by Michael Kenney - November 19, 2007
Ron Paul first caught my attention back in the South Carolina debate. I knew who he was before that, I knew he had a reputation as a strict Constitutional adherent, I knew they called him 'Dr. No' in Congress, and that he was seen as something of a Libertarian, but I hadn't paid that much attention to him. My mind was already made up. I'd already decided to vote for a Democrat in 2008.
Big step for me, but I figure that the old 'fiscal responsibility, low taxes, limited government' anthem that the Republicans have always claimed as their theme song has turned out to be as phony as Bozo's nose. So what the hell's the difference? If this much of my hard-earned paycheck is going to be made out to The United States Treasury every 13 weeks, I'd rather see that money invested in my country.
'Tax and Spend Democrat' suddenly doesn't sound so bad to me when compared to 'Hijack the Constitution, wiretap citizens, invade other countries, torture prisoners, and put a half-trillion dollar war tab on a credit card Republican.'
That's why I'd decided to vote Dem in '08.
Then I caught Ron Paul's exchange with Rudy Giuliani in South Carolina.
The subject was terrorism, how best to protect the US, the Iraq Invasion, and how they all tied together.
Ron Paul stepped forward and said...'We never belonged in Iraq. The whole thing was a stupid idea. We have to get out of there immediately. We have to stop using the military as a political tool. The biggest mistake made by the George Bush administration is the idea of a 'preemptive war.' We've never done this as a nation, and we never should have. The reason we were attacked on 9/11 is because of our presence in the Middle East, and the reason fundamentalist Muslims hate the US so much is because of our alliance with, and support of Israel.' (I'm paraphrasing, but that was the general theme he stuck to all night long.)
I was stunned. Probably the most clear, concise explanation I've heard from a politician yet on what we're doing wrong as a nation. Bullseye Ron Paul! You're exactly right. Naturally you're going to be called anti-Semitic, cold-hearted, and soft on terrorism, but that doesn't make you any less correct. You're not anti-Semitic, cold-hearted, nor soft on terrorism....you're just paying attention and telling the truth.
Boooo!!! BOOOOOO!!!!!! Came the response from the assembled citizens of Rock Ridge.
Around that time, Rudy Giuliani interrupted the moderator and said...."Excuse me Congressman, but are you saying we deserved to be attacked on 9/11?? I'd like to offer the Congressman a chance to retract that statement."
Yaaaaayyyyyyy!!!! Yaayyyyyyyyyy!!! screamed the South Carolina patriotards. Go get him Rudy!!! (I was thinking.....South Carolina....isn't that the place where that crazy old bastard Edmund Ruffin opened fire on Anderson's Fort Sumter about 150 years ago?)
Ron Paul, realizing that Rudy had just thrown out the granddaddy of all strawmen, didn't flinch.
'Well, that's not what I said, and no I don't want to retract anything.'
Okay, I'd vote for this guy......
'Booooooo!!!!!! Boooooooooo!!!!' screamed Gabby, Anal, Harriet, and the other gathered Johnsons.
....except he doesn't have a chance. They'll never nominate this guy. He's too straight-talking. Makes too much sense. Obviously feels strongly about issues. Loves his country. Worships the US Constitution. Not in it for the money, power and influence. Doesn't care if he has his party's support or not. Not afraid to speak his mind, even if what he says is unpopular.
What the hell is this guy doing in American politics?
After the debate, the damnedest thing happened. All of the punditrons and anchorpersonoids declared Rudy Giuliani the night's 'big winner.'
'Boy he sure slammed the shit out of Ron Paul on that 9/11 thing, didn't he Chad?'
'A home run for Rudy, no question about it Loretta. He's obviously going to be the front runner now.'
(Son of a bitch if the media doesn't play a large role in public opinion. I blame the public.)
But that's not quite the end of the story.
Rudy has faltered a bit. Seems his 9/11 shtick, or as Jon Stewart calls it...his '9/11 Tourette's Syndrome', has grown tiresome to some on the right. By making a cottage industry out of the Al Qaeda attacks on our country 6 years ago, Rudy has defined himself as a one-issue candidate. People are beginning to ask questions, and not just about how he married his cousin. Traditional conservatives want to know where Rudy stands on other issues. Such as abortion. Such as gun control. Such as Bernie Kerik. Such as Michael Mukasey.
And Ron Paul has not gone away. He's hanging around.
I still don't think he has a chance because of the influences exerted on our political system by the really big money, but I think something very interesting is happening here with this Ron Paul guy, and I think that the internet is showing up (again) as a new element in the struggle for power in the halls of American government.
Check out this e-mail I got from him a couple of weeks ago.....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Amazing! I have to admit being floored by the $4.2 million dollars you raised yesterday for this campaign. And unlike the fatcat operations of the opposition, the average contribution from our 36,672 donors was $103.
I say 'you raised,' because this historic event was created, organized and run by volunteers. This is the spirit that has protected American freedom in our past; this is the spirit that is doing so again.
Some of the mainstream media have sat up and taken notice. Others have pooh-poohed our record online fundraising. But the day is coming--far faster than they know--when they will not be able to ignore our freedom revolution.
We are working hard, with you, to spread our message far and wide-in New Hampshire, in South Carolina, in Iowa, and in every other state with a primary. And people are listening.
As you and I know, there is hope for America-in liberty and peace,and the prosperity they bring. There is hope for America--in a sound dollar, the rule of law, and the Constitution. There is hope for America--in a people's revolution that brings us all together, of whatever race and age and background.
What momentum we have! Please help me keep it up. As you and I know,and our opponents are only suspecting, we have Success on our minds,and in our hearts.
Freedom! Surely it is worth all our hard work. Please help me continue to do that work, with your continuing support:
https://www.ronpaul2008.com/donate
Without your help, this campaign would be dead in the water. Help us keep steaming towards victory.
Sincerely,
Ron
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ron Paul pulled in $ 4,200,000.00 in a day! That's not bad. Not bad at all. Mike Gravel hasn't raised a million bucks in his entire campaign.
Because of her vote on Kyl/Lieberman (and the 'Olive Burger at the Pickwick in Chicago' incident) I've ruled out Hillary Clinton, and have amended my decision to vote for a Democrat in '08.
I'll vote for any Democrat except Hillary Clinton over any Republican except Ron Paul.
He's only 72. He rides his bike 10 miles a day, and prefers to do it in the mountains of Colorado when time permits. He loves folk music. 'Alice's Restaurant' by Arlo is one of his favorites. He enjoys spending time with his extended family (the members of which make up his first 20 MySpace friends) Loves the Constitution. Hates government waste. Thinks the Iraq war was a shitty idea. Wants us to start living by the law of our land, and quit fucking around with all of this neocon, nation building, war on credit nonsense.
And I'll tell you another fascinating thing I noticed when visiting Ron Paul's page. Young people. It's amazing. Every 3rd comment it seems is something like 'I'm not old enough to vote but...', 'I can't vote for you this time, but if you win I'll be old enough in 2012'...
This 72 year old man has a fan base and it includes 16 year old emo dorks and 80 year old retired clerks. It's impressive. I'm not talking about some Ross Perot freakshow. This guy isn't Steve Forbes. This isn't Ralph Nader getting my vote in 2000 because I hated Bush and wanted to piss off Gore.
There's something huge happening here. It's palpable.
Like him, hate him, whatever. I think we're witnessing a revolution in American politics. A guy like Ron Paul, who 10 years ago: wouldn't have gotten the message of his vision for America to me and 90,000 other people with a mouse-click, who would have dropped out due to lack of funds, who would have been quietly been elbowed aside by the power-brokers...raised 4 million bucks in a day.
Not really big money...but pretty big, you know?
It's a great medium, this internet thing.
Ron Paul isn't going away.
I'll vote for Ron Paul if he gets the nomination. I like him. He seems like a genuine good old fashioned American dude who loves his family, his country, peace, honor, loyalty to the Constitution, and all of that other shit that America is supposed to stand for.
He doesn't have a chance.
Does he?
Michael Kenney is Chicago contractor living in Park Ridge, Il. currently lamenting the fate of his beloved Chicago Bears.