I think it is at least worth studying the implications of supporting an independent run by Ron Paul now. Although my first choice would be Gingrich, his chances of being nominated seem remote, and it would do no real good to have him as the vice-presidential nominee if Romney is not forced to commit to much smaller government. Not that I was ever that sold on Gingrich being on an express route to smaller government either, but until today I have been hesitant to support Ron Paul due to the uncertainties about his foreign policy stands. However, there’s nothing to defend if the country goes bankrupt, and I see a lot of logic in his position that the rest of the world should pick up the slack. All things considered, I think it might now make sense for all “real” conservatives to get behind Ron Paul and give him some momentum towards a viable third party candidacy. Maybe somehow this would even force the GOP convention to back him, but I realize these are long odds. But Mitt Romney? When you combine the moderate-liberal tendencies with the Mormon uncertainties, the net result is hardly better than Obama. At the very least, Romney would need to sign documents committing to certain objectives and making absolute guarantees about freedom of religion because the last thing America needs is some crazy period of Mormon-evangelical-Catholic religious bickering. But with the unknowns that surround Romney this seems almost guaranteed especially if he managed to beat Obama, which frankly, I don’t think he can do (unless Obama does something even stranger than what he’s already done, and we all know he’s waiting for 2013 to start that stuff).
Sorry to ramble, but give Ron a chance is my motto.
No.
Ron Paul's foreign and defense policies are wacky, and arguably more dangerous than even Hussein's.
I know paulbots think they see an opening here, but there isn't one. Paul's mostly good economic policies are appealing to some Republicans, but he trivializes himself when he blathers on about how Bradley Manning is a "hero and a patriot" or that it doesn't matter if Iran gets a nuke. Conservatives are never going to vote for a Paul 3rd party. But hey, I encourage him to do it. Paul should get out of the GOP and run indie. I think he will pull more votes from Obama's drug addled college hipster demographic than he would from anyone on the right.