"Really, because he would get rid of all programs that help the poor.  How is that in any way Christian?"

If we didn't have an income tax, how much more money could you give to the United Way, Red Cross, Your Church, etc?

Stop thinking someone else should take care of the poor.

"Really, because he would get rid of all programs that help the poor.  How is that in any way Christian?  All Republicans claim they are the most Christian, but none of them ever want to help the less fortunate.  I'm pretty sure that is what Jesus preached, yet Republicans and the Christian right want nothing to do with the poor, they just want pro life laws and laws against Gays."

I do not mean this in disrespect, but you do not understand economics. These programs actually hurt the very people they claim to help. I do not have time to go into all of it, but check out "John Stossel Goes to Washington" for a good introduction to this. The largest welfare states are the least prosperous, with the most poor. America became the greatest nation in the world because of an understanding of unintended consequences by our Founders. Even today, the largest welfare states have the highest unemployment, depsite programs intended to do just the opposite (see Western Europe). It does not take much examination to begin to see this.

Mark, Pasadena, CA--You left out Habeas Corpus. A right so important that it appears in the main body of the constitution. The "President" can now determine who is entitled to Habeas based on if HE has designated them enemies of the State.  If any person...any person...is denied their rights, then we have all been denied our rights. The Jerrys of this nation will tell you that We have not lost Habeas, only the Terrorists have. The trouble with this is that "King Geroge" has been granted the power to designate who is a terrorist and who is not. To trust that this will never be mis-used to attack political opposition is the act of the naive or the ignorant. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that ALL men are created equal...

What a joke...Paul has a real haul of bucks from the easily conned but he isn't spending any of it to spread his message of 17th century America...Whats he doing with that money suckers?

Jerry:

you have lost the right of "heabus corpus", the freedom from being imprisoned without timely access to courts and lawyers.

And don't even start with that "but only fer fur'iners." line of crap either.  Jose Padilla was born and raised in south Chicago.  He was thrown in jail and not even allowed to challenge his detention in court.

This also happened to a video store owner in the McMartin pre-school hysteria, so this is certainly nothing new with the Bush administration.  The point is, we have lost that freedom.

We have lost the freedom of being secure from unreasonable searches.  I'm not even talking about "sneak-n-peek" or unwarranted wiretaps, but about the simple loss of the ability to say "no." when the cops pull you over on the freeway for speeding.

Or how you now have to tell the police your name if they decide to ask you (not being suspected of any crime, just walking along, minding your own business.)

And how about that freedom of speech?  Ever gone to a protest rally lately.  We have "free speech zones" which are tucked out of the way, so the media and newspapers can have their "event" without any annoying protesters getting in the picture.  Or how about the way ISPs are forbidden from talking about it if the Government has placed a tap on your internet connection (so-called "national security" letters.)

How about the freedom to tell your doctor something without having to worry about him being forced to testify against you?  It's now gone too.  Your doctor can be placed on the stand and made to testify as to what your personal habits are that you told him in expectation of total privacy.

How about the right to confer with your attorney in privacy?  Gone!  Now, as you are discussing your courtroom strategy, the prosecutor has the power to listen in.

Shall I go on?  I could.  The Federal Government is currently in violation of every one of the Bill of rights (and a majority of the sub-clauses too,) with the possible exception of the 3rd (quartering of troops) - I have not yet heard of the US Government stationing troops in anyone's home against their will, so I guess we're still "free" huh?

The US constitution isn't a list of things that Citizens *can* do.  It is a list of things that the US Government is *prohibited* from doing.  A violation of one is still a loss of freedom.

"Really, because he would get rid of all programs that help the poor.  How is that in any way Christian?"

Most programs that exist for the purpose of helping the poor, do very little to help the poor.  The money sent to these programs are raided to do things, like, go to war in Iraq.

When it's said "the road to hell is paved with good intentions", this is what it means.

Although I'm open to funding programs to help the poor who genuinely need the money, I am not open to funding a charity program where 90% of the money is stolen and sent off to Haliburton and Blackwater.  Face up to the facts, this government is more interested in killing people in Iraq than they are with helping people in, say, New Orleans.

I don't know if anyone saw John Stossel's show on charity. He focused on what parts of the country gives the highest percentage of their income and what parts gives the least. People from the Midwest states that are mainly Christian gave a far higher percentage of their income on average. The people who gave the least were in San Francisco and New York City. So, I think it is a fallacy that Republicans do not help the poor. Just thought I'd combat that fallacy...

I also think that if we repealed the income tax like Ron Paul wants; it would help the poor more than any other government program possible. We would be a more prosperous country by far. Welfare is a trap that keeps the poor where they are. Abuses also occur such as collecting welfare and then drug dealing on the side. At the minimum, I think if you are receiving welfare you should be forced to do some menial job like picking up trash for your welfare. Holding a job leads to self confidence which leads to bettering yourself.

Reuters put an article out on Huckabee and his front runner status 3hrs ago and not one person has so far left a comment. This article is under 2hrs old and has too many comments to count. Check them polls

Scott, I agree.

However, and this is a big however, a return to a gold standard would enflame and bring those fears mentioned by you into reality.

Interesting that I am saying this, but:
A fiscally responsible policy, as seen in the late '90's under Clinton, would have brought that debt a little more under control.

And then GWB happened.

And Democrats are the fiscally irresponsible ones???

Conflaguration of national debt fears with the gold standard is dealing with apples and oranges. And there, dear readers, you may note the fallacy in Ron Paul supporters' logic: there is none.

FEAR THE DEBT! GOLD STANDARD! The two issues are completely exclusive of one another. I would like to hear the argument that says that one is linked to the other. Hand wave explanations need not apply.

And your Bernanke/Greenspan v. Paul think is also lunacy. Never happened. Send me the link.

I also spend my time and life staying fiscally responsible. However, finding that fiscal responsibility in the Republican party is ridiculous. Look at their record the last seven years, for God's sake. And it certainly wasn't due to cozying up to the Democrats, now was it?

Stopwatchingfoxnews (love the name, BTW)

"Really, because he would get rid of all programs that help the poor.  How is that in any way Christian?  All
Republicans claim they are the most Christian, but none of them ever want to help the less fortunate.  I'm pretty sure that is what Jesus preached, yet Republicans and the Christian right want nothing to do with the poor"

Jesus said: "Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's, render unto G_d, that which is G_d's."

Charity belongs in religion, not in politics.

Ron Paul isn't about getting rid of programs that help the poor, he is against *taxing the money away from those who earned it in the first place* and giving to *whoever has the most political power at the moment.*

Ron Paul believes in private charity, that's why he didn't take Medicare, but instead worked for free when he was a doctor.

That's why Ron Paul supporters have on at least 3 occasions that I am aware of, held food drives and other charity events in conjunction with promoting Dr. Paul.

Later.

To all of you who jumped on my help the poor comment.

Just because the media shows a story on how a few people cheat the system to get money, doesn't mean 95% of the people who get assistance don't need it.  You are spewing the Republican, Conservative talking point.  As a person who's mother was a social worker and who's wife is a social worker, I see the people she helps everyday and trust me they need it.  You guys can all live in your middle class and rich neighborhoods and do your best not to go to areas where the less fortunate live and pretend it doesn't exist. But unfortunately it does.  

Also, I wasn't the one who took out any reference of helping the less fortunate out of the Christian coalition's platform two years ago.  Anyone who thinks that Jesus didn't help feed the poor, obviously hasn't read the bible.  

But keep making excuses for your candidates.  A country is only as good as it's poorest citizen.  

First, a return to the gold standard is not the same as a currency pegged to a specific gold price.  ron Paul has been very specific about not wanting to go back to the days of the gold peg.

And Ron Paul has said that he doesn't want to back the US Federal Reserve Note (FRN) with gold, he just wants to abolish the law that says you *have* to accept FRNs as valid payment of debt.

This would allow everyone to pay in the manner that they wish to.  Some would pay with Gold, others would pay with FRNs, as they had agreed to.  If a store can put up a sign that says "No Cash - Check or Credit Card only." Why can't another put up one that says "No Cash, Gold or Silver only."?

This would allow the legal formation of private currency (for those who agree to use it) backed by gold and silver or whatever - computer processing chips and aluminum, if you prefer.  So long as everyone agrees, where's the problem?

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/071217/budget_de...   This is the legacy of our current politicians...We are at a critical point in our history and we cannot have business as usual.  Read RP's writings...We cannot subsidize defense for the world anymore and let our borders be a sieve!  

Stephen,
What do you think about forcing democracy on people?

Dr. Ron Paul stole my following, lol. I have been talking about some of his issues for years and I am still in college. In my classes they teach us that that it is freedom versus equality. In that you must give up one to get the other. This of course is incorrect and often is simply overlooked as fact. When in fact it is a theory based on little evidence.

There has been little time in the history of the world that the people have been truely free. In those times those with the power have and do seek to undermine it. This is a common fact backed by a mountain of text books with clear examples of it. The point is to me, that it is not a surprise that a message of real freedom is resonating so. As opposed to the common rhetoric of freedom being say, tort reform, labor laws or whatever they are pushing at the time. Freedom is universal and it doesn't fit into your purse or wallet.

Most pundits do not like that fact, because they think it is there job to tell the people what that freedom is and where it is being uprooted. Or in other words, they got it wrong and thus looking back on their own reporting with this new light shows little mcuh. No one wants to be wrong and surely one who is on TV also most everyday does not want years of reporting and commentary struck down as out of date.

When they said the Revolution will not be televised, they meant it. So do not expect those on TV to understand before it happens. Only after the fact when evidence is so clear will change be accepted by them. Dead Prez says it best when they say,"I don't play hate, I just stay awake..." They people are awakening more and more. This election will be a good test of things in the US. And all the gallup polls in the world can't predict this one and much as they would like it too.

Ron Paul is the one clear voice of reason I'm hearing in the debates. He's honest, direct, and says it like it is. I've voted democrat in the past, but I re-registered republican to vote for him. He's got my vote and my support. Go Dr. Paul!!! Go! Go! Go!!!

"...still trying to figure out what freedoms we have lost in this country...."

With an attitude like that, don't worry.  It will be much easier to figure out in a few years, when the answer is "all of them."

The time to fight the loss of your freedoms is before they are gone.  Afterward, the government just arrests you in the middle of the night, sends you to some gulag somewhere, and leaves you there.

Now do you understand why people are worried about losing the writ of habeas corpus?  Why giving the exalted leader the power to declare someone an enemy combatant and deny him a trial might not be such a good idea?

Ask residents of the the former East Germany or other former Soviet subjects whether giving the government unlimited power to spy in the citizens was a good idea, and whether that power was ever abused.

Remember the Declaration of Independence?  One of the colonists' main complaints was that agents of the British government could write their own "writs of assistance" without judicial oversight, allowing them to conduct warrantless searches.  Guess what?  The Patriot Act does the same thing, and makes it a felony for those searched to even tell other people about it.

Forget the Iraq war.  Forget the runaway spending, the national debt, and the crushing tax burden.

If we lose our Constitutional liberties, America is no longer a free country.  

Do any of you know about the National Caucus held on December 7th? Of course you didn't read about it --the paper forgot to pubish the results because Obama and Ron Paul won.  That would blow their 'front runners' into the dust --make them look like fools. SO it's ignored. Main Stream Media only prints what it's ALLOWED to....

Check out the results. 19 states were involved. It took a good week to tally the results.  I read NOTHING in the paper about this. Only the usual BS polls where they poll people who only have land lines who died since 2004.

Look at the endorsements. Look at the Professionalism and Organization put into it. Yet you heard nothing about it:
http://www.nationalcaucus.com/resultsarein

When Ron Paul does away with the IRS, I will take my additional $32,000 of income, buy more things from businesses in my area, donate 3 times as much to my church, and throw some money in the market, all along, Florida will receive 7% sales tax on that additional money, then those businesses will buy more stuff and pay another 7%, and so on and so on. I will live better, I will make my community and my state stronger. The only thing that will be gone is irresponsible Washington spending and political corruption. I'm taking my chances, and voting for Ron Paul

On the gold standard:  

If you do some research, rather than simply listen to what you hear in the media, you'll find that Ron Paul wants to get rid of inflationary monetary policy and reform the FED.  Basically he wants to reform the entire monetary system.  While he does talk about the gold standard in relation to the FED for comparative and argumenative reasons, that  does not want to "Go Back" to the gold standard.  

The fact that you don't know this is not your fault, the media needs to do its due diligence and look these sorts of facts up.  It is their profession after all!  

Ron Paul got into politics because he was concerned about economics, and he is more informed and well read on the matter than any other candidate for president.  

The thing that has always impressed me about Ron Paul supporters, is that they typically sound like the most informed and intelligent with regards to history, the economy, world events etc... The fact that most Americans are not well informed in these subjects may explain why Ron Paul doesn't poll well.

Hey Jerry. What freedoms have we lost? Are you joking? Freedom isnt about TV, telephone, and the papers! First, all of those technologies you mentioned are controled by a small group of people who have shaped our economic system into a greed filled bucket over flowing with money that is rapidly decreasing in value. Second, another thing you may be unaware of (as typical americans are) it is illegal for the government to monitor you i.e. banking, telephone, and internet. Do your self a favor, have a big shot a caffeine, AND WAKE UP!

Forget Ron Paul.

All politicians are inherently and equally scumbags. If you really want change in the USA put a black female atheist independent candidate in office. Just say no to more old white Christian male scumbags.

Chris,

Stripped your last sentence down to its fundamentals. You say:
"SOCIALIST programs . . . don't really help ANYONE."

Replace the last word, "anyone," with "me" and I think you would then be telling the truth.

Socialist programs, like the government guaranteeing a low student loan interest rate, helped get me through college, pay back the loan in four years, and serve in the United States Army.

Similar things can be said about people I know that have received unemployment compensation and the like, and are now successful in their new jobs and careers.

Be straight. Most Republicans and Republican voters don't like social welfare policies because they get no fiscal benefit out of them. Hence the fallacy of the right's argument.

personally, republican politics has always been the politics of emotion and the politics of the stomach: more money to spend on HD TVs, so they can get the heady patriotic feeling of watching a war live on TV. Pretty simplistic in the end.

Social engineering type arguments, like those posited by most of the crazies responding to this report by MSNBC simply because they hit it on a Google search, are completely ridiculous. As with most arguments such as this, alls I ask for is a little proof to back up your arguments.

The silence you hear from the lack of an answer to that is deafening. Go back to your Mein Kampf reading, will ya?

For Rob Dee:  You can download and print Ron Paul materials from his website:

http://www.ronpaul2008.com/get-involved/downloads/

And Jerry, hope you don't try to build a new home on a damp piece of land the Army Corp of Engineers has deemed to be 'wetlands'.  You'd find out just how 'free' you really are if such were the case.

OR, why not try to find a toilet that flushes more than 3 gallons of water...or a sizeable new car once the just-signed 35 mpg restrictions take effect...or to drive that new car without fastening your seatbelt...or put $10,000 into your bank account without having to prove where the money came from....or to smoke a cigarette anywhere indoors...or get a job without having to prove you are a US citizen (two government issued picture IDs)...or get on an airplane without having your every possession scrutinized.

Sure, no loss of freedom here.  Everything is just like when your grandparents were young.

I tell you what I am not voting for no Ron Paul and the way he describes black people.

According to Ron Paul we are fleet-footed black boys who love to steal. When asked were these his words he does not deny it.  

Change?  Yes, Change back to the Jim Crow ways is one of his ideals.  

It'll be refreshing when the dittoheads fade out of existence.  Their general lack of either civility or education represents a black spot on the face of the Republican Party.

HELP THE POOR! Here's a novel idea, lets give to the organizations of our choosing via the internet! Get government out of steeling from us and pilfering our money! NO to pilfering government! Yes to caring individuals with liberty!

To Jerry from Corpus christi-
If theat is how you measure the freedom of a country, by the ability of global corporation to continue services in information technology (Phones, TV, paper, Radio) Then there is little wonder as to why our country is in dire need of change after electing a melon head from your state.  Just some of the liberties we have given over to the current administration in the name of freedom include the right to privacy, The right to a swift trial, the right against unlawful search and seizure, the freedom of information act, the right against unlawful torture, and on and on the list goes.  Your atitude is indicative of the people who elected a ( I have to believe) well meaning, not very bright front man to help hasten through a far right wing agenda.  

Wake up-

Dear poor Stopwatchingfoxnews, I have a question for you.... does Jesus suport FORCED help?  When the government pays for a social program it has to tax everyone (including non-christians), and it makes me pay this tax under the threat of inpriosnment.  That doesn't sound like something Jesus would support to me!

M in SP,

my happiness is not contingent on how well you articulate your points.  I will say, your second post is a vast improvement over the first.  Then you kind of lose it again later on.

Assuming you are a politically engaged individual who cares about results, you may wish to resist the temptation to make stereotyped judgments about other voters, if only because it does not help your electoral chances.

your friend in 55057

Freeman those were never his comments, please stop spreading false info.

Paul is for equality for all.

It is kinda sad that alot of people across america dont know much about Ron Paul but see Hillary on the t.v. every day. Alot of his ideas do sound a little crazy but that is because all the other candidates sound so much alike. His best point is that we need to get out of Iraq and the our president is running a war putting us and our kids and their kids to come in debt against the wishes of the majority of the american people. Just look at any poll and you can see the people do not want to be over there spending a billion a day and getting no results that help us domestically. The worst president in history, and he still believes the american people want their troops over there in the middle of a religious war. moron. Kerry didnt have the college vote he had the "anyone but Bush vote" after he stole the election from from Al Gore.

Freeman Female,

I don't know where you get your quotation regarding the man, but I have spent the last few months researching the man and have never found one inch of racial hatred.  He believes in freedom for ALL people.  There are Raps about him by white and black people on youtube and there are black men and women who have stood up to suport him in our meetup organizations and they all love the message he has.  Where on earth did you get that quote?  Or are you simply making it up.  

Stopwatchingfoxnews from Rochester, NY:

"Really, because he would get rid of all programs that help the poor.  How is that in any way Christian?  All Republicans claim they are the most Christian, but none of them ever want to help the less fortunate.  I'm pretty sure that is what Jesus preached, yet Republicans and the Christian right want nothing to do with the poor, they just want pro life laws and laws against Gays."

I am a Christian and I know Ron Paul is not the only Christian in the race.   However, I feel that Ron Paul's approach to taking care of the poor matches more closely with what Jesus asked of his followers than the other candidates.  Jesus said the Church should care for the homeless and the poor.  Ron Paul wants to cut back the income tax and part of what happens in that process is that welfare goes back to private charity, one of which is the Church.

Logan

Secondly, Ron Paul,  does this every time.   Runs for President and transfer the money into his Congressional account which goes eventually in his pocket.  

Lastly,  what has he spent this great amount of money on?????    Where is his fiscal responsibility?
Ron Paul supporter, if he has so much money,  WHY does HE not do the RESPONSIBLE THING and put his on MESSAGE OUT????

YOU supporters go around blaming the media while Ron Paul has SUCKERED you out of your money and does not pay for his own message.  Similar to the welfare state he wants to abolish but is doing personal welfare for himself with your hard earned money.

He could be the PERFECT CON MAN with the way you all are running around like chickens and he is sitting like a Fox in a henhouse counting up the profit.

Why do we sell our country to China?
Because we don't care about anything except American Idol, abortion, GOD, gays, guns and taxes, and allow our leaders to manipulate our fears.
Anything that is common sense around the planet does not seem to resonate when we have the ability to remain increasingly fat and less educated, lagging behind the rest of the first world.

ddd,

HE SUPPORTED AND BENEFITED FROM the RON PAUL REPORT.

SECONDLY, he never printed A RETRACTION.

Is that False too???
Taking responsibility for the comments is one thing and PRINTING A RETRACTION in that same report is a better execution.

STOP DRINKING THE RON PAUL WATER.

if i am lying, show me the RETRACTION,  not the regret or the responsibility in words. and definetly NOT PROTECTING the AUTHOR WHO WROTE THE COMMENTS.

Charity is face to face. It's not governmental. Gee, you guys - did you go to pubic school or something? VOTE RON PAUL in November regardless of who is on the ballot!

No loss of freedom in this country.....
still trying to figure out what freedoms we have lost in this country....
HMM how bout the right to get on a plane with your shoes on. or freedom from having the FBI break into your house to do a secret search or how 'bout some trials for those arabs we've kidnapped and put in cuba or how bout when they get their trial if they are found not guilty how bout we let them go instead of holding them untill the War on Terror is over. USA AOK

"Be straight. Most Republicans and Republican voters don't like social welfare policies because they get no fiscal benefit out of them; hence the fallacy of the right's argument."

You're wrong... most Republicans don't like social welfare policies because they are morally wrong!  I actually equate using government programs to stealing, which is why I don't use them.  

Think about it, did you actually work for the benefit you received?  If not, then why do YOU deserve it and not someone else?  On the other hand, there are no moral objections to taking charity because that is provided by someone who is WILLINGLY giving.... which is why I donate.  (Most republicans I know donate to charity)  We are not selfish people we are people of conviction and principle.  

For those of you bickering about foreign policy....

Michael Scheuer, former HEAD of the CIA's Bin Laden unit, stating on radio that Ron Paul is the only candidate that appears to know jack squat about foreign policy and terrorism. He in fact, in so few of words, calls the other candidates (especially Giuliani) idiots on the matter. Oh and of special note Scheuer is a life time Republican voter.

http://dissentradio.com/radio/07_05_18_scheuer.mp3

This is pure ammunition when trying to spread Ron Paul's message especially to more hard lined pro-war Republicans. There is pretty much nothing they can respond with and it's been gold so far.

When you've got who many consider one if not THE world's leading expert on terrorism and Bin Laden, who also happens to be a Republican, stating that Ron Paul is right there isn't really much anyone can say about it...except maybe cover their ears and yell blasphemy

One of the things that I have noticed about Ron Paul during the debates, TV interviews, radio interviews, and commercials is his respect for all people. No matter whom it is or whether they are for him or against him, he always shows the utmost respect for their positions, status, back grounds, and beliefs. I have seen it written on several occasions about how “Grandfatherly” he seems….well you know, that is just fine with me. It’s time that we had someone to look up to…someone who is respectable, compassionate, sincere and willing to step into this mess (that has become the status quo) and start cleaning it up….I mean, really cleaning it up.

People should be real suspicious, especially if they are for any of the candidates that the media isn’t pushing, and here is why. Ron Paul’s campaign may unintentionally be proving a point that is becoming more and more obvious to the people of this nation as his popularity grows. The point being that this whole process of electing a person to office is really a war between the people and the corporations. The people want their person in office and the corporations want their person in office, so it becomes a battle. The corporations own the media and therefore restrict any viable candidate’s ability to become known and have their message heard.

On the other hand, the internet (not being owned or regulated by anyone) is becoming the real voice of the people. Ron Paul’s campaign is growing at an enormous rate both population wise and in its funding. The news media can’t deny this so they start down playing the surge of funds that Dr. Paul’s campaign is receiving by trying to coin the phrase “internet money” as though it is fake monopoly money and doesn’t really count.

First of all, it is real money, it does count, and this new loud voice from the people via the internet is scaring the hell out of the media corporations. Let’s not forget the fact that their candidates also have the same opportunity to raise money through the internet, but don’t seem to be as successful. Could it be that the people want someone other than who the media is picking for them? I wonder?

One other tactic that the media utilizes to degrade an opponent that appears to be gaining ground is simply “name calling” which stems from ancient Greek rhetoric. “Ridicule is the last refuge of a scoundrel in a debate.” (i.e., when one can not answer a question by logic or evidence or argumentation he will resort to “name calling” in an attempt to make others not pay attention to what the other is saying….thereby dodging the opponent’s original question.)

In following the debates, it strikes me as odd that none of the other candidates attack Ron Paul on his position of stopping the SPP the WTO or ridding us of the Federal Reserve System and their monetary system which has absolutely no value and the IRS (the Feds collection agency)…all of which are organizations that will extinguish American Sovereignty. (With the exception of Mike Huckabee, who also agrees with getting rid of the IRS; lending credence to Dr. Paul’s position) It seems only logical that if Ron Paul was as off base and “wacko” on these subjects as the media tries to label him, the other candidates would have a field day chastising him. Yet, they remain silent. Why? They know that Dr. Paul is correct on these matters, but it is not an area or topic that they have the guts to venture into. Ron Paul is standing up against an elite that the average person has no idea even exist.

People of this nation have finally tired of the “Elite Club” ruling their lives, making decisions for them and spending their money totally void of common sense. It will be real interesting to see the people’s reaction if at the end of all of this the corporations win again while the population is overwhelmingly for someone else.

It will prove two things; that the people really don’t have a chance or even a say in this GAME, and that the majority is truly ruled by the minority (totally opposite of the Republic our Forefathers set in place). That should really start a New Revolution! I’ve had the opportunity to meet Dr. Paul personally and I can tell you that he is a polite and genuine man.

There is nothing phony about his demeanor or his intelligence. He is reserved and very level headed and is sincerely interested in what you have to say. Not once have I seen him bash any of the other candidates…even while being ridiculed by them AND the press. His commercials as well as his answers to questions are never of an attacking nature. He just sticks to his message. He believes in a strong President leading an even stronger Republic and has been quoted as saying “We should have a strong President, strong enough to resist the temptation of taking power that a President shouldn’t have.”…

The closest he has been to taking aim at another candidate was when Sen. John McCain was spilling out babble about Hitler during the YouTube debate, and Dr. Paul just gave him that look… you know that look that we have all received at one point or another in our lives by someone who knows us well…that look, as if to say, “shut up while you can still save face, because YOU don’t even believe what you’re saying, you’re over reaching and you’re digging a big hole for yourself”.. We’ve all been there. Dr. Paul’s reaction was one that you would expect from a well mannered gentleman who will let you have your say, not attack your character and then will resume his targeted point.

I’m telling you, and you know it’s true, think back to all of the politicians that you have seen over the years; how many have had the real character that this man possesses? I’ve been following the political scene for a long time, like many of you have, and I personally can’t remember any. Here is a test for you. Try to find some dirt on this man. Go ahead, dig deep, you won’t find any! If there was anything the media would have uncovered it by now. None!

Here is a simple question I personally would like answered. “If following the Constitution is following the law and not following the Constitution is breaking the law…then why do most of the other candidates both Republican and Democrat (given their voting records) and the Current Administration find it acceptable to NOT follow the Constitution?”

I was once told by a very elderly lady that all politicians are as crooked as a barrel of snakes…..well people, I think we have finally found a straight one. Sure, he’s not slick, he’s not dashing and he will probably never make the cover of PEOPLE’S ten most sexy men, but you know what…who cares? I’m tired of always having to choose between celebrities and the “Lesser of Two Evils.” Is that what we have reduced ourselves to in this country; voting for a president as though we are using the same criteria for selecting the next “American Idol”? This is for real and we need to start taking our Country, our children’s future, our lives and our position in this world very seriously.

I don’t know about you, but I honor my grandfather as you probably do yours. He was one of the most respected and admired men that I and many others ever had the privilege of knowing….So given the choice between slick, celebrity and the same ole’ plastic grin canned BS…I’ll take wisdom, respect and character any day. So, whether you perceive Dr. Congressman Ron Paul as a Grandfather or a Modern Day Forefather, this man has earned and deserves respect.

does Jesus suport FORCED help?  When the government pays for a social program it has to tax everyone (including non-christians), and it makes me pay this tax under the threat of inpriosnment.  That doesn't sound like something Jesus would support to me!

I just hope your grandparents can afford all of their medicines, because God forbid we would want any Medicaid or Medicare to help them.  

Yeah, I know, all Ron Paul supporters want to do away with taxes.  Well who's gonna pay the people who clean are cities, pay our fireman, policeman,the people who regulate what gets put in your food, the CDC etc?  This small minded notion that we don't need government and taxes is rediculous.  

So you want to privatize everything.  So what happens when the private police force gets paid more to be in the rich neighborhood instead of yours?  Or the private fireman only go to fires in the rich neighborhoods instead of yours.  Just something to think about Ron Paul supporters.  

All this stuff he says he's gonna do will never get through the congress anyway.  I'm pretty sure there is a small percentage of people in Congress that are Libertarians.  Not enough to change anything without the help of Democrats and Republicans.  

Three questions, guys:

First, does anybody really believe libertarianism can work?  I mean, doesn't it rely way too heavily on the "honor system" - trusting Iran not to divert uranium enriched for peaceful purposes into nuclear attacks against its ideological foes, for example?  The mortgage meltdown putting the skids under the US economy right now arises out of a laissez-faire libertarian approach and the fundamental shysterism of human beings.  Do we really need more of that?

Second, does anybody really believe Ron Paul, if elected, could push a libertarian agenda through Congress?  They might struggle to scrape together votes to override a Bush veto now, but I'm sure they could manage to keep Medicaid, Social Security, their precious earmarks and so on in place over Dr. Paul's objections.

Third, and assuming nobody answers the first two in the affirmative, exactly what kind of people are financing Dr. Paul's campaign?  Is it any more than a 'protest vote' against the realities of the world?  Sure, everybody will tell you they deserve more freedom than they get.  Everybody will tell you they pay too much to government, and receive too little in return.  Everybody will tell you they're opposed to their sons and brothers and neighbors dying.  Everybody will tell you they'd like to have everything they want and pay nothing for it, too, but then they'll shrug and admit things don't work that way...

Wellstone,

Works for everyone else. Besides, it is the truth. I would've adhered to "Ron Paul's message" when I was a freshman in college, right after reading "Atlas Shrugged."

At the time, I had not worked professionally, really lived on my own in a self-sufficient fashion, nor would I have seen what I have seen up to this point.

Consider this "reality," if you will: Ron Paul supports a return to the gold standard. What would that do to our currency as it stands right now? Instead of relatively stable market fluctuations (which take into effect the entire economy), instead the currency would be pegged to the price of gold.

A large rush on gold and a significant rising in it's price would create a deflationary currency. Who does a deflationary currency wound the most?

People in debt. Defaults and foreclosures would be the norm instead of the exception as it is now (despite what the media says). Rich get richer, poor get poorer.

I suggest Ron Paul supporters, if they are serious, take a basic macro-economics course and get their heads out of the sand. His economic policies are a disaster.

As for his views on the role of the Constitution, though I agree on a number of points, I believe Ron Paul would have a serious problem with reading into the Constitution a right to privacy. In fact, I believe that his view of the Constitution requires a strict reading, meaning that which isn't specifically prohibited to the federal/state governments is constitutional restriction.

In fact, his civil libertarian viewpoint may actually hurt civil liberties as whole as compared to the expansion of civil liberties seen from the Warren era onward.

So, in addition to a basic macro-economics course, I also suggest Paul supporters to take a basic Constitutional Law course, so they understand how the jurisprudence and judiciary actually read and apply the Constitution. Labelling them "activist judges" says nothing and merely exhibits the lack of intellectual understanding the person saying that statement actually has.

"Activist judges" similarly allowed  the state and federal governments to segregate society based on race, through the idea and theory of the "separate but equal doctrine." SImilarly, activist judges on the Supreme Court also outlawed governmental regulation of the work week, minimum wage, unionization policies, and choice of law/work provisions due to an implied "liberty of contract" read into the 14th Amendment under "substantive due process."

Paul's position suggest a desire to return to a pre-Great Depression jurisprudence and federal government, one that would not be able to prevent the kind of disaster and excesses felt by the people in the 1930's.

Wellstone: Happy now?
M, Saint Paul, Minn. (Sent Wednesday, December 19, 2007 1:26 PM)

who do you think created the depression by design?  Talk about your head in the sand? it must be  up your ace!

If people would just take the time to learn Dr. Paul's stance on issues (and the media take the time to research, learn and present his true platform without all the untrue biased perspectives) then they would learn that Dr. Paul’s pulling out "immediately" from Iraq doesn't mean he would lose his brain's about Iraq. He has stated in more than one Youtube video (at private fund raising events at people’s homes) that he would listen to the Generals as to what was best on the exit time table. That's the real key here - Dr. Paul would actually listen to the Generals. Whereas President Bush and staff are hell bent on occupying as long as they can. Dr. Paul’s stance is let’s get out as soon as possible – immediately if we can but stay as long as we must. While our present administrations view is, we are staying until we are forced to leave - and whose is going to dare force us. Damn the people, damn the world – we’re here (in Iraq) to stay – and you better look out we’re heading to Iran next.  Dr. Paul is not the brain dead person the MSM often make him out to be. He is the only one of the bunch, democrat or republican, that has what it takes to get American on a fiscally sound path again. If America doesn’t get that – it’s at our peril.

Paul cult followers really scare me.....this guy should be on a space ship with Kuncinich....if he, or the other liberals get there way, pull out of Iraq, hide our heads in the sand, turn our heads to 9/11, we will be an arab speaking country before you know it....wonder what the brave men and women who sacrificed so much on foreign shores in the 40's would have to say about what pacificsts we are turning into...

Please stop with the christian stuf.
Soon our christians will be in iraq handing out food and medication while their real purpose is to reform them all from their current religion to christianity.
They do this all of the time, go to a war torn poverty stricken country and while helping they push jesus and christ and god their god.
Often times civil wars break out over religion, This is where the republicans get the support from the bible thumpers.
People have been slain in the name of god for thousands of years, I realy dont think they need this kind of help.

The US does not need to bomb and bribe every part of the world and tell everyone what to do. It is not isolationism to say that we will let other coutries decide what is best for themselves and worry most about making our own country better - the simple fact is we cant afford to try and expand the empire and control the world. We really don't have any choice but to pull back from all of these foriegn engagments. We either manage that process, or that process is managed on us - the fact is we are going broke and can't afford it. There is not other long term option.

This post is in response to those wondering what freedoms we have lost:

Napolitano - Unconstitutional Patriot Act
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SU0zuUzrSg

Talk by Naomi Wolf
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjALf12PAWc  

A Liberal re-thinks Ron Paul
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DueIGWpXjrU

Ron Paul Republican Bruce Fein supports impeachment
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ymlViJ7DvI  

H.R. 1955 - Thought Crimes Law in U.S.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGKbvGlaCZ4

Illegal Executive Orders
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFWIHbf50EI

Voting Fraud - Programmer Hired to Hack
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pbvEt8NG2Q

How to End the Iraq War Now
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLcUS9c9Kbo  

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