Here’s Something
I’m not going to get all worked up about 2008, no matter what happens. I know I said that last time, and I actually held out pretty long until my loathing for Kerry just became too great to bear. But what can one do? My loathing for the guy sitting up there now, though of a different kind, is nearly as great (but to reiterate: different in some crucial ways).
Now comes this news item; and additional commentary.
Paul has been in and out of Congress since the 70’s and is universally hated by the Republican elite, who routinely back Democrats against him just to try and get him out of office.
Well, if that’s true, then my reaction is that Paul is to be accorded some measure of respect and admiration on that basis alone. Anyone "universally hated" by any political elite, from any corner, has got to be doing something right.
Such as it is.
In plain truth, it is impossible to be a politician at any level and uphold the principles of individualism. Politics, at its core, is about determining a least-common-denominator set of values and imposing them on everyone at everyone’s expense. Nobody gets what they really want, but everybody’s willing to take trade offs to get a pet value or two crammed down everyone else’s throats.
That said, and keeping in mind that Paul doesn’t have a chance in hell, I will at least appreciate having someone in the race that has enough principled backbone to back all of the Republican (and Democrat, too, but he’s not going to get much of a chance, there) scumbags into a corners of red-faced "uh…uh…uh" embarrassment, as they all so richly deserve.
It’ll be interesting to watch how the mainstream media plays this. As an anti-war Republican, he’s going to be singing their tune. On the other hand, the worst thing that could happen to the Democrat (I think) is for a Ron Paul nomination. But it aint gonna happen, so don’t even think about it.
(Neal)
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A Ron Paul nomination wouldn't be a disaster for the Democrats because Paul's unelectable. I'm also pretty sure he's not going to be backing anyone into any corners, even if he does get a televised debate. The electorate overwhelmingly wants a bigger and more intrusive government, and everyone but Paul will be promising just that.
Off the cuff reply to Paul: 'Unlike Congressman Paul, I believe in a living Constitution that addresses modern concerns like drugs and terrorism and provides for working families. I believe that American families need a government that protects them from terrorists from abroad and from criminals at home. Congressman Paul even voted against our men and women in uniform getting the funding they need to stay safe.'
And the electorate is gonna eat that shit up because it's just what they want to hear. All Ron Paul has to sell is individual rights and personal liberty, and those pale in comparison to protection from imaginary hobgoblins and "free" stuff at eveyone else's expense.
It is hard for me to overstate my adoration for Dr. Paul. One day I will tell my grandkids that I was around to witness the last politician that respected the Constitution.
Of course he has no chance, but neither do the Libertarians, or any group that advocates the federal government going back to the powers explicitly cited in the Constitution. Oh well, he will be guaranteed to have at least one vote, since the only reason to engage in the mathematically irrational exercise known as voting, is to vote your conscience.