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Title: The Honor of Ron Paul
Source:
Sobran's
URL Source: http://sobran.com
Published: Jun 27, 2007
Author: Joe Sobran
Post Date: 2007-06-27 13:29:44 by Vitamin Z
Keywords: None
Views: 825
Comments: 75
I guess I’ve known Ron Paul for a quarter of a century now, and I don’t remember how we met. My first memory of him is a quiet dinner on Capitol Hill, during the Reagan years. He told me with dry humor of being the only member of Congress to vote against some bill Reagan wanted passed. For Ron it was a matter of principle, and he was under heavy pressure to change his vote. What amused him was that the Democrats didn’t mind his voting against it; all the pressure came from his fellow Republicans, professed conservatives, who were embarrassed that anyone should actually stand up for their avowed principles when it was unpopular to do so. That was Ron Paul for you. Still is. The whole country is getting to know him now, and the Republicans still want to get rid of him. The party’s hacks, led by Newt Gingrich, have even tried in vain to destroy him in his own Texas district. They’re right, in a way. He doesn’t belong in a party that has made “conservative” a synonym for “destructive.” George Will calls him a “useful anachronism” because he actually believes, as literally as circumstances permit, in the U.S. Constitution. In his unassuming way, without priggery or histrionics, he stands alone. He may have become at last what he has always deserved to be: the most respected member of the U.S. Congress. He is also the only Republican candidate for president who is truly what all the others pretend to be, namely, a conservative. His career shows that a patriotic, pacific conservatism isn’t a paradox. If they can’t expel Ron Paul from the party, they can at least deny him the nomination. The GOP front-runner, Rudy Giuliani, who says he hates abortion more than any other constitutional right (or words to that effect), went into raptures of phony indignation during the first “debate” when Paul said simply that the 9/11 attacks were a natural result of U.S. foreign policy. The pundits applauded the demagogue, but millions of viewers were thrilled to find one honest man on that crowded stage. (By the way, Paul is a doctor who has delivered thousands of babies and never killed one.) Ron — I’m very proud to call him my friend — fares well not only in comparison with the party’s sorry current candidates, but also with its legendary conservative giants, Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan. He lacks their charisma and of course Reagan’s matchless charm, but he excels them both in consistency, depth, historical awareness, courage, and honor. Heaven grant him some of Reagan’s luck! Which brings us to the big question: does Ron Paul have a prayer? Well, he may have a prayer, but that’s about it. He doesn’t have a billion dollars; delivering babies, often free of charge, is not the way to amass a staggering fortune. He has nothing to offer the special and foreign interests who pour millions into Rudy’s and Hillary’s coffers. Sorry, this isn’t a Frank Capra movie. But virtue — honor — is rare enough to be an asset, especially when the two big parties don’t have much of it. If both offer pro-war, pro-abortion New York liberals next year, there could be an urgent demand for a third option, especially since Giuliani could smash what’s left of the Bush-riddled GOP coalition while Hillary remains, well, Hillary. What if Ron Paul runs for president on, say, the Constitution Party ticket? Who knows? I can only attest that to know him is to love him, and knowing him for many years has only deepened the esteem I felt for him when we were both much younger men. This is a man who strikes deep chords in people’s hearts. Every attempt to portray him as an extremist, or even eccentric, founders on his palpable probity and wisdom. His words are the carefully measured words of one given to meditation. Ron Paul is a man you listen closely to. The odds are heavily against his being elected president next year. But if he is on the ballot in November, the odds are far heavier against his candidacy’s being forgotten. He will say things worth pondering long after the votes are cast. Until now, the GOP has been able to contain Paul by pretending he wasn’t there. But the silent treatment can no longer stifle this soft-spoken man. He has been proved right too often.
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#1. To: Vitamin Z (#0)
Perhaps, but the level of enthusiasm for Dr. Paul among young people in this country is unlike anything I have ever seen. I am beginning to believe that young people in this country are starting to take a look at their future, and they do not like what they see.
Perhaps, but the level of enthusiasm for Dr. Paul among young people in this country is unlike anything I have ever seen. I am beginning to believe that young people in this country are starting to take a look at their future, and they do not like what they see. He would have a chance if he really had the courage to step out of the cushy Congress "Republican" job for life and run as the independent he is. Ron Paul is not and has never been a Republican. This in itself is de facto disingenuousness for the obvious purpose of electability and sinecure. Don't scream....its useless... let Ron Paul show me wrong!!
There are those who will not vote for anyone with an R behind their name.
You can't be elected if you can't get on the ballot. As an independent he would be on the Nov 2008 ballot. Methinks he is J. Alfred Prufrock.
No way. Our voting system (vote for only one) is stacked against any third party candidate. He should only run as an independent if he doesn't get the R nomination, but getting the R nomination would make his chances of winning far, far better. Ron might not be a contemporary Republican, but he's quite welcome to milk the party to acheive the oval office. Certainly that would only be returning the favor of what the GOP has done to us. If we had an alternate voting system, like approval voting, then it might be a different story.
There's a lot more who only vote for R's no matter what the name.
not even a realistic fantasy
Then why do you say it would take courage for him to step away and run as an I?
Ron Paul shall be on my ballot regardless. I'll have a pen.
Ron Paul. President. Spread the Word.
I wonder if he would switch to Independent if necessary.
Be glad that you still have a paper ballot.
Maybe it would jepardize his house seat? Could he run as an R in TX and an I as pres at the same time? Probably not.
Let's make sure that it does not become necessary - we can get this thing done.
Good question. I think he would given the widespread grass roots internet base he's developing. A GREAT number of Americans are fed up with the Democan/Republicrat Zioparty.
Ron Paul. President. Spread the Word.
Thus the importance of the various Republican primaries cannot be overstated.
Ron Paul. President. Spread the Word.
how do we combat the diebold machines?
Yes, we call them freepers.
There is no combating them. During the contentious 2000 elections the margin of error in the contested Florida counties were 1.4 and 1.6%. California runs consistently 1.9%. In New Mexico, another close state, they were using the most modern machines, electronic voting. Their margin of error was 2%. All that reporting about how bad the chads were etc., served one purpose, getting those modern voting machines in more states. There were some reports in the last election that machines in Ohio, another key state, actually had preset tallies on them giving Bush that vital state. Despite Democrat's shouts it didn't get much media play.
not even a realistic fantasy Then why do you say it would take courage for him to step away and run as an I? Because he can declare as an independent and get on the ballot with little trouble... and give people a chance to vote for him instead of wailing "I dun all I cud"
Ban the bastards or THE PEOPLE, not the Tribe...writes the specs and paper documentation. Electoral College by District and the Tribe-power is broken. 20 years in prison mandatory for voter fraud or an accessory to the fact at any level.... and I get to run the prison.
Let's make sure that it does not become necessary - we can get this thing done. Thus the importance of the various Republican primaries cannot be overstated. Ron Paul. President. Spread the Word. wbales You guys have not been there and do not get it. Jesus Christ could have 110% support from the internet and NEVER even SHOW on a Dim or Pube Primary !! Much less the November ballot... Who do you really think votes and selects the slate in primaries?
IMO, they can only lie within a certain percentage. So to win, it must be a huge win.
You know neither where I've been nor what I get.
Ron Paul. President. Spread the Word.
If the primary votes are counted honestly, Ron Paul will be the Republican nominee for President. Bookmark it.
can I be your Lynndie England? :P
Little trouble? Didn't Buchanan in 2000 have a lot of trouble getting on the ballot in all 50 states?
To reason, indeed, he was not in the habit of attending. His mode of arguing, if it is to be so called, was one not uncommon among dull and stubborn persons, who are accustomed to be surrounded by their inferiors. He asserted a proposition; and, as often as wiser people ventured respectfully to show that it was erroneous, he asserted it again, in exactly the same words, and conceived that, by doing so, he at once disposed of all objections. - Macaulay, "History of England," Vol. 1, Chapter 6, on James II.
I'm not sure that he did.
By all means ! Jump right in. I'd rather have panties on my head than BEheaded any old day (-:
I do read your posts.
I'll bet those numbers will swell even more after listening to Senator Voinovich HANG UP on Sean Hannity today...ROTFLMAO! I despise Hannity, but he nailed Voinovich. The best part was when subsequent callers kept screaming "...but they (Senators) HAVE to listen to us, Sean"! No, they don't. They don't give a f*** about you, your children, or your grandchildren. Do you damn sheep FINALLY get it?
think rocks, not sheep.
It was amazing radio, especially for globalist shill Hannity. DISCLAIMER: I was listening because I didn't have access to music CD's at the time; I could only get two stations on the radio, and the other station..? Country music.
JT heard it too...said it was great.
what i meant is, i'd assist with the torture of the inmates in your prison ! (and it wouldn't include panties on anyone's head ;)
Leaves me out, I gave those up long ago.
Shoot the county clerks and print our own ballots? I don't know.
Thanks for the DISCLAIMER - I was becoming concerned. But still, monitoring the opposition, from time to time, is not a bad thing.
Yes, and the *courage* part comes in where? Why do I get the distinct impression that you don't like Ron Paul? RP is one of the few who has earned the right to wail such a thing, BTW. Far more than you, me and anyone else posting here, I dare say.
Did you folks happen to see this interview? Paul, as they say, PWNED Cavuto; especially the bit about the Capitol Building and the income tax. You'll ROTF and LYAO!
Comments (41 - 75) not displayed.
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/LatestThe odds are heavily against his being elected president next year.
Remember...G-d saved more animals than people on the ark. www.siameserescue.org
#2. To: who knows what evil (#1)
The odds are heavily against his being elected president next year.
#3. To: JCHarris (#2)
He would have a chance if he really had the courage to step out of the cushy Congress "Republican" job for life and run as the independent he is.
#4. To: farmfriend (#3)
There are those who will not vote for anyone with an R behind their name.
#5. To: JCHarris (#2)
He would have a chance if he really had the courage to step out of the cushy Congress "Republican" job for life and run as the independent he is.
#6. To: farmfriend (#3)
There are those who will not vote for anyone with an R behind their name.
#7. To: Pinguinite (#5)
getting the R nomination
#8. To: JCHarris (#7)
not even a realistic fantasy
#9. To: Vitamin Z (#0)
#10. To: Pinguinite, lodwick, JCHarris, farmfriend (#5)
#11. To: wbales (#10)
Ron Paul for President
#12. To: wbales (#10)
#13. To: robin (#11)
I wonder if he would switch to Independent if necessary.
#14. To: robin. Ron Paul fans (#11)
I wonder if he would switch to Independent if necessary.
#15. To: robin (#11)
I wonder if he would switch to Independent if necessary.
#16. To: lodwick (#14)
(Edited)
Let's make sure that it does not become necessary - we can get this thing done.
#17. To: lodwick, JCHarris, robin, wbales (#14)
(Edited)
#18. To: Pinguinite (#6)
There's a lot more who only vote for R's no matter what the name.
#19. To: christine, lodwick, JCHarris, robin, wbales (#17)
how do we combat the diebold machines?
#20. To: Pinguinite (#8)
JCHarris
#21. To: christine (#17)
Diebold
#22. To: wbales (#16)
lodwick (#14) (Edited)
#23. To: christine (#17)
Ron Paul for President
#24. To: JCHarris, lodwick (#22)
You guys have not been there and do not get it.
#25. To: JCHarris. wbales. RP fans (#22)
#26. To: JCHarris (#21)
20 years in prison mandatory for voter fraud or an accessory to the fact at any level.... and I get to run the prison.
#27. To: JCHarris (#20)
Because he can declare as an independent and get on the ballot with little trouble...
#28. To: aristeides (#27)
Little trouble? Didn't Buchanan in 2000 have a lot of trouble getting on the ballot in all 50 states?
#29. To: christine (#26)
#30. To: wbales (#24)
You know neither where I've been nor what I get.
#31. To: wbales (#15)
A GREAT number of Americans are fed up with the Democan/Republicrat Zioparty.
Remember...G-d saved more animals than people on the ark. www.siameserescue.org
#32. To: who knows what evil (#31)
Do you damn sheep FINALLY get it?
#33. To: christine (#32)
think rocks, not sheep.
Remember...G-d saved more animals than people on the ark. www.siameserescue.org
#34. To: who knows what evil, Jethro Tull (#33)
#35. To: JCHarris (#29)
#36. To: JCHarris (#29)
I'd rather have panties on my head than BEheaded any old day
#37. To: christine (#17)
how do we combat the diebold machines?
#38. To: who knows what evil (#33)
DISCLAIMER: I was listening because I didn't have access to music CD's at the time; I could only get two stations on the radio, and the other station..? Country music.
#39. To: JCHarris (#20)
Because he can declare as an independent and get on the ballot with little trouble...
and give people a chance to vote for him instead of wailing "I dun all I cud"
#40. To: lodwick, christine, aristeides, ALL! (#38)
Remember...G-d saved more animals than people on the ark. www.siameserescue.org
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