Meditators Back Paul for Peace

WSJ ^ | JANUARY 3, 2012 | NEIL KING JR.

[throwback]

FAIRFIELD, Iowa—Seekers of peace and personal fulfillment have streamed over the past three decades to this epicenter of transcendental meditation known for its ties to the Beatles' onetime spiritual leader.

Though the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi is dead now, the college he founded here, with its Golden Domes of Pure Knowledge, remains. So do the lofty ideals of his meditation enthusiasts, many of whom have found the presidential candidate who they believe best embodies their aims: Texas Rep. Ron Paul.

Thanks to its uncommon history, Fairfield and surrounding Jefferson County boast a large group of transcendental meditators—forming also what is perhaps the country's most concentrated pool of Ron Paul supporters.

"There are just a lot of people around here who think like Ron Paul thinks, who really want to scrap the Patriot Act and get rid of the Fed and don't want to be in all these endless foreign wars," says Roger Leahy, a veteran meditator and president of sheepskin- and leather-goods retailer Overland Sheepskin Co., who moved to Fairfield from Taos, N.M., in 1982.

Mr. Paul came in a distant fifth in the Iowa caucuses four years ago, fetching just 10% of the vote. But he ran away with the contest in Jefferson County, taking nearly four in 10 votes. Along with a county in Nevada, it was one of just two counties that Mr. Paul took nationwide.

The Paul backers in Fairfield, two hours southeast of Des Moines, are now raring to top their 2008 triumph, and the prospects are looking auspicious. Helping to fuel their cause: Bubbling political discontent among a segment of the county's 3,000 or so meditators—making up about a fifth of its population.

Mr. Paul's campaign couldn't be reached for comment.

[throwback]

Paul has the loon vote locked up. Note, the Democrat mayor's comment at the end. He supports Obama, but may still caucus for Paul. The Iowa results will be meaningless. Till you get to a closed primary state, the results will be meaningless.

[Biggirl]

That is why Paul and a can of mixed nuts have one thing in common. Paul has the mixed nuts vote.

[Lazlo in PA]

Like Ron Paul for President dude. Like Far Out!

[Puppage]

Seekers of peace and personal fulfillment...

That's as far as I could get.

[lonevoice]

And tonight at 5PM CST, the meditators are going to levitate the Golden Domes of Pure Knowledge.

[rhombus]

Sexy Sadie what have you done
You made a fool of everyone
You made a fool of everyone
Sexy Sadie ooh what have you done.

from Wikipedia (yeah, I know): Lennon originally wanted to title the song “Maharishi”, but changed the title to “Sexy Sadie” at George Harrison’s request. Lennon was disillusioned after Maharishi Mahesh Yogi had allegedly made a sexual advance at one of the female members attending the course the Maharishi was teaching at his ashram.

[ejonesie22]

There is no comment or joke that can be made that is better or funnier than the article itself...

[SunkenCiv]

"There are just a lot of people around here who think like Ron Paul thinks, who really want to scrap the Patriot Act and get rid of the Fed and don't want to be in all these endless foreign wars," says Roger Leahy, a veteran meditator and president of sheepskin- and leather-goods retailer Overland Sheepskin Co., who moved to Fairfield from Taos, N.M., in 1982.

Thanks throwback.

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