Ron Paul potential GOP presidential candidate?

[kieefer]

I voted for Sarah Palin. McCain happened to be on the ticket with her

We all have to make choices we don't like sometimes. I go along with the idea

of choosing liberty or tyranny, even if the choice isn't so clear cut. Just have to look

a little deeper occasionally.

Same here,

Fred Thompson was my choice before he bailed.

[Oh Shoot]

For me there are only two choices, Liberty and Tyranny. ...

Tyranny is what our two party system has become.

Where's the Liberty?

- OS

[Guest jth_3s]

Tyranny is what our two party system has become.

Where's the Liberty?

- OS

I agree. There are only a handful of candidates I could actually support. All of them are Libertarians

[RobertNashville]

Tyranny is what our two party system has become.

Where's the Liberty?

- OS

Hence the Tea Party and those who identify with it in spirit...the Republican Party is being pulled back to its roots by conservative/libertarian minded folks. In many cases, the "establishment/big tent" Republicans are doing everything they can to retain power and placate conservatives while giving up nothing. Which side will prevail is very much undecided but, while some here seem to want to give up and surrender, others are pushing on. Maybe we'll fail, maybe we'll won't but the one sure way to fail is to withdraw from the fight..

[mikegideon]

I really believe that its all just a dog and pony show anyway. There are people that win consistently no matter who gets elected. Those folks run the country, and the rest is just keeping us preoccupied with the BS

[Guest 6.8 AR]

I agree. There are only a handful of candidates I could actually support. All of them are Libertarians

Same here, and it is a dog and pony show. I want to see a libertarian rottweiler in the White House next time, lipstick or not:D

I think I should have said pit bull or pig. I forgot her speech.

[Oh Shoot]

Hence the Tea Party and those who identify with it in spirit...the Republican Party is being pulled back to its roots by conservative/libertarian minded folks....

Have said it many times -- the GOP will corrupt, dilute, and absorb the Tea Party influence. The Tea "Party" will need to become an actual third party to have any chance of significant long term influence.

- OS

[dlm37015]

Have said it many times -- the GOP will corrupt, dilute, and absorb the Tea Party influence. The Tea "Party" will need to become an actual third party to have any chance of significant long term influence

+1

[Guest HvyMtl]

Wish and a prayer OhShoot that the Tea Party would actually be able to become a 3rd party. Too many GOP diehards behind the movement in terms of organization and money.

What did Reagan teach us about campaigning? Are we forgetting something? Yes. He was a great orator. He gave amazing speeches that stirred the hearts of the voters. Obama has learned from the master. He gives amazing speeches. He will again, during the campaign for re-election. If the GOP send a candidate without great oratory skills against him, O wins.

[RobertNashville]

Wish and a prayer OhShoot that the Tea Party would actually be able to become a 3rd party. Too many GOP diehards behind the movement in terms of organization and money...

I couldn't disagree more...the last thing the Tea Party needs to do is become a third political party. The Tea Party movement's greatest is that it's a grass-roots movement populated by folks with a common interest in seeing America return to common sense. The moment it becomes a "party" it will both lose its effectiveness and likely guarantee that Democrats, and likely the most extreme end of the party, remains in control until the America most of us wants truly doesn't exist anymore except in history books (that haven't been re-written).

The best chance for success in restoring our country is in restoring the Republican party to what it CLAIMS it is and believes in (but in many cases hasn't been)...if given a clear and well-defined choice, I believe (at least I'll continue to hope) that a majority of people will vote for freedom and liberty and less government intrusion rather than the socialist, spreading the wealth around pseudo-democracy that the Democrats now stand for.

Of course, what do ti know...I'm just an old fart holding onto my guns and my religion but I do hold a degree in Public Administration (similar to Political Science) and I have stayed at many Holiday Inn Express motels.

[Guest jth_3s]

Hence the Tea Party and those who identify with it in spirit...the Republican Party is being pulled back to its roots by conservative/libertarian minded folks. In many cases, the "establishment/big tent" Republicans are doing everything they can to retain power and placate conservatives while giving up nothing. Which side will prevail is very much undecided but, while some here seem to want to give up and surrender, others are pushing on. Maybe we'll fail, maybe we'll won't but the one sure way to fail is to withdraw from the fight..

If an Establishment Republican gets the nomination, getting behind them is telling the GOP that the status quo is just fine. If a large block of Republican voters goes to another party it forces the republicans to make changes in their future candidates thus moving the party in the right direction. Staying home or voting 3rd party is better than pushing the Republican party in the wrong direction. Notice how many Reps have jumped on the Tea Party bandwagon (Not sure how many are genuine).

[RobertNashville]

If an Establishment Republican gets the nomination, getting behind them is telling the GOP that the status quo is just fine. If a large block of Republican voters goes to another party it forces the republicans to make changes in their future candidates thus moving the party in the right direction. Staying home or voting 3rd party is better than pushing the Republican party in the wrong direction. Notice how many Reps have jumped on the Tea Party bandwagon (Not sure how many are genuine).

I understand your position...I simply do not agree with it and no matter how many different ways you say it you'll never convince me that staying home or voting for a non-competitive candidate is the answer.

[dlm37015]

you have to start at the local level with change then at the state and national they will see the hand writing on the wall.

o wil be relected because the gop has gotten away from its roots the only way to get it back is to start at the bottom and work up

i will say one thing about ron paul supporters the are rabid and thats a good thing lets get that way about ocal elections

[mav]

I do not think the Tea Party should go 3rd party. I think the results would be disastrous.

Thinking about setting up a third party is accepting defeat even before the 2012 election. Look at the effectiveness of the Tea Party in the 2010 elections. We can repeat the results in 2012. The key as it was in 2010 is the primaries.

If an establishment republican wins the presidential nomination, I will vote for him. Even the most establishment type is way better than what we have now.

[kieefer]

Well, right now Huckabee, Romney, Grinrich and Palin are the so-called front runners and Palin will be the only candidate that the Tea Party supports.

Personally I don't think Palin can win but I would like to see her 2nd in command or as Energy Secretary.......so, get the check book out and sound off for the one you support when you do find that "ideal" leader.

[kieefer]

Rand Paul on Letterman

[RobertNashville]

Well, right now Huckabee, Romney, Grinrich and Palin are the so-called front runners and Palin will be the only candidate that the Tea Party supports.

Personally I don't think Palin can win but I would like to see her 2nd in command or as Energy Secretary.......so, get the check book out and sound off for the one you support when you do find that "ideal" leader.

I believe (no stats to back me up...just a feeling) that there is someone out there who is only somewhat known but isn't on a lot of the pundit's radar yet that could come in and not only take the nomination but take the election as well (and I too would like to see Sarah on the ticket again or at least utilized in a Republican administration).

However, perhaps even more influencal could be the economy, if we still have one by then...a truly bad economy could spell disaster for the Dalai-Bama.

[Guest jth_3s]

I understand your position...I simply do not agree with it and no matter how many different ways you say it you'll never convince me that staying home or voting for a non-competitive candidate is the answer.

Ok I was thinking you were having a hard time with it lol. We can agree to just disagree on that issue

[RobertNashville]

Ok I was thinking you were having a hard time with it lol. We can agree to just disagree on that issue

Sounds good to me

[kieefer]

“We simply need more common sense and less Obama nonsense,” Pawlenty said. “Here’s our simple motto: ‘The government’s too damn big.’“

Meet Tim Pawlenty

[Guest 6.8 AR]

Whoever the next president is, they will have to make some real hard decisions, and that means

another Reaganesque person. He or she will have to inspire and keep the masses encouraged

while we dig ourselves out of this mess. We're going to have to kill unions and entitlements and

that will be difficult for anyone. It also means there will be a lot of severe turmoil. We're going to

have to become isolationists, to an extent, and quit trying to fix the worlds problems.

We have become one spoiled nation of entitlement brats who thinks everyone is due something

off the back of someone else and that has to stop. It doesn't matter if you are a teacher, or a

professor with tenure, or a common laborer, or a soldier.

Our Constitution is still our template, but it still has some imperfections, like a few amendments that

need voiding and a lot of laws that need voiding, also. We allow pandering to special interests and

allowed the Fed to take our wealth, instead of limiting inflation.

I can't think of anything that will be harder to do by one man and one term so I can't think of

anyone that is up to that, individually, so I think we will have to utilize the best of the Tea Party

attitudes and of like minded individuals. It will be a long term evolving process and we will have to

live with a lot of ups and downs until we get there.

What people like Gov. Walker is doing in Wisconsin is doing is a good start. It's called doing his constitutionally

mandated job. Gov. Christie is another. Hell there are a bunch of them right now and they need to

keep doing what they are with a President focused on shrinking our Federal government. Maybe Sarah

Palin isn't the best choice, or Hermain Cain or Tim Pawlenty, but any of those are good choices.

What we will have to do is keep the good ones bubbling up and get behind the one that, after a

strong primary with a strong mandate and push this country back to greatness.

You always have to make choices and they have to be good ones, but no more Obama's. No more

communists have to be allowed in. They are incompatible with our country. It could very well be our last

chance.

[eapking]

We have become one spoiled nation of entitlement brats who thinks everyone is due something

off the back of someone else and that has to stop. It doesn't matter if you are a teacher, or a

professor with tenure, or a common laborer, or a soldier.

What people like Gov. Walker is doing in Wisconsin is doing is a good start. It's called doing his constitutionally

mandated job.

Too bad it sounds like Walker might be caving in. The wind blew a little so Wisconsin voters are already regretting their decisions on Nov. 4. Amazing how quickly that turned. But then they don't call Madison the "Berkley of the Midwest" for nothing.

A nation of spolied, cry-baby, whiners for sure.

[Guest 6.8 AR]

I think he has a few cards left to play. All those fools in Wisc have done is out themselves

for the fools they really are. The union thugs have really screwed up in living daylight. That

won't play well for anything they want in the future. And the good part is Obama is aligned

right there with them.

[RobertNashville]

At a minimum, what has been happening in Wisconsin has drawn a very clear distinction between the two very different and incompatible philosophies of the conservative/libertarian mindset and liberal/socialist mindset regarding how government and our economy is supposed to work...between liberty, freedom and personal responsibility and those who believe they are "entitled" just because they haven't assumed room temperature yet.

The cowards who have run away rather than to their job shows just how truly vapid the liberal/progressive/socialistic mindset is.

Edited March 1, 2011 by RobertNashville

[Guest jth_3s]

At a minimum, what has been happening in Wisconsin has drawn a very clear distinction between the two very different and incompatible philosophies of the conservative/libertarian mindset and liberal/socialist mindset regarding how government and our economy is supposed to work...between liberty, freedom and personal responsibility and those who believe they are "entitled" just because they haven't assumed room temperature yet.

The cowards who have run away rather than to their job shows just how truly vapid the liberal/progressive/socialistic mindset is.

While I don't think anyone is entitled to anything from anyone else without their consent, the government should not be able to say who we can and can not be associated with. Collective bargaining is something I'm not a big fan of, but in the Private sector I believe it is a right that should be defended. As for the public sector, public workers are accepting money forcefully taken(stolen) from the private sector(productive americans) and as far as I'm concerned they shouldn't even be able to negotiate pay or benefits period.