Ron Paul: Prophet

[fuckin crazy]

He was an intelligent, educated man that made his own decisions. A "cult of personality" has grown around his image that forgives his flaws to readily.

[polluxlm]

He was flawed alright in that he underestimated the true cunning of the corporate vultures acting as his advisers and 'friends'.

[freedom78]

So, I agree, we should know his values, but the point is that he has them, sticks by them, and they're not for sale in order for him to be elected (at least to this point...if that changes I'll be very disappointed). 

So do Mike Gravel and Dennis Kucinich and theyre not getting the attention Ron Paul is.  Its because they dont stand out as iconoclasts because theyre ]the only dissenting voices at a Republican debate. 

Yes, hes principled.  I can give you plenty of examples of principled American politicians, from David Duke to Cynthia McKinney - do they all deserve the praise Ron Paul is getting?

The only attention I can give is my own.  I think if you look at my comments regarding some of the early Dem debates, you'll see my praise for Kucinich as being the most or one of the most principled politicians running.  But the media decide pretty early who is and is not in that "first tier" of candidates, and others have to fight, tooth and nail, to get the recognition they deserve.  If the Democratic first tier were based on qualifications, it would consist of Biden, Richardson, & Dodd, rather than Edwards, Clinton, and Obama. 

The general point, however, is that there are a number of distinct visions of how a democratic country should be run, from libertarianism to socialism, and conservatism to liberalism.  He's generally a libertarian, with some relevant conservative streaks, and he stands by that vision.  As you are accusing GOP (and Dem) candidates of selling out their values (or not truly having any) in order to be elected, I'd think you'd find his principled nature refreshing, even if you disagree with his politics. 

[SLCPUNK]

GOP storm troopers turn Ron Paul voters away at Texas Straw Poll

Added: 13 hours ago
From: fairtaxPresident2008

Provided By:
fairtaxPresident2008

The vote was supposed to be until 1 PM.

The vote was supposed to be until 1 or 2 pm, but GOP security prevented registered Delegates from entering the building who were wearing Ron Paul signs at 10am.

I was standing over by the Granny warriors when 2 delegates approached me and asked me to help them get into the convention center.
They had showed up at the door a little before 10am wearing Ron Paul shirts. The security guard told them to change into proper attire. They left and changed then came back and it was now 10:10/10:20 and the security told them the registration was closed.

Apparently everyone who showed up from out of town or with an online registration recpt. was denied access unless they got there before 10am and in proper attire.

Delegates who showed up, got their credentials and then changed were allowed to enter.

In the video the woman in red asks a Ron Paul organizer for her pass. He tells her the woman with the box has it. She runs to the woman with the box of passes, and askes if she has the passes, and the woman tells her no. So what was in that box, and why was she in such a hurry to get the box out of the convention center? It was in my opinon a lie and the passes were in the box.

The security guard is asked by me on camera who he works for, and he evades the question. If he works for the GOP then why not say "yes GOP" he says "the party" Who's party? Another candidate? Who told this security guard to deny access to Ron Paul delegates?

We counted about 12 or so people walking up to the door and being turned away every 10 min or so. This went on from 10am till 1:30 when I left. This does not count the delegates who showed up in Ron Paul shirts and could not or decided not to change and simply went home frustrated and out the $50 or $75 fee the GOP charges.

If they paid for credentials and were denied them, should they file a dispute on their credit card? Would hundreds of disputes on the GOP merchant account make national headlines, and force the merchant account provider to suspend or even file criminal charges against the account holder?


A few notes:

Ron Paul broke the Texas one night fund raising record, raising $102,000 in funds, and not at some dog and pony show big-name fundraiser at a fancy hotel, this happened at a private residence in Dallas where a wealthy sponsor opened her home to hundreds of RP supporters.

[Booker Floyd]

As you are accusing GOP (and Dem) candidates of selling out their values (or not truly having any) in order to be elected, I'd think you'd find his principled nature refreshing, even if you disagree with his politics. 

Sure, its refreshing, but its not worth the praise hes received and I dont respect his actual positions on most issues any more than Tom Tancredos or Sam Brownbacks.  I maintain that hes only earned that praise by choosing to belong to a party that is alienating more and more voters with their position on Iraq.  By standing alongside nine other candidates who support George W. Bushs Iraq agenda, he appears to be the common sense candidate by default.  Thats what I believe has driven his popularity more than anything.  If it was simply steadfast conviction, Tom Tancredo would be just as popular.

 

[freedom78]

I maintain that hes only earned that praise by choosing to belong to a party that is alienating more and more voters with their position on Iraq.  By standing alongside nine other candidates who support George W. Bushs Iraq agenda, he appears to be the common sense candidate by default.  Thats what I believe has driven his popularity more than anything.  If it was simply steadfast conviction, Tom Tancredo would be just as popular.

It's a more difficult task to identify principle when it lines up with what is popular or, in this case, with what these candidates believe their primary voters want to hear.  So, yes, Paul certainly receives praise because he stands out, because it takes courage to go against your party and against your President.  Had the Dems, as a whole, had the guts that he does, then the war vote would have been a good deal closer, and perhaps the public would have been inclined to take a much closer look. 

But personally, I'd like to see him get as much praise as possible!  If, somehow, he pulled it off, then at least we'd have two anti-war candidates running!