Ron Paul Gains Traction

If you haven't watched the news this week you might not know that Republican/Libertarian congressman and medical doctor, Ron Paul of Texas, raised $4.2 millions in one twenty four hour period. Actually, he didn't raise the money. The money was raised for him by a website not directly associated with his campaign. As a result, Dr. Paul made all the news shows this week. It's been fun to watch. And, if you missed it you can catch up on  this web site, an always interesting libertarian site and big Paul booster. It's fun to see someone shake things up and Ron Paul is an attractive candidate for he seems like the last honest man, someone who has never taken a congressional junket, who won't participate in the congressional pension plan, who returns part of his office budget to the treasury, who voted no on the Patriot Act, the war, any tax increases, etc. Liberal blogger Kevin Drum writes him off telling his followers to  "grow up." His blog on Paul resulted in more emails from Paul supporters than he'd received before. Paul isn't a completely pure libertarian. His views on abortion, for example, fall out of the libertarian mold. But he seems pretty close to pure. And it's the purity of his views combined with the practicality gained through twenty years in the US Congress that makes one want to listen. I personally don't have the faith in the free market that Dr. Paul has. Libertarian ideas of government often seem a bit like science fiction and one wonders how they could ever be brought into the mainstream with so many of us on the dole and loving it. But the man with two first names is certainly a refreshing alternative to the posers running for the Republican nomination. I hope Ron Paul can keep raising money and does well in the early primaries so that his views, particularly his anti-war and personal liberty views get a fair hearing and become part of the Republican debate.

Comments

[Chad]

Ron Paul is my all time favorite. He's passion and dedication to make our country better is enormous. I hope he'll win this coming election.