I see people calling RP a nut much of the time, but why do they think that? Why do so-called "conservatives" shrink from the idea of electing a small-government republican?

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If a neocon whines about big government wealth redistribution, just ask him what he thinks about the portion of that big government that sends aid to Israel.

I don't know. Perhaps because we have to go all the way back to Grover Cleveland before we can find a president who would be similar to Ron Paul. I think people are comfortable with the political decisions that have been made over the last hundred plus years. I don't necessarily agree with them, but I would imagine that plays a large part of it.

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"Some years ago I had a sobering realization about women, which was that there are just too many nice ones. One simply can't fall in love with, sleep with, or marry all the nice women...One of the saddening facts of life is that there is always going to be a delightful woman somewhere who, for whatever accident of timing or attraction, simply slips by and recedes to return only in a dream."
-Larry McMurtry in Roads

It doesn't matter if he's "small government" or "big government".

The guy's a fuckin' whiner.

I don't believe it's in our best interests to have a whiner representing us on the world stage...

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Obama's New "57 State Patriotic Pin":




Sayeth John Drake - 10/13/08: "OK, you're right, I admit to LYING"

You're right. Policy doesn't matter. It's all about character perception. Voice quality is also extremely important. Abe Lincoln would agree.

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"Some years ago I had a sobering realization about women, which was that there are just too many nice ones. One simply can't fall in love with, sleep with, or marry all the nice women...One of the saddening facts of life is that there is always going to be a delightful woman somewhere who, for whatever accident of timing or attraction, simply slips by and recedes to return only in a dream."
-Larry McMurtry in Roads

I dont disagree. I like in pricipal the foreign policy Paul brings. His domestic policy needs work. I guess, what I am saying is he could make great headway if he were to come more to the center. The catch-22 is that Ron Paul wouldnt be Ron Paul if he came to the center.

Gosh, if you could point to where I said policy didn't matter, I'd just love that...

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Obama's New "57 State Patriotic Pin":




Sayeth John Drake - 10/13/08: "OK, you're right, I admit to LYING"

I haven't really followed this guy at all. What makes him a whiner?

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No man is an island...
Each man's death diminishes me,
Because I am involved in Mankind.
And therefore, never send to know
For whom the bell tolls;
It tolls for thee.
—John Donne

No problem.

You might quibble and say "that's not the same as policy," but you're essentially saying it his ideas don't matter. Criticism of any candidates' ideas are valid, but you repeatedly bring up this notion that Paul is a "whiner," and that is why he won't/shouldn't be president.

I could link to all your posts where your only "point" is that Paul is a whiner, but I think you already know how often you do it.

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"Some years ago I had a sobering realization about women, which was that there are just too many nice ones. One simply can't fall in love with, sleep with, or marry all the nice women...One of the saddening facts of life is that there is always going to be a delightful woman somewhere who, for whatever accident of timing or attraction, simply slips by and recedes to return only in a dream."
-Larry McMurtry in Roads

When he opens his mouth, he whines.

That kinda' seals the deal for me...

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Obama's New "57 State Patriotic Pin":




Sayeth John Drake - 10/13/08: "OK, you're right, I admit to LYING"

The comment above was said in reference to foreign policy. "Big" or "small" government is far more of a domestic "thing".

What I'm saying about the guy is that he wouldn't represent us well on the world stage, regardless of what his policies are, because he whines...

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Obama's New "57 State Patriotic Pin":




Sayeth John Drake - 10/13/08: "OK, you're right, I admit to LYING"

He's a nutball. That is what is wrong with him. He is Jimmy Carter Redoux. he is a loon. He is an idiot.

And the only votes he will receive in this, his 3721st run for president will be the loon vote. He might cross over and receive a few "ignorant" and maybe even a few of the "stupid" votes, but not enough to matter.

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Except that is the antithesis to everything that is Carter. What is your beef with the guy?

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There can be no bystanders in the battle for survival. Anyone who will not fight by your side is an enemy you must crush.

We are at war with forces too terrible to comprehend. We cannot afford mercy for any of its victims too weak to take the correct course. Mercy destroys us; it weakens us and saps our resolve. Put aside all such thoughts. They are not worthy of those in the service of country.

I have to disagree with that, especially because a central platform of his foreign policy is to make us a smaller presence overseas. Right now this country is most definitely "big" when it comes to foreign policy. We are almost everywhere, and it is reflected in the size of the defense budget

Furthermore, I have to think most countries and most people are far more interested in the content of our foreign policy than how it is delivered. We are are more likely to be judged on what we do, not what we sound like.

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"Some years ago I had a sobering realization about women, which was that there are just too many nice ones. One simply can't fall in love with, sleep with, or marry all the nice women...One of the saddening facts of life is that there is always going to be a delightful woman somewhere who, for whatever accident of timing or attraction, simply slips by and recedes to return only in a dream."
-Larry McMurtry in Roads

*scratches his head*

ahoy mateys!!!

i've been doin' more and more readin' on mr. ron paul, because of all the candidates currently left in the field, democratic or republican, he seems to be garnerin' the most fervid supporters on USPOL.

here be some of his positions that i can distill thus far in the battle, mates:

1) mr. paul does indeed seem to be an ardent supporter 'o reducing government spendin', and lowerin' the national debt. from what i could see, it seems one way he'd do this is limited the amount 'o monies that is spent pursuein' the current war in iraq.

2) mr. paul seems to have an almost visceral disgust with the way washington d.c. (from his perspective), is in the hands 'o the lobbyin' industry.

3) i may be wrong on this here point, but it seems also that mr. paul would be a protectionist, regardin' trade policy, and do away with things such as nafta. imma no economist, but imma guessin' mr. paul would be the furtherst thing from a "free-trader" that y'all have seen in a long time.

4) i also get the feelin' that mr. paul would advocate movin' taxes back to somethin' resemblin' what mr. clinton had when he was in office. am i correct on this?

5) if "small government" means limited government spending, and aggresively protectin' an american's right to privacy, i'd say this is the cut 'o mr. paul's jib.

thar's more to the mighty mr. paul, imma sure! at this point, this is all i been able to get me mitts around, though.

i haven't been watching all 'o the debates, but i watched some 'o them, or bits and parts of them. mr. paul, 'least to me, does not seem "whiney", though he does seem flabbergasted at the current interpretation of what it means to be a conservative republican, and it shows.

if cosmetics and surface appeal matter, he seems less whiney to me, and more outraged.

yarrrrRRRRrrrRRR!

-meadhallpirate

In regard to Paul's stance on free trade, you are correct that he does not approve of NAFTA, CAFTA, and the like. However, he is actually the opposite of a protectionist when it comes to trade. His opposistion to those agreements arises from his belief that they are too serving to special interests and don't actually promote free trade (which is why an agreement that is supposedly freeing up trade turns out to be hundreds of pages in length). I think he would like to see completely free trade with other countries as opposed to the trade agreements we have now. Now, whether ending those agreements is the best way to achieve that is questionable, and not necessarily something I support. I'm just letting you know my understanding of his stance on that issue.

Here is a link to his speeches and writings on the topic of free trade.
Ron Paul Free Trade (from the Ron Paul Library)

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"Some years ago I had a sobering realization about women, which was that there are just too many nice ones. One simply can't fall in love with, sleep with, or marry all the nice women...One of the saddening facts of life is that there is always going to be a delightful woman somewhere who, for whatever accident of timing or attraction, simply slips by and recedes to return only in a dream."
-Larry McMurtry in Roads