I would take issue with that. We all state we are for smaller government. Yet, when the GOP President and Congress were putting in massive new entitlements and pork out the wazoo, "we" by and large we all for it. When "we" finally took control of the government "we" expanded it faster than Clinton or Carter did. Given that history, I think it is fair to question whether or not "we" really support smaller government.
I know I complain about "one issue" candidates, but there is one issue which trumps all others, and that is foreign policy.
I would disagree with that. Small government is not one issue. It touches everything. It touches culture, education, economic prospertiy.. AND foreign policy. Look at the European nations like France and the Netherlands. The more they become dependant on the government, the more they become emascualted, and are incapable of doing anything while they are overrun by the muslims. Socialism is the surest thing to destroy our civilization, which is the surest guarantee of muslim expansion.
Perhaps the 'one-issue' smaller government folks should wait another 4 years for someone who can do both, strive for smaller government, and defend America from our enemies by fighting them abroad instead of at home.
Comments are mostly the same as above. Plus, there is the "boy who cried wolf" syndrome. That is, the big government Republicans always have an excuse about why now isn't the time to make government smaller. I am sick of hearing it. That none of the other candidates are for smaller government is not my problem. Convince me that one of the other candidates, who agrees with you on the war, is for smaller government, and I'll be all over it.
The more I learn about Ron Paul, the less I like. Ron Paul frequently appears on the most loathsome radio and blogs that any decent human would reject.
If he had as much access to the mainstream media as the other candidates, and still did those shows, then you might have a point. Until then, I am willing to assume he takes whatever exposure he can get.
It is quite a stretch to tie into a 'small government' candidate and an isolationist foreign policy which is also based on the notion that America is to blame for evil abroad.
The previous GOP congress was booted because of anger from Conservatives and abandonment from libertarians. My congressman John Carter (R-TX) is just as much smaller government, but without the self defeating views on foreign policy.
There is enormous pressure from CONSERVATIVES who have much more influence on members of congress than do libertarians to shrink the government. It is an issued played out every election year.