Libetarian canidate Ron Paul

daniel49

Diamond Member
Jan 8, 2005
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though I don't agree with a lot of libetarian ideas. Paul, certainly is no friend to the present administration. I do think some of the libetarian ideas however are good and should be brought into the discussion. I think working for a change in the two major parties is a better vehicle to accomplish change at this point then running as a loosatarian 3rd party candidate.
Discuss:



? House Contrarian Ron Paul (news, bio, voting record) Mulls White House Bid. Nearly two decades after he was the Libertarian Party?s nominee for president, maverick Texas Republican Rep. Ron Paul is weighing another White House bid ? this time for the GOP nod in 2008.

Paul on Thursday filed paperwork with the Texas Secretary of State establishing a nonprofit corporation, the Ron Paul 2008 Presidential Exploratory Committee, which can accept funds Paul can use to ?test the waters? for a full-fledged bid.

Should he decide to forge ahead with a campaign, Paul would file paperwork with the Federal Election Commission (FEC). Paul intends to elaborate on his intentions in a couple of weeks, said Kent Snyder, who is chairing Paul?s exploratory effort.

Paul is well-known on Capitol Hill for his frequent lone ?no? votes on many spending bills and other legislation, much of which wins overwhelming support among both Republicans and Democrats alike.

This a voting pattern that has earned the obstetrician-turned-politician the nickname of ?Dr. No.? Paul explains that he votes only for measures he views as specifically authorized by the Constitution.

In 2006, Paul voted against the Bush administration?s stated position 64 percent of the time, more than any House Republican. His highest-profile departure from President Bush is on the Iraq war, which the congressman vigorously opposes.

In 2002, Paul was among just six House Republicans who voted against giving Bush authority to wage war in Iraq. Paul opposed the resolution for numerous reasons ? including his position that it was an unconstitutional transfer, from Congress to the executive branch, of the power to declare war.

In a Jan. 5 speech on the House floor, Paul also criticized the administration?s then-tentative plans to increase troop levels in Iraq, which Bush confirmed in a speech to the nation Wednesday.

Paul has served in the House for nearly 17 years, but in three separate tenures. He started out on the wrong foot, losing badly in 1974 to Democratic Rep. Bob Casey, but rebounded to win an April 1976 special election after Casey resigned to accept an appointment to the Federal Maritime Commission.

That tour in Congress was brief for Paul. The Democrat whom he defeated in the special election, Bob Gammage, exacted revenge in the November 1976 contest for a full House term. But Paul won their personal rubber match, ousting Gammage in the 1978 election.

Paul left his House seat open in 1984 to pursue a bid for the Republican Senate nomination that failed. He then strayed briefly from the GOP fold, leading to his third-party campaign for president: As the 1988 Libertarian nominee for president, he won about 432,000 votes nationally ? roughly 0.5 percent of the total in a race won by fellow Texan, Republican George H.W. Bush.

Paul returned to the Republican Party, then returned to the House in 1996 after unseating Rep. Greg Laughlin ? who had switched from the Democratic Party after the GOP?s 1994 House takeover ? in the Republican primary.

His mainly conservative constituents in the 14th District, which includes Victoria, Galveston and a 200-mile border with the Gulf of Mexico, are Republican loyalists for president: George W. Bush took 67 percent of the district?s votes in 2004. But Paul?s contrariness evidently plays well at home: He ran unopposed in 2004 and was re-elected with 60 percent last November
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Stunt

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Jul 17, 2002
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Give me a small government Democrat or a socially progressive Republican and I'll be happy :D
 

Jadow

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Feb 12, 2003
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Originally posted by: Stunt
Give me a small government Democrat or a socially progressive Republican and I'll be happy :D

I've seen a few socially progressive repubs, but I never saw me a small govt dem.
 

ProfJohn

Lifer
Jul 28, 2006
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If the libertarians got rid of some of their more radical ideas they could make a decent push as a third party. They sit right were much of America sits on so many issues.
Small government, less spending, less government involvement in our personal lives etc.

But they have a few crazy ideas that no one will go for. Legal drugs, defense only starts on the boarder, the whole near anarchy thing etc.
 

Stunt

Diamond Member
Jul 17, 2002
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Originally posted by: ProfJohn
If the libertarians got rid of some of their more radical ideas they could make a decent push as a third party. They sit right were much of America sits on so many issues.
Small government, less spending, less government involvement in our personal lives etc.

But they have a few crazy ideas that no one will go for. Legal drugs, defense only starts on the boarder, the whole near anarchy thing etc.
Gold standard! :)
 

Legend

Platinum Member
Apr 21, 2005
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Originally posted by: ProfJohn
If the libertarians got rid of some of their more radical ideas they could make a decent push as a third party. They sit right were much of America sits on so many issues.
Small government, less spending, less government involvement in our personal lives etc.

But they have a few crazy ideas that no one will go for. Legal drugs, defense only starts on the boarder, the whole near anarchy thing etc.

Agreed. Moderate Libertarians that are socially liberal like Democrats, and economically conservative like old school Republicans would agree with a lot of people. But if you check their website's platform it's got too much near anarchy issues...
 

Drift3r

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Jun 3, 2003
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Originally posted by: ProfJohn
If the libertarians got rid of some of their more radical ideas they could make a decent push as a third party. They sit right were much of America sits on so many issues.
Small government, less spending, less government involvement in our personal lives etc.

But they have a few crazy ideas that no one will go for. Legal drugs, defense only starts on the boarder, the whole near anarchy thing etc.

Basically you want them to be like republicans. Sorry that ain't going to happen.
 

HombrePequeno

Diamond Member
Mar 7, 2001
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Originally posted by: Stunt
Originally posted by: ProfJohn
If the libertarians got rid of some of their more radical ideas they could make a decent push as a third party. They sit right were much of America sits on so many issues.
Small government, less spending, less government involvement in our personal lives etc.

But they have a few crazy ideas that no one will go for. Legal drugs, defense only starts on the boarder, the whole near anarchy thing etc.
Gold standard! :)

Not many libertarians that I know of advocate the Gold Standard. Ron Paul is one of the few. Honestly, he seems a bit on the radical side with his advocation of the Gold standard and abolishing the Federal Reserve. I don't think he realizes the effects those would have on our economy and is only going by his principles (he probably views inflation as a tax). Also, his call for abolishing the income tax doesn't seem like the best thing. I'm guessing what would come after that is some regressive tax like a VAT or a national sales tax.

BTW, ProfJohn, legalizing drugs is not such a crazy idea. Many of them are very inelastic so legalization of them would not change the amount they are used by very much. With the amount of money we would save from going after drug users, the space saved in prisons, and the new tax revenue earned, we could easily afford to fund more drug education and/or rehab clinics.
 

BoberFett

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
37,562
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Originally posted by: ProfJohn
If the libertarians got rid of some of their more radical ideas they could make a decent push as a third party. They sit right were much of America sits on so many issues.
Small government, less spending, less government involvement in our personal lives etc.

But they have a few crazy ideas that no one will go for. Legal drugs, defense only starts on the boarder, the whole near anarchy thing etc.

Yeah, that war on drugs sure has been successful.

And the whole pre-emptive war thing has been going great as well.

Near anarchy, you really are well informed. :roll:
 

daniel49

Diamond Member
Jan 8, 2005
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Originally posted by: ProfJohn
If the libertarians got rid of some of their more radical ideas they could make a decent push as a third party. They sit right were much of America sits on so many issues.
Small government, less spending, less government involvement in our personal lives etc.

But they have a few crazy ideas that no one will go for. Legal drugs, defense only starts on the boarder, the whole near anarchy thing etc.

yeah some crazy ideas I don't like either but the good ones need to be heard and mainstreaming thier candidate is a good start I think, it gives a better opportunity for those ideas to be heard. As sad as I know I will make some feel the loosertarians will never have a president so why not work for change in the Gop. and put forward those ideas they will get support for?
 

BlancoNino

Diamond Member
Oct 31, 2005
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I run into so many people who call themselves "republicans" because they don't want socialism. These same people will also say have strong support for free speech, legalizing marijuana, gay marriage.

Really, I have to wonder about a lot of people like this who still support the republican party.
 

daniel49

Diamond Member
Jan 8, 2005
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Originally posted by: BlancoNino
I run into so many people who call themselves "republicans" because they don't want socialism. These same people will also say have strong support for free speech, legalizing marijuana, gay marriage.

Really, I have to wonder about a lot of people like this who still support the republican party.

I think you answered your own question?
 

Rainsford

Lifer
Apr 25, 2001
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Originally posted by: daniel49
Originally posted by: BlancoNino
I run into so many people who call themselves "republicans" because they don't want socialism. These same people will also say have strong support for free speech, legalizing marijuana, gay marriage.

Really, I have to wonder about a lot of people like this who still support the republican party.

I think you answered your own question?

Clearly they call themselves Republicans because they are idiots. Since when are the only two alternatives "conservatives" who think gay marriage is among the greatest threats to our country and "socialism"?
 

Rainsford

Lifer
Apr 25, 2001
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And Ron Paul is NEVER going to get the GOP nomination. The day has long passed when anyone got anywhere in the Republican party being the champion of any personal freedom that isn't spelled out in the 2nd Amendment. The thing is, I think he could get a number of Americans to listen, but the GOP will never give him a chance.
 

Rainsford

Lifer
Apr 25, 2001
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Originally posted by: ProfJohn
If the libertarians got rid of some of their more radical ideas they could make a decent push as a third party. They sit right were much of America sits on so many issues.
Small government, less spending, less government involvement in our personal lives etc.

But they have a few crazy ideas that no one will go for. Legal drugs, defense only starts on the boarder, the whole near anarchy thing etc.

The problem isn't the libertarian position, it's that the level of debate in this country borders on the absurd. I think a rather large number of people agree with the libertarian platform on a lot of issues, but the Republicans just have to tell everyone that gay couples are coming to make their children queer and everyone freaks out. The Republicans (and the Democrats) manipulate the debate down to the most moronic level because they think people are stupid and it will help them get support. I think the libertarians have a good shot at really convincing people to look at the stuff that matters, they just need someone with the leadership qualities to actually DO something.
 

daniel49

Diamond Member
Jan 8, 2005
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Originally posted by: Rainsford
Originally posted by: daniel49
Originally posted by: BlancoNino
I run into so many people who call themselves "republicans" because they don't want socialism. These same people will also say have strong support for free speech, legalizing marijuana, gay marriage.

Really, I have to wonder about a lot of people like this who still support the republican party.

I think you answered your own question?

Clearly they call themselves Republicans because they are idiots. Since when are the only two alternatives "conservatives" who think gay marriage is among the greatest threats to our country and "socialism"?


thats not nice to call Blanco ninos friends idiots;)
 

daniel49

Diamond Member
Jan 8, 2005
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Originally posted by: Rainsford
And Ron Paul is NEVER going to get the GOP nomination. The day has long passed when anyone got anywhere in the Republican party being the champion of any personal freedom that isn't spelled out in the 2nd Amendment. The thing is, I think he could get a number of Americans to listen, but the GOP will never give him a chance.

earth to rainsford the gop are americans.
 

BlancoNino

Diamond Member
Oct 31, 2005
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Originally posted by: daniel49
Originally posted by: BlancoNino
I run into so many people who call themselves "republicans" because they don't want socialism. These same people will also say have strong support for free speech, legalizing marijuana, gay marriage.

Really, I have to wonder about a lot of people like this who still support the republican party.

I think you answered your own question?

What question?

:confused:
 

3chordcharlie

Diamond Member
Mar 30, 2004
9,859
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Originally posted by: Jadow
Originally posted by: Stunt
Give me a small government Democrat or a socially progressive Republican and I'll be happy :D

I've seen a few socially progressive repubs, but I never saw me a small govt dem.

While rumours of their existence persist, no reliable source has actually seen a small-government republican since sometime shortly before Reagan.

 

daniel49

Diamond Member
Jan 8, 2005
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Originally posted by: BlancoNino
Originally posted by: daniel49
Originally posted by: BlancoNino
I run into so many people who call themselves "republicans" because they don't want socialism. These same people will also say have strong support for free speech, legalizing marijuana, gay marriage.

I think you answered your own question?

What question?

:confused:



Really, I have to wonder about a lot of people like this who still support the republican party.