[Longbow1969]

His supporters are even worse. Go check out Ron Paul forums and read the slime these people spout - sometimes you’d think you were on DU or Daily KOS. The anti-war, drug legalization stuff mixed with Federal Reserve conspiracy theories are beyond bizarre.

Ron Paul is a libertarian. He brings absolutely nothing to the Republican party. Virtually none of his supporters will actually vote for the actual GOP nominee. The ones who actually understand what Paul stands for will vote for the Libertarian candidate, and the rest (most of the college mushheads) will vote for Obama.

The very best thing that could happen would be for Paul to be honest, leave the GOP and run as a libertarian. At least then his supporters would be doing us a favor of depriving Obama of the ignorant pot head, peacenik “youth” vote.

[Keith in Iowa]

IF FR had a “like” button, I’d use it for your post.

[Lazlo in PA]

You are dead on here. Paul is only running as a Republican because the Libertarian party is a joke. He has no business in the debates or the GOP primary. He is just using them for a platform to promote his stupidity.

[lormand]

Here in Austin, it is common to see “911 Inside Job” and Ron Paul bumper stickers. The cars are usually beat up pieces of crap driven by mutilated freaks.

They are sick puppies without exception.

[Salamander]

Every car I’ve seen sporting a “Paul” sticker also had “9/11 Was An Inside Job” and assorted crazy “Aliens Are Real!” stuff.

I don’t want the King of the Crackpots in the WH.

[semantic]

Sometimes, when I believe this country might have a chance, no matter how slim, I read a post like yours and get slapped back to reality.

Personally, I've washed my hands of the whole affair, but I still focus on placing the right bets in order to at least enjoy a prosperous future.

If this country ever really embraced reform, it would destroy my existing portfolio. But, I sleep well at night knowing that your opinion is shared by those who control the political process.

Therefore, and I tell this to everyone, bet on the status quo. That means ever larger gov't, ever larger deficits, ever larger debt. That means currency devaluation, inflation (commodities, not leveraged instruments ie mortgages) and social unrest. That in turn means greater police power, which means more profits for suppliers - both military & domestic.

Once again, I must thank you for clarifying the issues. Nothing is worse than uncertainty - it makes for poor investment planning, and ultimately, a chitty, impoverished life.

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

Paul is one of those who live in the shadow of Obama, 10% facts 90% nonsense. His supporters grasp onto the 10% and ignore the 90% hyperbole and rhetoric.

Obama and Paul are on opposite ends of the teeter-totter trying to rock everyone else in between.

He’s an empty suit.

[FredZarguna]

Consider a few things -- and before you start flaming me -- understand that I do not support Paul, and I would not vote for him unless he were the nominee and therefore the only choice:

• Paul's politics are essentially the politics of the Founders. His Constitutional opinions are generally quite valid. The foreign policy and military outlook of the Founders was predicated on the fact that we were surrounded by two oceans to the east and west, and by wilderness to the north and south (and yes, to the west as well for a long time.)

  That geography no longer represents a serious obstacle to our enemies, and to the extent that Paul's isolationism continues to reflect the geopolitical realities of 1787, he is, indeed, a crackpot. But that does not change his Constitutional soundness.

• In the 1920's, Americans universally believed that Congress had no authority to ban the manufacture, sale, importation, or consumption of alcohol. By 1936, possession, sale, and importation of particular kinds of vegetables was banned completely by a simple act of Congress. By the 1990's a single Federal Bureaucrat named David Kessler asserted an absolute right to regulate tobacco in any manner he desired by simply issuing a policy statement. At the beginning of the 21st Century, we are now witnessing the spectacle of municipal policy makers banning the use of a legal product in our own homes.

  If you can't see that alcohol and drug prohibition have done tremendous violence to our liberty -- while accomplishing virtually nothing to reduce consumption -- I have nothing more to say to you. I'm not a (L/l)ibertarian but I believe the "Drug War" is stupid, expensive, has bloated the government, robbed us of our freedom, and is ultimately counterproductive.

  It needs to go away.

• Newt Gingrich, no (l/L)ibertarian by any means, is largely on-board with Ron Paul in re: the Fed, and he is correct. The idea that a government of, by, and for the People allows a completely unelected and unaccountable oligarchy of bankers to set monetary (and consequently, to a large degree fiscal) policy without oversight or even transparency is a disgrace to the Republic and a violation of the Constitution. The Fed has now p!ssed away trillions of dollars completely in secret on behalf of the United States. The money will need to be repaid by people as yet unborn, or will show up in the form of inflation on current taxpayers, and in either case represents an absolute despotism because neither we, the living, nor the unborn have been permitted the chance to so much as squeak our displeasure.

  The Fed must be brought to heel, or it must be destroyed. Paul is simply NOT wrong about that. And it is good to hear there are actual conservatives now voicing many of the same opinions.

• 9/11 and Israel: he's an ass, who's [nearly] disqualified himself with his slimy insinuations.
• Gay "marriage:" his thoughts largely reflect the thinking of the next generation of Americans. Very sadly and with tragic and devastating consequences for the country, I agree. Nevertheless, the solution to this problem is probably going to be determined by medical technology, because we will lose the political battle completely in the next 20-30 years.
• Abortion: Strongly pro-life. Do FReepers disagree with that?

  Libertarianism is an important component of the Republican party and is the source of a great many ideas (some good, some not) and energy (some good, some not.) Not all of Paul's supporters are going to vote for 0bama or for the Libertarian Party. Nevertheless, I would much rather have liberatarian influences in my Party than the influences of, say, the Maine Ladies or John McCain.

[Lorianne]

Being pro-Life is bringing nothing to the Repuclican party?

College kids willing to vote for a pro-Life candidate ... how is that worthless? That seems groundbreaking to me.

[Cyber Liberty]

His supporters are even worse.

I love the homemade bed sheet signs.

[Smokin' Joe]

...depriving Obama of the ignorant pot head, peacenik “youth” vote.

LOL! As if three-war Barry hasn't already shat in that part of his mess kit!

[WhistlingPastTheGraveyard]

His supporters are even worse. Go check out Ron Paul forums and read the slime these people spout - sometimes you’d think you were on DU or Daily KOS.

The current "Ron Paul isn't getting enough MSM love" bitch fest over on Zero Hedge is something to behold. And as with every thread in Paulestine, they have some strong words for them Jews (except Jon Stewart... since he did a sympathetic segment on Paul, he's a good Jew today).