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Ron Paul and the Lodestar of Liberty
American Thinker ^ | January 14, 2008 | Bruce Walker

Posted on 01/14/2008 8:04:27 PM PST by forkinsocket

Ron Paul is not a nut. He is honorable and intelligent. I have talked with Congressman Paul about politics and policies. He is consistent and principled. Much of what he says is true. The Constitution is routinely ignored by politicians of both political parties. Government spending, particularly entitlements, is wildly out of control. The crucial constitutional concepts of federalism and limited government are tacitly denied and this denial is the crux of many of our social and political problems.

But Ron Paul holds the vain hope that American government would return to constitutional law anytime soon, even if he did win the presidency. Congress, the judiciary, legal education, and tradition have imparted momentum to the living constitution school of thought. Bring about an actual return to the Constitution requires more than a snap of the president's fingers. Federal courts routinely "interpret" the Constitution in ways directly in conflict with the plain language of the document. At best, a president can only appoint judges the Senate will confirm and wait for natural turnover.

A lot of persuasion is necessary before Americans (including our elites and their institutions) change their way thinking. We in fact still need a crusade to change hearts and minds more than a candidacy.

And if we are going to return to first principles, remember that the Constitution is not the foundational document of our American experiment in individual liberty. It was preceded by the Articles of Confederation. Prior to the Articles of Confederation, which were adopted after independence, the Continental Congress acted as the original government of the United States and successfully waged a war against the great superpower on the planet with very little real authority. The fundamental principles of American government were established long the Constitution was adopted.

What does matter is the Declaration of Independence. The divine endowment of all people with liberty comes directly out of this document of 1776 and it is to this document that serious friends of liberty should look for inspiration and restoration. And what was the Declaration of Independence? It was, in effect, a declaration of war against the British Empire.

It was not an isolationist document but a universalist document. It speaks, pointedly, to the rest of the world. It talks about the reasons that governments are formed (not just our government.) It was bold, sweeping, and international. And it was seen by the rest of the world as just that: A revolutionary document for all peoples, even if it applied specifically only to thirteen embattled colonies in North American.

Ron Paul wants to return us to the Constitution, as if it were a sacred document which granted us freedom. Our spiritual lodestar should be the Declaration of Independence, which remains a much more dangerous, much more powerful, and much more relevant document to our times.

Some policies Paul proposes are admirable. Why do we still have armies in Germany and in Korea, when both are rich, modern industrialized nations? Why does government have to do so much and why does "government" more and more mean centralized government in Washington? Why have a tax code which punishes productivity and which requires contortionist behavior from business?

But other parts of Paul's policies simply do not fit our age. The notion that we should disengage from the Middle East, for example, suggests that Israel is "just another nation," like, say, North Korea or Syria. The foundation of the Jewish state was based upon the undeniable facts of history continuing, dreadfully, through the Holocaust, that Jews are not "just another people," but are rather a persecuted people who were not welcome when escaping Nazified Europe. Ignoring that is ignoring salient history.

Likewise, the stark contrast between Israel and its neighbors (except, until the last three decades, the successful state of Lebanon) cannot be ignored, and the murderous intent of neighbors who seriously read in large numbers Mein Kampf and the Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion is also a grim, absolute fact of the modern world. The notion that, on paper, Israel can make peace with these neighbors is not just pure theory, but it is theory which has failed the test of experience.

Paul also seems to doubt that people wish to do America harm because it is America, and that nuclear weapons change everything. Ever since H.G. Wells first used the term "atomic bomb" in his science fiction stories more than a century ago, it has become almost inevitable that true, horrific global war power was inevitable. Happily, America acquired fission weapons and then fusion weapons first. Happily also, America has had leaders willing to use that power to protect our nation and allies who would otherwise be unprotected.

And, as we learned from the Japanese in the Second World War and from radical Moslems today, the calculus of economic benefits and political rights which works very well in moderating and balancing the behavior of most people, simply does not work with everyone. Does anyone doubt that the Japanese would have used the atomic bomb on American cities or that radical Moslems will use thermonuclear bombs on America, if they can, even if it means massive casualties in our retaliation?

Liberty can no longer stand safely behind two vast oceans and decent men can no longer ignore their human brethren after Hitler, Stalin and Mao. As Lincoln today might have said "This world cannot long endure half slave and half free." This was also perhaps the greatest victory of the greatest conservative leader of our age: Ronald Reagan. Congressman Paul might recall the Gipper's Cold War strategy: "How about this: We win; they lose?"

Ronald Reagan, like Abraham Lincoln, understood the supra-constitutional importance of liberty in the fulfillment of America, and liberty to them meant more than just the liberty of American citizens. If the ideal which is America is to survive the totalitarian impulse which we see not only in North Korea and the Taliban, but among the Leftists in our own nation, then we need to recapture the fortitude of Washington, the vision of Lincoln and the clarity of Reagan. If we can do this and preserve the vestiges of the Constitution, fine.

But the vision of America is much more than the Constitution. It is much more than Congressman Paul sees. What Ron Paul proposes is not bad or dishonest. It is simply no longer enough for liberty and decency to survive in America or in the world.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Philosophy; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: ronpaul
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist

So you think we should leave Afghanistan and hope for the best. You think we should leave Iraq, and hope for the best. Leave SE Asia And watch curiously as China takes over. Disengage our burgeoning military relationship with India. Leave Australia to the wind. There are too many more to note in one response. You want to abandon all US allies. The consequences of one’s actions are what logical people tend to think about.


21 posted on 01/14/2008 8:49:04 PM PST by kinoxi
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To: svcw
Except that they were published with his name and his image for more than a few years spewing t(his) vile words.

Even the Austin, TX NAACP leader said Paul wasn't a racist.
These letters are old news and have been addressed already.
They're in the news simply because Paul is a presidential candidate and both the establishment left and right can't knock him on anything else and are desperate.

22 posted on 01/14/2008 8:49:32 PM PST by Extremely Extreme Extremist (GIANT SUCKING SOUND AT LAMBEAU FIELD)
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist

Anything else LOL.


23 posted on 01/14/2008 8:50:47 PM PST by svcw (There is no plan B.)
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To: rlmorel
It is Monday night and there are a load of Ron Paul related threads all of a sudden.

The threads are being posted by Paul critics.
Maybe Paul's numbers are looking good in MI? Who knows?

Do they have their meetings on Monday and then send people forth to spread the word?

Basement space is limited. We can only hold so many moonbats in one of our parent's home.

24 posted on 01/14/2008 8:53:04 PM PST by Extremely Extreme Extremist (GIANT SUCKING SOUND AT LAMBEAU FIELD)
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To: svcw

Not that you care, but here is a link to audio of the NAACP president defending Paul.
http://www.lewrockwell.com/blog/lewrw/archives/018581.html

Seems that if he were a racist someone would be able to dig up some quotes from those decades he spent in congress. You know how them racists like to run their mouths and get publicity for their cause. All I was able to find were lots of statements about how he admired MLK.


25 posted on 01/14/2008 8:55:13 PM PST by FreeInWV
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To: kinoxi
So you think we should leave Afghanistan and hope for the best.

Paul voted to go into Afghanistan and for the record I don't agree with all of Paul's foreign policy.

You think we should leave Iraq, and hope for the best.

I think we should leave within 3-5 years. I don't agree with Paul that we should leave immediately.

Leave SE Asia And watch curiously as China takes over.

China doesn't have the military logistics to overtake Taiwan or Japan.

Disengage our burgeoning military relationship with India. Leave Australia to the wind. There are too many more to note in one response. You want to abandon all US allies. The consequences of one’s actions are what logical people tend to think about.

No, I want to start taking care of America first rather than foreigners for a change. I'm tired of seeing my tax dollars go to tin-pot dictators. I'm sure India and Australia will be our partners and allies - economically. They can provide for their own military.

26 posted on 01/14/2008 8:57:13 PM PST by Extremely Extreme Extremist (GIANT SUCKING SOUND AT LAMBEAU FIELD)
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist
You like to break your responses up so I'll just do this one at a time then okay?
Paul voted to go into Afghanistan and for the record I don't agree with all of Paul's foreign policy.
He voted for military intervention outside of our national borders which he now condemns. The term flip flop works for me.
27 posted on 01/14/2008 9:01:57 PM PST by kinoxi
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist

“Basement space is limited. We can only hold so many moonbats in one of our parent’s home.”

Quick, everyone to the batcave! LOL!


28 posted on 01/14/2008 9:03:56 PM PST by FreeInWV
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist

Yeah. Sorry. It just brings it out in me. The Code Pinkos I know are all hot and bothered to get Ron Paul into office. Good ideological company he keeps.


29 posted on 01/14/2008 9:04:44 PM PST by rlmorel (Liberals: If the Truth would help them, they would use it.)
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To: kinoxi
He voted for military intervention outside of our national borders which he now condemns. The term flip flop works for me.

He really didn't have a choice to engage in Constitutional semantics shortly after 9/11, when conventional wisdom said to go after the terrorists. With Iraq though, there was plenty of time to thoroughly debate the issue and declare war the right way the 2nd time around. So I don't see a flip-flop.

30 posted on 01/14/2008 9:07:48 PM PST by Extremely Extreme Extremist (GIANT SUCKING SOUND AT LAMBEAU FIELD)
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To: rlmorel
The Code Pinkos I know are all hot and bothered to get Ron Paul into office. Good ideological company he keeps.

There is no one on the Left supporting Paul's campaign. This is perhaps the biggest lie promoted since Bush's "phony" Guard service.

31 posted on 01/14/2008 9:09:01 PM PST by Extremely Extreme Extremist (GIANT SUCKING SOUND AT LAMBEAU FIELD)
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To: kinoxi

Actually, we were attacked by by the people running a foreign country. Attacking Afganistan was not preemptive. It was in response to an attack.

Attacking Iraq was preemptive. The Bush Doctrine changed decades of policy.


32 posted on 01/14/2008 9:10:32 PM PST by FreeInWV
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist
Come on now. You already typed that you disagree with some of his foreign policy. You see no flip flopping?
33 posted on 01/14/2008 9:11:34 PM PST by kinoxi
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To: FreeInWV

I don’t really care if we have to strike first or not. It’s best not to have threats that need responding to, but that is not reality.


34 posted on 01/14/2008 9:13:33 PM PST by kinoxi
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To: kinoxi

Lets just hope that China & Russia never threaten us.


35 posted on 01/14/2008 9:20:19 PM PST by FreeInWV
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To: forkinsocket

Paul has some very strange views that would make anyone question his reasoning.........


MR. RUSSERT: How many troops do we have overseas right now?

REP. PAUL: I don’t know the exact number, but more than we need. We don’t need any.

MR. RUSSERT: It’s 572,000. And you’d bring them all home?

REP. PAUL: As quickly as possible. We–they will not serve our interests to be overseas. They get us into trouble. And we can defend this country without troops in Germany, troops in Japan. How do they help our national defense? Doesn’t make any sense to me. Troops in Korea since I’ve been in high school?


MR. RUSSERT: So if Iran invaded Israel, what do we do?

REP. PAUL: Well, they’re not going to. That is like saying “Iran is about to invade Mars.” I mean, they have nothing. They don’t have an army or navy or air force. And Israelis have 300 nuclear weapons. Nobody would touch them. But, no, if, if it were in our national security interests and Congress says, “You know, this is very, very important, we have to declare war.” But presidents don’t have the authority to go to war

Iran Military Guide

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iran/


Dr. Ron Paul, Texas Congressman exploring a run for President, appeared on The Alex Jones Show Wednesday [[]MP3 link] and had the following to say about 9/11:

“CALLER: I want a complete, impartial, and totally independent investigation of the events of September 11, 2001 . I’m tired of this bogus garbage about terrorism. Ask Michael Meacher about how he feels about this bogus war on terrorism. Can you comment on that please?

HON. DR. RON PAUL: Well, that would be nice to have. Unfortunately, we don’t have that in place. It will be a little bit better now with the Democrats now in charge of oversight. But you know, for top level policy there’s not a whole lot of difference between the two policies so a real investigation isn’t going to happen. But I think we have to keep pushing for it. And like you and others, we see the investigations that have been done so far as more or less cover-up and no real explanation of what went on.

JACK BLOOD, GUEST HOST: I think it’s fair to say that of all the candidates out there, the one most interested in reopening the investigation and clearing the questions is Dr. Paul; and you should be commended for that.


36 posted on 01/14/2008 9:27:49 PM PST by Names Ash Housewares
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To: FreeInWV
Lets just hope that China & Russia never threaten us.

If Ron Paul gets his way, they will.
37 posted on 01/14/2008 9:30:07 PM PST by kinoxi
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To: kinoxi

Every once in a while I’ll wander onto these threads, sorry each and every time I do.

Predictably there are those posts that really have sane people wondering out loud...

and then there’s the stuff that sends chills up the spine like this one for instance!

“China doesn’t have the military logistics to overtake Taiwan or Japan.”

What planet did THAT one come from?

Fascinating!

Just playing along with the delusion, how long would that be the case if the U.S. irresponsibly took their ball and went home do ya think?


38 posted on 01/14/2008 9:32:57 PM PST by tpanther
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To: tpanther
I’d give it about 6 years. They’d need to maintain for the Olympics and reassess after the Ron Paulian forced American retreat from the region in this hypothetical situation.
39 posted on 01/14/2008 9:38:18 PM PST by kinoxi
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To: tpanther
I hope you weren’t incorrectly quoting me with that ridiculous statement.
40 posted on 01/14/2008 9:39:32 PM PST by kinoxi
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