Free Republic

Mitt Romney Wins Illinois Straw Poll - Thursday, August 16, 2007 SPRINGFIELD, IL –Illinois State Republican Party Chairman Andy McKenna announced today that Mitt Romney won the Illinois Straw Poll on Republican Day at the Illinois State Fair. “Congratulations to Mitt Romney, whose strong showing today indicates he has begun to put together a strong statewide organization” said McKenna. “There’s no question that Illinois’ demographics closely match those of the United States and this could be an indication as to whom Illinois voters are leaning toward this coming February.” The Illinois Republican Party sponsored the straw poll during its Republican...

High Risk Spending August 13, 2007 Last week this column addressed the train wreck that federal spending has become. To score political points politicians will make loud noise about fairly small matters such as earmarks, even while refusing to address the real problem. Namely, that our federal government is too big and does too much. Politicians prefer to pass a bill or create a program every time somebody points to a new social problem, this way they can tell their constituents how much they are doing to help. Instead of rationally explaining the proper role of government, politicians have attempted...

The Fear Factor July 30, 2007 While fear itself is not always the product of irrationality, once experienced it tends to lead away from reason, especially if the experience is extreme in duration or intensity. When people are fearful they tend to be willing to irrationally surrender their rights. Thus, fear is a threat to rational liberty. The psychology of fear is an essential component of those who would have us believe we must increasingly rely on the elite who manage the apparatus of the central government. The statement “Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little...

HON. RON PAUL OF TEXAS Before the U.S. House of Representatives May 22, 2007 In the Name of Patriotism (Who are the Patriots?) For some, patriotism is “the last refuge of a scoundrel.” For others, it means dissent against a government’s abuse of the people’s rights. I have never met a politician in Washington, or any American for that matter, who chose to be called “unpatriotic.” Nor have I met anyone who did not believe he wholeheartedly supported our troops wherever they may be. What I have heard all too frequently from various individuals is sharp accusations that because their...

Statement of Faith By Rep. Ron Paul, MD. The Covenant News ~ July 21, 2007 We live in times of great uncertainty when men of faith must stand up for our values and our traditions lest they be washed away in a sea of fear and relativism. As you likely know, I am running for President of the United States, and I am asking for your support. I have never been one who is comfortable talking about my faith in the political arena. In fact, the pandering that typically occurs in the election season I find to be distasteful. But...