Posted on 03/15/2008 9:13:01 AM PDT by pissant
Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas), he of the quixotic GOP presidential campaign and unique policy positions, is never one to be shy about his opinions. Take the case of fallen New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer (D), whose political career fell apart this week after his liaisons with high-priced call girls became public. Spitzer resigned his office effective Monday.
Most politicians from both sides of the aisle publicly (at least) offered condolences for Spitzer and his poor family, including his three daughters, but didn't — of course — defend Spitzer's atrocious behavior.
But for Paul, Spitzer's downfall at the hands of a Justice Dept. investigation shows government at its worst. Yes, Spitzer climbed to power on the backs of political enemies he destroyed, making him not a swell guy, but he didn't deserve what happened to him. The FBI should have never been allowed to listen in to his phone call in the first place, according to the Texas Republican.
Here's the statement Paul made on the House floor last night. It's worth reading, at least for the enlightenment it gives into Paul's view of the world, which basically comes down to who controls the money:
"Madam Speaker, it has been said that 'he who lives by the sword shall die by the sword.' And in the case of Eliot Spitzer, this couldn't be more true. In his case it's the political sword, as his enemies rejoice in his downfall. Most people, it seems, believe he got exactly what he deserved.
"The illegal tools of the state brought Spitzer down, but think of all the harm done by Spitzer in using the same tools against so many other innocent people. He practiced what could be termed 'economic McCarthyism,' using illegitimate government power to build his political career on the ruined lives of others.
"No matter how morally justified his comeuppance may be, his downfall demonstrates the worst of our society. The possibility of uncovering personal moral wrongdoing is never a justification for the government to spy on our every move and to participate in sting operations.
"For government to entice a citizen to break a law with a sting operation — that is, engaging in activities that a private citizen is prohibited by law from doing — is unconscionable and should clearly be illegal.
"Though Spitzer used the same tools to destroy individuals charged with economic crimes that ended up being used against him, gloating over his downfall should not divert our attention from the fact that the government spying on American citizens is unworthy of a country claiming respect for liberty and the Fourth Amendment.
"Two wrongs do not make a right. Two wrongs make it doubly wrong.
"Sacrifice of our personal privacy has been ongoing for decades but has rapidly accelerated since 9/11. Before 9/11, the unstated goal of collecting revenue was the real reason for the erosion of our financial privacy. When 19 suicidal maniacs attacked us on 9/11, our country became convinced that further sacrifice of personal and financial privacy was required for our security.
"The driving force behind this ongoing sacrifice of our privacy has been fear and the emotional effect of war rhetoric — war on drugs, war against terrorism and the war against Third World nations in the Middle East who are claimed to be the equivalent to Hitler and Nazi Germany.
"But the real reason for all this surveillance is to build the power of the state. It arises from a virulent dislike of free people running their own lives and spending their own money. Statists always demand control of the people and their money.
"Recently we've been told that this increase in the already intolerable invasion of our privacy was justified because the purpose was to apprehend terrorists. We were told that the massive amounts of information being collected on Americans would only be used to root out terrorists. But as we can see today, this monitoring of private activities can also be used for political reasons. We should always be concerned when the government accumulates information on innocent citizens.
"Spitzer was brought down because he legally withdrew cash from a bank — not because he committed a crime. This should prompt us to reassess and hopefully reverse this trend of pervasive government intrusion in our private lives.
"We need no more Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act! No more Violent Radicalization & Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Acts! No more torture! No more Military Commissions Act! No more secret prisons and extraordinary rendition! No more abuse of habeas corpus! No more Patriot Acts!
"What we need is more government transparency and more privacy for the individual!"
Ron Paul is that crazy old quixotic knight tilting at a windmill...the federal windmill that grinds up and spits out our Constitution and personal freedoms.
So what that they were highly irregular- are you serious?
Its his money to be irregular with- not to correspond to the Government’s view what is regular. Irregular activity with your money is enough to spy on you.
Are you really this thick you can not understand you basic rights of privacy.
Anarchists and atheists think the world exists in their heads.
“Gotta watch out for those people who transfer money without government permission. By your standards, wouldn’t society run a lot more efficiently if the government owned all the banks and just rationed money to people who justified the use to which it was being put? “From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.”
With shallow statements like this there is no point in explaining why there is a problem with this.
You need to vote for DEMONCRATS because they see it the same was YOU do.
Be honest with yourself, for a “change”
VOTE FOR DEMONCRATS!
I've heard this called a sting a couple of different places, it was not a sting. Whether you agree with the money tracking law or not, that is what flagged this case, not your typical police undercover operation. Personally I disagree with the law, but see it usefulness. IMO, these types of laws stem from the lack of common sense in our population as well as lack of enforcement of existing laws by many judges and/or LEO.
Those newsletters were "controversial" only if you were examining them through Al Sharpton's lens. They were somewhat truthful but utterly politically-incorrect, on par with what Geraldine Ferraro said about Obama.
Perhaps “objectively” was the wrong term. What I meant to say was that what he did would not, in most cases, be considered a serious crime. People who are caught for this are routinely let go with a warning or at the most ticketed.
It is because of who Spitzer is that he will be singled out for harsh treatment. Since he was in a position of trust, this is proper, of course. But I think his treatment will have far more to do with the shabby way he has treated others at every stage of his meteoric rise.
This is the dumbest thing Ron Paul has said.
Not really. He’s got loads of BS over his long career.
I won’t be surprised if she doesn’t end up with a couple of million bucks in cold hard cash before this is all over and done with. I have yet to hear of a guy doing the same for the same amount of effort expended. Then if she was to make a well published donation to some national childrens charity, all the world would think she’s sooo wonderful. Still a whore but a wonderful whore, you know like soo many of these movie actresses are.
you are correct- nmh is devoid of rational thinking
The power to tax is the power to destroy as our Founding Fathers understood- Ron Paul who at times is an educated moron is right this time as its all about control and money.
We are a nation of laws so it is stated- The English said the same thing as they pushed aside basic human laws that cause them to lose America.
If the Government wants to destroy you they have so many laws now on the books that can find something that you or anyone did that is in violation of some law.
Not really.
Even a libertarian who believes that prostitution should be completely legal and who believes that banking transactions should be as sacrosanct as doctor/patient confidentiality knows that Spitzer was not entrapped by any definition of the word.
Yet Paul is saying he was.
PLEASE do the Republican party a favor -
LEAVE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY!
Sign up as a Demoncrat.
YOU are NOT WANTED as a Conservative.
Be the LIBERAL that you are.
Have no laws. Have no standards! GET OUT OF THE GOP!
Have the uncivilized society you crave.
I’d like to see the GOP turn RIGHT and with people like YOU, that can’t happen - so LEAVE THE GOP and vote your ungodly conscience. We don’t want YOU.
You need a beer or something. Very worked up.
“You need a beer or something. Very worked up.”
I’m sick and tired of LIBERALS in the GOP.
LIBERALS in the GOP got us McPain.
He’s NO conservative.
She’s a capitalist. No giving it away, for her. Obabma couldn’t cut it with her.
He did. He referred to it as "atrocious behavior".
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