Given the popularity of President Bush, you might think it would be a few years before another Texan had the temerity to consider a run for president. If you did, you'd be overlooking Ron Paul who's about as different from President Bush as you can get and who just formed an exploratory committee for a run at the White House in 2008. That means he can start raising money in anticipation of launching a full-scale campaign for the Presidency.
For those of you who bear the shame of not knowing who Ron Paul is, he's a former Libertarian candidate for President who switched to the GOP and took his principles with him. He has represented the Corpus Christi area for 9 terms in the House of Representatives. He's earned a reputation as a pain in the ass to every fat cat and party hack on both sides of the aisle. Standing alone or with a few allies from the Republican Liberty Caucus he's always there to raise the uncomfortable truth or ask the question no one else will ask. He's voted against so many bills in his 18 years - including every budget and every expansion of government's size or power - that he's earned the title 'Dr. No'. He's one of very few representatives in Congress who can be counted on to always vote their conscience without making any political compromises.
Paul's politics are pretty straightforward. He believes in small government and strict constitutionalism. If given the chance he'd cut the government down the the bare minimum of essential services, transfer most responsibilities to the states, get us out of the UN and other foreign entanglements, and get rid of all of most of our taxes. He differs from most typical Libertarians on some issues because he's religious, which means he opposes abortion. He's also out of step with a lot of Republicans because he's dead-set against the War in Iraq or any interventionist foreign policy. He's basically an isolationist.
Like a lot of early declarers, Paul may not be the most realistic candidate. He's not all that charismatic, and his views are noble but not exactly mainstream. He's probably too ideologically rigid and radical to be a viable national candidate. He gets elected in his home district largely because when he was a practicing obstetrician he presided over the birth of most of his constituents. Most likely his reason for getting into the campaign early is to attract media attention so he can get his message out and have a role in setting the agenda for the primary. A long-shot presidential campaign can raise your profile, and, if you're lucky, get you a nomination as Vice President.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Mark Schannon
Gotta love a curmudgeony type, but can't you do something about his 18th century vision of America? First of all, having been in state government, the very notion of giving them more power terrifies me. Second, our society has just grown too complex for the traditional libertarian concepts--which, in my heart, I like.
I just don't them working today.
In Jameson Veritas
2 - Dave Nalle
Something went horribly wrong with the formatting here, but let's see what happens if I comment.
First off, the basic principles of libertarianism are so simple that they really can't be negated by changes in the culture or the complexity of how we live.
Now of course the specific solutions to our problems have to change as the problems change and become more sophisticatd. But you can still keep in mind the basic idea of keeping government smll and maximizing the freedoms which each of us benefits from.
IMO Ron Paul is too ideologically inflexible. He's too much of a libertarian purist and wants to turn the clock back in a way which is sort of unrealistic. But that wouldn't be much of a problem in a VP, and his idealistic message is certainly worth getting out infront of the public at this time when the GOP is kind of rudderless.
If I wanted to run a libertarian for president it would be Mark Sanford of SC who combines the basic principles with some essential pragmatism.
Dave
3 - Christopher Peterson
What if Ron Paul chooses a Democrat VP (maybe one of our favorite western governors?) to increase cross-over appeal to Democratic voters? I know many voters who would "never" vote for a Republican, but they feel strong enough about the Iraq War to consider voting for Ron Paul.
Or how about a Paul/Schwarzenegger ticket? Can non-native citizens be VP?
4 - Clavos
Mark writes:
Second, our society has just grown too complex for the traditional libertarian concepts--which, in my heart, I like.
So, could we just do it until we need glasses?
5 - Dave Nalle
I don't think a non-native born candidate can fulfill the requirements of the office of VP, since one of them is to be able to take over the presidency if needed.
Plus, there's no way a figure of the stature of Arnold could play second fiddle to Ron Paul. Paul is great in many ways, but he doesn't have the national stature to actually run as the party nominee for president, unless it was intended to be a purely symbolic candidacy.
Paul would, however, make an outstanding VP to go with Rudy Giuliani. So would Tom Tancredo for that matter. They both offer exactly the kind of rep needed to balance off the things which make the GOP blue-hairs nervous about Giuliani.
Dave
6 - Baronius
That black guy in drag, right?
I want to be sympathetic, really, but why do Libertarians write prolifically? They all seem to write volumes about what you correctly call simple.
And I've never met a conservative who doesn't claim to be called "Dr. No".
7 - matt
New ideas are always endorsed by eccentrics and eccentrics are usually wordy. They're also sometimes right. Libertarianism makes a lot of sense, and Ron Paul synthesises the most sensible strains of the movement beautifully. I'd vote for this guy in a second.
8 - Terry Mitchell
I agree with Matt. I'd vote for Paul in a second. The Libertarian Party should vow not nominate anyone and fall in line with the GOP in the 2008 fall election if it nominates Paul for president or vice president. Paul mirrors my views on almost every issue. I never thought such a politician existed. :-) Imagine, a religious libertarian who opposes gay marriage, abortion, and censorship, just like me! Finally, someone I can enthusiatically support, without having to settle for the lesser evil! Run, Ron, run!!
9 - Clavos
Hey Mr. Nalle,
It's not fair!
You guys in TX have cool pols like Kinky (well, I guess he's just a wannabe), Ron Paul and Kay Bailey Hutchison.
Who do we have here in FL?
Alcee Hastings, Mark Foley and Katherine Harris.
I call foul!
(But, on the plus side, we did have Jeb for two terms)
10 - Dave Nalle
Terry, does Ron Paul actually oppose gay marriage? That would surprise me. I bet his position is a bit more nuanced than that. I find it hard to imagine that he'd oppose equal rights for gays regardless of his religious convictions.
And Clavos, Katherine Harris is crazy enough to make politics in your state interesting all by herself.
Dave
11 - Eric Dondero
Thanks for covering Ron Paul and mentioning his connection to the Republican Liberty Caucus.
Your readers might also be interested to know that two other Libertarian Republicans are "exploring" a Presidential campaign: Legendary Las Vegas Sports Oddsmaker Wayne Root, and Two-time Emmy Award-winning Actor Michael Moriarty. Both have expressed their intentions in the major media in the last couple weeks, and both are self-described "libertarian conservatives."
It's a regular Libertarian Republican smorgasboard. Proof that the hottest political movement in America is NOT the soccer moms, but rather the largely ignored "Blue collar libertarians."
To keep up with Libertarian Republican Presidential candidates view mainstreamlibertarian.com
Eric Dondero, Former Senior Aide
US Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX)
12 - Dave Nalle
Eric, last I checked Michael Moriarity could only be described as a radical socialist. When did that change? He's also extremely irritating and starred in the movie Island of the Alive, a black mark which ought to haunt him forever. Plus he has the name of the most famous literary villain of all time. A lot of negatives to overcome there.
Dave
13 - Clavos
One wonders why a former senior aide to Ron Paul is touting potential rivals.
Perhaps the answer lies in whatever is behind the word "former?"
14 - Dave Nalle
Clavos, give Eric a break. From what I've seen he's a reasonable, dedicated person. There are a lot of people among libertarian Republicans who aren't entirely in favor of Paul because of his religious views and extreme position on immigration. It's nice to know that there are alternatives.
Hell, I used to work for Al Gore - does that mean I have to endorse him for the rest of my life?
Dave
15 - Mohjho
What is "strict constitutionalism" in his case?
16 - Terry Mitchell
Dave,
Ron Paul believes gay marriage is a states rights issue, and not something the courts or federal government should be getting involved in it. Most states, of course, ban it either with laws or state constitutional amendments.
17 - Dave Nalle
Terry, that position makes some sense, but in the long run it's not going to fly any more than the federal government's attempt to ignore segregation and jim crow laws did in the 1950s.
Dave
18 - Dave Nalle
In fact, those state constitutional amendments are exactly WHY we have a federal government to intervene on behalf of the rights of the citizens.
Dave
19 - RJ Elliott
Shoot, I'm willing to donate. Where's his official "campaign" link?
20 - Jonathan
Ron Paul's district stretches from Galveston to Lake Jackson down south to Victoria. It's a large district, but most of his district would better be described as the Houston area than Corpus Christi. Lake Jackson, where he is from, is basically an exurb of Houston.
21 - Dave Nalle
Jonathan, I live in the next district over. Until the recent redistricting Corpus was the heart of the district.
Oh, and as far as an official location for donations, the info is all at RonPaul.org.
He hasn't set it up for online donations, though - serious mistake IMO.
Dave
22 - RJ Elliott
"He hasn't set it up for online donations, though - serious mistake IMO."
I agree. I donated to numerous candidates during the last election cycle, and it was all done online...I find buying stamps and filling out envelopes inconvenient... :-/
23 - Dave Nalle
The whole web thing was put together pretty hastily from what I can tell. He actually didn't have any campaign info on his site for a couple of days after the announcement. His official campaign site is actually not even up yet. It will be at www.ronpaul2008.org.
Dave
24 - Eric Dondero
I wish Ron Paul, my former boss of 12 years, all the best. But I will not be supporting him, due to his views on foreign policy. I left his employ three years ago because he did not support the War in Iraq, and the War on Terror.
I view the struggle against Islamo-Fascism as the Number One issue facing our Great Nation. If we don't fight them over there, we'll be fighting them on the banks of the Rio Grande in 5 years.
I don't want my wife to be forced to wear a burqa from head to toe. And I don't want my Gay friends to have their genitals cut off, or my marijuana smoking buddies jailed for life. And I certainly do not wish to kneel down to Allah 5 times a day at the point of a gun.
I wish Ron Paul would understand that Islamo-Fascism is real, and they are out to destroy our civil liberties.
25 - Dave Nalle
I think Eric has provided an example of why, despite all his excellent qualities, Paul isn't a viable national candidate. Eric could probably go into more detail, but probably shouldn't, but my impression is that Paul is ideologically driven and unable to moderate his beliefs no matter how much pragmatism might demand it. This is why I think it's great to have him in the race to get his message out, but unrealistic to think of him as an actual presidential contender.
Dave