Ron Paul

[ProSense]

Ron Paul vs Ed Schultz: Let's end the Department of Education and the Department of Agriculture (video)

Ron Paul on Social Security:

<...>

My hope is that at least some members of the new Congress will cut through the distortions and see Social Security as it really is. The best way to fix the impending Social Security crisis is also the simplest: allow younger individuals to opt out of the program and use their tax savings to invest privately as they see fit. This is the true private solution. Your money has never been safe in the government’s hands, and it never will be.

link

Ron Paul is a co-sponsor of the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act (H.R. 3 on abortion = More than Hyde Amendment on steroids)

Alan Grayson is a Democrat who supports the health care law. Ron Paul voted to repeal it.

The only reason Ron Paul supported an audit of the Fed (with Alan Grayson) is because he hates government.

<...>

PAUL: That’s a really important issue. That’s what always happens. That’s more or less what they said in the Thirties. We had inflation in the Twenties, then the collapse of the financial bubble, and then the depression. But they said, “If only we had had a lot more regulation . . . ” So they added regulations and prolonged our depression. I think it was when Long-Term Capital failed, Sarbanes-Oxley came in and said we needed more regulations. We already had the Securities Exchange Commission and everything else, but they wanted more. And many companies went along with it.

I see the opposite. I see the arbitrary regulations of government as a major cause of our problems. Many people ask me, “If you’re not for regulations, how do you control things?” Well, in the marketplace, there are a lot of market regulations — and you don’t have the moral hazard of a government guarantee. If you mess up, you go bankrupt. In free-market banking, for instance, the directors who set up the bank would be personally liable if it went bankrupt. Can you imagine how much more cautious they would be? They wouldn’t be making all these wild loans and responding to the regulators saying you must make certain bad loans to people who don’t qualify.

So regulations are very negative when they come from government. What we need are more private-property regulations, more market regulations. So far, we’re doing exactly the wrong thing. We had the recession come because of too much spending, too much debt, too much taxing, and too much regulation. And so we’re trying to solve the problem by spending like crazy, regulating like crazy, printing money like crazy, and taxing. And then they wonder why things are getting worse.

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The Democratic caucus works with Republicans (Ron Paul is a member of their caucus) all the time. For example, Scott Brown and Ron Wyden introduced legislation similar to the one the Vermont delegation is introducing.

Bernie Sanders supported an audit of the Fed, and that ended up the Wall Street reform package:

Fed's massive data release offers new insight into financial crisis

Ron Paul sucks.

[ProSense]

1. No comment? n/t

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. He's a nutbag

But I think his son is crazier.

[tabbycat31]

7. agree 100%.

I'll take Ron Paul over Rand Paul.

[reggie the dog]

3. yet he had the sense to vote against

the patriot act, the war in iraq, the war in afghanistan, and the war on drugs.....as well as being aginst bailing out banks and corporate welfare....

[ProSense]

8. So what?

So did Bernie Sanders and Nancy Pelosi.

I support them, not kooks.

Five other Republicans, including Jim Leach voted against it too.

[reggie the dog]

10. good, then if we are going to do anything bipartisan

we should stick to things like the war and the patriot act and stay away from issues like abortion

[ProSense]

12. "we should stick to things like the war and the patriot act and stay away from issues like abortion"

Evidently, Paul didn't get the message.

[reggie the dog]

21. yes he did

he began by saying that of course they had different opinoins, and gave health care reform as an example, but said "why start there"... ending the wars, repealing the patriot act, ending the war on drugs, ending corporate welfare and creating jobs are things they agree on, of course they will not vote the same in relation to abortion which is why i would vote for nader over ron paul in a head to head election

[ProSense]

22. End the government

End the problem.

Simple, Paul.

[reggie the dog]

38. do you really think that that would be his strategy

if he is in a coalition with leftists?

[ProSense]

40. Wait,

you think Paul is going to join forces with Nader and abandon his positions in the OP?

Really?

Who is Paul bringing to the table?

[reggie the dog]

41. i think he is going to abandon them for a while

in order to do what he thinks is important, like ending guantanmo, the war on drugs, the patriot act, the wars.. then later he will bring up the other positions, at least that is what i got from the article.

[social_critic]

30. Good left-right alliance topics: drug legalization, patriot act, warmongering

I think there's a lot we can cooperate on:

1. Legalizing most drugs
2. Ending the Patriot Act
3. Pulling troops out of overseas wars and reducing the military budget
4. Change the Fed to a National Bank
5. Closing Guantanamo

These are topics which both Dr Paul and Mr Nader agree on. I suspect Dr Paul realizes the abortion issue is a nonstarter, but he's from Texas and is a Republican. Let's face it, anybody who supports the above and is also against abortion isn't about to get elected democrat anyway. He's getting elected Republican because his district includes a significant number of libertarians. Libertarians should not be confused with Republicans.

[cali]

29. don't you think that vitiates all his other

crap? You do realize that the guy is for zero regulation on corporations, right?

[reggie the dog]

39. yes, and i do not support that

but at the same time he wants to end corporate and bank bailouts, which i do support, he wants to repeal the patriot acts, as do i. he wants to end the war on drugs, as do i, he wants to end the wars, as do i, he wants to shut guantanamo as do i, he wants to reign in the fed as do i, wants to repeal nafta as do i

now as for his view on abortion, i am 100% opposed to what he says


now compare to many run of the mill Democrats, who voted FOR the patriot act, who voted FOR the wars, who think the fed is just dandy, who voted for nafta, who think the war on drugs is fine, who think guantanamo is fine, but yes, they think that abortion should remain legal.


were i a politician i would vote with ron paul on some issues, and with the Democrats on others....

now as for my core principals??? they are much more in tune with what it means to be a liberal with a bit of libertarianism on issues like drug use....so i tend to like sanders much much much more than ron paul but ron paul has common ground with me moreso than many Democrat congress critters.

[Taitertots]

48. A broken clock is right more than 4 times in a lifetime

Too bad the rest of the things he says and does are Libertarian insanity.

[Lasher]

49. Dr No votes against everything.

Except earmarks for his home district.

[mdmc]

4. I hope Ron Paul makes it on to the 2012 ticket

How cool would it be to see him support Pat Robertson's call to end the drug war while Biden is all "throw black men in jail"?

[ProSense]

9. Yeah,

"How cool would it be to see him support Pat Robertson's call to end the drug war while Biden is all 'throw black men in jail'?

...maybe Paul will win and end the war on drugs and everything else in the OP. That would be so "cool."

[Upton]

5. Anybody who opposes the war on drugs,

the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Patriot Act, etc....can't be all bad.

[wtmusic]

6. No one can deny he thinks for himself.

I couldn't vote for him, but that's an asset to American politics.

[enough]

11. +1 (nt)

[ProSense]

13. Anyone who opposes funding for abortion, Social Security, and the Dept of Ed "can't be all bad."

Actually, that's a horrible kook.

[wtmusic]

14. Ron Paul got one good listen out of me

When he said the phrase, "tax and spend Democrats..." I turned off the television.

[ProSense]

15. Demagogues are

great at hitting some of the right notes. Where does Ron Paul stand of private armies?

I know he supported vigilantes on the high seas to take out pirates.

What a guy!

He likely opposes the Iraq war because it's being conducted by the U.S. military, a government entity.

[social_critic]

32. What's a demagogue?

Sometimes I wonder what the word really means. My father used it all the time.

Dr Paul has said he opposes the Iraq war because it's immoral and we can't afford it anyway. I like his position. On the other hand, Democrats like Mr Biden and Ms Clinton were for the war, are for the war, will be for more wars. So what do we call those two?

I'm pragmatic, I'm willing to give anybody a break, and if Ron Paul gets some Republicans to vote to get our troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan, then I'm ok with the guy.

It's the same way with Ralph Nader, I think the guy's OK, I don't like all of his ideas because he's too far to the left for my taste, but anybody who is as pragmatic and willing to deal with the other side as he is sounds just fine.

So let's toast Nader and Paul, and hope someday Obama and the rest grow the backbones they need to oppose special interests and get the country on the right path.

[ProSense]

36. "Sometimes I wonder what the word really means....I'm pragmatic"

I thought pragmatist was a code for centrist?

"So let's toast Nader and Paul, and hope someday Obama and the rest grow the backbones they need to oppose special interests and get the country on the right path. "

Toast someone who opposes Social Security and the Dept. of Ed? You go right ahead.

[MilesColtrane]

53. Don't forget he's all for denying emergency medical treatment for undocumented workers.

And for repealing the 14th Amendment, denying citizenship to babies born in the U.S. of illegal immigrants

And for pulling out of and defunding the United Nations

And for the elimination of the Federal Emergency Management Agency

And for a Constitutional amendment granting individual states the right to ban burning the United States flag

And he voted against an amendment that would have legally protected net neutrality

And he's against affirmative action

And he supported the Defense of Marriage Act

And that he thinks climate change is not a "major problem"

And that the Veteran's Administration and its hospital system should be phased out

And that if he had his way, he'd repeal the Civil Rights Act of 1964

And that he's opposed to campaign finance reform

This guy is chock full of more nuts than a bull elephant's jock strap.

[LeftishBrit]

17. And anyone who opposes any form of welfare provision; wants to leave the economy to the free market

opposes women's right to choose; and calls gay rights 'heterophobia' can also not be any good!

I will, however, concede that his son is even worse.

[TBF]

18. He only opposes those things because he believes in extremely limited

government.

[ProSense]

20. Exactly. n/t

[Warren DeMontague]

46. When it comes to telling consenting adults what they can do with their own bodies

I believe in extremely limited government, too.

[TBF]

47. Yes, it's amazing how that flips when they get to abortion and sexuality ... nt

[Warren DeMontague]

44. First thing he backed away from as he rose in the GOP was ending the War on Drugs.

Trust me, that's the first thing these so-called "libertarians" will ditch as they get closer to power. Not eliminating the FDA, or anything like that.

[LeftishBrit]

16. Here is a link to my journal entry about the man.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/LeftishBrit/29

[ProSense]

19. Thanks.

Ron Paul's sole purpose is to take out the government, which is now providing him and his son with a comfortable living.

[Luminous Animal]

23. You should email this to Barney Frank

Services Committee Chairman Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., speaks at a Capitol Hill news conference in Washington about the defense budget. In an unusual political pairing Frank and libertarian and former Republican presidential candidate Rep. Ron Paul of Texas have joined forces in pushing for substantial reductions in the defense budget, including closing some of the 600-plus military bases overseas.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=133153675

[ProSense]

24. Republicans and Democrats often work together

Still, there are others, including the President, working toward closing bases and ending occupations.

Frank could likely get the President to support his move.

For his positions on the issues in the OP, Paul is a kook.

[Luminous Animal]

26. And I have worked, as a private citizen, with people across the political spectrum

on specific issues.

You act as though private citizens must stay perpetually angry with their ideological opponents even when it would be a benefit to both to lay off the heated rhetoric and do otherwise and that coalition work is a right reserved for our elected "leaders".

[ProSense]

34. "You act as though private citizens must stay perpetually angry with their ideological opponents"

I can see the benefit of bipartisanship, but when someone wants to end government programs because they're ideologically opposed to the government, I see no reason to hype that person as being on my side.

The funny thing is that it seems everyone pther than elected Democrats, including the President, gets the benefit of doubt about bipartisanship.

Grayson and Paul is a perfect example. They worked together on the Fed audit. Grayson strongly supports the health care bill that Paul wants to repeal.

That same health care bill is considered a sellout to corporations and Republicans because the President engaged opponents to ensure its passage.

[cowcommander]

25. Ron Paul is more hated by republicans than democrats

He'll never get anywhere with his non-interventionism stances on the military and slashing defense spending. Even democrats don't have the balls to touch that issue.

[ProSense]

27. Yeah, they hate him so much

that he's a member of their caucus and votes with them 99 percent of the time.

I'd says that they have a damn good relationship.

[social_critic]

33. Most Republicans do hate Dr Paul

He votes Republican, and they sort of endure him, but he's a big pain in the behind to them. He ran against Bush, criticized him no end. And he's a lot more anti war than Obama, Biden, Clinton and most democrats in Congress. Let's face it, once you get past Kucinich, Nader, and a few more, most Democrats are as pro-war as they need to be, to make sure they get the honey flowing from special interests. What do you think it's all about for most of them anyway?

[ProSense]

35. "He votes Republican, and they sort of endure him, but he's a big pain in the behind to them." Which

is why he was interviewed by National Review about his position on government regulations? (see the OP)

[social_critic]

50. Nah. He was interviewed because he's opposed to government regulations

This doesn't mean the GOP elite likes him. They endure the guy. During his presidential run, they were quite hostile towards him, and even managed to get him kicked out of debates. I was watching the primaries closely, and I like to study the way the media manipulates things by picking who can participate in the "presidential debates" and so on. It was evident from the comments at Fox news and the radio bunnies at Liberty Radio, as well as the postings in right wing blogs, that Ron Paul was seen as anathema - mainly because he was criticizing Bush and was opposed to the war and running a deficit.

I suspect you haven't been following this topic closely, but I have, because the GOP is indeed close to splintering, and one of the splinter groups may be Libertarian leaning types. The key for them will be to overcome the Rupert Murdoch, Comcast, Liberty Radio propaganda machines. These in turn are closely allied with financial lobby, israel lobby, and military industrial complex lobbies.

[Luminous Animal]

28. Barney Franks is working with him right now to cut defense spending.

[ProSense]

37. Maybe Paul can support the President

here: Obama Plans to Shrink War Spending Over 25% Next Yr-$42 Billion Cut from Military-Industrial Complex

Let's hope the President doesn't engage Paul and the Republicans on Social Security.

[Capitalocracy]

31. I agree with him on a lot of issues

but if he and a bunch of people like him ever take power, we can kiss the Department of Education and anything good the government does goodbye.

[Kurovski]

42. I think the little man should have his marriage declared illegal, also

I get to decide what gets done with his body. his doctor will now have to go to me, to find out what we'll do.

Doesn't sound so good when you say it out loud, does it? Yeah, that's how fucked up it feels for some of us when we hear the nearly acceptable screwball Ron Paul yam on as he does, cluelessly lost in another century. Cluelessly trampling the rights of others while whining for freedom from taxes and other crap.

[slay]

43. I don't agree with Paul on much

i do agree the drug war must end though. Also - I would probably vote for Paul just to get someone outside the establishment in there - if he ran like as Nader's VP. the Dems have done us no favors these last 2 years and i see no reason to think things are going to change. but boy those corporations and big banks sure have done great haven't they?! and the wars - yes plural wars - keep chugging along. and thank god the obama admin covered up the crimes of the bush peeps cause otherwise the republicans might have been finished for good - and then who would the Dems have to blame for never getting shit done? bah. i'm ready for REAL change - deep structural change. i'd prefer Bernie Sanders but i'll take Nader, Kucinich, Grayson, and even Ron Paul as long as he is VP and not Prez. Obama going so far right is such a bad sign for us i hope people really start to see that there is no party that protects us from the corporations at all anymore.

[Warren DeMontague]

45. But Ron Paul doesn't think we should have to show our IDs to get on airplanes!

He's fighting THE MAN, MAN!!!! :crazy:

[social_critic]

51. Neither do I - Let freedom ring

I don't think we should show our IDs to get on airplanes either. And I think the ban on taking liquids inside our carry on, and making us take our shoes off should also be discarded. :eyes:

[Warren DeMontague]

54. The liquid and shoe thing, I agree with. Dumb and a pain in the ass, unless you're a bottled water

vendor on the other side of security, selling them for the 200% markup or whatever.

But the ID thing makes a certain amount of sense.

Do you accept the legitimacy of, say, the state requiring you to have a license to drive a car? Just curious. I ask because I've encountered people who don't.

[ZombieHorde]

52. Wow, even your anti-Republican OPs are controversial. Interesting. nt