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The Paul Threat Republicans Mustn't Ignore
IBD Editorials ^ | August 3, 2011 | DOUGLAS MACKINNON

Posted on 08/03/2011 6:40:33 PM PDT by Kaslin

I spoke recently with a senior Democrat strategist who offered up a quite logical and incredibly frightening scenario for those who are desperate to vote Barack Obama out of office in 2012.

His theory goes like this: That the Obama White House and the Obama re-election team are going to work overtime behind the scenes to push enough of Texas Republican Ron Paul's "libertarian" buttons to eventually have him declare as a third-party candidate.

This strategist believes that as unemployment continues to remain above 9%, as the president's poll numbers continue to slide, and as more and more of the American people are finally awakening to the self-destructive ways of Washington, that a "libertarian" third-party candidate running in 2012 may be the only thing that could save Obama in 2012.

If you are one of the tens of millions of Americans who feel that for the good of the nation Obama must be defeated in 2012, then there is real reason to fear a Paul third-party candidacy. While he would not be able to win, he very easily could ensure a second Obama term should he run.

Ron Paul is Ross Perot without the baggage. He is a very decent and thoughtful man who cares deeply about his nation.

More than that, he has a very strong following and for that reason alone his experienced voice must be heard and respected.

Plain Language

One obvious way for team Obama to push the Ron Paul buttons is to entice the Republican leadership to compromise further and further away from Paul's core beliefs.

(Excerpt) Read more at investors.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2012; mackinnon; obama; ronpaul; thirdparty
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1 posted on 08/03/2011 6:40:36 PM PDT by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

Libertarians don’t win elections. I realize that Ron Paul has tried to hide his libertarian proclivities on things like open borders for the past few years but he doesn’t fool most of us.


2 posted on 08/03/2011 6:43:37 PM PDT by GeronL (The Right to Life came before the Right to Happiness)
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To: Kaslin

If Paul were to run as an independent, it would only because he wants Obama to win. He is way too smart to think a third party candidate has a shot at the job.


3 posted on 08/03/2011 6:44:22 PM PDT by stevem
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To: Kaslin
While he would not be able to win, he very easily could ensure a second Obama term should he run.

If he were to do that he would prove his ego bigger than America because he knows better than anyone that he won't win.
4 posted on 08/03/2011 6:44:45 PM PDT by cripplecreek (Remember the River Raisin! (look it up))
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To: Kaslin

Or, the Republican front runner could promise Ron Paul a job that would allow him to make congressional democrat’s lives a nightmare.


5 posted on 08/03/2011 6:46:52 PM PDT by The Iceman Cometh (Proud Teabagging Terrorist Hobbit)
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To: Kaslin

This possibility has occurred to me several times in the last few weeks. I really hope nobody (libertarians, Tea Party or anybody else) tries to run as third party and split the vote. That will guarantee that Obama will get back in.

Ron Paul and the libertarians are a threat, but I think that Obama’s advisers are going to try to focus on the dissatisfaction of the Tea Partiers and peel them off. Judging by some of the rhetoric here in the last couple of weeks, that would be very easy to do.


6 posted on 08/03/2011 6:48:03 PM PDT by livius
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To: Kaslin

I am voting for the best pro-freedom, pro-Constitution candidate in 2012.

Whether that candidate is a Republican or not matters not one whit to me.


7 posted on 08/03/2011 6:48:24 PM PDT by Psalm 144 (Voodoo Republicans: Don't read their lips - watch their hands.)
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To: The Iceman Cometh

I would make him treasurer.


8 posted on 08/03/2011 6:48:38 PM PDT by cripplecreek (Remember the River Raisin! (look it up))
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To: The Iceman Cometh

Or, the Republican front runner could promise Ron Paul a job that would allow him to make congressional democrat’s lives a nightmare.

**************************

I like the way you think.


9 posted on 08/03/2011 6:49:26 PM PDT by Psalm 144 (Voodoo Republicans: Don't read their lips - watch their hands.)
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To: Kaslin

Bad idea - Ron Paul might steal more votes from Obama than he would from any potential republican president. I’m not saying that to bash Paul in any way, but Obama has abandoned the anti-war crowd and that’s where Paul got a lot of his support last time around. Also, the libertarian idea that the government is too big AND should stay out of peoples lives has some potential cross-over appeal for social liberals, since most politicians only support one or the other. He could really clean up among moderates and independents, which Obama can’t afford.


10 posted on 08/03/2011 6:50:19 PM PDT by COgamer
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To: GeronL

Don’t tell a soul, but I thought yesterday, or the day before, that things are so collapsed already that no matter who is elected we can not recover, and that thought led to Ron Paul! But for the death of us all facing a third party, God only knows how many might give the election to Obama by way of a third party.


11 posted on 08/03/2011 6:50:57 PM PDT by RitaOK (TEXAS. Exhibit A. Perry/ Rubio '12 for the win.)
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To: livius
Judging by some of the rhetoric here in the last couple of weeks, that would be very easy to do.

Yeah, I've noticed a fair number of FReepers willing to self destruct out of pride.
12 posted on 08/03/2011 6:51:19 PM PDT by cripplecreek (Remember the River Raisin! (look it up))
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To: Kaslin

If Paul ran as a third party he would also pull some of the anti-war crowd away from Obama. Obama has failed them miserably.


13 posted on 08/03/2011 6:51:30 PM PDT by MulberryDraw ( Where's the democrat budget? What's the plan?)
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To: Kaslin

I wish the GOP had the guts to nominate Ron Paul.


14 posted on 08/03/2011 6:52:18 PM PDT by DivineMomentsOfTruth ("Give me Liberty or I'll stand up and get it for myself!")
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To: Kaslin

I’m not worried about Ron Paul running as a third party candidate in 2012. He didn’t in 2008 when the candidate was McCain.

The guy I worry about is Donald Trump. He’s the Perot factor in that race. And Trump’s ego may cause him to do it.


15 posted on 08/03/2011 6:53:35 PM PDT by OrangeHoof (Obama: The Dr. Kevorkian of the American economy.)
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To: Kaslin
Image and video hosting by TinyPic
16 posted on 08/03/2011 6:54:09 PM PDT by patriot08 (TEXAS GAL- born and bred and proud of it!)
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To: Kaslin

The Libertarian Party heads (the business apparatus behind the party) won’t have him back after what happened in 88. He would have to run on the Constitution Party or other ticket if he goes third party.


17 posted on 08/03/2011 6:54:33 PM PDT by mnehring
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To: livius

“I think that Obama’s advisers are going to try to focus on the dissatisfaction of the Tea Partiers and peel them off. Judging by some of the rhetoric here in the last couple of weeks, that would be very easy to do.”

Discouraging the opposition is a time tested method of securing electoral victory. That said, Obama is doing his part to discourage his own party as well, so it may balance out in the end. I believe (and hope) most Tea Party members will not give up, especially after the progress that’s been made. It will always be an uphill battle, but a worthy one.


18 posted on 08/03/2011 6:55:18 PM PDT by COgamer
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To: The Iceman Cometh
.. an excellent suggestion !

Set him up in Treasury with the mission of disemboweling BATF

19 posted on 08/03/2011 6:56:18 PM PDT by tomkat (Sarah '12)
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To: cripplecreek
I would make him treasurer.

I would make him Budget Director. Far more powerful that Sec'y of the Treasury.

20 posted on 08/03/2011 6:56:18 PM PDT by OrangeHoof (Obama: The Dr. Kevorkian of the American economy.)
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