The Paleocon Dilemma... Ron Paul campaign illustrates the choices facing the antiwar Right

The American Conservative ^ | January 14, 2008 | by W. James Antle III

[Jim Robinson]

Ron Paul isn’t just running for president. The antiwar 10-term congressman from Texas hopes that as titular head of the Republican Party, he can nudge the Right in a less interventionist direction, both at home and abroad. In fact, reviving an older, less reflexively hawkish conservatism may even be a more important motivation for Paul’s long-shot campaign than actually capturing the GOP nomination.

There’s just one problem: the movement Paul is trying to lead, or at least influence, is filled with people who think he is some kind of crazed left-wing radical. The popular conservative website RedState.com has effectively banned Paul supporters from signing up as commenters and promoting their candidate, partly on the grounds that such people are liberal Democrats merely pretending to be Republicans. FreeRepublic.com founder Jim Robinson, whose website was once more open to constitutionalists than Republican boosters, asserted that “Paul equals Hillary on the War.” National Review senior editor Richard Brookhiser has opined that Paul backers are “wicked idiots.”

Syndicated columnist Mona Charen dubbed Paul a “kook,” saying that although he shouldn’t be president, “[h]e might make a dandy new leader for the Branch Davidians.” Dean Barnett of The Weekly Standard devoted a similar piece to taunts along these lines, calling Paul the “crank-in-chief” and “undisputed owner of the “‘Don’t tase me bro’ vote.” Averring that “Crazy people love to have a cause,” Barnett observes that “America’s lunatics” have “taken such a shine to the formerly obscure Ron Paul”—since all Paul really wants is to “wear a powdered wig without being ridiculed in public.”

~~snip~~

The feeling is mutual.

[lormand]

"The antiwar 10-term congressman from Texas..."

As a Texan, I'm embarrassed to associate Ron Paul with Texas.

[GodGunsGuts]

I always thought Ron Paul’s unusually high poll numbers were because of leftist crossover. But for some reason, none of the MSM (to include Fox News) ever seemed to figure it out, instead choosing to dismiss the numbers without any explanation as to why. Well now we know why...Ron Paul is attracting the anti-war left, the vast majority of whom will switch back over when it comes time to vote.

[lormand]

...ping

[bcsco]

Barnett observes that “America’s lunatics” have “taken such a shine to the formerly obscure Ron Paul”—since all Paul really wants is to “wear a powdered wig without being ridiculed in public.”

Now that's an image that amuses me. Anyone have Photoshop ability to do it justice?

[TheZMan]

Because most of his polls are skewed by his imbecilic following, spamming website polls in much the same manner as we do for 2nd amendment, etc polls.

And dittos, lormand.

[svcw]

He is not anti-war, RP is anti-defense of America.

[bcsco]

I always thought Ron Paul’s unusually high poll numbers were because of leftist crossover.

And probably some crossdressers, too.

[Baladas]

There is already a party for the anti-war crowd to join - when I hear the term “paleoconservative”, I think more of a Duncan Hunter than that libertarian.

[x]

When not dismissing Paul as too far to the Left, his conservative critics allege that he has ties to unsavory elements of the far Right. Political journalist Ryan Sager, who has described Paul’s fundraising success and modest rise in the polls as a “crackpot revolution,” told New York Sun readers, “it’s also worth noting that [Paul is] pretty racist and also an anti-Semite.” Ron Rosenbaum, writing on his blog for Pajamas Media, said that Paul might not be an anti-Semite, but “some of his followers exhibit some disturbing tendencies.”

It's a mistake to assume that all "dangerous kooks" are racists or anti-Semites. Some are, maybe the most dangerous ones. But someone can be a nut -- and dangerous -- without having those kinds of prejudices. I'd say Ron Paul is just that: a nut whose nuttiness could have disastrous consequences. Painting him as a bigot as well is overkill that will backfire.

[GodGunsGuts]

LOL...Ron Paul’s base is a bunch of crossdressing crossover voters who will cross back over still crossly dressed :o)

[DoughtyOne]

Ron really strikes a chord with those who fancy themselves as defenders of the doctrine of nonintervention. As the world has shrunk, it has come to the place that we all essentially live on the same block. 09/11 proves the case very well, that we simply cannot ignore what takes place in other parts of the world, because what takes place there will impact us sooner rather than later.

Pat Buchanan would make a very good fit for the Paul ticket. I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see a Paul/Buchanan 2008 ticket. I wouldn’t be surprise not to see it either, but these men do seem to have quite a bit in common.

Paul will not get the RP nomination. It would be interesting to know what is bouncing around inside his head though. Does he see visions of sugar plum fairies and third party queries? I wouldn’t count it out.

Ron and those who consider themselves to be staunch conservatives, based on the non-interventionist doctrine, sure don’t see the world in the same light that I do. It’s fair for them to think that I have ventured off the conservative reservation. It’s fair for me to think they’ve ventured into a separate solar system too.

And I do.

[bcsco]

LOL...Ron Paul’s base is a bunch of crossdressing crossover voters who will cross back over still crossly dressed :o)

Well said, and with only two "T's" to cross.

But you do come across as a little cross about all this crass crossover stuff.

[Baladas]

Oh no, even Paddy Buchanan can’t bring himself to endorse Ron Paul so far.

[SmithL]

the movement Paul is trying to lead, or at least influence, is filled with people who think he is some kind of crazed left-wing radical.

Dog, meet your fleas?

[DoughtyOne]

I wonder why not. They both have the aversion to our efforts in Iraq. Perhaps Paul’s border policy doesn’t gel with Pat.

[Nova]

"I always thought Ron Paul’s unusually high poll numbers were because of leftist crossover."

Possibly; but other than his stand on the war in Iraq, Afghanistan, etc., he does offer an attractive "right-wing" message regarding the desirable size and powers of the federal government. For many that are violently opposed to the present state of our federal govt., this could sway opinions regardless of his stance on such issues as the war.

[GodGunsGuts]

If I seem crass about the crossdressing crossovers it’s because Ron Paul has allowed himself to become a crass crossing guard for the crisscrossing left.

[mnehring]

Bump

[ElkGroveDan]

LOL, yeah perfect.