Surprising Ron Paul Sparks A Movement

GOP Presidential Hopeful Has Fervent Followers And A Message Whose Resonance Surprises Even Him

(CBS)  His progress has been as gradual as a tortoise on ice, but Ron Paul can no longer be dismissed as the favorite of the fringe, reports CBS News correspondent Dean Reynolds.

Unlike other candidates consigned to the periphery, Paul has refused to go away. He is now in a tie for third in Iowa with supposed top-tier hopefuls.

And in live-free-or-die New Hampshire, he believes his anti-Iraq war, anti-tax, pro-freedom message with its libertarian tinge may resonate.

"People are flocking to the campaign," says Paul. "Maybe they've been starved for a campaign like this."

Paul's trip to Plymouth was promising: one woman told Reynolds that he was following the next president.

"Absolutely! No doubt," she says.

Paul's supporters are fervent - almost feverish - both on the ground and online.

He has used the Internet to drum up the bulk of an eye-popping 18 million dollars in this quarter alone from what he says are frustrated members of both parties and first-time voters. If money talks, Ron Paul is shouting.

"I am surprised," Paul says. "But I'm disappointed that I am surprised. Why shouldn't this be a popular message? Why was I pessimistic?"

He adds: "Why do we assume that everybody wants the status quo? And evidently they don't."

[bluehalfmoon]

The biggest porkers in this years congress are members of Ron Paul''s own Republican party. If Mr. Paul wants to change the system, why doesn''t he start with these jokers. Birds of a feather flock together.


The demise of the bridge to nowhere notwithstanding, Sen. Ted Stevens and other Republicans remain the kings of pork-barrel spending, proving that GOP mastery of "earmarks" can withstand public scorn, a president''s rebuke and even a Democratic takeover of Congress.

The Senate''s two biggest sponsors of this year''s pet spending projects are Republicans Stevens of Alaska and Thad Cochran of Mississippi, according to preliminary reviews of fiscal 2008 spending bills by Taxpayers for Common Sense, a nonpartisan group. Two of the House''s three biggest claimants of earmarks also are Republicans: Bill Young of Florida and Jerry Lewis of California, the group found.

[sevenveils]

"I''ve only fired one a couple of times in my life. I''ve never gotten around to killing anything."
-- Ron Paul, on guns

[geffra1]

Find out why people are so passionate about Ron Paul. Find out what his stances are here http://youtube.com/watch?v=yCM_wQy4YVg

[yongamerica]

Ron Paul should have Ross Perot as his running mate. But they''ll have the same problem Bush and Cheney did in 2000, the Pres and V. Pres cannot come from the same state, so Cheney changed his Texas residency to somewhere else just in time for the elections.

[cfin5]

Ron Paul''s Straw Poll Results
Updated on December 10, 2007
Ron Paul''s Head-to-Head Records (Win-Lose-Tie):
Ron Paul v. Rudy Giuliani 43-7-0
Ron Paul v. Mitt Romney 34-16-0
Ron Paul v. Fred Thompson 34-15-0
Ron Paul v. John McCain 44-5-0
Ron Paul v. Mike Huckabee 42-6-1
Ron Paul v. Duncan Hunter 46-2-0

[tessies101]

Pilgrimsway:
You have it wrong man. Ron Paul wants to give people a choice, wouldn''t you rather be able to decide for yourself? Or are you one of the people out there that wants government to take care of you from cradle to grave? As for those already on Social Security they will continue their benefits until death. Ron Paul will make sure the alloted amount is there for them, but we must have a foreign policy that will bring our troops home so we can cut that spending and stop aid to other countries so we can take care of our OWN FIRST. If the younger generation want to invest for their retirement money and they can certainly do a better job then our government they should not be denied that. Personally, I have paid into the system for over 25 years, but if I could get out of Social Security now or within the next 2 years I will be more than happy to keep that money and invest it over the next 20 years of my working life. I guess some people don''t get it. We have fostered a welfare/gimme society and it has to come to a close before our country is bankrupt.

[pilgrimsway-2009]

Ron Paul On Social Security!
http://www.issues2000.org/Contact_House.asp?name=Ron_Paul

* Allow young people to get out of the system. (Oct 2007)
* Personal retirement accounts allow investing in one''''s future. (Sep 2007)
* Federal government won''''t keep its entitlement promises. (Mar 2007)
* Voted YES on raising 401(k) limits & making pension plans more portable. (May 2001)
* Voted YES on reducing tax payments on Social Security benefits. (Jul 2000)
* Voted NO on strengthening the Social Security Lockbox. (May 1999)
* Rated 30% by the ARA, indicating an anti-senior voting record. (Dec 2003)
What do you think entitlement promises are?
and No to the SS Lockbox!
Ron Paul will take away Social Security
Of course this is why the younger generation will vote for Him. So they do not have to contribute to Social Security!

[pilgrimsway-2009]

Ron Paul On Social Security!
http://www.issues2000.org/Contact_House.asp?name=Ron_Paul

* Allow young people to get out of the system. (Oct 2007)
* Personal retirement accounts allow investing in one''''s future. (Sep 2007)
* Federal government won''''t keep its entitlement promises. (Mar 2007)
* Voted YES on raising 401(k) limits & making pension plans more portable. (May 2001)
* Voted YES on reducing tax payments on Social Security benefits. (Jul 2000)
* Voted NO on strengthening the Social Security Lockbox. (May 1999)
* Rated 30% by the ARA, indicating an anti-senior voting record. (Dec 2003)
What do you think entitlement promises are?
and No to the SS Lockbox!
Ron Paul will take away Social Security

[cfin5]

Come on Americans!.....Yes that means you! It''s the eleventh hour of the High Noon birth of TYRANNY in our nation! Tyranny and Liberty are enemies. So put on your Red, White and Blue "Constitutional Coat of Arms" and start banging on that cracked Liberty Bell of ours. That''s what it''s there for! That crack in the Bell should always be enough to remind us of how fragile our Freedom is!........Ron Paul, proven public servant to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America in 2008! GO USA!!!

[cfin5]

Americans!......Wake up! Can''t you see that America is in danger?....Go to (www.ronpaul2008.com) and see why its important for us to hire (vote) "Ron Paul Jones" as President. Hoist the Navy Jack "Don''t Tread On Me" Flag in your hearts and sign up for duty in our modern day "Bonhomme Richard" ship of rEVOLution......Your country really needs you this time!!!

[freedom4usa]

Here is a chance to vote for your candidate in an online AOL Straw Poll that AOL says is spam proof.

http://news.aol.com/political-machine/straw-poll

ONLY A Doctor WILL HEAL Our Country,
Freedom4America

[jayharrison7]

Ron Paul is no "long-shot". I wish the media would stop trying to bury him. He''s got the support of middle-class America - and they don''t want to admit it. Go Ron Paul!

[duffyn]

I have to cry b**sh*T on this a vote for so and so is a vote for terrorism. ALL the candidates love our country and have the ability to direct our military, cia, etc properly to keep our country safe. The only "candidates" truly incapable of that is the bush admin which some got elected TWICE!!! I am still so disgusted when I think of that I think people you got what you deserved! How could anyone vote for bush again?? My god, he has been borrowing money that we repay with interest to give tax breaks to the wealthy and people went down and voted him in again????????????? Ohhhhhh Arggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhh Oh and handing out phony purple hearts as a rank on Kerry. How utterly competely cheesy and insulting and people voted him in again???????? Call me totally disgusted!

[frdm08]

Thank you, CBS for a straight up news story!

Ron Paul was awesome on Meet the Press! I loved watching him school Russert on the Constitution, the Civil War and how Federal earmarks work. The truth trumps political gamesmanship every time!

Ron Paul is going to win the nomination!

Thanks to Ron Paul and the internet, we the people are finally waking up!

I can''t begin to tell you how great if feels to be a part of the re"love"ution! Join us and help take back our country!


Ron Paul 2008!

[radiob-2009]

I am happy for all of the Ron Paul supporters on all sides of the aisle that they have found a candidate that they can place the faith of our nation in. Here is a hint though , stop referring to him as Dr. No, the first image that comes to mind is from the James Bond movie of the same name. Defend but do not distort his positions and always have a grain of pessimism in your optimism about your candidate, our nation has endured to much and needs a new path let the path that is chosen be the correct one. I cannot join you in your zest, nor can I join any other candidate in support at present time regardless of political/religious affiliation. Have a Merry Christmas everyone.

[cfin5]

Posted by t_barr at 11:15 PM : Dec 23, 2007-----------------Good work t-barr! Can''t blink with the opportunity we have this election.......Good night guys/gals! Have a constitutional, politically correct-free,......Merry Christmas! Be safe on the roads too!

[sdbenfam]

Ron Paul rocks!
Individual freedom rocks!
The Constitution rocks!
Our country has slowly become what it once fought against and it is disgusting. Even our money has become something that others what accept because it is such a farce. Something needs to be done and seems that Ron Paul is the only candidate that is will to go against the media driven politics and go back to a constitution driven county.

[pilgrimsway-2009]

Ron Paul On Social Security!

* Allow young people to get out of the system. (Oct 2007)
* Personal retirement accounts allow investing in one''''s future. (Sep 2007)
* Federal government won''''t keep its entitlement promises. (Mar 2007)
* Voted YES on raising 401(k) limits & making pension plans more portable. (May 2001)
* Voted YES on reducing tax payments on Social Security benefits. (Jul 2000)
* Voted NO on strengthening the Social Security Lockbox. (May 1999)
* Rated 30% by the ARA, indicating an anti-senior voting record. (Dec 2003)
What do you think entitlement promises are?
and No to the SS Lockbox!
Ron Paul will take away Social Security

[sdbenfam]

Ron Paul rocks!
Individual freedom rocks!
The Constitution rocks!
Our country has slowly become what it once fought against and it is disgusting. Even our money has become something that others what accept because it is such a farce. Something needs to be done and seems that Ron Paul is the only candidate that is will to go against the media driven politics and go back to a constitution driven county.

[jeffsmathers]

Ron Paul represents the best hope of reestablishing this county back to a Constitutional government and representation. Unfortunately, there is a very large corporate and Federal Reserve banking infrastructure which will fight tooth and nail against any deconstruction of the status-quo.

I firmly believe we are likely, unable to fully %u201Cmend%u201D the Constitutional cancers that have affixed themselves to the holes and amendments we have allowed to be inflicted by our legislators and Executive orders from a president that emulate a drive-up window at McDonalds.

However how painful, a revolution must accompany the next changes in our government to de-scale and reestablish our federal, state and local governments to their proper and legitimate place.
If we are going to be a third world country in the next 15 - 20 years, let%u2019s do it with some dignity and show them our system of government will not be another flash-in-the-pan experiment that can be bought by international entities and markets%u2026.

I am 53 and a previous Republican Navy/Vet. and the Republicans left me years ago to follow their own persuasions and promises.