Rod Dreher: Ron Paul, if only we listened

The Dallas Morning News ^ | 2008-11-25 | Rod Dreher

[rabscuttle385]

I didn't vote for Ron Paul in the Republican primary (I was a Mike Huckabee man), nor did I write him in on Election Day (I penciled in farmer-poet Wendell Berry). But no Texan this year did more good for conservatism and his country than the congressman from the coast.

Lord knows there was no Republican in the 2008 campaign who talked straighter.

Dr. Paul – he's a physician – never had a chance, of course. He is too peculiar in his opinions and doesn't know how to spin like a TV slick. What he had was ideas, integrity and authenticity. On the most critical challenges facing America, Dr. Paul was more right than the well-funded GOP regulars who bigfooted the campaign trail.

[PerConPat]

Article: Dr. Paul has long argued that an economy built on easy credit, insatiable consumption and deficit spending is a time bomb. He backs a national economic model based on savings, investment and production.

I back that economic model, as well. The problem, of course, is centered around the majority of Americans who can't borrow, buy, and save responsibly. It doesn't matter what Dr. Paul argues against. IMHO, three basic groups of voters are driving politics.

One bunch wants handouts for the "wealthy," another wants handouts for the "poor," and the third wants the government to save their 401(k)'s. And all three could not care less how much money the department of the Treasury needs to print to accomplish this madness.

It will be interesting, if I live long enough, to see just how far this idiocy will proceed. Whatever, Dr. Paul- or any other politician- is not going to stop the stupidity that has now become the USSA- United Socialist States of America. Hard times and the threat of imminent destruction might wake up the mob, but I'm not sure about that.

[gorush]

I voted for Ron Paul every chance I had...except the last. I won’t let that exception occur in the future.

[Grunthor]

“Rod Dreher: Ron Paul, if only we listened”

The problem was not Ron Paul, it was the cereal brigade that was the most vocal of his supporters, and that kind of kookery rubs off eventually on the candidate. Heck, he even validated the kooks by going on the radio show of their pied piper leader. It is really sad because he had some very good ideas especially where the economy is concerned.

[arrogantsob]

Ron Paul is just another clueless surrender monkey indistinguishable as regards national security from the Party of Treason.

[arrogantsob]

Credit is an inseperable element of Capitalism.

[doc]

“The problem with Ron Paul was his foreign policy.”

WRONG! The problem with Bush is he got us into a war that was based on the mythical WMD. Even Colin Powell stated on national TV that the US intelligence was given false information on WMD and sometimes deliberately. This has weighed heavy on Powells mind and may explain some of the reasons why he switched to being an Obama supporter.

[Grunthor]

“And he can take back the “Huckabee is fascist” comment while he’s at it.”

Huckafraud is NOT a fascist. He is a nanny-stater. A fascist-lite.

[Perdogg]

If Powell said that, he somewhat contradicted himself from his interview with Tim Russert on MTP on June 10th, 2007.

[B Knotts]

I do think that Ron Paul and his supporters could have been handled with a bit more respect. Yes, he can be a bit loony at times, but he’s right about a lot more than most Republicans are willing to admit.

I voted for McCain in the general election, but I did vote for Ron Paul in the primary, because I was not happy with the way conservatives were shut out of the nominating process.

[Mr. Silverback]

Friends of Truthers are enemies of the US.

SECONDED.

[Grunthor]

“They kicked him (and them) out of the tent, and branded him with a “nutjob” label).”

Too many of his supporters are plainly certifiable. Eventually that stench attaches itself to the candidate that the fruits and nuts love.

[PerConPat]

Credit is an inseperable element of Capitalism.

Agreed...As water is an indispensable element for sustaining life... Of course, a tidal wave of water or credit can have terrible consequences.

[UCFRoadWarrior]

Actually...Paul is not anti-trade. He is a Libertarian, so he naturally is pro-free trade (unfortunately, whether such free trade is destructive for America or not).

[Zevonismymuse]

I think Ron Paul served a purpose in this campaign that may pay dividends in the future. Many young people who normally would grow up into nanny staters have been introduced to some conservative principles because of their association with the Ron Paul movement.

[mvpel]

The problem with Ron Paul was his foreign policy.

So the foreign policy of pouring a trillion dollars into Iraq, mortgaging our nation's future, is somehow not "a problem?"

[UCFRoadWarrior]

Your post makes sense...unfortunately some on here will accuse you of being pro-terrorist and anti-war

Going to war in Iraq was a good idea...however GWB lost his committment to win it...and prefered playing liberal globalist social engineer instead.

Then, McCain comes up with his “we’ll stay in Iraq 100 years”....real stupid...and no committment to win

[Liz]

N-i-c-e deconstruction.

Should be read and digested by every so/con as we move foward to wrest the party from the filthy hands of these imposters.

[Piers-the-Ploughman]

It is strange that to be against a prolonged land war, waged with American blood to “bring democracy” to a bunch of nutty Islamic nations (if Clinton did this, it’s “nation-building”) who have very peculiar ideas about truth, as opposed to cutting taxes and taking on the libs over immigration, global warming, energy etc that some FReepers will bash me as pro-terrorist. Yeah, we have different priorities, no doubt, but to say I am pro-terrorist (and you’re right, I have elicited such responses) is absurd and if that is how conservatives wish to debate it is no wonder we lost the moderate vote, which we need some of every election to win.
I will say: we should not let any more Muslims/Arabs in this country and kick out all we can legally, let their visas expire, no more jobs, etc. But then, they will work for less money in scientific/academic professions than Americans, so Uncle Sam wants them here. Yeah, I am pro-terrorist.

[PerConPat]

Going to war in Iraq was a good idea...

Whatever history thinks about this comment, I happen to agree with it, GDubya will go to his grave defending his decision as the correct one-- provided the US is spared another 9/11 type massive assault prior to sometime on the afternoon of Jan. 20, 2009.

[djsherin]

There’s good credit and bad credit or in other words credit based on savings and credit created from the stroke of a pen. No one is saying credit has to go.