Will the message of the Ron Paul Revolution become a mainstay in American politics? by J. Barbeaux
(centrist)
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Ron Paul has captured the minds and hearts of bloggers all over the world. His vision is basic, they're classically liberal, and they're beautiful to a tee. The man represents an America that the youth idealize with passionate fervor. Libertarianism doesn't cut it. Republicanism insults it. No, what this aged, albeit spunky, old man has summoned is not the hope of the disenfranchised or the young or the rabidly individual but of a moderate electorate that in this primary stage simply cannot contend with the mind-numbing rhetoric of his opponents supporters.
The media has a lot to do with it. The media, as his supporters will point out, really haven't given him his fair share of attention. The air time he does manage is riddled with backhanded compliments and unabashed insults. Pundits will declare him "unelectable," "a maverick," and a "long shot candidate." As if the media knows who will be elected any more than the thousands of votes yet to be cast. His supporters were furious at Fox News for censoring Congressman Paul from the New Hampshire debates, and rightly so. His supporters were peeved at Fox News for holding him to a different set of questions at the South Carolina debates, and rightly so. It takes a courageous heart to stand in front of a camera and speak so much truth that the only result can be further ostracizing by your peers. Yet, Ron Paul, a withered old man, does it.
It's easy to dismiss him and it's even easier to dismiss his ideas about politics. This country has been stuck in the same old rut for over three generations now. Ron Paul's revolution will not come to fruition in this the year 2008. It might take another eight years before his libertarian message finally manages to drift into the public mindset. His platform of strictly following the constitution, I believe, will become a mainstay of the Republican party in the future. The question that we must all be asking is: Who will represent such ideals?
Dr. Paul ain't gettin' any younger. Not to sound like a pessimist, but he probably won't be alive by 2016. The guy's hardly even vocally coherent as it is. What you, his supporters, must do, is rally around his message. He sponsors the individual. He believes in peace. He proposes a sound economy with a free and fair market for all. Ron Paul is a man of the people, and you, the people, must determine his successor. You must elect charisma, you must elect intellect, but more than all of that, you must elect somebody who truly believes in the value of the Constitution not as a relic of this nation's foundation but as the sole document that governs and protects our rights as free citizens, as patriots, as populously sovereign, as Americans.
Note: I received one vocal complaint that I was attempt to smear Ron Paul. Here is my defense.
I am so sorry to offend you. I for one am all for Ron Paul's candidacy, and while I believe he isn't a natural born leader, he's a natural born idealist with good intentions. When I say withered, I mean it. The guy is old. Get over it. It doesn't mean I don't like him, I'm just being very clear. In eight years, regardless if he's alive or not, he'll be too old to responsibly maintain the most power position in the executive branch of our government.
This article is not about John McCain. If I said we needed another neoconservative Republican in office, then I would be writing about him. I don't care how long his parents lived, I have aunts who have died before their mothers, so your point is lost on me.
Sir, I don't care that your Irish is riled up. I don't even understand what that means, but it sounds like something Bill O'Reilly would say. I'm not smearing Ron Paul, if you read carefully, I'm a strong supporter of Libertarian beliefs. I am merely asking: Who will step up to represent a younger generation of Libertarian voters in the next twenty years?
People get old. People die. Messages don't. Who will you support after all is said and done?
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I watched Huckabee's concession speech, and my jaw dropped. He's spouting off about how the government needs to get out of the way of small business and lower taxes.
What you're going to get from the Republican candidates is cherry-picking the parts of Ron Paul's message that will help them get elected. They will distance themselves from George W. Bush by invoking the name of Ronald Reagan. The sticking point will be the war in Iraq and the permanent military bases around the world. I don't see the other Republican candidates taking up Paul's foreign policy points. But they will pick up the conservative economic ideas. They've already absorbed the illegal immigration issues of Tancredo and Hunter.
I strongly disagree with the "hardly even vocally coherent" comment. In an age of sound bites and a zombie populace stuck to Oprah and sports on the TV, he superbly articulated his "electability" to the MSM whores. I've known him since the 80's and his message gets better and better. I'm heartened it's finally getting some traction. He has won an amazing number of young supporters which gives a "senior" like me hope that this country has a chance to once more be the great land it used to be. Go Ron Paul
Being from Arkansas, I been telling anyone who will listen that Gov. Huckleberry is a crafty weasel and will say or do anything to get what he wants. He really is stealing Ron Paul's ideas. He never talked liked Ron Paul ever. But rest assured if Gov. Huckleberry becomes president then it will be the last we ever hear of his new ideas. Can you say "Hello Super Taxes"?
I think one of the key reasons Dr. Paul is such a good role model is his age. He has the experience that tells people he is not just being idealistic and unrealistic.
He has been in service, in the medical field, one of the most demanding educational fields, and active in government and specifically the economist interests of the government.
It is these characteristics that make me a Dr. Ron Paul supporter. I do not think I could trust his message from someone less experienced.
Posted By: Christopher Espinal
Date: 2008-01-15 21:55:56
I agree with this article alot. I'm no supporter but I do believe that you libertarians and paleocons ought to have a presence in future politics. He really isn't vocally coherent which is why he's not getting as many votes as say Reagan.
Ronald Reagan was a master of words and language which is the reason why they called him the great communicator. Paul is no where near the great communicator. He doesn't articulate himself too well on stage and there is no way to signal to the American people issues on monetary policy in 30 second responses. He made all the wrong moves on stage in debates. Because there is so little time most candidates revert to the small soundbyte messages and lame jokes. If they were each given 3 minutes or 10 minutes to answer questions everything will be a lot different!
We can push for Dr. Paul to become President, but what we will ultimately need to work to first is sending him some friends in Congress. If he ended our apathy, then its time to show it.
The question of electability is the most ridicule question that could have come from the so called impartial interviewer, who, if haven done his homework, would see that he has won nearnly all straw polls, debates (where he gets invited), internet following, and fundraising. I suppose with his exemplary record of voting and a platform based on the Rule of law and freedom, peace, plus the above mentioned results so far, the question is more than ridiculous. Dr. Paul is the only one who constantly writes about illlegalities within the government branches, as though all the rest have signed a secret pledge not to reveal what is really going on in government. Everything he does is for the people, and at great danger to his person. He is a doctor, a ranking member of the banking and financial services committee, who can stand up to Mr. Bernake and win the discussion. There is no other candidate that even understands what Bernacke says when he gives his speeches.Not only is Dr. Paul, based on results so far, as the most electable Republican and the most qualified. A shame, he must debate with an actor, and used car salemen. They are not even close, as a Presidential candidate, to be even compared to Dr. Paul. McCain's constant stupid smile when Paul talks, is probably the best he can do, since he does not understand very much. Same with the others. Did Giuliani mention that his law firm is the legal advisor for the Superhighway, that he has the Fire Department suing him for much of what happened on 911, I don't know what Thompson is doing is this crowd, more boring than him you will not find.
But lets talk about George W., who has done more abuses than George III, and we know what happened after that. History is repeating itself, as clearly as possible, even the first names of the English King and the actual "King" . I think one must read the part in the Declaration of Independance where King George's abuses where enumerated and compare them to W.'s abuses. If one goes by enough would be what King of England did, then W is worse off. No need to go to the lawyers for advice, as Mitt would suggest, the Constitution I beleive will have the answers when government abuses have reached its "tipping point". The Tipping point has long been crossed.
Posted By: W Gary Johnson
Date: 2008-01-16 09:16:41
This revolution needs as many people who can manage it to run for Congress as "Ron Paul Republicans". Out of this group will emerge one or two people with the character, integrity and intellect to carry this to the next level. But they need to put themselves to the test now, while they can capitalize on the success of the Ron Paul campaign.
I take issue with your insult,"Ron Paul, a withered old man." Who the hell do you think you are talking about RP like that, in an open article like this? Who the hell are you to say he will be dead in 8 years!? Ron Paul is a very healthy 72 years old (McCain is 71). The guy works out daily and takes very good care of himself. He just jumped on a bike a few weeks ago and peddled 10 miles, on a moments notice, with a guy that is bicycling across America for RP. His folks lived well into their 90's!
This article is another backhanded smear at Ron Paul and his run for office. You got my Irish riled up on that one, buddy! Keep your personal jabs to yourself and your ilk.
Posted By: John Alan Roderick
Date: 2008-01-16 14:48:55
With me--and I believe many others--it's more about the MESSAGE than it is about the messenger.
Fact is, Dr. Paul strikes me as being almost reluctant to run for POTUS. That is one of the things that I like the most about his candidacy and why I have (a) contributed, which I have NEVER done before for a presidential candidate, and (2) why I will be taking a Republican ballot for the first time in my voting life (since 1977) at the polling place here in Massachusetts on Feb. 5th.
Why am I not worried about such trifles as, say, Dr. Paul's age? Maybe it's because the US Constitution--THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE OF PAPER IN YOUR LIFE AND MINE--provides for, among other things, an orderly and bloodless transition in the event of a US President's untimely passing.
I am oblivious to the ramblings of the other candidates in both parties since noone has invoked The Constitution so consistently in their political lives. I know it hasn't been stylish to do so... up until now. It took 16 years before Barry Goldwater's vindication came about though. History can (and often does) repeat itself.
Speaking for myself, I kinda like John Stossel as a possible future standard bearer, but I'm sure there are many others.
I agree with those who say that the best thing to do in the meantime might be to elect a number of members of Congress who espouse Ron Paul's (and the Founders') ideas.
We have to start somewhere, and this is as good a place as any.
Thank you, Ron Paul, for starting to bring it together.
73
JAR
Posted By: Douglas W. Schell
Date: 2008-01-17 09:37:38
I'm afraid that the author has made the mistake of misidentifying what is important about our next leader with the typical shallowness of the MSM.
Ron Paul has a VISION. He can hire a Press Person help him articulate it better. He also doesn't nedd ot do it alone. He simply gets likje-minded Cabinet Memebrs and advisors.
The author, however, is dead on when he says many young people must rise up, get better educated, and run for office. I'm 67 and have been fighting as long as Ron Paul. It's about time many step up to the bat.
A better question might be, Who is the next Andrew Jackson? He paid the national debt down to ZERO. Warned us about the bankers intent to enslave us. And they have. Only Ron Paul fully understands our plight. Ron
According to FOX, Ron won their online poll seeking to determine who won their SC debates by a landslide. That's pretty good for a guy who is "hardly even vocally coherent". Maybe you need to have your ears checked.
It's funny how McCain and Thompson are close to Ron's age but you only point out that Ron is old when he is more vibrant than either one of them.
As Fox News President Roger Ailes has noted, "Bias has to do with the elimination of points of view, not presenting a point of view."Â He demonstrated how to do that on January 6. NBC demonstrated how to do it on January 15 when they eliminated Dennis's point of view. They and the others are doing it every day. Ron's campaign is more of a movement by the people than it is a campaign. Corporate media conglomerates know this and it frightens them. Their attempt to qwell the uprising is blatant.
Many of the candidtaes have adopted bits and pieces of Ron's platform into their own. As the movement increases in popularity, more people will emerge as possible representatives.
It doesn't matter because a fine statesman like RP has a huge problem that resides in two areas.Â
First , the vested interest and the "machine".
Second, MSM press policy which I am not aware of being talked about anywhere. Big names, Big money, Sex, Controversy, and Scandal.
Look at the front runners Hillary, Obama,Guliani,McCain.
Face time is proportional to these factors and polls reflect face time. Set these factors loose within the RP campaign, we win. Don't and it doesn't look good.Â
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