GOP Can Learn from Ron Paul

WSJ via realclearpolitics.com ^ | December 14, 2007 | Kimberley Strassel

[JediHal]

“And yet he’s still in the cellar in the polls. It doesn’t matter how much money he raises, Republicans will not elect a jihadi-hugging anti-American kook.”

I never said nor implied that the Republican Party would nominate him.

[LowCountryJoe]

We have strayed a long way from Madison.

Didn't Madison (post 1789 -- by finding a new alliance with Jefferson the Republican) also stray from Madison (the principal Federalist pre-1789)?

[Publius]

Madison was all over the place during his very long lifetime. He started out with Hamilton, then went over to Jefferson, and after Jefferson's death went back to the Hamiltonian way. He became the enemy of John Calhoun in the aftermath of the South Carolina secession crisis.

There was no consistency in those 85 years. But how many people are consistent over that length of time?

[LowCountryJoe]

Interesting. I did not know that he went back to the dark side. Just kidding, the only thing that I truly admired about Jefferson — other than his way with words regarding liberty — was his strong attachment to state sovereignty. The Federalists, in my opinion, really had it correct concerning money matters. But the political economy was never the same after the Constitution replaced the Articles of Confederation. The Federalists were always partial to centralized power and never really wanted the U.S. Senate to be appointed by state legislators.

[Publius]

I recommend States' Rights and the Union, by Forrest McDonald. He has quite a bit about Madison's moves from one side of the issue to the other.

[Do Be]

2008 is the exception. The Republican nominee MUST win over independents, libertarians, and populists while retaining the traditional GOP base that has shrunk since 2000. Ron Paul, and Fred Thompson to a certain extent, are the only GOP candidates who can do this.

A Thompson/Paul ticket is unbeatable.

[LowCountryJoe]

Thanks. I’ll check it out.