McPainful Episode at the Texas GOP Conventions

Professional electioneering begets more and more of itself. Alan Stang from News with Views details the sordid proceedings of the Neuces County and Texas state GOP Conventions. I think this paragraph sums it pretty well:

"A word should be said about the convention mentality. It appears to be a species of hypocrisy so intense, so total, that it metastasizes into brainwashing. It is a bizarre combination of politics and show business, a procession of dignitaries with perfect hair and choreography, speaking through mechanically pasted Senator McNasty smiles, thundering that the main problem in the country is the Democrats. For instance, on the dais in Houston, Newtie Gingrich favors wall to wall drilling for oil. Elsewhere, he is an Al Gore carbon “footprint” environmentalist. Asking about the discrepancy means you are disloyal."

Read the whole thing here.

If this sort of thing is happening all over the country, and I've heard of like stories in Missouri, Alaska and Nevada, then perhaps Obama wins this election by a landslide. Either that or McCain wins narrowly, with a little help from the electronic voting machine vendors.

Ron Paul Quotes

Here are some of Ron Paul's supporters favorite quotes from Dr. No, himself coming from RonPaulForums.com :

From: http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?t=137033

About 9/11:
"They don't attack us because we are rich or free, they come here and attack us because we've been over there."

When asked by Fox News anchor Brit Hume if he takes his marching orders from Al Qaeda:
"NO!!!! I take my marching orders from the Constitution....not from any enemy!!!!"

Other quotes from various speaches and interviews:
"The true patriot is motivated by a sense of responsibility and out of self-interest for himself, his family, and the future of his country to resist government abuse of power. He rejects the notion that patriotism means obedience to the state."

"Freedom is popular!"

"We have embarked on things, never intended by our founding fathers...and they said don't get involved in the internal affairs of other nations, don't become the policemen of the world."

"were being over regulated, over taxed and over-run by bureaucrats, the founders would be ashamed of us for what we're putting up with"

When asked about his electability during a debate on Fox Television:
"Let me see if I get this right—we need to borrow $10 billion dollars from China, and then we give it to Musharraf, who is a military dictator who overthrew an elected government. Then we go to war; we lose all these lives, promoting democracy in Iraq. What is going on here?"

Other quotes:
"And there's a greater burden on you than the average person because you know better. So you have an obligation to spread this message, others don't know any better so they don't have this obligation. You have, you are now responsible because you have the message, you know what is right, you know what has to be done, and you know that it will be dependant on you to do it."

"Let it not be said that we did nothing..."

"It's better to be pissed off than to be pissed on."

"As long as we live beyond our means, we are destined to live beneath our means..."

Ron Paul to Fox News Pundit, Sean Hannity
"You'll come around"

To Mitt Romney:
"Make fun, buddy".

Other quotes:
"The whole notion of the income tax is completely abhorrent to a free society because it presumes that the government owns you and your productivity."

From GOP debate moderated by Tim Russert, NBC:
Tim Russert: Does the president need authorization from congress to go to war with iran?

Mitt Romney: We'll let the lawyers sort that one out

Tim Russert: What about you Congressman paul?

Ron Paul: Ah-Absolutely. All this discussion about talking to attorneys totally baffles me! Why don't we just OPEN UP THE CONSTITUTION *huge applause* AND READ IT. YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO GO TO WAR WITHOUT A DECLARATION OF WAR.


From his latest book "Revolution: A Manifesto", Ron Paul takes aim at the Democrat's platform of Universal health care:
"And speaking of poor treatement; those who favor national health care schemes; should take a good, hard look at our veterans' hospitals. There is your national health care. These institutions are a national disgrace. If this is the care that the government dispenses to those it honors as its most heroic and admirable citizens; why should anyone else expect to be treated any better?"

And this quotable:
"I dont want to run your lives, I dont know how to run your lives, the Constitution doesnt give me the athority to run your lives."


The Revolution: A Manifesto - Page 66
If our government were scrupulously faithful to the Constitution, we would not need to be especially concerned when a person who represents a philosophy different from our own takes political office. Our Constitution delegates relatively few tasks to the federal government, so it should almost be a matter of indifference who is elected. We wouldn't have to worry that a social policy of which we disapproved would be imposed on our neighborhood at the whim of the new president and his court appointees, or that more of our money would be stolen to fund yet another government boondoggle. And we would also be spared the spectacle of countless American individuals and corporations frantically donating to candidates for political office during election years in order to reserve a place on the federal gravy train if their favorite should win."

Ron Paul Loves Mises to Pieces

Presidential hopeful Ron Paul gives his best speeches before friendly audiences and oftentimes articulates his positions extremely well, IMO. The Mises Institute of Austrian Economics is dedicated to the promotion of free-market economics.

Here is a link to Ron Paul's recent speech before the Mises Institute.

Ron Paul Paul speaks to the Mises Institute

The strength of a nation relies on its currency. Ron Paul speaks about the tie-in between foreign policy, the welfare/warfare state, personal liberty with the national currency. He says the Constitution wasn't perfect, but we were just beginning to see the benefits of a government based on liberty at the end of the 19th Century. People seem to think his ideas are archaic, old-fashioned, but the truth is freedom as national policy is still very young in the context of world history. It's totalitarianism that is old and archaic. Do not be fooled by the rhetoric of those who dismiss Dr. Paul's message of liberty. They are the one's who are becoming increasingly out of touch with what humanity really wants.

When In the Course of Human Events

Watch this video, share it with others:



This is the only Presidential campaign that has ever inspired me. Funny, he's not one of the guys the Fiat Money guys are betting on. Sometimes the high-rollers have to lose and I hope this is one of them.

10 Criticisms of Ron Paul Answered.

Great job by Escaping Ineffability for listing 10 of the most common criticisms about Ron Paul's candidacy. He answered all 10 with reasoned responses.

Get all 10 here.

Whether it changes any minds or hearts, the responses should serve to present some points of view that have not been considered by liberals and conservatives as real alternative answers to our pressing problems.

Freedom Is Not Complicated

Ron Paul paid a visit to the San Francisco Bay Area this last weekend (July 13-14). On Saturday, July 14, the South Bay Ron Paul Meetup group hosted a rally for the Presidential contender in Charleston Park, right next door to Google's corporate campus.

Here are the YouTube videos of his address:

Part 1:


Part 2:


Part 3:


Part 4:


I loved the backdrop of the stage depicting Howard Chandler Christy's painting "Scene at the Signing of the Constitution." The painting with it's faded yellowish tinge made Ron Paul, wearing a yellow sport shirt and tan slacks, appear as though he stepped out of it to give us his speech - straight from the Constitutional Convention.

Dr. Paul's speech was one of the best I've heard so far on the campaign. His message that 'freedom isn't complicated' drew enthusiastic applause and cheers from 500-600 supporters in attendance.

The wonderful thing about Ron Paul is that he comes across as a real person, with no one handling him. He speaks without notes, spreading both arms wide as though he's passing along the gift of the Founding Father's wisdom to us. His message was about personal liberty, humble, non-interventionist foreign policy, low taxation, sound money and small government. He pointed out that critics and naysayers of this message are quick to brush aside these principles because simplistic they are simplistic, outdated and isolationist. Looking back on history and where we stand in the world, the current policies have done more to isolate the United States from the rest of the world than anything.

I agree with Ron Paul. It isn't that complicated. Give freedom a chance.

Finally, A Media Interview Worth Listening To

In this day and age of shock jock, combative interviewing that serves no purpose but to agitate interviewees and listeners, I found an interview that actually presented meaningful questions, meaningful answers and a spirit of dialog.

Here it is: Ron Paul on CSPAN with Laura Knoy .

Bill Maher found a new hero in Ron Paul. I just found my new hero in Laura Knoy.

Her interview style is relaxed. She doesn't indicate agreement on all points and asks the questions in a respectful manner, giving her subject the opportunity to explain his position without cutting him off or making fun of him. Unlike Pat Gray of KSEV, Houston, who asks questions he already knows the answers to in a ploy to trap his subject, setting them up to ridicule, Knoy extracts well-articulated reasoning from her subject. The listener will come away knowing something more about the interviewee than he did going in.

You can also get the whole interview on www.ronpaulaudio.com . Look for the entry on June 5, 2007.

We need more Laura Knoys and less Pat Grays. Broadcast Journalism majors take note.

Ron Paul Forums

Anyone wishing to discuss and debate Ron Paul's candidacy can go to www.ronpaulforums.com . I had some fun on the slogans thread under Writing Projects.

My favorite was:

Atlas Shrugged: Who's Ron Paul?
Spartacus: I am Ron Paul!
Rebel Comrade of Spartacus: No, I am Ron Paul!

Ron Paul Audio Archive

Many thanks to Randall who commented on "Neo-Conservatism Is Neither, Part 1." He submitted a blog site that has perhaps the most complete archive of audio files of speeches and interviews of Ron Paul.

I highly recommend listening to them. No one is going to tell you about Ron Paul better than the man himself.

Stop Dreaming and Restore the Republic

I found this video on YouTube from Aravoth to be very moving. It tells you about Ron Paul, where he stands and his record in Congress - all to the tune of Don McClean's Miss American Pie.



Win or lose, Ron Paul is seeding a revolution for human liberty. He is giving American individuals the courage to speak up and claim their dignity. It reminds of Spartacus and the slave revolt.

I am Ron Paul!!!!

Neocons, Feeling a Little Uneasy These Days?

Ron Paul articulates the traditional Republican message. Apparently it's been lost on those who feel that the Neocon agenda should supercede the Constitution and the advice of the Founding Fathers to future generations of Americans.

Here's Ron Paul on CNN:



Conventional political wisdom suggests first you must win the party's nomination, then go after the main election. However, there is a storm brewing and the winds are howling "RON PAUL!"

Obama Is Done!!

Today, Barack Obama announced his plan for Universal Health Care Coverage. I am adamantly opposed to Universal Health Care because it places our health care at the mercy of politics.

Anyone who practices or uses alternative health care should note that this is a major advancement toward removing your livelihood and your choices.

Here's the beginning of the article:

Obama offers universal health care plan
By MIKE GLOVER, Associated Press Writer

IOWA CITY, Iowa - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama (news, bio, voting record) on Tuesday offered a sweeping health care plan that would provide every citizen a means for coverage and calls on government, businesses and consumers to share the costs of the program.

Obama said his plan could save the average consumer $2,500 a year and bring health care to all. Campaign aides estimated the cost of the program at $50 billion to $65 billion a year, financed largely by eliminating tax cuts for the wealthy that are scheduled to expire. President Bush wants to make those cuts permanent.

Here's the link to the whole article: Obama Health Plan.

--------------------------------------------

The plan proposes to reduce health insurance premiums for those already insured. It also increases taxes to help cover the costs of the program.

A doctor friend of mine made a suggestion that makes much more sense. His plan would be to reform the health insurance industry so that they would only offer major medical coverage. That means catastrophic care and hospitalization. All of the other costs such as exams, lab testing, therapies and prescriptions should be determined by market forces, ie... make doctors, specialists and drug companies compete for the business and bring their costs into line with what people can afford on their own.

I don't want bureaucrats, who don't know me, have any say over how I attend to my health needs. You shouldn't either. This is another reason why we need Dr. Ron Paul in the White House. Dr. Paul understands, not just the taxation implications of socialized medicine, he understands the assault on our personal freedoms plans like this pose.

Ron Paul, The Story So Far

Llamabread on YouTube.com just poted this summary video of the Ron Paul campaign:



It's about 8 minutpes long, but it gives a very succinct and entertaining re-cap of the campaign.

The more people know about this guy, the more they want his kind of leadership in the White House.

It's time for the NeoCons to step aside and let a real Republican take the reins.

God Bless the Patriot

Ron Paul is at again. I nearly wept as I read his inspired speech before Congress on May 22nd. Here is the transcript.

Read the whole thing.

We need Ron Paul, now more than ever.

Taking Shots

The following is the latest YouTube release of Ron Paul's highlights at the last Republican debate on May 3:


He takes on challenges from the debate moderators, Rudy Giuliani and Sean Hannity and Alan Colmes.

In my opinion, Ron Paul distanced himself further from the mainstream of the Republican party. On the other hand he may draw more people who weren't Republicans or Republicans, who've felt alienated from the Party's power base to his side. Will it be enough to win Ron Paul the Party's nomination? I certainly hope so, but we won't know until the primaries next year.

In the exchange with Giuliani, the former NY mayor suggeted that Paul's explanation for the causes of 9/11 attacks were absurd. Giuliani assumes that as a 'survivor of 9/11', he is more of an expert than Ron Paul in understanding the causes for 9/11. This is fallacious at best, since Ron Paul had been serving in Congress before, during and after the 9/11 attacks. Paul had access to CIA reports, served on the House International Relations committee and voted on international policy legislation. Rudy Giuliani was no more than mayor of New York City. Who would be in a better position to understand U.S. foreign policy and the causes for an attack on American soil?

Giuliani's rebuke of Paul drew ovations from the live audience. Then he asked Ron Paul to withdraw his remarks. Paul refused and reiterated his understanding of the causes for the attack! The live audience response may have favored Giuliani, but that says nothing about the national TV audience or the Internet viewers. Different pundits and bloggers are claiming victory for Giuliani, but I don't think so. Like the National ID issue in the first debate, Paul schooled Giuliani again, but I don't think Giuliani gets it.

Paul got taken to task over abortion and the Iraq war by Hannity and Colmes in a post-debate interview, which turned into a Crossfire-style argument where no one was swayed from their position.

Whether you believe he's winning or losing these debate points and challenges, Ron Paul is further defining himself as his own person. That registers in my mind as a win. The other candidates are striving virulently to prove who is the best Republican. Paul is showing he is the best man for the Presidency.

Giuliani Gets Schooled

Here's a video of Ron Paul explaining our failing Middle East policy. His logic is very strong: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcQQ05XtAQ4

I especially liked what he said about being a strong president at the end. I've been waiting to hear this message from a Presidential candidate for a long time.

Ron Paul Gaining Internet Momentum

The following is a press release from the Ron Paul for President campaign. Since the debate, his message of freedom and limited government is finding greater appeal.


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 8, 2007

ARLINGTON, VA – Congressman Ron Paul's support has soared since the first Republican presidential debate. Conservative commentator John McLaughlin, host of “The McLaughlin Group," cited Ron Paul as having given "the best performance of the debate." In fact, the Paul campaign's apparent strength has many other pundits scrambling to explain it. Paul campaign officials offer the following examples of the candidate's rising success.

Since the debate on May 3, Ron Paul:

1. Handily won two post-debate polls posted by event sponsor MSNBC.
2. Placed a close third (18%) in a post-debate poll on the conservative Drudge Report.
3. Won an ABCNews.com online debate poll with 84%.
4. Won a C-SPAN online GOP candidate poll with 69%.
5. Became the third most-mentioned person in the blogosphere, beating out Paris Hilton, according to the reputable Technorati.com.
6. Produced a YouTube.com video that was ranked the 8th most popular overall video, and the most-viewed political video.
7. Was featured, by popular demand, on the front of Digg.com.
8. Generated so many bulletin posts on MySpace.com that the site owner News Corp. blocked all additional posts about Dr. Paul.
9. Became a "most searched" term on Google and Yahoo!.
10. Saw a quadrupling of daily visitors to RonPaul2008.com."These figures speak for themselves," said campaign chairman Kent Snyder. "Ron Paul has quickly become a strong contender for the GOP nomination because of his powerful message of freedom and limited government."

-30-

http://www.ronpaul2008.com

Ron Paul at the Debate

Republican Presidential candidate, Ron Paul participated in a debate at the Ronald Reagan Library on May 3, 2007. He was one of 10 contenders including frontrunners Rudy Giuliani and John McCain.

Here's the video clip of Ron Paul's answers to the debate questions: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peBGJwE9NXo

Ron Paul, in my opinion, is the most trustworthy of all of the Presidential candidates I have seen so far. He is a strict Constitutionalist, who really advocates less government, lower taxes - including inflation and a cessation of meddling in the affairs of other nations. Democrats and liberals should be happy about his stances on the Iraq war. They won't be happy on his stances on abortion and embryonic stem-cell research. However, he is not an activist on these issues and believes they should be worked out by the states and in the marketplace.

For more information about Ron Paul's campaign, go to www.RonPaul2008.com .