NYT: Ron Paul for President... of the 'Wackos'? [Birchers, Israel-Haters, etc.]

Editor and Publisher.com ^ | 07/20/07 | E&P Staff

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

NEW YORK A feature piece in this coming Sunday's New York Times Magazine on Republican candidate for president, Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, portrays his followers as including a wild mix of "wackos" on both ends of the political spectrum. Paul, a libertarian, has been gaining media and public attention of late.

The cover line reads: "A Genuine Radical for President." The headline inside: "The Antiwar, Anti-Abortion, Anti-Drug-Enforcement-Administration, Anti-medicare Candidacy of Dr. Ron Paul."

The article closes with the author, Christopher Caldwell, attending a Ron Paul Meetup in Pasadena. The co-host, Connie Ruffley of United Republicans of California, admits she once was a member of the radical right John Birch Society and when she asks for a show of hands "quite a few" attendees reveal that they were or are members, too. She refers to Sen. Dianne Feinstein as "Fine-Swine" and attacks Israel, pleasing some while others "walked out."

Caldwell notes that the head of the Pasadena Meetup Group, Bill Dumas, sent a desperate letter to Paul headquarters: "We're in a difficult position of working on a campaign that draws supporters from laterally opposing points of view, and we have the added bonus of attracting every wacko fringe group in the country....We absolutely must focus on Ron's message only and put aside all other agendas, which anyone can save for the next 'Star Trek' convention or whatever."

Asked about the John Birch Society Society by the author, Paul responds, "Is that BAD? I have a lot of friends in the John Birch Society. They're generally well-educated and they understand the Constitution. I don't know how many positions they would have that I don't agree with."

The writer concludes that the "antigovernment activists of the right and the antiwar activists of the left" may have "irreconciable" differences. But "their numbers -- and anger -- are of considerable magnitude. Ron Paul will not be the next president of the United States. But his candidacy gives us a good hint about the country the next president is going to have to knit back together."

Among many other things, we learn from the article that Paul had never heard of "The Daily Show" until he was a guest and referred to the magazine GQ as "GTU." It also notes that he was the only congress member to vote against the Financial Antiterrorism Act and a medal to honor Rosa Parks, among many others tallies, based on principle, not politics. He also is praised by liberal Rep. Barney Frank as "one of the easiest" members to work with because "he bases his positions on the merits of issues."

[Abcdefg]

In Spanish, MENSA means “stupid girl”.

[George W. Bush]

Nice JBS redux. Besides JBS and McCarthy, I think you have to give some credit to Human Events (Reagan's endorsed paper) and to the Reverend Moon who, despite his bizarre quasi-Christian cult, was a fierce anti-communist and whose organization still publishes the Washington Times. When I think of real anti-communist sources here in this country, I think of those four (and Moon anywhere in Asia he could reach). Overseas, Voice Of America and Radio-Free Cuba and such were great in their time, now far less so. But these were all strong voices for liberty and for democracy and against tyranny, particularly totalitarian governments.

Of course, to read about it today, the only anti-communist writings were the original neo-cons like Kristol and such. IMO, they mostly wailed and confessed how they cheered when the Soviet tanks rolled into Prague and how badly they felt about it. They expected standing ovations for these longwinded mea culpas too. They might have steered a few dizty college students away from the Maoist ideology of the Seventies in places like Berkley. But I think their reputations are largely self-inflated and self-congratulatory. In truth, only a slim slice of American opinion was ever influenced by them during the crucial era, the Sixties through the Eighties. Their expertise in foreign policy is self-awarded and has never been taken seriously by the Republican foreign policy establishment, at least, not until the second Bush administration where their influence is large and their failures monumental. They are masters of language and rhetoric, hopeless in realpolitik. And they blame their own failures on BushCo's incompetent execution of their brilliant plan. Well, that's the problem with brilliant plans and the people who try to sell them to you: the real world is messy and tends to wreck brilliant plans in short order. Ask any military commander.

Anyway, JBS did make some very positive contributions as anticommunists and antiglobalists. And they focused on educating ordinary Americans about policy and individuals that threatened our way of life or that would radically alter our country.

[x]

When even National Review feels compelled to defend Paul, you know the criticism is bunk.

That's the way it goes. First Paul arouses only yawns. Then things heat up, and some people get enthusiastic about him.

Next there's a strong reaction against him. And now there's a reaction to the reaction.

People who were fed up with Paul's shtick now get irritated by the cheap shots taken against him.

There's something about these New York Times or New Republic attack pieces that makes readers sympathize with the victims, even if we wouldn't actually vote for them otherwise.

[GlennD]

“I’ll bet he didn’t say “lets win this war”.”

No, he said let declare war, and then go on to win. But lets not go in some foreign nation to enforce some silly UN resolutions.-Glenn

[DreamsofPolycarp]

just some spew from a cut-run, useful idiot for the jihad.

Heh heh. I got banned for three days for WAY less than this last week. You are real lucky that I NEVER go whining to mods.

However, I would try stringing together all four of those neural synapses and attempting a rebuttal to this kind of vapid name calling. Just a little MENSA advice from jihad's useful idiot.

[DreamsofPolycarp]

In Spanish, MENSA means "stupid girl".

In English, I think it means "pretentious twit." I have never met any members who had sense enough to come in out of the rain.

[cva66snipe]

Constitutional definition from Webster 1913

:
2. In accordance with, or authorized by, the constitution of a state or a society; as, constitutional reforms.

3. Regulated by, dependent on, or secured by, a constitution; as, constitutional government; constitutional rights. Hallam.

4. Relating to a constitution, or establishment form of government; as, a constitutional risis.

Conservatism: same source:The disposition and tendency to preserve what is established; opposition to change; the habit of mind; or conduct, of a conservative.

IOW preserve the Constitution rather than refering to it as that D*** piece of paper.

[lormand]

There is theory, and there is reality.

They are quite often exclusive of each other. In politics, they are almost always exclusive.

Most libertarian purist live in fantasy land. In theory, I am against ALL government regulations, but in reality many regulation are a necessary evil (food labeling for example).

[DreamsofPolycarp]

He understood it. It is just a grammar twit thing.

[Ditter]

DU stands for democraticunderground.com, the home of the moonbats, they love Paul over there. I even saw a banner on someone’s post that read Kucinish/Paul 08. Ron Paul’s high poll numbers are because the moonbats are voting for him.

We met Ron Paul in Brazoria County Texas when he was running for his first office. We lived there too. The man struck us as a nut then and nothing has changed except now we are sure of it.

[DreamsofPolycarp]

Most libertarian purist live in fantasy land. In theory, I am against ALL government regulations, but in reality many regulation are a necessary evil (food labeling for example).,

You are quite amazing in your ability to pronounce on things you know NOTHING about. Did you know that Friedman addresses THIS VERY ISSUE in his little libertarian tract "FREE TO CHOOSE?" Nah, if you did, you would not have picked this topic. I really am in awe. Wanna tell us next how to build a nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer? Crap, give it a shot.

[GlennD]

“The more I learn about Ron Paul, the less I like. Ron Paul frequently appears on the most loathsome radio and blogs that any decent human would reject.”

You mean, since he gets banned from Republican staw ballots he should just sit home and not try to get his massage out? I guess that would be good for “nutball” candidates. -Glenn

[KDD]

I mean, seriously, is that all the liberaltarians can throw at America? A blame-America-first dope smoker?

Could he possibly be any worse then a drunken cocaine cowboy?

[lormand]

"Now that you have a link, you have a fit for the coat, don't ya think?"

Nice try at diversion, but trying to define my beliefs and labeling them gives way too much attention to me personally. I'm flattered that you care, but lets try and maintain focus. Ron Paul's views are on trial here. If you believe like he does, that America is to blame for Islamic hate in the world, or that we are poised for a "Gulf of Tonkin" style raid, then we will be back on track.

I will gladly accept any name or title, as long as I'm no surrender monkey like Ron Paul and his minions of Paulistinians.

[cva66snipe]

There is theory, and there is reality.

Fair enough. Marxism was a theory. In our nation today it is a reality. We call it Political Correctness. Which is just what some are doing to Ron Paul. Want to understand PC and it's actual origin? Here you go. The origins of political correctness If this doesn't open your eyes nothing will. It is the very tactics the GOP is using against Ron Paul. Why? Because he is a threat to them. Read this article very carefully then go back and read the articles posted about Ron Paul.

[lormand]

"No"

I didn't think so.

[x]

Why is Bush Still a Mystery?

That's insightful. It expresses a lot of what I felt about Bush at the time. We have seen that President Bush does have strong and deep convictions about the right to life and a true committment socially conservative values, and that's something that can't be said for many other politicians.

But in 2000, Bush was the anti-McCain, and that's why there was so much enthusiasm for him. McCain got a response by being the anti-Bush. A close race made people read things into both politicians that really weren't there.

I don't know if the parallel to Thompson fits, but certainly a lot of people assume Fred is what they want, because the other possibility -- that there's no one out there who fits the bill -- is too hard to take.

[lormand]

"You are real lucky that I NEVER go whining to mods."

You are one of those "dry threat" weenies I see from time to time.

Let me spell it out for you.

FEEL FREE TO PING THE MODS FROM NOW ON WHEN YOU SEE A REPLY FROM ME.

I beg you to do it, in fact, do it NOW.

[cva66snipe]

He understood it. It is just a grammar twit thing.

Yea I know. Funny thing is I'm not a Libertarian. I left the GOP as in ever giving it blind support again and my political beliefs fall more in line with the Constitution Party Platform. Ron Paul is the closest one running to that platform right now.

[lormand]

I was just picking on your grammer. I often type too fast and scramble my words.

Best regards.