The conventional wisdom would suggest that Ron Paul cannot run for President in 2012. John McCain is already bearing the brunt of the wrinkly and geezer jokes and McCain is about a year younger than Ron Paul.
There is a catch. McCain’s time as a tortured Vietnam POW likely took years off of his life. He has had skin cancer and is not known as an “athlete”. Ron Paul wasn’t a tortured POW, never had skin cancer, was an accomplished track star in his younger years, and exercises on a daily basis. He looks and acts younger than McCain.
Unfortunately though, the comparisons in 2012 will not be to John McCain unless McCain wins the White House. That seems unlikely, but If McCain were to win, the initial reaction would positive for Ron Paul. When it comes to health, Ron Paul beats John McCain handily. However, all bets are off when considering the actual race against the Democrat. Republicans are not likely to nominate another “old” candidate to face a young Democrat.
What is more likely is that Barack Obama will be the next President, so the comparisons will be to a candidate who could easily be Ron Paul’s son. How could Ron Paul expect to alleviate the concerns of his age? It is not likely that he could. Once the media takes hold of a political “narrative” they run with it and the mind-numbed populace follows suit. Much like Ron Paul was deemed “extreme” in 2007-2008 he would certainly face similar accusations in 2012 along with the “ancient” tag that maligns McCain today.
Never underestimate the fire of liberty that burns hot within Ron Paul’s heart. His latest efforts in putting together the grand “Rally For The Republic” in Minneapolis on September 2nd shows the freedom faithful that the voice of liberty will not be silenced.
If that fire and that voice are still around in 2012 anything can happen.
Bob Barr appeared at Freedom Fest on a panel discussion with Steve Forbes, David Boaz, and Richard Viguerie on “The Future Of Politics”. Here is the video captured from CSPAN.
Penn Jillete, a well known Libertarian was greeted by Bob Barr and Wayne Root in his dressing room following a show a few weeks ago. Jillete has an ongoing video blog sponsored by Sony and Crackle.com where he spoke for a bout 6 minutes on meeting Barr and Root. Jillete, perhaps obviously, said that he will likely vote for Barr/Root.
Malalai Joya, a brave lady and banned legislator from Afghanistan, fights for justice, human rights, and democracy. She battles both the Warlords in power, the Taliban… and the American Government, which is probably why you have never heard of her.
Malalai Joya, an elected representative to Afghanistan’s parliament since the American invasion, is most famous for publicly denouncing the warlords at the constitutional convention in 2003.
She has survived four assassination attempts.
She speaks out for the women of Farah in a land and time where they have little or no voice.
She speaks out against the Taliban, who used theocratic rule to oppress women and all dissent.
She speaks out against the warlords who ruined the country once before already in the 1990s after the sacrifice of the freedom fighters who fought for their freedom against the Soviets, and are ruining it again after taking power in the political vacuum America explicitly created for them.
She begs for exactly what the USA claims to have given Afghanistan – right to representation and true democracy, or rule by majority. You would think she would be heralded as a heroine by the American press, but this is not the case. If you scan the archives of FOX, ABC, CBS, CNN, and MSNBC for anything about this woman there is either absolutely nothing or just a single blurb.
Today on the Glenn Beck radio show a caller requested that Beck just come clean, put aside his differences and support the Libertarian Party. Beck responded with something I’ve not heard him say before. He actually echoed Ron Paul’s words that we should not be the “policemen of the world.” He praised Ron Paul for many of his views including his “foreign affairs” view.
It seems his only difference now is the age old argument between “extreme” libertarianism and “moderate” libertarianism, especially with respect to foreign policy. He wants to “turn the corner” and not get ourselves tangled in other country’s affairs, but believes doing so within a few years is just not feasible. This seems to me to be a substantial softening of his “shoot them in the head” rhetoric he espoused last year. What is interesting is that when he thinks “libertarian” he immediately thinks of Ron Paul, a Republican, and not the actual Libertarian nominee for President, Bob Barr. This is interesting because Bob Barr is slightly more in line with Beck’s moderate way of thinking on the foreign policy issue than Ron Paul. Perhaps I should clarify this assertion by saying that Barr’s rhetoric is framed in a more moderate voice than Ron Paul’s normal rhetoric.
I don’t think it is much of a reach to say that Glenn Beck may be in the midst of a slow personal transformation toward Ron Paul’s view on foreign policy. It is this kind of transformation that needs to spread like a good liberty virus to the masses. Getting Beck is a good start. Listen to the 4+ minutes of audio at the link below.
Those still following Ron Paul and his band of patriots may already know who Adam Kokesh is. He was one of the more inspirational speakers at the Revolution March on July 12th. He is also a vocal and active member of the organization known as Iraq Veterans Against The War (IVAW). IVAW has been embraced by the anti-war movement and judging from the reaction Kokesh received from the Ron Paul faithful during the Revolution March it is no surprise that IVAW certainly sits well with liberty loving Constitutionalists as well.
Listening to popular financial help talk radio program today a woman called in with a request for help for a friend. Her friend’s husband was killed in Iraq two months ago. Her friend’s five children are now without a father. I became suddenly angry and shouted out of my rolled down car window, “THIS DIDN’T HAVE TO HAPPEN! WHY?” Over the past few weeks whenever I think of our occupation of Iraq I can’t help but recall standing amongst fellow freedom lovers listening to Adam Kokesh speak with pure raw passion against it. The radio show caller’s story started me thinking of Kokesh again.
Earlier today Bob Barr appeared on FOX News on “America’s Election Headquarters”. He was asked the usual spoiler question, but the most interesting exchange involved the question about McCain’s charge of Obama playing the “race card”. Bob Barr correctly pointed out that such questions are not substantive with respect to the campaign and that the focus should be on actual issues affecting the American people. Barr taps in to the anger most of us feel when watching these “non-issues” get discussed ad nauseam in the news.
Over the past year the main stream media and the neo-conservative public has efforted a highly successful smear campaign against Ron Paul and his supporters. They marginalized him by not giving him equal air time, but the largest marginalization tactic occurred when Paul became associated with “those crazy conspiracy theorists”, especially those who believe 9-11 was an inside job. The truth is, Ron Paul has been a moderate voice within the conspiracy realm. He is the line between conspiracy and crazy.
Some equate “conspiracy” with “crazy”. This is a large mistake, but so was making “axe” an official pronunciation of “ask” in the dictionary. Conspiracy theories are just as valid as any pundit’s opinion yammered on CNN or FOX News. There is a line when a conspiracy theory belongs in the insane asylum, though. There are Ron Paul supporters who belong in the asylum. I know because I’ve met and spoken with them. I’ve cheered along with them at rallies. I’ve received emails from them. They are by far in the minority. The majority of the Ron Paul faithful are extremely intelligent and witty. They are active and enlightened people who care greatly about America. I’m proud to know the crazy minority just as much as the moderate majority. Both have a place and purpose.
There have been many monumental arguments between “truther” and what I call “moderate” Ron Paul supporters. Let me be clear, I don’t consider the “truthers” to be in the category of crazy I mentioned above. Although, they are certainly closer to that side than the moderates. The moderates accuse the truthers of poisoning the Ron Paul movement with their crazy fabricated conspiracy theories. The truthers accuse the moderates of not really believing in “freedom”. Ultimately, both sides have valid points, but the fights rage onward incessantly and nothing constructive gets accomplished.
The beauty of Ron Paul is that he himself is right in the middle of these two factions. He is the dividing line and rallying point. What will be most interesting is how his rally in Minneapolis will play out. Will it be like the previous two rallies in DC where speakers on the stage openly marched down “conspiracy” street? Or will it be more moderate and focused on the main stream Republican politics of Ron Paul? Judging from the speaker list it seems it will be the latter. Being in the moderate camp myself, I certainly hope so. But then again there is always room for a little magic bullet theory, moon walk hoax, and 9-11 truth among friends in liberty.
In Glenn Beck’s CNN.com commentary yesterday regarding who he may vote for in the upcoming Presidential election he had some interesting words about Ron Paul.
In case you’re having trouble keeping track; here’s a primer. There’s the ever-present Ralph Nader, who is usually good for a percent (and a laugh) or two. Bob Barr, the former Republican congressman, will likely get more votes than any libertarian in history. While he might make the difference in a state or two, the biggest libertarian figure on the planet, Texas Rep. Ron Paul, seems equally likely to endorse Chuck Baldwin, the Constitution party candidate.
This along with the recent love-fest style appearance by Ron Paul on both Beck’s radio and television shows indicate that Beck today would not be treating Ron Paul, had he maintained his Presidential bid, as the “joke” he made him out to be during last year’s campaign. Winning over those like Glenn Beck is what the Campaign For Liberty is all about.
There’s even been some hinting around that Glenn Beck may be asked to speak at Ron Paul’s alternate convention, the “Rally For The Republic” in Minneapolis on September 2nd. Now that would impressive.
This is another great interview with Ron Paul on New York’s WABC radio with Bob Grant. They cover 15 minutes of a myriad of topics including a section where Ron Paul calls McCain and Obama “Tweedledee and Tweedledumb”. Great stuff.
Liberty Maven
The conventional wisdom would suggest that Ron Paul cannot run for President in 2012. John McCain is already bearing the brunt of the wrinkly and geezer jokes and McCain is about a year younger than Ron Paul.
Malalai Joya, an elected representative to Afghanistan’s parliament since the American invasion, is most famous for publicly denouncing the warlords at the constitutional convention in 2003.
