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."

[JTN]

Really, though, this thread has gone on long enough. Much too long really. The original article was stupid to begin with, and the whole thread has gone downhill from there.

[George W. Bush]

On another subject, it has been asserted on this thread that we ALL are for smaller government. Check out this post to another thread today on the minimum wage:

What? Did DU or DailyKos crash their servers and Jim decided to take in refugees?

In the old days, you'd be banned outright. No Viking kitties, no ceremony. Just gone. That's as bad a gungrabbing post.

FR just ain't what it used to be. That isn't even Dim-lite policy. That's full-blown liberalism.

I didn't miss something and JimRob switched parties to the Dims, did I?

[Abcdefg]

Read it and weep: Federal minimum wage rising this week

Lots of socialist drivel here.

[George W. Bush]

It serves its purpose. For one thing, the expected Stormfront-guilt-by-association tactic was attempted, the first during the campaign. I will probably mail off the first 200 pages to...the appropriate persons. Our cadre needs to know how to respond to that specific attack. And we’ll see it again, no doubt.

[JTN]

It serves its purpose. For one thing, the expected Stormfront-guilt-by-association tactic was attempted, the first during the campaign. I will probably mail off the first 200 pages to...the appropriate persons. Our cadre needs to know how to respond to that specific attack. And we’ll see it again, no doubt.

I understand, but this guy has long since failed to post anything new or worthy of response. The only people convinced by anything he's been posting lately were convinced already, and in spite of the lack of evidence.

[George W. Bush]

No, not lormand. I mean, that dustup in the first 150 posts. I think it started around 61. See my #99 if you didn't notice it. Then the pictures of the marching neo-Nazis, the links to St*rmfr*nt, the ongoing innuendo.

lormand hasn't done anything like that. I don't think lormand even mentioned St*rmfr*nt, did he? (Personally, I hate to even type the word lest it draw undesirables to FR.)

[JTN]

No, not lormand. I mean, that dustup in the first 150 posts. I think it started around 61. See my #99 if you didn't notice it. Then the pictures of the marching neo-Nazis, the links to St*rmfr*nt, the ongoing innuendo. lormand hasn't done anything like that. I don't think lormand even mentioned St*rmfr*nt, did he? (Personally, I hate to even type the word lest it draw undesirables to FR.)

No, you're right, it wasn't lormand. And yeah, I saw 99.

Happily, it actually looks like the thread has wound down a bit over the last half hour, although that may simply be because our villain hasn't been posting. If he does, hopefully no one takes the bait.

[Celtman]

pro democracy (for like of a better term)

The better term is "pro republic"

The US is a federal republic, not a democracy.  The difference matters.  Socialism is quite democratic.

[Celtman]

A Bircher might tell you, "Well, maybe Hitler wasn't so bad, afterall?"

      Every organization has its kooks, but the JBS society itself is not pro-NAZI.  To the contrary, the JBS correctly condemns NAZIism as a form of socialism.

[LightBeam]

Ron Paul is a dope smoker?

I've never met someone who supports legalizing dope who also wasn't an open or closet doper.

I'm willing to entertain the idea that they could exist, in theory, but I doubt it.

Anyway, Paul and the Paulettes will be right at home among the muzzies, they love dope and opium too.

[LightBeam]

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

I'd like everyone to see this comment as a great example of what the paulistinians think of GWB. Our President is a man who has sacrificed more for the defense of his country than that hippie moonbat Paul, yet here he's called a "drunken cocaine cowboy".

It shows you where their priorities are.

[Rodney King]

i've never met someone who supports legalizing dope who also wasn't an open or closet doper.

Well, you travel in narrow circles. And to suggest that Paul is a dope smoker, when he is well known as not one, shows your ignorance.

[Rodney King]

yet here he's called a "drunken cocaine cowboy". It shows you where their priorities are.

I agree it is inappropriate to call W that. But, it is known tha the was an alcoholic and at least used cocaine a few times, whereas it is known that Paul is a teetotaler.

Therefore your calling Paul a dope smoker while objecting to calling bush an alcoholic cocaine uses is absurd.

[George W. Bush]

Our President is a man who has sacrificed more for the defense of his country than that hippie moonbat Paul, yet here he's called a "drunken cocaine cowboy".

I'm not sure what Bush has sacrificed more than Ron Paul has. He doesn't deserve a throne any more than any other American president and you should get off your knees.

I almost said something to KDD about his remark because it does go too far, it seems to me. "Drunken", well, yes. He's an admitted reformed alcoholic. "Cocaine", rumored, never proven, to me Dubya doesn't really have that cocaine kind of personality, he'd be a beer guy. And "cowboy", well, Laura says he's not and I don't think she lets him ride horses but he does have a fancy little pickup he drives around the Crawford ranch rather slowly and Laura thinks he really enjoys it.

So, despite JimRob's rather famous post on the subject, neither cocaine nor cowboy is an appropriate description for our prez. Dried-out alcoholic is fair enough though.

There, KDD, consider youself scolded, you bad bad man!

[ejonesie22]

Thank you, I was suffering a brain fart. Sadly enough that was the term I was looking for and I was on Free REPUBLIC.

Jeez, it must be Saturday.

[Rodney King]

We have a fascinating new philosophy on display here. Someone who is a known teatotaler is a “doper” because he has the wrong view on Iraq. Someone who was a known alcoholic and cocaine abuser is not because he is the right view on Iraq.

Bizarre or what? Or perhaps it is simply a product of the Bush is God religion.

[RegulatorCountry]

Or perhaps it is simply a product of the Bush is God religion.

At least we're being spared that strange daily thread, idolatrous in the eyes of this grandchild of Southern Baptists, that appeared to be offering up prayers to President George W. Bush, instead of for him.

[Rodney King]

Really? I didn’t know they stopped that. No wonder W’s polls are so low!

[KDD]

There, KDD, consider youself scolded, you bad bad man!

"shame"
by sandro gamez

[George W. Bush]

I've never met someone who supports legalizing dope who also wasn't an open or closet doper.

Ron Paul is an MD and an ob/gyn. They're not known for whiffing the buds.

Dr. Paul is not nearly as strong an advocate for legalizing drugs as he is for decriminalizing them, in particular, imposing long prison sentences for drug users. He feels it's excessive and that it has never deterred use. He has the statistics on his side.

He has a real passion though for the legalization of industrial hemp which can be used to replace paper and plastic products, can be grown on marginal lands...it's just a shame we put a stop to it because of the fear that someone might smoke some. Of course, they'd have to smoke hundreds of pounds of an industrial hemp to get high but that doesn't matter to the feds. In addition, if farmers grew the industrial kind, the pollen spread in the air would be ruinous to the high-dollar corps grown by cannabis growers, pretty much forcing them to move their operations indoor inside sealed rooms to avoid the contamination from the bad industrial hemp pollen.

Dr. Paul does favor medical cannabis for certain patients. These include glaucoma patients and also chemotherapy and AIDS patients who lose their appetites from the drugs and wither away by not eating enough. Although a pharmaceutical was introduced to try to mimic real cannabis, the patients all seem to regard it as undesirable and second-rate, even those who disapprove of cannabis use prior to their illness.