Election '08

[burtonbd]

I have one other thing I think I need to discuss before I potentially go on another three month hiatus, namely, Ron Paul.

If you haven't heard about Ron Paul by now, I'll direct you to his website Ron Paul 2008 for background information. He's become somewhat of an internet sensation while being mostly ignored by the mainstream media (if you have

Comments

[chrisstokdyk]

I have been impressed by the groundswell of support for Paul. I'm seeing his name mentioned in both conservative and liberal circles, which could be good or bad for him.

First and foremost, you have to know that you can't believe much of anything you hear this early. What Ron Paul is doing now is what most candidates do in the months leading up to the election: they gently scoot to the middle on most issues. Ron Paul is getting a head start on this, and I think that's where he's getting this sort of underground notoriety.

I really hope that someone with this kind of vision can win and then actually implement this kind of plan, but when it comes to election, I'm skeptical at best.

Then there the fact that if he doesn't win a major party nomination, votes for Paul are like votes for Nader.

[burtonbd]

I'm going to have to request clarification, are you insinuating that Ron Paul has "gently scooted to the middle?" I would have to disagree with that, he is just about the most principled politician I've ever seen.

Deep down I'm not terribly optimistic about his chances, but supporting Dr. Paul is more than just supporting him as a candidate, it's supporting his ideas and principles. It's a statement to the government that the American people are sick of living in fear and without the liberties that our founding fathers fought so hard to aquire.

And who knows, in the end, if we pass the word on to enough people, there's always hope. I spent a few days earlier this week selling Ron to my coworkers. It's an uphill battle for people who love watching Fox news, but we'll get there.

[chrisstokdyk]

To clarify: I see him saying and doing things to appeal to both sides, not just one. I know it's this kind of Libertarian approach that's becoming more and more popular, so I have to expect that and not necessarily view it as moderation.

The way you're talking about Ron Paul is the way people have been talking for decades about Ralph Nader. Granted I have a lot more respect for Paul than I do Nader, but if all you're going to get is 3% of the vote, and that 3% can actually swing the overall vote in a negative way (see 2000 for example), then what good did it do?

That's what I often wonder about Nader supporters... are they really voting for the man they want to be president, or are they trying to sabotage the process? Or are they trying to change the process, maybe lobby for more than two parties?

[burtonbd]

I don't think for a second that Ron Paul tailors his views and beliefs to accomodate both conservatives and liberals, it just happens that a lot of those views and beliefs are popular among both camps these days.

I also don't see Ron swinging the vote in a negative way, partially because I think he's gathered much more support than Ralph Nader ever did, but mostly because with the rest of the Republican and Democratic candidates, it's a lose-lose situation. Rudy McRomney vs. Hillary Obama is not an election I could stomach.