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Bret L Bret L is offline
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Default Run Ron, Run!

Run Ron, Run!

by W. James Antle III on April 18, 2010


"Normally, a septuagenarian obstetrician with a penchant for lengthy disquisitions on monetary policy would not seem a promising presidential candidate. And in 2008, Ron Paul raised millions of dollars and galvanized thousands of passionate supporters but failed to win a single Republican primary or caucus.


The evidence is nevertheless mounting that the quirky libertarian-
leaning congressman from Texas should make another go at it in 2012.
Paul came within one vote of besting former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt
Romney at the Southern Republican Leadership Conference (SRLC) straw
poll. This strong showing came despite reports from the Daily Caller
that Paul backers experienced difficulties registering for the
conference or voting in its nonbinding poll.

Paul had already beaten Romney, the presumed 2012 frontrunner, in the
Conservative Political Action (CPAC) straw poll in February. CPAC is
the nation’s largest gathering of conservative activists and, like the
SRLC, an early cattle call for aspiring Republican presidential
candidates. Paul took 31 percent of the vote to Romney’s 22 percent.
Many Beltway right favorites barely registered.

Straw polls are unscientific surveys that have no power to predict how
an actual election would turn out, especially this early. But they are
good tests of organizational strength and grassroots enthusiasm. The
latter the Paulistas always had in spades, as evidenced by their
strong showings in Internet polls last time around. Their ability to
go toe-to-toe with the most professional campaign operation on the
Republican side shows increasing organizational prowess as well.

“Only Ron Paul is in a good position to represent his libertarian and
conservative-constitutionalist followers in the 2012 primaries. More
importantly, he can continue to mobilize the young activists who
remain the best hope for a future of liberty, sound money, and a
realistic foreign policy.”


In 1992, Pat Buchanan took on President George H.W. Bush and lost all
33 primaries in which they crossed swords. Four years later, Buchanan
came back, won the New Hampshire primary, and nearly knocked Bob Dole
out of the presidential race. Although Buchanan got nearly three times
as many votes as Paul, the Buchanan brigades of the 1990s have a
similar feel to the Ron Paul revolutionaries of today—except the
latter are younger, more diverse, and are trying to build a movement
that may outlast the candidate who initially inspired them.

Paul’s son Rand now leads the Republican race for U.S. Senate in
Kentucky, where he would be at least even to win if nominated. Paul-
endorsed former Congressman John Hostettler is within striking
distance in the contest for Indiana’s GOP senatorial nomination and
would be the favorite in November if he wins the primary. With leaders
like former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, Judge Andrew Napolitano, and
New York Times bestselling author Thomas Woods, the Paulites are
moving beyond simply being a cult of personality around Ron Paul.

Building on that momentum would be the primary motivation behind
another Paul presidential build. By 2012, Rand Paul and John
Hostettler will either be just freshman senators or recently defeated
candidates. They are not yet ready to take the mantle. It is not clear
that Johnson, who is to Paul’s left on abortion and immigration, could
hold together the Paul coalition at this early stage. South Carolina
Gov. Mark Sanford, who could have credibly contested the nomination,
destroyed his reputation with a sex scandal.

Only Ron Paul himself is in a good position to represent his
libertarian and conservative-constitutionalist followers in the 2012
primaries. Although he remains controversial within the Republican
Party—neocons and GOP apparatchiks booed him at both CPAC and the SRLC—
the issue environment is far more favorable to his candidacy this time
around. Conservatives are warming up to cutting government spending,
balancing the budget, auditing the Federal Reserve, and citing the
Constitution again. And although the right hasn’t gotten past the Bush
Doctrine yet, the GOP may be even more open to debate on foreign
policy.

Ron Paul would be unlikely to win the presidency, or even the
Republican nomination. But he could add to the more than 1 million
votes he drew in 2008. More importantly, he could continue to mobilize
the young activists who remain the best hope for a future of liberty,
sound money, and a realistic foreign policy. When his supporters beg
him to run again—as they undoubtedly will—Dr. No should say yes."


http://www.takimag.com/article/run_ron_run/
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Shhhh! I'm Listening to Reason! Shhhh! I'm Listening to Reason! is offline
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Default Run Ron, Run!

On Apr 21, 5:36*pm, Bret L wrote:
Run Ron, Run!


Stop, Ron, stop!

Making Ron Paul sound like Forrest Gump does nothing to further his
cause.

BTW, Bratzi, the best thing you can do for any politician is to keep
away from him. You're probably not bright enough to know why.
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