paul got into the presidential race with no chance of winning. But his opposition to the war in Iraq, his isolationist foreign policy, and his leave-us-alone views on the domestic front won him faithful supporters during the debates earlier this year.
Based on those performances, the Paul campaign raised millions of dollars, especially on the Internet. As of the end of April, he had pulled in $35 million, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks these things. It was one of the surprises in this campaign with many twists and turns.
Now Paul's band of followers are planning their own little rump convention in September, when the GOP meets in the Twin Cities to certify McCain. While the real convention meets in St. Paul, the Paul crowd plans a meeting on the University of Minnesota campus in Minneapolis.
The Paul meeting is certain to draw some coverage during the highly programmed main event across the river. The media loves a little controversy amid an orchestrated convention.
Earlier, Paul's website reports a rally next month in Washington. It is called a rally for "freedom, peace, and prosperity."
The Libertarian Party has already endorsed former Rep. Bob Barr of Georgia, a crusty right winger, as its presidential nominee. But Barr has little following compared with Paul, a previous Libertarian candidate who has not endorsed the Georgian.
Paul has serious disagreements with the nominees of both major parties. It is hard to see him back either McCain or Barack Obama. Paul is certain to win re-election in his congressional district south of Houston. He'll barely have to sweat.
The Republican nightmare is for Paul backers to stay at home in a close presidential election. It could happen, since everything else has this campaign.
Libertarian ping! To be added or removed freepmail me or post a message here.
He’s suspended his presidential campaign but his crusade goes on.
Obviously this writer didn’t get the memo about the use of the word “crusade”. That word is to be avoided because it can be offensive to certain people. Bush was raked over the coals for once referring to the war on terror as a crusade. He hasn’t called it a crusade ever since.
Maybe political correctness hasn’t completely taken over the MSM.
Yes - unless he suddenly gets some mental help.
Brings to mind Ralph Nader. I wonder what percentage of the left will go with him instead of Obama?
I don’t think Paul can bring a whole lot of voters to Barr, but in an election like this, “not a whole lot” can still be critical. I still think that Paul’s active courting of the anti-war left got him more votes than his libertarian stands in the Republican primaries, but even though I think Barr and the LP have roughly the same platform on the war that Paul did (i.e., cut and run now), I can’t see it translating over.
If Paul himself had decided to throw it all away, quit the Republicans, possibly ditch his House seat, and run for either LP nominee or as an independent...then that would be trouble, and he’d do much better than Barr IMO. But considering the profile of so many of Paul’s supporters, I really don’t know whether he’d pull more votes from McCain or Obama in that case!
}:-)4
Very few, if any. Paul's supporters are not deranged anti-war nutjobs, despite what you hear in both the liberal media and from RNC bootlickers on blogs.
These people either have never participated in politics before or are fed up with the GOP ignoring fiscal and libertarian conservatism. I predict many will write in Paul's name or stay home, and that will be the fault of Republicans, not Paul.
Does the Libertarian Party accept federal funds for its campaigns?
And then the Beltway GOP power brokers and other moderates will, in arrogant fashion, blame defeat on the conservatives and fail to learn yet once again.
A “mere pest”?
Well ok, sure, if you’re a traitor to the Constitution and an enemy of the conservative cause I guess you might see it that way.
I’ll try getting away to St. Paul for the convention(s). And since I’m not much for associating with spineless RINOs and neocon scum, there’s not much debating which one I’ll attend. I’ll gladly go there to stand with Paul.
I live in Texas and whether we are democrat or republican or independent....whether we agree with Paul or don’t agree with hm or agree with him on some issues....Ron Paul is highly respected here. We like him, whether we agree with him or not.
let freedom Ping!
True, if your primary reason to vote for Ron Paul (as I did in the Primary Election) was his stand on the Iraq War then unfortunately your only effective choice now becomes Obama.
Excellent points.
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