Ron Paul "Probably" Won't Make Another White House Bid

By: Brent Lang
Topics: Republicans

(CBS)

Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas), whose bid for the GOP presidential nomination last year electrified libertarians and generated a passionate following online, told Bob Schieffer that he will "probably" not run for president in 2012 during a special "Washington Unplugged" interview.

In a free-flowing conversation, Paul was pessimistic about both the direction of his party and the country.

Asked about the future of the GOP, Paul said: "I think of it in terms of the country and the future of the Republican and Democratic party, and there's not much good in either party at the rate we're going, and right now I think in the near future the Republican Party has a long way to go to build their credibility up again."

Paul was similarly downbeat about the Democratic leadership.

"The Democrats aren't doing any better than the Republicans," said Paul. "I mean they're spending more, they're printing more and they're doing exactly the wrong thing as well, so eventually they're going to get blamed."

Watch Paul discuss the future of the Republican party below:

Paul also said he gets asked frequently about raising money through online donations. The key to his fundraising success, he suggested, was his message more than his campaign's technological prowess.

He downplayed his past as a cyber sensation.

"I don't know how to raise money on the Internet," Paul said. "The question that should be asked is why are they motivated, why are they interested, and the answer is they like the message and they know this system isn't working."

Paul also noted that he had skipped President Obama's speech to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday. He pointed out that he hadn't gone to President George W. Bush's State of the Union addresses, either. Paul said it was "unbearable" to go to those speeches and see people "yelling and cheering about what we were not doing."

Asked by Schiffer he will make another run for the presidency, Paul wouldn't rule it out entirely. But he downplayed the possibility.

"Probably not, it's not on my agenda," said Paul.

Watch Paul discuss the troop increase in Afghanistan below:

Check back this afternoon at CBSNews.com/washingtonunplugged for our regular show with guests Newt Gingrinch and author Craig Mullaney.

There will also be a roundtable with CBS News Political Director Steve Chaggaris and Washington Post White House reporter Michael Fletcher, who will discuss President Obama's speech to Congress and the national budget.

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by johnhkennedy March 1, 2009 1:44 PM EST: Obama said,"no one is above the law?
SO Congress must demand & the Justice Dept must appoint a Special Prosecutor with Subpoena Powers & authority to indict all found to have violated Federal Laws, Constitution or Geneva Convention on Torture. The State of Limitations starts to run out in March. Prosecution will stop unnecessary wars & damage to our economy caused by presidential lies & Abuse Of Power. Bush & Cheney confessed that they ordered torture. Sen. Leahy & Rep. John Conyers' "commissions" will be nothing but a white wash and a burial for all time of the true facts.

Sign the Petition To Prosecute at
http://IndictBushNow.org

Have your local progressive group Endorse this Letter to Attorney General Holder
http://ProsecuteBushCheney.org

Prosecute so our 30,000+ US Soldiers who were killed or maimed have not suffered in vain; Reply to this comment


by mariannpepit February 27, 2009 6:07 PM EST: I don't understand all these bailouts that are happening and why we don't hold these companies responsible for their lack of balancing their budget and balancing their account. We have so many poor people living in this country that could use an extra check again but larger than the $300 or $600. That stimulus check was issued all wrong. The people on social security, SSI and low income workers should have received a check for $600 not $300. $600 was issued to workers with higher income and that was a mistake. High salaried workers do not need the a $600 check.; Reply to this comment


by mariannpepit February 27, 2009 5:55 PM EST: I never heard of Ron Paul until he started to campaign for the presidency drawing thousands of young people. However, he didn't make it but I believe he would be a big help to the republican party. Michael Steele the new chairman is reorganizing the party and I also believe he would make a good candidate for the pesidency in 2012.; Reply to this comment


by mariannpepit February 27, 2009 5:50 PM EST: I am waiting for my comment to be posted.; Reply to this comment


by mariannpepit February 27, 2009 5:47 PM EST: I had never heard of Ron Paul until he started campaigning for the presidency. He was a drawier for thousands of young people that voted for him. However, I do think the republican party will regain again with this new chairman Michael Steele who cleaned house immediately upon appointed as their chairman. Steele pulls no punches and he is the on that will bring back the republican party strong. In fact, he would be a good candidate for the presidency. He is a man doesn't need a script in front of him. He knows exactly what to say and not say. Its too bad Ron Paul doesn't involve himself with the republican party instead of being against it.; Reply to this comment


by antoniof123 February 27, 2009 4:21 PM EST: He made some moronic claims just like the rest of them. Go check out factcheck.org they tell the truth on all of them. Like I have been saying all politicians are liars they say what you want to hear.

Now the GOP is saying lower taxes and smaller government and we know how that works IT DOESN"T.

But hey the Democrats are spending too so what is the difference. Too bad that they seem to think it will never end. I guess they don't read history like the French Reveloution same thing happened then as is happening now.; Reply to this comment


by cbsblogger February 27, 2009 3:28 PM EST: What I really liked about Ron Paul is that he has made absolute consistent sense with his opposition to our worldwide imperialism, to our billions being borrowed and given as aid to Israel, Egypt, etc, and to the Iraq War, and he has been consistently fiscally conservative. I trust his defense of the Constitution.

I'm not completely in agreement on his position that the government should do nothing for the people.; Reply to this comment


by paulfdot February 27, 2009 2:23 PM EST: Ron Paul could of turned this once great county around. Atlas he was and still is ignored by biased media. Check out his 08 CPAC speech, a speech that few heard. Rush L. may be the big celeb this year, but Paul will be the only one with anything to say.; Reply to this comment


by douglas_dunn February 27, 2009 2:07 PM EST: Wow! I have always shown a measure of respect for this man without really knowing anything about him because his followers stood against the mainstream Republican nonsense, but after having heard this all I can do is rejoice that the Republicans have absolutely no natural leaders in their party. They are morally bankrupt to their core.

Ron Paul can best be described as a reactionary. He so much as said so himself. He likes to identify himself as someone who votes no.

Nevertheless I think him for going on national TV and saying that the Republicans talk a nice game when they are in the minority and then do all the wrong things when in power. In short, they are as I have said for years now "DEPRAVED HYPOCRITS."

Their only remaining power base is in the racist, religiously Christian radical, single issue anti-abortion Old South, but even there the more populated cities and the children of the New South soundly rejected the Republican Party in the last election.

I would say as of this interview it is official; the Republican Party has no future in this country. Thank you for confirming that Ron Paul. You are truly an honest man.; Reply to this comment


by douglas_dunn February 27, 2009 2:06 PM EST: Wow! I have always shown a measure of respect for this man without really knowing anything about him because his followers stood against the mainstream Republican nonsense, but after having heard this all I can do is rejoice that the Republicans have absolutely no natural leaders in their party. They are morally bankrupt to their core.

Ron Paul can best be described as a reactionary. He so much as said so himself. He likes to identify himself as someone who votes no.

Nevertheless I think him for going on national TV and saying that the Republicans talk a nice game when they are in the minority and then do all the wrong things when in power. In short, they are as I have said for years now "DEPRAVED HYPOCRITS."

Their only remaining power base is in the racist, religiously Christian radical, single issue anti-abortion Old South, but even there the more populated cities and the children of the New South soundly rejected the Republican Party in the last election.

I would say as of this interview it is official; the Republican Party has no future in this country. Thank you for confirming that Ron Paul. You are truly an honest man.; Reply to this comment