Ron Paul for President!

Some years ago, my good friend the CodeWarrior told me about a chap named Ron Paul. A former Libertarian, He has been in and out of Congress since 1978. Ron got more votes than anyone in the 1988 Presidential Election… except George Bush and Michael Dukakis. He then ran for Congress as a Republican, won in 1999, and has held his seat ever since. In the 2004 election, the Democrats did not even bother fielding a candidate to run against him. Two years later he won with 60% of the vote.

What is so special about this guy?

Start by looking at his voting record. Whever a bill comes up for a vote, he looks in the Constitution to see if it is in keeping with that fundamental law. Given the fact that that most are not, and his medical background, he has become nicknamed “Doctor No”.

• In 2006, Paul voted against the Bush administration’s stated position 64 percent of the time, more than any House Republican.
• Ron Paul was one of only 67 Members of Congress to vote against the USA Patriot Act.
• He was one of the few Republicans to vote against the invasion of Iraq. Why? because the Constitution empowers the Congress - not the President - with the decision to declare war. Four years and three thousand lives later, it looks like he may have called this one right.
• He has taken a public stand on illegal immigration that neother mainstream party has the testicular fortitude to take (Democrats want the hispanic votes, Neo-Republicans want the cheap labor).
• He voted in favor of vote on government price negotiations for Medicare drugs: “I don’t vote for price controls, obviously, but if government has to buy something—even if they shouldn’t be buying it!–they have a responsibility to get the best price. But most importantly, we shouldn’t be in that business [of buying drugs].“

So what can we expect if he is elected?

• Withdrawal of Troops from Iraq, along with over 120 other countries where the US has stationed troops.
• Closure of the borders.
• A tough stance on illegal immigration.
• The abolition of “Birthright Citizenship” abuses.
• Dissolution of the Federal Reserve Bank.
• A major re-thinking of the Healthcare System.
• Major changes in the Welfare State.
• Withdrawal from “New-World-Order” organizations such as the UN, NAFTA and CAFTA.
• Termination of most Foreign Aid (also known as “Your Tax Dollars Sent Overseas”).
• Fair Trade - not Subsidised Trade.
• Lower Taxes (after the savings from the above items, this one will be easy)

He has just put together a committee to explore the possibility for a presidential run in 2008.

The Democrats offer more of the same - higher taxes, socialized healthcare (without answering the question: “Who pays for this?”), withdrawal from Iraq (a no-brainer, at this point). In spite of the promises that will be made, there is no real change here.

The Republicans have got nothing. Their reputations as “The War and imperialism party” (ill-deserved), and “the Corporations’ Friends” (somewhat less ill-deserved) have left them shattered and divided. Part of the reason is that the GOP have lost touch with their original vision of small government, low taxes, states’ rights and constitutional rule. In my opinion, only a return to their roots will capture the vision of the voters.

I have no illusions that his chances are slim, but I hope that he wins.