[cripplecreek]

"He says plenty of things -- derived from first principles embodied in the Constitution -- that make perfect sense. However, he always goes too far, in that half of what he says results from a blind application of first principles, irrespective of empirical reality.

Exactly true but this is where the GOP is making a big mistake in undertaking this slash and burn campaign against Paul. There's enough truth in what he says that it irritates people when the GOP simply states that he's wrong. Its only helping him.

Personally I think GOP candidates would be a lot more effective if they would acknowledge that the American people don't want perpetual war everywhere while showing where Ron Paul is so obviously wrong.

If I were emperor, I'd pull troops out of just about everywhere while surrounding Israel with a defensive ring of steel. I would also concentrate more on the western hemisphere with a modern version of the Monroe Doctrine.

[algernonpj]

The problem with the GOP elite is that they will resort to whatever it takes to prevent anyone who upsets the status quo or did not grow up as part of the ruling class.

IMHO free enterprise and capitalism have been replaced by crony capitalism / corporatism / fascism.

The enemy within has been very successful in creating a story for the ‘left’ about economic, social, educational, and environmental ‘justice’, sustainability, concensus and a story for the ‘right’ about ‘free trade’, 'comparative advantage', free movement of goods and natural persons, and 'profits uber alles' with no reference to patriotism or morality. Both stories lead to the same place - destruction of the American economy, security, traditional culture, values and its pesky middle class under the tyranny of global communism.

Ron Paul's budget alone is a major threat to the status quo.