Why is Ron Paul wasting our time?

Question

Ron Paul has indicated during the debates that he isn't considering an independent run. Yet, as questioners have pointed out, there is almost no chance he will get the Republicrat nomination. Regardless of his spectacular fundraising efforts, Paul's candidacy is likely to achieve nothing (I wish this wasn't the case). To those who cite Paul's internet popularity, I would like to remind you that web developers, bloggers, and software engineers don't constitute the majority of Americans.

First of all, I am not a neo-con, thank you very much. Secondly, I think Ron Paul has some good ideas and is a man of principle, but so were Ralph Nader and Ross Perot. Has Ron Paul changed the political environment? If you are under 30 you might think so, but I've seen this before. I just don't want the party nomination to go to Romney or Huckabee.

I never once suggested that Ron Paul's ideas were un-American. In fact, I am trying to choose between him and Giuliani. I concede that I could have phrased the question in a less hostile manner. Maybe I'm just too pessimistic. Ron Paul represents the hope that the system can be changed, but how realistic is that? All of this doesn't mean I don't support many of Ron Paul's ideas. I wish he would get a clue about energy and the environment though.

Answer 1

He's not wasting our time, he's giving us an opportunity to really evaluate him and his take on the issues. Even if he doesn't win, hopefully his ideas will be picked up by the American people and eventually the Republican nominee. However, it always bugs me when people start deciding at this point whether someone is electable or not, especially at this point. That's why we have the primary process, to determine who we want to send to the big show in Nov 2008.

So, if you like his ideas, support him and vote for him in your primary election. The more he's out there, the more opportunities he has to share his vision for a better America.

Answer 2

He's not. No other Republican candidate has the grassroots support, and impassioned people that support him in whatever large numbers. Those people will make sure he's on the primary ballot, and make sure that they let him be known if the media won't help. There is enough time still for the 47% of the country that still hasn't heard of him to be won over.

I wonder what Romney will do when he realizes he just threw away millions of his own money at his campaign. Busing people to straw polls, providing them with lunch and dinner, paying people to hold signs, making fake police badges for his staffers to get through events and traffic. It's the opposite way to run a campaign if you want to show you are honest, and trustworthy. Giuliani bombed last night. That leaves McCain, Paul, and Huckabee, a pretty even 5 way race since the top two probably notched their way down. Sorry, did I forget Fred? So did most of the viewers last night.

At this time in the 2000 elections, Bush was around 45% approval rating for the Republicans, that was not a level playing field.

Oh, and the two questions he got, were obviously designed to marginalize and discredit him, but he can answer everything thrown at him so well, and with perceptibly no hesitation.

your question
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkJcFY1VsCE
The user is getting some very negative feedback on his home on youtube. http://www.youtube.com/user/nexpres . I don't condone that, I guess it's a valid question, but Ron has stated he will not run independent, because it might hurt the Republican party which he is a part of.

This guy seems pretty knowledgeable, except how did he miss this, and why did he have to ask the same question again, that I have seen on TV at least 4 other times?

Ron Paul's "conspiracy" question
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOZIGPUPQVc

The NAFTA superhighway might be shunned as a "myth" now, or at least that's what some sources say. Why? because now more people know about it, and are angry with such a proposal. Things like NASCO, and the SPP, along with the trans-Texas Corridor starting from Laredo TX, cannot all be unrelated. Did I forget NAFTA? I should probably throw that into the trailmix.

Answer 3

ron paul is about to top all of the top -tier candidates fundraising in the third quarter in the next 3 days from us little people who are giving an average of 60 dollar donations -that is incredible and for you to suggest ron paul's ideas are unworthy is just plain unamerican -I believe that money will be put to good use to get ron paul thru the beggining of the primaries in the early states and on to the white house - he doesnt have corporate or media support so he is and his platform are widely unknown nationally -I believe that will change once the actual voting begins and his platform is seen on a national level

Answer 4

Ron Paul has 70% of the active military donations over 60,000 volunteers on meetup.com, and has record breaking fundraising. Why can't he win the nomination? He is the best choice for either party and a the last hope for America.

Answer 5

Why should he run as an independent? Just to get elected? There is more at stake here as well. Bringing the traditional Conservative Republican views and values back to the party.

Dr. Paul is very important in this election and it's a damn shame that a lot of people don't want to listen to him. Especially when he was speaking about the North American Union, he got criticised by analysts (I.E. Jeffrey Toobin). It is happening. Donald Rumsfeld, Harry Reid, etc. were present at the meeting. Or when Dr. Paul talked about eliminating a lot of agencies like the IRS, he was criticised again. Yet the other candidates just copied what Dr. Paul was saying.

I'm a Conservative and I want to see the country go back to the original conservative and constitutional ideologies.

Answer 6

He hasn't yet said he's ruled it out completely. He's just not considering it now. In the post-debate interview last nights, the John Roberts kept asking him if he will run as an independent. Paul just kept saying that he is not considering it. If he admits that he's considering running as an independent, he's already admitting defeat, and he is far from that. He probably will run as in independent if he does not get the nomination. Just look at his supporters, do you really think they will let him give up?

Answer 7

Dude, Ron Paul isn't wasting our time. Even if he doesn't win he's changed the political environment.

Answer 8

He is not wasting my time. Why is it so bad to have a refreshing look at how our country could be? Because from what I have seen and read on the current front runners is not appealing in the least. Can they stick to their guns? Or are they forever going to puppet what they think is popular and cater to corporations and special interest groups. Both Parties do this. I think we should have someone who is obviously a threat to those parties..even if he is in one of them.. IMHO.

Answer 9

So all those over 40 people showing up at the get togethers all work on the internet?

This country has an electoral process that allows anybody to run for office.

Some of us vote for who we think will do the best job, not who we think can beat Hillary.

If you don't like the electoral process and have bought into the two party, 2 candidate sytem, then you are no longer American, you are far from it.

I'm really starting to think that most of you neo-cons are the most miserable humps on the planet.

Answer 10

Good question. But I do like the fact there is another free-thinker in the republican party.

McCain usually is a free thinker, but he is trying harder this time to get in good with the ultra-extreme part of the party. I believe he could win if he gets the nomination.

Unfortunately for Ron Paul, I have been to his website and looked at some of his proposals. Some are OK, some are crackpot stuff designed to sound "fair" but if you have had any education in economics at all, you realize they will shift an even larger portion of the tax burden to the poor. That's just what I want, a tax system that makes me pay more relative to rich folks like Ron Paul. This is why he is running as far as I can tell.

Sales taxes are regressive - the poor will pay a higher percentage of their income in taxes than everybody else. If you have to mess around with sending checks or something to off-set the extra burden, you need to look at a different system.

What about a flat tax approach where rates get lowered across the income board and do away with deductions. This will never be considered because tax accountant and attorneys' profits would be reduced, as well as IRS staffs. Just think of the profit losses for the software companies! It is a shame when you have to pay someone to comply with the law because it has intentionally been made complicated. If you have ever called the IRS to ask a question, the first thing they tell you is their advice may be wrong and if it is, it is your problem. You don't even want to think about the complications if there is a death in the family!

The system is broken, but I don't think Ron Paul has the answer. However, I hope he keeps plugging away at the issues to force some real discussion.