Congressman Ron Paul has been getting a lot of positive press since the credit crisis started, and his bill to audit the Fed has gotten a lot of attention and support. His son is running for Senate in Kentucky.
So, what does he do ?
He goes and speaks to the John Birch Society.
Ugh.
August 24th, 2009 at 10:35 am
The biggest problem with Ron Paul is the kooks. He just can’t or won’t get away from them.
August 24th, 2009 at 11:10 am
The biggest problem with Ron Paul is that he supports extremist Libertarian positions such as these:
1. Destroying Social Security
2. Legalizing recreational drug use
3. Legalizing prostitution
While some of what he espouses appeals to the electorate at large, when that electorate discovers just exactly what support for him includes they abandon him.
Kevin:
It is not that Ron Paul will not abandon the kooks, it is that he is one of them.
August 24th, 2009 at 11:18 am
Little David,
If that’s what you think Ron Paul’s problems are, well then call me an extremist libertarian too. I think Social Security as a government entitlement should be phased out in favor of private accounts. I support ending the failed War on (some) Drugs. And, I think that if people want to pay money for sex, they should be able to.
August 24th, 2009 at 11:19 am
Kevin,
You know agree with that 100%. It was the one thing about his Presidential Campaign that annoyed the hell out of me and prevented me from actually supporting him.
I haven’t gotten the impression that his son has the same bad habit, but I don’t know for sure.
August 24th, 2009 at 11:28 am
Doug Mataconis:
OK welcome to the club. You are as much of an extremist Libertarian as Ron Paul is.
Notice how few votes Ron Paul got even in the Republican primary?
Accept what you are. You’re an extremist and you are not going to get the majority to vote for you and those whom you support.
August 24th, 2009 at 11:33 am
David,
I said I believed in those things, I didn’t say that there were the only thing I was willing to accept, or that I saw any of them as realistic short-term goals. Although I will note that drug criminalization is being advocated by many more people than it ever has before, including people in law enforcement. When it comes to the War on (some) Drugs, the extremists are those who insist that doing the same failed thing over and over again will somehow work.
Ron Paul got so few votes largely because the idea that the Republican Party is a limited-government party is a big lie. It isn’t, it’s a big-government party with different constituents than the other big-government party.
And whether I’m in the majority or not doesn’t really matter to me. As H.L. Mencken said, Democracy is a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance.
August 24th, 2009 at 11:41 am
OK Doug,
But realize that many voters including myself will not support Libertarian candidates because they favor (again):
1. Destroying Social Security
2. Legalizing recreational drug use
3. Legalizing prostitution
While you might disagree with the positions of the majority of voters on those three issues, you better understand you will never win an election with those positions.
Once Ron Paul’s position on those issues are made clear in private conversations I have experienced, the support for him evaporates.
August 24th, 2009 at 11:43 am
David,
That just reinforces to points for me
First, Mencken was right about democracy.
Second, my rights aren’t subject to majority vote
August 24th, 2009 at 1:05 pm
There is nothing wrong with Ron Paul meeting with the John Birch Society.
He was also in the movie, Bruno.
Dr. Paul has impressed me with the way he is willing, even eager, to discuss his views before audiences from ever point on the political spectrum.
He is genuine and honest, and he speaks of the same principles before any group, whether they are Conservative Citizens Council members, or the racial extortionists from the NAACP.
During the last election, Many of us worked very hard collecting signatures to ensure Ron Paul was on the Virginia ballot. Some, like me, did the work on his behalf, not because we were disciples, but because we knew it was important to have Ron Paul in the race to force at least a brief discussion of real ideas and solutions, rather than have just the prepackaged sound-bites that are the typical fare from the presumptive nominees.
We need more Men with Ron Paul’s spirit, to run for public office. When we replace the Republican Party with a new voice for citizens with traditional values and who love liberty, then we will see more campaigns based on real ideas and real solutions to the challenges that we all face.