Why Ron Paul Matters
Excellent article. Wants a limited constitutional government. Imagine that! Ron is my vote for president.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142 ... 44456.html

Strange thing with Ron Paul. Some people whose beliefs are similar to mine are crazy about him. Some people whose beliefs in general are opposite to mine are big Paul supporters. This makes me worried when I consider voting for him. One thing I have decided, and that is I am not voting for Obama, even if it means not voting for President.

Being an Independent and a one time Libertarian I am definitely a Ron Paul supporter. The problem that I see with most (not all) real voters is that they vote against or not for the person or people that stand for something they feel strongly about. But chances are that one thing will never be an issue in their lifetime. For instance, I know someone who refuses to vote for a Republican (no matter how bad the democrat choice may be) because the Republicans do not support legalized abortions. So even though Ron Paul is not against this she will not vote for anyone who is a Republican. She does not know what Obama has done to this country nor does she care. I see a lot of this in totally uninformed voters which I believe are in the majority. When I asked her when was the last time the abortion issue came up for a decision in the Supreme Court she couldn't tell me. It was during the Reagan era if my memory is correct and we had a majority of conservative judges and the decision was either not made to hear the case or it was decided for allowing abortion. So to me that is really a waste. But that is her perogative. And here in Hawaii most of the real voters (those that really vote compared to those that claim they do) hate the economy and the employment situation and many things that Obama and Ambercrombie have created yet they still support them and will vote for them. Sad.

Unlike Obama's claim of real change my feeling is the only way we will get real change is to get rid of those that continue to side with either Repubs or Demos and keep vote in those who have some different beliefs. Ron Paul is running as a Repub only so he can get the support he cannot get as a Libertarian. He will be my vote if he wins the Repub caucus. I do have some reservations about him however. His age, his foreign policy and his attitude towards Israel are my issues with him. But this is how I feel about it. He needs to choose a great running partner. If he does then he will be a shoe in, in my opinion as the age concern no longer is a big concern. While his foreign policy is not to my agreement I think that we don't have the support of the Europeans on most of our foreign policy issues so if we take their side I think they will switch sides and become more involved in the foreign affairs. They don't take our side most of the time because they don't have to. And if Paul screws Israel he will hear from the people (a huge majority here in the US) who support Israel as our friend and second strongest ally. But to be honest I don't think he would ever make such a strategic mistake. He is not that stupid.

The real issue here for me is that I really don't think it will matter who we vote in as president. We need to get all of the business as usual Repubs and Demos out of office before we will see real change. Until then I predict any president (other than Obama) that gets in this year will not be able to do much and keep most of their promises. Including Ron Paul. Their hands will be mostly tied. JMHO

Please feel free to agree or disagree with my opinion as it is only one man's opinion and I respect everyone else's opinions and I promise not to ban you if you want to disagree with me.

I don't know if I can disagree with you or not. I like Ron Paul's ideas - and I voted for him when he ran for Prez as a Lib.

While I don't think we should go whole hog with his foreign policy ideas, I view him more as a moderating force as we've swung so far to the other side. The upside to that is that he can't make treaties, so he won't get his way - and that to me makes it ok.

Good points, Dave. The abortion stance is not a big thing for me. I am both pro choice and against abortion. I believe a fetus is something, even if it is not ready to live on its own. I don't like the idea of uber Christian beliefs controlling what we can and can't do though.
Yes, I agree. I think this country is in the grip of people who don't serve its interests, and that needs to change.

I will vote for change.
I won't register as a Republican though, as long as they have right wing Christian nuts who are treated as viable candidates. JMHO, sorry if that offends anyone. I think that a Democrat voting for a Republican presidential candidate says something about wanting change.

I voted for him when he ran for prez as a Lib as well. I have only voted for one person who has become president. Everyone else I have voted for has lost. I voted for Reagan the first time I could vote. After that I have a terrible track record!!! While I know that Paul has some different ideas some of them he won't be able to get his way on such as the treaties you mentioned. I just hope he can get elected and really get some fiscal change going here. Unfortunately I just don't see him having that kind of influence on congress.

I don't have any belief that he would get elected. And of course, that is indicative of the problems with the system - that a guy like him can't be elected.

Reagan (1984) is the only winner I've voted for as well! I've voted 3rd party every since then.

I was a registered Democrat at some point in my life and I can't remember exactly what years. But like you I voted independent or Libertarian ever since voting for Ronnie Raygun. Remember the press made fun of his "Star Wars" defense system and they called him Ronnie Raygun? When Arnie ran for Governor in CA there were like 30 candidates including a porn star. But two candidates stood out during the debates. And one of them was the Green Party candidate. The reason they stood out is that they both said WHAT they would do and HOW they would do it and WHERE they would get the money from. It is too bad neither of them had a chance. Ron Paul is the same for me. He is THE ONLY candidate that is not afraid to describe in detail WHAT he intends to do, HOW he intends to do it and WHERE the funding is coming from or going to. It is too bad that we have candidates that won't go into such detail. We deserve to know. And I agree, he doesn't stand a chance of being elected. Maybe his son will have a chance in a few years?

I am curious who you are referring to when you made the statement about the "right wing Christian nuts"? Also, if you would elaborate on what in their agenda is that is so offensive to you? I would be interested in hearing what it is they want to do or how they want to do whatever it is? Just curious.

Don't know Pua's reasoning, but I am also terrified of the right wing Christian nuts, at times more so than the left wing liberal assholes. I consider myself a conservative, although politically I realized some years ago I am an Independent. Doesn't matter how you are registered here in Hawaii, since our votes in national elections are irrelevant.

My problem with the RWCN's is their righteousness. While the LWLA's may threaten me with jail for not doing what they believe is the only way to live, the RWCA's threaten me with hell!

This has nothing at all to do with religion, I say Merry Christmas all the time, believe the word God belongs in the pledge and on dollar bills, think George W was perfectly appropriate when he said prayers for the country and have no problem with anything Tim Tebow wants to do on the field, but the RWCN's need to keep their version of family values within their own families and out of mine. Do we really need Sarah Palin's advice on how to raise our daughters? or Michelle Bachman's husband reminding us that gays can be 'fixed' by attending his program?

I think politicians of all types should stick to politics (duh!) and stay out of my house!

Just finished a great book by Dennis Miller. He comments on the bullshit from both sides, how the liberals scream about womens freedom to do what they want with their bodies, as long as they don't want their body to have a cigarette, and the conservatives who pray for the lives of unborn children who thank the lord when an abortion clinic is bombed.

Welcome to America circa 2012!

My reasoning? They don't believe in science and they don't understand that any book goes through evolution in a few thousand years, especially a book with the highest of stakes in that people will believe every word. This disqualifies them from having the brains to make laws or deceisions that I could respect. JMHO.

I'm a scairt of RWCN to. Seriously. To me, they're just zealots of another stripe.

Most of you know I am an atheist and pretty much despise religion due to certain experiences in my life. So please don't worry about me being offended.

Also, some of you may remember me writing about my Mormon brother who is an elitist. I don't think I ever mentioned his two youngest kids, both boys who are very much Mormon elitists. I cannot stand them and their attitudes. I would not want anyone like that in our government. Most Mormons I have met pretty much keep their religion to themselves and do not appear to be elitist in the same way my brother does. But of course it doesn't mean they are not. Just saying.

My main question for Pua was who she was referring to when she was talking about RWCN that were considered viable candidates? I am not aware of any current or recent past candidates that qualify what she said. So I want to know who she was talking about so I can refresh my memory or learn something new. And so I can understand why she will never register as a Republican? I will never register again as a Republican for different reasons. None of which deal with religion so I am really curious.

Also, so you all know I will not vote for Romney (too much like Bush Jr. for my taste). And I won't vote for Newt (anti gun sentiments). So for me it will be Ron Paul or another Independent/Libertarian. If RP gets the Republican nomination he will be the first Republican I voted for since Reagan.

Good question, Dave.
I will give it some thought and reply when I have time. Have a bunch of stuff to do today. Just wanted to say I am not ignoring your post.

I'm pretty much with Dave on this one, though my reasons probably are different than his. (I grew up in a country where certain religions were persecuted.) I believe this world would be a much better place without religion, but that will never happen, so I just hope nobody tries to "convert" me. I also hope this country will stop on the road to become a People's Republic.