Posted on 12/12/2011 5:06:42 PM PST by americanophile
WAVERLY, Iowa -- Iowa Republican voters are taking Ron Paul very seriously.
So seriously, in fact, that few would be surprised if he finished a strong second - or even won - the Jan. 3 Iowa caucuses.
The 76-year-old Texas congressman's potential is evident in recent statewide polls that show him in or near second place, trailing former House of Representatives Speaker Newt Gingrich and in a virtual tie with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.
Paul's strength is also apparent anecdotally - he draws big, diverse crowds, like one recently in this small northeastern Iowa town.
People in the audience at the community library last week shoehorned themselves into the meeting room, listening intently to the libertarian Republican presidential candidate, as have people in meeting halls and college auditoriums all over the state.
They were sympathetic to his no-frills message of dramatically smaller government and a scaled-back foreign policy - a message he's long preached, but one that now has wide mainstream appeal. And they appreciate how he's engaging Gingrich, accusing the front-runner of "serial hypocrisy."
Paul draws no big cheers; his audiences are serious and polite. They applauded in Waverly when he told them that the U.S. government can't possibly continue spending at its current pace because the world economy is on the brink of chaos.
"The solution is that we have to decide what we want from our government," Paul said.
Paul is attracting three kinds of Iowa voters.
There's his cadre of longtime supporters, who helped him finish fifth with 10 percent in Iowa in 2008. And this year two other types of voters have joined the Paul army: Young people, and those simply fed up with the government and eager for drastic change.
(Excerpt) Read more at miamiherald.com ...
If RP wins, Iowa should NEVER get to be first in the nation with caucuses. The only chord RP strikes in me is a chord of discontent. Utter discontent. Foreign Policy MATTERS. RP’s positions are unacceptable.
Who is “we”?
As regards foreign policy, Paul is a dangerous crank. Hard to believe, but he could be worse for our national security than Zero...and that’s saying a lot.
well, I think he is right on spending and the constitution (e.g. states right).
On foreign policy he is outright lunatic. It may sound nice in theory to isolate US and hope bad things won’t happen as a result, but history shows what happens then. He is ignorant of history.
I’m not too familiar about his views on other topics.
He should never be president because of his foreign policy views (not willing to protect the US).
Depressing. Three leading GOP candidates are all absolutely unacceptable for conservatives. Can’t we do start over?
I didn’t know the E-shit was chord.
...anyone likely to be reading things on this forum.
Ron Paul is borderline insane. Bet on it. Check his wrists. I bet he cuts himself.
show me where in the constitution we are the policemen of the world?
show me where in the constitution we are the policemen of the world?
Not at all. You just have to see things from a different perspective. One of the criticisms of Republicans is that we don’t dislike big or intrusive government, we just want it doing different things and making different rules than the left. It’s a valid critique. Paul’s viewpoint is entirely based on personal liberty and small, constitutional government. It has flaws, and he certainly has flaws as a spokesman for it, but there’s plenty about his positions to respect.
Ron Paul is the closest to the founders as we have seen.
Benjamin Franklin had as our motto: “Mind your business” stamped right on some of the early Continental Currency...
That is exactly what we need. A lot less government!
Bachmann, Santorum and Paul really should be the only candidates conservatives should be supporting at this point.
Ron Paul is the closest to the founders as we have seen.
Benjamin Franklin had as our motto: “Mind your business” stamped right on some of the early Continental Currency...
That is exactly what we need. A lot less government!
Bachmann, Santorum and Paul really should be the only candidates conservatives should be supporting at this point.
Ron Paul has always done well with straw polls and caucuses. He has a real gift for busing in Paulbots for these kinds of events. But he could never win a national election.
The note is disgust. Most people can see right through the old career politician RINO.
He is strikingly ignorant on foreign policy.
If he could get that squared away, people may listen to his good ideas. Until then, he’s just another dolt with some good ideas and some libertarian dolt followers.
just sayin’
It is called the “Brown Note”
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