Ron Paul, U.S. Presidential Candidate

Anyone heard of this guy? I think he is far and away the most intriguing candidate from any of the parties. He's running under the Republican Banner, but very much breaks away from the typical two party mould. His foreign policy is especially interesting. He takes a non-interventionist position. He regularly makes reference to "Imperial Hubris", a book written by former CIA intelligence expert Michael Scheuer, which argues that the reason America is that is hated and attacked is because of their actions in the Middle East not who they are or what they think. Actions such as the installation and support of various dictators to secure oil, military support of Israeal, placing troops in Saudia Arabia etc. Of course I'm not in support of all his positions, especially his stance on the return of the gold standard.

http://www.ronpaul2008.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Paul
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_positions_of_Ron_Paul
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQrwKr_b4Lg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rF3NtEWj6ws
Youtube has loads more videos.

What do folks think of him? Had you heard of him? Is he being buried by the media?

silverharp

I would like to see him get elected but I don’t think he has a chance. He basically has a libertarian view point and is generally against big government or private cartels like the Fed. He seems to do well in internet polls etc. but I think it’s because the his supporters are very vocal and I guess is a Messiah type figure for people who think the US is heading in a fascist direction

RedPlanet

Well he's interesting alright but i doubt he has a hope of getting elected.
I highly doubt he can even win the Republican primaries since he's an oddball among that party and will be portrayed as such.
American's are not non-interventialists at heart.
Now that they have the boot-in they'll keep it there. Democrats included.

Executive Steve

i seem to remember an interview with him where even he confessed that the election will be won by someone with "better hair"

Pazaz 21

He sounds like the voice of reason. He's more of a centrist, outsider than a republican (which is a good thing) but that will undoubtedly work against him. It will be interesting to see if he really gets a lot of support nearer the primaries. He seems to be raising a lot of cash which is interesting.

One of the problems i can see is that he appeals to democrats just as much, or even more than, republicans but i think democrats will be more likely to back a democrat for president, even if that candidate isn't as good a candidate as Ron Paul.

Politics in America is too partisan, they can't see through their blue or red haze what is best for America, just what is best for them. Perhaps Ron Pual could be a good compromise for both sides, he sounds like a democrat but has core republican issues at heart, both sides win. But of course this is America so both sides will of course, in the end, lose.

lostexpectation

he very conservative on social issues thought, I think the cancels his positives on foreign policy and reality,

he is a bit of a pehnomenon on the internet one of the tops searches on technorati for about month now

Pazaz 21

lostexpectation wrote:

he very conservative on social issues thought,

Like what? He is pro-life and he may be anti-gay marriage personally but he hasn't come out politically against it.

SteveS

IIRC, Ron Paul has run for president in the past, as a Libertarian. He is is a strict constructionist when it comes to the Constitution and his voting record reflects this, for the most part.

While I don't agree with all of his views, I think he would be an interesting president, though he has little chance of winning. The Republican party does not like him. The Michigan chair of the party tried to get him booted from the debates. The media doesn't seem all that interested. Additionally, he is not a very good public speaker.

CPT. SURF

I have seen all the debates so far and Ron Paul is a great laugh. His foreign policy stance is like no other. He is similar to Mike Gravel on the Democratic ticket. Two mavericks who are way off center who enter the race just to get a forum for their ideas. I think its great because they keep the main candidates on their toes.

Zombrex

I thought the thread said RuPaul ... now that would be interesting

Morlar

Deleted User wrote:

He regularly makes reference to "Imperial Hubris", a book written by former CIA intelligence expert Michael Scheuer,

That is an excellent book in my view, a real eye opener. This candidate even mentioning that book in favourable terms means that he has alienated the pro israel lobby and that pretty much makes him un-electable.

SteveS

Wicknight wrote:

I thought the thread said RuPaul ... now that would be interesting

Hmmm...better than some of the candidates.

stovelid

Wicknight wrote:

I thought the thread said RuPaul ... now that would be interesting

Is it just me or does Ron Paul sound like a great name for a porn star?

Apparently the Paul campaign has now more money in the bank than McCain one does. That said, this could easily be interpreted as a symbol of John McCain's recent misfortune.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2007/07/ron-paul-tops-m.html