You may disagree, and you’re welcome to point me to other sources (there’s only about a half-dozen political blogs I read with any regularity), but I think my approach to Paul’s candidacy, at least in my mind, has been somewhat unique (up to now). I’ve made no predictions on his chances, and still I remain skeptical about them. The two most common approaches I see from other enthusiasts is the positive-thinking approach ("we’re going to win!") and the approach that concedes that Paul is gaining the power to have an important and positive impact on the other candidates (make them "more honest," I guess; whatever that means). The first approach is fine; nothing wrong with cheer leading. The second approach is worthless and dumb. There is absolutely nothing any of the other candidates can do to appeal to anyone who supports Paul and knows why. To those who know why, really and seriously, conventional politics will never, ever fool them again.
They have become atheists to the religion of political personality and sweet sweet lies. They have been cured from the zombie-ism that inflicts all democrats and republicans who give any stock at all to their favorite liar. Here’s my assessment, in a nutshell: There is a big difference between liars and honest, non-compromising men of integrity; differences between liars, whether ‘D’ or ‘R,’ are superficial and superfluous. Once you know the real deal, the manner, scale, cleverness or even appeal of liars is forever lost on you. Perhaps good men still labor in the lies of politics because they have believed that honesty and integrity is impossible. So far, Paul is the single exception that disproves the "rule," so maybe hopeless despair isn’t absolute, after all. Just maybe. Do we have cause and reason to welcome just a glimmer of hope, here?
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