Something Big Is Going On.

[Teresa Heilevang]

At the beginning of the election period when there was everyone and their dog running for Prez.. I thought Ron Paul was a bit "out there".. But the more I listened to him and the more I read of what he was saying..
 well...(as a Libertarian)  He would have been who I would have marked my X by...
Fred.. Paul...  those who have the brains to be in the "Oval Office"..are sadly standing in the  "Outer Office." 

This is good and is the closest to anything I have heard that makes sense in a while.

So.......... all you political brains..
"Talk to me"....What do you think?


http://www.campaignforliberty.com/blog/?p=115

[ericire12]

Ron Paul is ok...... right up to the point where you hear him talk about how he would handle foreign affairs. Then he ventures down the road towards the funny farm.

[Teresa Heilevang]

okay.. explain what he wants to do in foreign affairs  in layman terms.. ( sometimes Ron Paul talks like he is John Adams reincarnate..and I have a hard time really getting a grasp on it.

 

[twyacht]

okay.. explain what he wants to do in foreign affairs  in layman terms.. ( sometimes Ron Talks like he is John Adams reincarnate..and I have a hard time really getting a grasp on it.

 

Hello Marshal'ette and forum, Ron Paul strikes a chord with a lot of Americans, he talks about issues in "real terms", other politicians are scripted to say. With Congressional approval at a historic 9%, and Bush's around 28% +/-, he sparked a "fed up with Washington crap" movement with record internet support, a large group of younger voters, among many others, that ARE fed up with Washington crap!. (Like most of us)

The Big BUTT, as ericire12 stated; ( there were countless interviews which he did, (credit for that)), however, his foreign policy sounds good , but won't work in todays world.  Paul is an isolationist, all troops out now, possibly withdraw from the UN(which I kinda like, but is it going to happen?) Let the world do what its going to do, and focus on America.,.. That sounds great. But won't happen right now. If Opec has flatulence, OUR gas goes up another .02 cents. Our lives are affected by the global economy.

Let alone Homeland Security. There is a culture of people that want to kill you, your children, your family, doesn't matter, let alone as many able bodied men they can take in a cowardly fashion,....and Paul's foreign policy is defensive NOT offensive.

As usual my .02 cents.  Don't be too hard on me, I'm fragile.

[JohnJacobH]

okay.. explain what he wants to do in foreign affairs  in layman terms.. ( sometimes Ron Talks like he is John Adams reincarnate..and I have a hard time really getting a grasp on it.

 

Ron Paul is and was the only person to understand,suggest and remind the American Public about the use, nature and purpose of
Letters of Marque and Reprisal.

It is in the Constitution, but not a great favorite of the Globalist Intervention Crowd.

For what it is worth.

Best regards,

[Sponsor]

[Teresa Heilevang]

Thanks.. I knew and understood his ideas.. I just didn't know the make up around it. ( did that make sense?)
I get so confused with all of it. Lots of things sound good.. I'm just not smart enough on policy to know if they will hold water if they are put in effect.

[brosometal]

Ron Paul is and was the only person to understand,suggest and remind the American Public about the use, nature and purpose of
Letters of Marque and Reprisal.

It is in the Constitution, but not a great favorite of the Globalist Intervention Crowd.

For what it is worth.

Best regards,

For a quick primer:

http://www.progress.org/fold232.htm

While in theory this sounds all well and good plus it's strait from the good ole constitution, but what are the pratical ramifications?  Who would fullfill the letters?  Blackwater type orgs?  Private citizens?  That is the sticky wicket.  This was an answer to privateers or pirates, bascically small bands of brigands typically on the high seas, not the well armed, loosely organized terror operations of today.  How would private citizens operate in a forgein country without the "big stick" of the US government?  Let's say JohnJacobH, Hazcat, and myself step off a jet back in 2001 in Kabul.  We walk over to baggage and pick up a few rifles and head on down to the Khyber Pass intent on wackin' some Tallyban.  Not terribly effective.  Now lets insert Blackwater.  They have access to more weapons etc., but I wouldn't bet on spectacular results (I have been wrong before).  Now lets remember reality.  There were several groups of goat F-ers out in a field tending the loves of their lives... damn JDAM and a smoking crater.  I may be a bit bias but I think the last approach is the right one.  I guess I have a foot in the globalist intervetion crowd.  Kinda like the guy in the last row house on the block helping the guy four houses down fight a fire:  sooner or later it will be in my house as well.

From the article:

Since we have lost our confidence in the principles of liberty, self reliance, hard work and frugality, and instead took on empire building...

This is were Mr. Paul looses me and, I imagine, many others.  I have lost no confidence in any of the above metioned priciples, again, as I imagine many other haven't.  Doom!  Dispair!  I believe we should concentrate on attainable goals, and many of the others will fall into place.  The first and easiest place is education.  If you have kids, take them out of the public schools.  They are indoctriation camps.  Incourage relative and friends to do the same.  Most of the leftist teaching today happens before a child is able to think for himself.  If your child must be in a public school, take time to challege everything he is taught.  It is called critical thinking and it is a dying art form.  (And just a quick pet peeve:  Empire building?  If the US were empire building we wouldn't be the only superpower, we would be the only hemisphere.  We give back territory after armed conflicts i.e. Japan, Cuba, et. al.)

Without starting my manifesto, I believe Mr. Paul and dyed-in-the-wool Libertarians have several good ideas in the domestic areana.  However, when they step on to the world stage they loose a lot of credibility. 

[ericire12]

M'ette-

Here is a good no nonsense run down on Ron Paul and where he stands on the issues (Its an easy and quick read):

http://www.issues2000.org/Ron_Paul.htm


Here are the highlights:

 Ron Paul on Foreign Policy


      * Can't spread our goodness through the barrel of a gun. (Feb 2008)
    * We tax people to blow up bridges overseas then rebuild them. (Jan 2008)
    * Cut off all foreign aid to Israel & to Arabs. (Dec 2007)
    * Get out of South Korea and let two Koreas unify. (Dec 2007)
    * Bush humble foreign policy was hijacked into nation-building. (Dec 2007)
    * US must obey treaties human rights abroad. (Dec 2007)
    * Focus on the Iraq war and foreign policy. (Dec 2007)
    * Stop interfering with Latin America; talk & trade instead. (Dec 2007)
    * Empires usually end by spending too much to maintain empire. (Dec 2007)
    * Stronger national defense by changing our foreign policy. (Nov 2007)
    * No constitutional or moral authority for US action in Darfur. (Sep 2007)
    * Don't pressure Israel to give up land for promise of peace. (Sep 2007)
    * Not US role to monitor eradication of legal slavery in Sudan. (Sep 2007)
    * Avoid ratifying Law of the Sea Treaty. (Sep 2007)
    * Right to spread our values, but wrong to spread by force. (Aug 2007)
    * Interventionism perpetuated by politician's false patriotism. (Jun 2007)
    * No foreign aid; no treaties that commit US to future wars. (Jun 2007)
    * Our foreign policy is designed to protect our oil interests. (Jun 2007)
    * Bush mistake: ran on humble foreign policy; now runs empire. (Jun 2007)
    * Non-intervention is traditional American & Republican policy. (May 2007)
    * Avoid double standard--follow international law. (Jun 2006)
    * No nation-building; no world policeman; no pre-emptive war. (Jan 2006)
    * UN membership leads to impractical military conflicts. (Feb 2003)
    * Neutrality on Israel-Palestine; start by defunding both. (Dec 2001)
    * Policy of non-intervention, neutrality, & independence. (Dec 1987)
    * $140B to protect Europe creates competitive disadvantage. (Dec 1987)
    * Foreign aid helps dictators, not the people of aided country. (Dec 1987)
    * Voted NO on deterring foreign arms transfers to China. (Jul 2005)
    * Voted NO on reforming the UN by restricting US funding. (Jun 2005)
    * Voted YES on keeping Cuba travel ban until political prisoners released. (Jul 2001)
    * Voted YES on withholding $244M in UN Back Payments until US seat restored. (May 2001)
    * Voted NO on $156M to IMF for 3rd-world debt reduction. (Jul 2000)
    * Voted NO on Permanent Normal Trade Relations with China. (May 2000)
    * Voted NO on $15.2 billion for foreign operations. (Nov 1999)
    * Allow Americans to travel to Cuba. (May 2000)
    * Foreign aid often more harmful than helpful . (Dec 2000)
    * Ban foreign aid to oil-producers who restrict production. (May 2001)
    * Sponsored bill invalidating International Criminal Court. (Mar 2003)
    * Sponsored bill to end the Cuban embargo. (Apr 2003)
    * Sponsored resolution to withdraw from UNESCO. (Jun 2004)



Basically a total isolationist....... If he had been in charge back when Hitler was around, then Hitler would have ruled the world and Paul would have just sat back and watched.



----> He also thinks 9/11 was our fault:
*9/11 resulted from blasphemy of our bases in Saudi Arabia. (Dec 2007)
*Suicide terrorism stops when we stop intervening abroad. (Dec 2007)
*We don't need any troops abroad--they don't help our defense. (Dec 2007)
*Habeas corpus always applies, even to Guantanamo. (Dec 2007) (That means that all terrorists have the right to a day in a U.S. court - Innocent until proven guilty)
*Governments orchestrate fear to throw their weight around. (Jun 2007)
*Military aggressiveness weakens our national defense. (May 2007)

[polo]

You didn't mention his viewpoint on the IRS:

"Abolish it"

"What would you replace it with?"

"Nothing"

What a great idea!

[atmiller]

I think he is very right on some issues, and very wrong on others.