Sounds like a rising star. Hey Sarah or Mark, don't overlook Michele when you are looking for a VP.
Posted on 05/08/2009 12:39:32 AM PDT by jmc813
For the past couple of months I’ve been writing about the “mainstreaming” of paleo-libertarian Ron Paul; he’s been a regular guest on Fox News and other networks, and his drones have been heavily involved in organizing “tea party” demonstrations. Lots of LGF readers didn’t want to believe this was happening.
Well, it really is happening.
The weird economic theories of Ron Paul are Winning GOP Converts.
A funny thing has started happening to Paul since his long-shot presidential campaign ended quietly in the summer of 2008. More Republicans have started listening to him. There are the media requests from Fox Business Channel and talk radio, where he’s given airtime to inveigh on sound money and macroeconomics. There is HR 1207 , the Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2009, a bill that would launch an audit of the Federal Reserve System, and which has attracted 112 co-sponsors. When Paul introduced the Federal Reserve Board Abolition Act just two years ago, no other members of Congress signed on.
And then there are the luncheons. The off-the-record talks have brought in speakers such as ex-CIA counterterrorism expert Michael Scheuer, libertarian investigative reporter James Bovard, iconoclastic terrorism scholar Robert Pape, and George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley. Perhaps the most influential guest has been Thomas Woods, a conservative scholar whose previous books include “The Politically Incorrect Guide to American History” and “Who Killed the Constitution?: The Fate of American Liberty from World War I to George W. Bush,” and whose current book “Meltdown” has inspired Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) to question Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke and Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner about economic fundamentals.
Paul’s unexpected and sudden clout with his fellow Republicans — even some of Paul’s staff have been surprised with the momentum of his “Audit the Fed” bill — come as the GOP engages in a tortured internal dialogue about its future. Since January, no small number of new coalitions have formed between current members of Congress, former advisors to President George W. Bush, and perennial party leaders such as former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-Mass.) and former Gov. Jeb Bush (R-Fla.). Few of those conservatives, however, have spent much time criticizing the very foundations of America’s modern economic system and worrying about a 1929-style crash. Few of them had a drawer stuffed with off-brand economic ideas and forgotten libertarian texts, ready to explain what needed to be done. Ron Paul did, and as a result the ideas that made the Republican establishment irate enough to bounce him from a few primary debates are more popular than ever.
And chief among these new converts — one of the very kookiest Representatives in Congress, Michele Bachmann, the one-woman GOP anti-science crusader.
But the most prominent new face is Bachmann, the rising conservative star who left C-SPAN and YouTube watchers scratching their heads with a constitutional grilling that seemed to puzzle Geithner. “What provision in the Constitution could you point to to give authority for the actions that have been taken by the Treasury since March of ‘08?” asked Bachmann during a hearing on March 24. “What in the Constitution could you point to to give authority to the Treasury’s extraordinary actions that have been taken?”
Bachmann “goes to these luncheons on a weekly basis,” said Debbee Keller, Bachmann’s press secretary. Keller noted that Bachmann was reading “Meltdown,” which argues that the New Deal failed and that the Federal Reserve is responsible for the current economic crisis. “Just as Austrian theory suggests,” wrote Woods, “the Fed’s mischief was responsible for the Great Depression.”
“I had a feeling she’d have some interest in the book,” said Woods, “because she asked some good questions. She was taking notes. She was asking if this or that point could be found in the book. I thought I recognized a sincere person who wanted knowledge, not the usual politician who couldn’t care less about what the truth is and just wanted to propagandize.”
Paul didn’t take credit for turning Bachmann on to Austrian theory (”He’ll give credit to everyone on the planet except himself,” laughed Woods) but said he was pleased to see more members of Congress delving into economics. “She’s very open to studying,” said Paul. “In fact, she’s been working really hard to get me back to Minneapolis. She says, ‘You’ll get such a great reception there!’”
And Ron Paul’s oldest racist friends, the John Birch Society, couldn’t be happier about his new legitimacy.
It’s been a rapid rise for an idea that, only months ago, was located firmly in the political fringe. The John Birch Society, the far-right group that Paul has often defended from media criticism, was one of the first groups to encourage members to contact their members of Congress to support an audit of the Fed.
This is a deeply disturbing development; for more reasons why Ron Paul should not be brought into the mainstream of the GOP, see: Angry White Man - The bigoted past of Ron Paul.
I’m under no illusions that the GOP will pay attention to me, but isn’t there anyone in the party who sees how disastrous this is becoming?
Run em for office LOL.
Anyone who thinks those types of opportunists expouse or even know the classic writings of the Enlightenment...Hume, Burke and Locke ect., which explains the bedrock philosophy of conservatism, probably spend too much time watching American Idol.
It is sad that there are so many undereducated and confused people...even here...who claim to be conservatives.
Best read Ron Paul...he will be a huge influence on the future of politics...even after he has passed on.
Thanks. That’s good to know. Sounds like they try to run a tight ship. Good.
Indeed. These treaties don't promote freedom in the market place - they simply write rules by which governments and multinational ag companies eliminate the competition through selective enforcement of quotas, no quotas, subsidies, no subsidies, etc.
If it helps, here's a pretty good overview of Ron Paul's positions on a variety of issues.
Thanks for the link.
Thanks for the link.
If my party turned on me, laughed at me during debates, and funded Republican primary opponents against me during elections, hell I'd bash them too.
I don't blame Paul for sticking it to the GOP.
Johnson is still using that weak article from the uncredible TNR as some sort of “end-all” piece against Ron Paul? Lame.
> Why would a treaty promoting genuine free trade need 900 pages (in the case of NAFTA) to say: “there shall be no barriers to trade between our countries”?
The problem is these treaties always cater to special interests by granting them protection (for example agriculture). While I would much rather have clean agreements, I will gladly accept incremental improvements.
I will give you an example. About 18 months ago US and Thailand concluded a free trade agreement. Part of the agreement is a system which allows Americans to own up to 100% of Thai companies. (Previously maximum foreign ownership was limited to 49%.) However, this is only permitted for certain types of companies and the treaty goes to great length to specify what kinds of companies are covered by this agreement.
> Interesting article here. Never heard of this guy but, I like his style.
You now, I really am trying to find kind words to say about this article. But the only thing that comes to mind is “disconnected from reality”.
Paul bashes Republicans because they lie about being for limited government, the rule of law, original intent, and family values.
Almost every Republican understands that Democrat politicians are socialists who want to undermine traditional American values. However, my experience is that even honest conservative Republicans are typically unwilling to apply principle to the actions and policies of the Republican party establishment.
Uhh, so you ignored all his other points? I’ll repost them for him here:
Obama wants the free market to set interest rates and determine what will be used as money?
Obama wants to loosen restrictions on the 2nd Amendment?
Obama wants the government to stay out of health care?
Obama is going to massively cut government spending?
Obama wants to phase out Social Security and Medicare?
Obama wants the states to decide all issues not specifically delegated to the federal government in the Constitution?
Obama wants to end abortion?
Obama wants out of the UN?
Obama wants to cut federal regulations and taxes on businesses?
So, Obama and Ron Paul are the same.. except for all those things, I guess.
If you insist...
> Obama wants the free market to set interest rates and determine what will be used as money?
Unlike Obama, Ron Paul would like to destroy the economy via deflation, not inflation. (See the difference?)
> Obama wants to loosen restrictions on the 2nd Amendment?
I’ll give you that one.
> Obama is going to massively cut government spending?
> Obama wants to phase out Social Security and Medicare?
Good luck with these. George Bush tried his hand with Social Security, see how well it worked out for him.
> Obama wants to end abortion?
Is that a federal issue? I thought it would be one of those:
> Obama wants the states to decide all issues not specifically delegated to the federal government in the Constitution?
Please double check your notes.
> Obama wants to cut federal regulations and taxes on businesses?
Presumably, not including those involved in foreign trade and investment.
> Obama wants out of the UN?
Yes, I agree. Ron Paul would like to abandonee all allies, not only the democratic once. There are times when US should get involved.
Did I miss anything?
BTW, you do realize that there are real conservatives out there who are not crazy, who do not associates themselves with racists and who have real proposals. Why, for example, would you not support someone like Newt Gingrich? I could name several more who may have potential: Sarah Palin, Bobby Jindal, Eric Cantor or Mark Sanford. There is no shortage of talent on the Republican side.
I just noticed your handle - I assume you are referring to William F. Buckley. Is it really possible to be a fan of Bill Buckley and Ron Paul?
“disconnected from reality”
Why I’m I not surprised? Your reality vs other people’s.
Ron Paul will be what in 2012? 77?
Sounds like a rising star. Hey Sarah or Mark, don't overlook Michele when you are looking for a VP.
***Actually no, all countries, including United States, impose tariffs and various other restrictions on trade (e.g., land and company ownerships). The free trade agreements are what eliminate these restrictions. (Not sure about that “all” part. Possibly there might be some countries that do not have tariffs. Unfortunately, I can’t think of one off-hand.)***
From an economics perspective free trade is the status quo. Tariffs and the like are infringements and interventions. You said it yourself, all countries impose tariffs and other trade restrictions. The absence of this imposition is free trade.
***So basically, you agree that he might be a racist. You just don’t think it’s a big deal.***
I said ‘even if’. I took the worst case scenario. Anything is possible.
How are earmarks constitutional?
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