Posted on 01/11/2012 5:28:57 PM PST by traviskicks
Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) said Wednesday the Republican presidential candidates need to listen to Ron Paul and would benefit from integrating some of his libertarian ideas into their platform.
"One of the things that's hurt the so-called conservative alternative is saying negative things about Ron Paul," DeMint told conservative radio host Laura Ingraham. "I'd like to see a Republican Party that embraces a lot of the libertarian ideas."
Paul's views on foreign policy have taken plenty of heat from his rivals for the GOP nomination, who have slammed his views on the topic as outside of the mainstream of Republican thought. Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) called his views "dangerous" before dropping out of the race.
DeMint said he does not agree with the Texas congressman on everything but that the rest of the GOP presidential field should capture some of what Paul's been talking about for years because the Republican Party "needs" the libertarian movement.
"You don't have to agree with everything he's saying, but if the other candidates miss some of the wisdom about what he's saying about monetary policy ... that will be to our detriment," DeMint said.
DeMint, who is an influential conservative lawmaker with a key role in the Tea Party movement, said the debate within the Republican Party he's most comfortable with is between conservatives and libertarians.
How much do you get paid to post this stuff?
Thanks for your reply. My humble, but ALWAYS correct opinion is that World wide, from early 2007 until now Socialist Governments, including ours, have been failing financially, and will continue to do so until a freer market system is restored.
To my dismay, our Federal Politicians have not shown the intestinal fortitude to stand up and say: “The Buck stops here with ME!!!!! I am RESPONSIBLE for voting for legislation that caused the Great Housing Recession of 2008.”
Until the voters see our sorry political leaders accept responsibility for their past actions, and inactions the political CREDIBILITY GAP between voters and the US Federal Government will continue to grow.
Obama dodges responsibility by labeling it “a blame game.” He dodges acceptance of challenge to HIS sorry ideas by labeling Congressional discussion, debate, and staff research as “bickering.” He also reveals his inner hatred of the US Constitution by declaring TO CONGRESS that “The time for discussion is over!” A true dictator in his own mind.
Obama’s fear of non-Socialist ideas has been gleefully promoted by Pelosi and Reid by bypassing House Committee discussion and voting, and refusing to bring to the Senate floor bills passed by the House.
Their biggest victory was in convincing the ever gullible McConnell and Boehner to approve of creating the illegal Supercommitte to bypass the Constitutional Check and Balance system of Congress.
I could go on, but my coffee cup is empty, so I’ll wrap this up.
My point is that our Republican Candidates have NO concept of how the MSM is protecting the Democrat politicians by diverting Q & A session from National Debt, required massive cut in entitlement spending, privatizing the FHA and its derivatives, the irresponsible record as outlined above, etc., to tarbaby topics of global warming, gay marriage, racial profiling, unequal re-distribution of welfare, wages, and bailouts, etc. They get suckered into the MSM diversions, and thus spend the minimum air time talking about the major issues of our Republic.
Pardon the rambling run on sentence, but I gotta get some more coffee.
Anyhow, I look for ideas from all the Candidates to see if ANY of them recognize that the USA is in the terminal financial phase of Global Socialism. Next I look for ideas from ALL of the Candidates that provide business-based, free market, Samuel Adams, style solutions.
To be perfectly frank, my list from them is VERY short!
Ron Paul has been saying the same financial things for nearly 30 years. He is analogous to a 30 year clock, where the hands of the clock do not move: every 30 years he will be correct!
If discussion is to continue on Free Republic, ALL ideas must be discussed in a thoughtful, well mannered way. It is unfortunate that previous posters have soured the well for the rest of us. Perhaps reporting offensive replies more quickly would reduce the burden of watchdog for Jim and his staff.
We must think, discuss and act outside the box if we are to restore our Republic to Greatness. If we cannot succeed in these efforts, then why should we expect our political leaders to be more successful than us?
BTW, voters are always smarter than the politicians, so our efforts here on FR should be a piece of cake success.
Code Pink Endorses Ron Paul
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2831968/posts
“The Ron Paul people are closer and closer to our talking points with each election,” Code Pink activist Liz Hourican told FoxNews.com.
There. Fixed it. (my favorite is when some lunatic followers of "Dr. Paul" told me that Sarah Palin is a "communist". Also, everyone on the planet hates liberty and the Constitution besides "Dr. Paul", of course)
” - - - I do agree that Ron Paul has some good ideas that the GOP should incorporate. The problem, though, is that for every good idea he has, he’s got another equally bad idea as well. “
Thanks for getting us back on track. Your above quote is what interests me the most with all of the Candidates. It is not out of the question that the Convention in Tampa will draft somebody that is not even running now.
Let us distance ourselves a bit from “who we like” and just focus on their ideas. Let us pretend that the Candidates are lifelong woodcutters coming to the town square to sell their best planks at the PRIMARY MARKETPLACE.
Although each plank is highly waxed with words, each plank is rough cut, and some still have a lot of bark on them. You, the voter and certified convention platform builder, watch closely to see what planks are purchased by the various groups of voter plank buyers from all of the candidate woodcutters.
When the PRIMARY MARKETPLACE finally closes you approach all of the woodcutter Candidates and purchase the exclusive rights for the planks that you want.
Then you have all those purchased planks sent to the Tampa Convention Platform Construction Company, or “GOP.”
Then you send the 6 woodcutter Candidates back into the woods to cut and make lecterns for the GOP Nominee to speak from at every State in the Union.
My point is we take the ideas we want, and leave alone the ideas we don’t want.
We separate the ideas from the candidate, with NO strings attached. To do otherwise is to let our personal likes and dislikes of a Candidate cloud our vision from the value of his idea.
We thus become distracted from REALITY, a mistake that HISTORY never makes.
So, my FRiend, what are the favorite ideas/planks that you think SHOULD be considered for inclusion in the Tampa GOP Convention Platform?
Forget about the Candidate, and who said what. Just focus on the merits of the idea itself.
List your choices for the top 10 Planks/ideas from this Primary Season to date from ALL of the Candidates (not 60, but 10 total ideas).
Then list the top 10 Planks/ideas that YOU would like to hear “The Republican 6-Pack” expound on.
Then compare the two lists of 10.
BTW, when I compare my two top ten list to the current 6-Pack’s list I find that their list is a lot shorten than the 10 on my list.
BTW, BTW, our goal is to WIN, and we will use the various skills of EVERYONE on the team, just like in football!
A crucial point! When the general election rolls around we need to retain as many of the supporters of each of the Republican primary candidates as we can - unless of course we don't want the Republican nominee to win.
First he endorses Romney, now he praises Ron Paul. It’s official, Jim Demint has jumped the shark.
I have said Ron Paul would be the perfect candidate if he just understood the nature of Islam and looked at defense as something other than looking for warships with sails and cannons attacking the coast. Times have changed since then.
Ron would have to understand those days are long past. He needs to get that.
“If discussion is to continue on Free Republic, ALL ideas must be discussed in a thoughtful, well mannered way.”
I would agree, but I do not think that manners can imposed at FR like they try to do in a rather smarmy way at Lucianne. I do believe that the best ideas are often fired in the crucible and that crucibles are very hot places.
That said, a sort of mutual howling society seems to have taken over within conservative political circles and it’s less the ideas that get discussed, and more the creative ways to put the knives to your opponents. A circular firing squad, really. And no one emerges from the fray unscathed.
I’m beginning to think that the best way to approach this personally is to go back to a style I used to embrace more when I first became a FReeper. Basically it’s to address folks as politely as possible, and never allow insults to enter into the equation. Someone could call me an a-hole for example, and I would politely respond and address what I believed to be their underlying point. And never allow the “flame” to be the issue. Conversely, I made an effort not shy away from folks just because they were being nasty. I would engage, period. Take the slings and arrows, but still respond politely. It was a good model. To my discredit, I’ve gotten complacent and strayed away from it.
“I have said Ron Paul would be the perfect candidate if he just understood the nature of Islam and looked at defense as something other than looking for warships with sails and cannons attacking the coast. Times have changed since then.”
You’re hitting on the thing thast I disagree with Ron Paul on the most; foreign policy. But I really have to wonder if his position here is as much taking a strong bargaining position as anything.
” - - - First he endorses Romney, now he praises Ron Paul.”
Let’s see now - - . If someone wanted to unify the Republican Party, have a day job as a US Senator but keep his options open, publish a political book entitled “Now or Never,” not endorse any Presidential Candidate, appear on TV talk shows, issue public statements from time to time, - - - - ?
Nahhhhhhh! He would never be waiting on Dark Horse Alley in Tampa! NEVER!!!!!!!!
Nope, it is all a series of coincidences. This is precisely how vicious political rumors get started!
” - - - Basically it’s to address folks as politely as possible, and never allow insults to enter into the equation.”
I agree! Great advice, unless it is about football!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Agreed. We need to retain supporters and use their skills to win.
The key to success is to have ideas that will work. So far the ideas are still attached to the personalities of the Candidates.
So I say, take the best ideas and give those ideas to a winner of a Dark Horse at the Tampa Convention.
Our six-pack warriors will have savaged each other enough to be willing to accept Cabinet posts, or retire to their previous day jobs.
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