Ron Paul: 50-50 Chance I'll Run for President

By: Stephanie Condon
Topics: Campaign 2012

(Credit: AP)

Republican Rep. Ron Paul, known for bucking his party in favor of his libertarian principles, says there's a chance he'll make another run for the presidency.

"I'd say it's at least 50-50 that I'll run again," Paul told the New York Times in a profile of the 75-year-old congressman. His decision will reportedly hinge in part on how the economy fares.

Paul won less than 2 percent of the vote in his 2008 Republican primary presidential bid, but he won a dedicated fan base that supported him strongly online and financially. He is often credited for spawning the Tea Party movement, which swept into office this year more congressmen that hold his stringent libertarian views on issues like fiscal policy, including his son, Sen.-elect Rand Paul of Kentucky. (The Times notes that Ron Paul and Rand Paul will be roommates in Ron Paul's Virginia condo while they serve in Congress together.)

The validation the Tea Party gave to Paul's views may have helped him secure the chairmanship of the House Domestic Monetary Policy Subcommittee, according to reports. As leader of that congressional panel next year, Paul will have oversight of the Federal Reserve. While he's written a book entitled "End the Fed," Paul said last week he will "not right up front" push to abolish the central bank.

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Stephanie Condon is a political reporter for CBSNews.com. You can read more of her posts here. Follow Hotsheet on Facebook and Twitter.

Stephanie Condon
Stephanie Condon is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.
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by JohnBryansFontaine01 December 30, 2010 11:13 PM EST: Ron Paul and His KKK, White Supremacist, and Neo-Nazi Supporter

Author: SJ Reidhead

http://blogcritics.org/politics/article/ron-paul-and-his-kkk-white/; Reply to this comment


by JohnBryansFontaine01 December 30, 2010 11:07 PM EST: Ron Paul with Stormfront founder Don Black:

http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=28353; Reply to this comment

by Fractalchez December 16, 2010 9:32 PM EST

Ron Paul at 101 would make more sense than just about anyone within half a mile of the presidency.

And if you doubt it, just take a look at the crazed anti-Paul responses on this thread alone. Paul is the calmest, most rational, most honest, and most down-to-earth politician we've seen in our lifetime, and he brings out the exact opposite of all of these traits in his detractors.
His presidency scared the hell out of the establishment last time, and now that his name is known, it would scare them 10 times as much this time around. It would be a true thing of beauty, if he still has it in him.

Ron Paul's what we need at any age. If he's still breathing, he's the best one out there.

Reply to this comment


by iceblue72 December 19, 2010 3:15 PM EST: well said and i couldnt agree more.


by krisd999-2009 December 16, 2010 2:15 PM EST: The FED simply conceals the banker scam. The banks get 0% loans from the FED, after a few keystrokes on the computer they turn the money into loans to the Treasury at 3-4%- pure skinning of the American people! The FED of course is refusing to be audited because we would ask why did you lend trillions to banks that just turned around and lent it back to the government? We need prison time for banks who do this racket! Thomas Jefferson called banks more dangerous than armies, Andrew Jackson called the central bank a den of vipers and shut it down. We would not have these booms and busts that the money bubbles are causing.; Reply to this comment


by cardamom1 December 16, 2010 1:11 PM EST: Apparently common sense doesn't appeal much to the American public the way that it use to. Ron Paul speaks for common sense. Ron, If you don't run, many of us common sens folk would gladly write you in. We need you buddy.; Reply to this comment


by bickelj December 16, 2010 9:52 AM EST: Fact check: Ron Paul won more than 5% of the primary vote. Saying that he won less than 2% is like saying Walter Mondale won less than 3% in 1984.

Paul, Ronald Ernest "Ron" 1,145,138 5.56%

Source: The Green Papers.; Reply to this comment


by bickelj December 16, 2010 9:34 AM EST: Fact check: "Paul won less than 2 percent of the vote in his 2008 Republican primary presidential bid"?

Blatantly false. Not that facts matter or anything.

Paul, Ronald Ernest "Ron" 1,145,138 5.56%

They could have said "Paul placed fourth, in front of our favorite Republican, Rudy Guiliani."

Source: http://www.thegreenpapers.com/P08/R.phtml; Reply to this comment


by Tarzan98 December 16, 2010 9:21 AM EST: What's the matter with you naysayers? Are you afraid of common sense and intelligence? Ron Paul would put this country back on the track to prosperity! You've got my vote Ron!; Reply to this comment


by tuathadedannan December 16, 2010 7:02 AM EST: It is time America switched to a one party system. Democratic of course.; Reply to this comment


by sbarr10 December 15, 2010 6:31 PM EST: rowleya agree 100%. I stumped for him in the California primary for him in 2008. I have mixed feelings about RP for president now though. His wife was ill after the last election and that may affect his decision and effectiveness. I wonder if he would remain most effective in Congress. He needs clones in Congress helping him in order to be effective as president. Without him in Congress who then in Congress to speak up for the citizen?; Reply to this comment