Where Will Ron Paul Voters Turn?

Politico: Dedicated Supporters Attracted To His Unique Platform Are Up For Grabs

(The Politico)  This story was written by Ben Adler.

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With iconoclast Ron Paul having ended his quixotic bid for the Republican presidential nomination - his platform had called for, among other things, ending the Iraq War, repealing the PATRIOT Act, returning to the gold standard and eliminating taxes on tips - his many dedicated supporters are up for grabs.

Even excluding his support in caucus states, Paul received a few more than a million votes in the Republican primary, finished second in five states including Pennsylvania and Oregon and continued to draw votes well after he’d effectively withdrawn from the race. His campaign also tapped into the potent new vein of online fundraising, punctuated by the so-called “money bomb” day when his supporters, unaided by his campaign, managed to pump $5 million into his coffers in 24 hours.

It’s a support base that could make the difference in a close election, and while there’s no guarantee that his supporters will turn out at the polls for GOP standard-bearer John McCain, one thing seems clear: Despite their overlapping anti-Iraq war positions, Barack Obama will not make major inroads among them.

Paul’s campaign says he is unlikely to endorse anyone. Absent that endorsement, many of his campaign officials expect Paul’s votes will splinter - and the names of Libertarian candidate Bob Barr and Constitution Party candidate Chuck Baldwin come up at least as frequently as does Obama's.

“I would be very surprised to see many people going for Barack Obama,” said Jesse Benton, Paul’s campaign spokesman. “Barr will pick up some, but the majority will go Republican or stay home.”

“Obama’s probably getting the least support from Ron Paul supporters,” said Marianne Stebbins, Paul’s state coordinator in Minnesota. “Fewer will vote for Obama than Bob Barr. There will be some because the war is such a big issue, but they can also vote for Barr.”

Paul's unique mix of views, which included privatizing social security, allowing states to legalize medicinal marijuana, opposition to abortion rights, enhanced border security and opposition to environmental regulation attracted a rabid following of supporters to his campaign. Their activity online - one popular conservative blog banned pro-Paul comments after being inundated with them - and their campaign donations delivered Paul from obscurity to the top tier of Republican candidates. He raised $17.75 million in the last quarter of 2007 - the most money of any Republican.

The organizing success led to strong finishes in many primaries, particularly among younger voters. In Iowa, for instance, he attracted just 10 percent of the vote overall, but took 21 percent of the vote among caucus goers younger than 30.

While it had little impact on his base of political support, Paul found himself the subject of widespread criticism when racist remarks published in the 1990s in the Ron Paul Political Report, a newsletter he’s distributed for decades, came to light in January. Unsigned articles - which Paul denies having written or even read and says he disagrees with, but some of which had personal details that corresponded to his - in the newsletter bearing his name attacked blacks, gays and pro-Israel groups. One article claimed that "order was only restored [after the 1992 Los Angeles riots] when it came time for the blacks to pick up their welfare checks."

“I don’t see Ron Paul supporters voting for Obama,” said David Hart, Paul’s Montana state coordinator. “They recognize Obama’s positions are diametrically opposed to things we believe in.”

For some Paul supporters, the only way they can see supporting McCain is if the presumptive GOP nominee reverses his core positions on foreign and economic policy.

“Unless McCain does make changes in his platform,” including abandoning his support for the Iraq War and renouncing deficit spending, “I don’t think [Paul supporters] will be voting for him,” said Hart, who hopes to attend the Republican Convention as a delegate for the state. “They will more likely be voting for the Constitution Party or Bob Barr.”

“It wouldn’t surprise me if a lot of the disaffected Republicans would cast their vote for Bob Barr because he’s much more conservative than John McCain,” said Jeff Greenspan, Paul’s Nevada state coordinator.

Although Paul is often called a libertarian, his supporters seem to be significantly more conservative than most libertarian-leaning voters, who were nearly split between Bush and Kerry in 2004.

Paul “tapped into anti-war, socially conservative voters,” explained Brink Lindsey, vice president for research at the libertarian CATO Institute.

“A lot of [Paul supporters] are going to vote a straight Republican ticket,” said Jean McIver. “A number will vote Republican for everything but the president.”

Others, though, will vote for McCain as the lesser of the two evils with a chance of taking the White House. “A lot of [Paul supporters] are in a quandary over McCain,” said Jean McIver, Paul’s Texas coordinator. “Some will vote for McCain because they don’t want Obama to win.”

Paul’s campaign officials also complain that his supporters have felt shunned by the Republican Party, particularly at state party conventions where they have often come out in large numbers. In Nevada, the state party attempted a rule change that Paul supporters say was intended to tamp down the large number of them running for positions at party delegates. In states where the primary is non-binding, such as Montana, Paul's grassroots activists who have been elected to attend the RNC still may cast their ballots for him.

And Paul is holding his own rally in Minneapolis during the convention.

“A lot depends on how Republicans treat people who come to support Ron Paul,” said Benton.

The McCain campaign says they will reach out to Paul’s voters on a personal level and that they will win them over. “Unlike Barack Obama, John McCain does not believe that government is the answer to every problem,” said McCain spokesman Joe Pounder. “At the end of the day, Ron Paul supporters will find that their positions align more often with John McCain.”

But the Obama camp also hopes to pull in some of Paul’s voters by appealing to the same discontent with mainstream Republicans that drew them to Paul. “We think disenchanted Republicans and independents will choose Barack Obama over John McCain for the same reason they chose Ron Paul over John McCain ... a war that has made us less secure, a debt that will burden our children and grandchildren and degraded our Constitution, and instead of change, John McCain offers more of the same,” said Obama spokesman Hari Sevugan.

But some Paul supporters are concerned not only that Obama does not share their domestic positions, but also that he is not anti-war enough.

“Obama’s voted for continued funding of the war,” said Debbie Hopper, Paul’s Missouri coordinator. “His foreign policy isn’t noninterventionist, as we believe it should be.”

“He’s very much into supporting the war effort even though he says he’ll withdraw,” said Hart of Montana.

Left-leaning independent candidate Ralph Nader - whose views on activist government domestically are diametrically opposed to Paul’s - has attempted to get in on the potential Paul-supporters vote bonanza. Nader issued an appeal to Paul’s voters immediately after Paul dropped out, saying, “there is a clear choice for those who want to support a candidate who will stand up against the war and stand up for personal liberties and privacy.”

But Nader’s plea seems to have fallen on deaf ears. Not one of the Paul activists interviewed for this article mentioned Nader.

“I sure haven’t heard anybody talking about him,” said Hopper.

[kansas1946]

Oh, they can just vote for that nut, Bob Barr. Or maybe Ralph Nader. :o)

[lorinkundert]

Where? To that blank line at the bottom of the ballot where we will write in "Ron Paul"

[vnveteran72]

It doesn''t matter.....The Rich and Powerful Ruling Elite will go on doing whatever they wish and American Citizens will go on being Slaves to their Machine. They would NEVER Allow a Ron Paul into Office, and if by some miracle he DID make it, they''d simply have him Wacked. Until Americans Rise up and Sieze Back their Nation by Force, things will remain the same, and get progressively worse over time.....
It''s time for a New American Revolution....

[cfin5]

I''m voting for Chuck Baldwin, the Constitution Party nominee (www.constitutionparty.com). I just want to be an American like our Constitution and Bill of Rights has prescribed. I''m not thirsty for a "new and improved" spin on any form of socialism,....or the current GOPlin talking heads.

[pastor1231]

Paul is going to hurt the Republican Party Bad, There are former Huckabee supporters signing a petition to support Bob Barr if Huckabee isnt on the republican ticket. McCain better hurry up and annoucne Huckabee as the veep before conservatives start liking Bob Barr. There is also a movement to make Ron Paul, Bob Barrs VP. If this happens McCain wont have a chance. The petition is at www.BarrPaul08.com

[pastor1231]

Paul is going to hurt the Republican Party Bad, There are former Huckabee supporters signing a petition to support Bob Barr if Huckabee isnt on the republican ticket. McCain better hurry up and annoucne Huckabee as the veep before conservatives start liking Bob Barr. There is also a movement to make Ron Paul, Bob Barrs VP. If this happens McCain wont have a chance. The petition is at www.BarrPaul08.com

[conspiracygirl]

Well, the Republican Party does need to take a fall if it is ever going to regain its own soul. I''m happy to help them take that fall, so I''ll be voting for Bob Barr this November.

Ron Paul will not be Barr''s running mate as he already has one: Wayne Allen Root.

If Huckabee supporters would like to vote for Bob Barr, that is fine, but I hope they realize his platform has some core differences. I''d be very happy for them to learn about those differences and adopt them into their own political paradigm.

[singletax]

I switched parties to vote for Ron Paul in the Primary but now I''m back to the Democratic Party. I will vote for O''Bama and in fact I would vote the local dog catcher for President before I vote for a republican.

Ron Paul exposed the cost of corporate welfare via global police work with our intervening in over 130 countries on this planet. Iraq and Afghanistan are the latest. This nonsense drains our treasury with no return for the average citizen. Yea, a few corporations make a buck but the rest of us pay.

Exposing this is Ron Paul''s legacy and we all should thank him for advocating a lone sane policy among a bunch of paranoid NEOCONs bankrupting our economy.

[kansas1946]

Although Paul is often called a libertarian, his supporters seem to be significantly more conservative than most libertarian-leaning voters, who were nearly split between Bush and Kerry in 2004.
************************************

Ron Paul is not even close to being a Libertarian and neither is Bob Barr. I am surprised the Libertarian party would accept Bob Barr as their candidate.

[luvusa]

Ron Paul exposed the cost of corporate welfare via global police work with our intervening in over 130 countries on this planet. Iraq and Afghanistan are the latest. This nonsense drains our treasury with no return for the average citizen. Yea, a few corporations make a buck but the rest of us pay.Posted by singletax

I wonder what he would think of your vote for Obama?

[luvusa]

It''''s time for a New American Revolution....
Posted by vnveteran72

How do you suggest this go down?

[luvusa]

I am forced to vote for McCain, as many conservatives probably feel. There is NO way I would vote for the VERY inexperienced Senator Obama. The dems were foolish to make Obama their candidate, Hillary would have been a more formidable opponent for McCain. She probably could have beat him, Obama doesn''t stand a chance.

[mvbcdo]

I think I''ll probably vote for Bob Barr. He''s not as inspiring as Ron Paul, but he''s still in the right direction. I know he probably won''t win, but the more votes and the more attention he gets, the more attention the R3VOLUTION movement as a whole will get.

Perhaps if Sen. McCain loses and Bob Barr gets a significant number of votes, Republicans will take notice and look at the Philosophy of Liberty, true conservatism, a bit more closely.

[mvbcdo]

I think I''ll probably vote for Bob Barr. He''s not as inspiring as Ron Paul, but he''s still in the right direction. I know he probably won''t win, but the more votes and the more attention he gets, the more attention the R3VOLUTION movement as a whole will get.

Perhaps if Sen. McCain loses and Bob Barr gets a significant number of votes, Republicans will take notice and look at the Philosophy of Liberty, true conservatism, a bit more closely.

[mvbcdo]

I think I''ll probably vote for Bob Barr. He''s not as inspiring as Ron Paul, but he''s still in the right direction. I know he probably won''t win, but the more votes and the more attention he gets, the more attention the R3VOLUTION movement as a whole will get.

Perhaps if Sen. McCain loses and Bob Barr gets a significant number of votes, Republicans will take notice and look at the Philosophy of Liberty, true conservatism, a bit more closely.

[beastof70]

I think OsamaObama should take this popcorn *** sized gathering of voters, since it has been my experience weirdos tend to flock together like buzzards after the same skunky road kill.

[beastof70]

Has anyone put a pencil to this far more significant set of numbers:

Let''s consider this....If OsamaObama can take every black vote in this nation it would still be less than 30 million votes.

Okay, let''s think about this: During the primaries both OsamaObama and the Hillaroid pulled about 36 million votes total.

So either way you want to look at it.....At best OsamaObama is starting his campaign with 40 million votes in his pocket heading toward the general.

Now consider:
Even though G.W. Bush is in the low 30% in national popularity polls, there has been a solid 26% of this nations voters who have, like myself, remained a rabid G.W. Bush supporter.

Assuming this bunch of nation loving real Americans remains solid and votes for McCain, it starts John off with a slick 77 million real Americans in his pocket heading into the general.

It would seem this 35 million plus gap OsamaObama has to attract seems a reason for him to quit standing out there shooting all Americans the middle finger on issues like Oil, taxes, and spending.

[sgtrds-e4]

To Bob Barr and as I dedicated Democrat I can tell you that I strongly support Bob Barr''s presidential run.

[greatdrivew]

Ron Paul is irrelevant. The only thing that matters now is how long will it take before Barack stabs his entire base in the back. First its FISA, next, who knows?

All it gonna take is another knife or two and Barack''s base will look like it did when he started; at which point McCain will skate into the White House.

So how long is it going to be before you knife us again, Barack? What will it be next time? Oh and let me guess, when you shred the Bill of Rights you''ll probably make yet another pathetic promise to be a responsible custodian of your newfound powers?

Too bad for us you are completely lacking in vision Barack, or else you''d realize that perhaps the next President won''t be quite as custodial as you promise.

But then again, we''ve heard your promises before, haven''t we? I believe it was "Change We Can Believe In."

Forgive me for longer believing, Barack. Forgive me for thinking you''re just another self absorbed DC fraud. I did believed in you, but now I see you for what you are: a complete fraud!!

[ramportland]

A question for Ron Paul supporters who proclaim their love for liberty and pay great lip service to the fatther''s of our constituion. Do you think "Liberty" is not worth fighting for? Would you not support those who cry for it, those who desperately seek it. What would your response be to Sudan, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan under the Taliban, Bosnia. Would it be "leave us Alone. Don''t involve us in your affairs?". Isnt'' this same apathy the reason Nazism spread in Germany. Shouldn''t you defend your liberty against those who are continously attacking it.

Vote for the man who suffered five years and fought every day to retain his liberty, one small victory at a time. Vote Senator McCain for president.

[patriot12436]

beastof70
You forgot to mention the percentage of white radical groups in America who will not vote for obama.

[patriot12436]

ramportland
I will vote for mccain if that is what it takes to keep obama out of the white house. I however do not support the war in Iraq. We had a reason for going into Afghanastan. I think we need to stop all foreign aid.We can no longer afford to support the rest of the world. Also we need to stop trying to be the world police and we wouldn''t have as many enemies. Hard to believe i ama retired war dog, but war showed me it isn''t the answer to solving most problems. We have the nuclear capability to protect ourselves from any threat. Leave it at that. Bring our troops home.

[patriot12436]

singletax
I feel the same way, only i would support any one over obama.

[patriot12436]

lovusa
I am afraid the seeds may have already been sown and we have noi choice how a revolution will start. When enough working class lose what they have worked all their lives for and cannot feed their families they will revolt just like in any other country. It has already started here in Thailand with peaceful demostrations. I fear in time it will escalate to become violent as they get tired of waiting and will overthrow the govt. These are good hard working people but they are starting o starve, so is just a matter of time.

[patriot12436]

vnveteran72
I agree this could happen. I also see the same scenario for obama if elected. There are white racial groupos that will never asccept having a black president. I don''t like obama but don''t want to see this happen to him. America has enough problems now without this.

[patriot12436]

kansas1946
If obama gets elected then i think you will see who the real nuts are. If he is elected i hope you are right about him.

[h0bbes21]

A lot of libertarians support Obama, mostly for his positions on the war and civil liberties. In the words of Larry Hunter:

"The answer boils down to this: It is indicative of how much I value individual freedom and how profoundly important I believe foreign policy to be at this juncture of American history that I am enthusiastically supporting Barack Obama for president despite how profoundly wrong he is on economic and tax policy. (It also doesn''t hurt that McCain himself is only slightly less wrong on economic and tax policy than Obama.)"

(from the New Republic)

http://blogs.tnr.com/tnr/blogs/the_plank/archive/2008/06/19/obamacon-has-questions-for-the-senator.aspx

[h0bbes21]

A lot of libertarians support Obama, mostly for his positions on the war and civil liberties. In the words of Larry Hunter:

"The answer boils down to this: It is indicative of how much I value individual freedom and how profoundly important I believe foreign policy to be at this juncture of American history that I am enthusiastically supporting Barack Obama for president despite how profoundly wrong he is on economic and tax policy. (It also doesn''t hurt that McCain himself is only slightly less wrong on economic and tax policy than Obama.)"

(from the New Republic)

http://blogs.tnr.com/tnr/blogs/the_plank/archive/2008/06/19/obamacon-has-questions-for-the-senator.aspx

[h0bbes21]

A lot of libertarians support Obama, mostly for his positions on the war and civil liberties. In the words of Larry Hunter:

"The answer boils down to this: It is indicative of how much I value individual freedom and how profoundly important I believe foreign policy to be at this juncture of American history that I am enthusiastically supporting Barack Obama for president despite how profoundly wrong he is on economic and tax policy. (It also doesn''t hurt that McCain himself is only slightly less wrong on economic and tax policy than Obama.)"

(from the New Republic)

http://blogs.tnr.com/tnr/blogs/the_plank/archive/2008/06/19/obamacon-has-questions-for-the-senator.aspx

[acolton1]

Who Cares about Ron Paul. During the Debates he seemed to not be running on all thrusters and was minus a few nuts and bolts. Ron Paul is an IDIOT and on the fence of being 1/2 crazy.

[antoniof123]

With iconoclast Ron Paul having ended his quixotic bid for the Republican presidential nomination - his platform had called for, among other things, ending the Iraq War, repealing the PATRIOT Act, returning to the gold standard and eliminating taxes on tips - his many dedicated supporters are up for grabs.

Let me see they are against the war against the PATRIOT ACT and they will still vote Republicans now I see why their canidate lost.

[beastof70]

beastof70
You forgot to mention the percentage of white radical groups in America who will not vote for obama.
Posted by patriot12436 at 04:14 AM : Jun 24, 2008
===================

No, but I did include a percentage that includes the white radicals who will vote for OsamaObama. This group is known as the left wing pinko, hyphenated-Americans.

[aldon61]

Without question.....BOB BARR! Go Bob go!!!!

[beastof70]

Has anyone taken note of the latest.....OsamaObama is so busy chasing the big ethanol producers dollar that he''s once again telling America to go drill themselves. He''s been in the pocket of big ethanol producers since day one when he entered the Senate.

I know I''ve been wondering what on earth would cause this inexperienced rookie to continue standing out in the open, clinging to his NO DRILLING, NO TIME, NO WHERE position as he shoots the vast majority of Americans the middle finger.

I''ve seen how he keeps his rabidly irrational minions in line by constantly reminding these morons of *** Cheney''s connection to Haliburton....Even though Haliburton is not an oil producer???

For fifty years now Haliburton has had no effect on gas prices, but now OsamaObama is claiming they''re responsible for this 70+% increase in just the last 18 months since the Democrats regained control of Congress??????????

[beastof70]

If OsamaObama is the proponent of "CHANGE"

Why does he look so much like a deer caught in headlights these days when action is required to get this so called "Enron" loop hole he points at closed??

If OsamaObama wants to implement "CHANGE" and really stick it to the commodities traders, why doesn''t he get off his butt and get this greenie weenie bio-diesel "SPLASH AND DASH" loop hole changed prior to the July 4th break?? They reported this loop hole will cost America $800 million dollars by next year if it''s not closed.

Come on you hyphenated-Americans, knock off your steady drum beat of name calling and whine....Offer up some real answers.

Now we see how all of my above questions have been answered when it was revealed yesterday how OsamaObama has long been in the pocket of big ethanol producers. It''s in his best interest to drive the price of crude oil sky high!!!

[king_quest]

Casualties in Iraq
The Human Cost of Occupation
American Military Casualties in Iraq

American Deaths :
Since war began (3/19/03) 4104
Total In Combat 3344

Since "Mission Accomplished" (5/1/03) (the list)
Since war began 3962
Total In Combat 3236

Since Capture of Saddam (12/13/03):
Since war began 3643
Total In Combat 3038

Since Handover (6/29/04):
Since war began 3245
Total In Combat 2711

Since Election (1/31/05):
Since war began 2667
Total In Combat 2448

American Wounded
Total Wounded: 30,333
Official Estimated 23,000 - 100,000

Iraqi deaths due to U.S. Invasion 1,225,898

Others
Other Coalition Troops 313
US Military Deaths - Afghanistan 530

This is the return on your Investment of The War in Iraq Costs
$531,019,964,726
(as of 6/24/08 10:02 AM ET)

Paul & Obama agree to end Iraq WAR!!!!!!!!!!

[king_quest]

I know I''''ve been wondering what on earth would cause this inexperienced rookie to continue standing out in the open, clinging to his NO DRILLING, NO TIME, NO WHERE position as he shoots the vast majority of Americans the middle finger. Posted by Beastof70 at 10:00 AM
______________________________________________________

FACT:
We''re not trying to get Saudi to drill more, we''re trying to get them to pump more of what they''re drilling. They''re not pumping what they could, number one. This is a gift, a gift to the oil companies by John McCain. They have now leased 41 million acres of offshore leases. They''re only pumping in 10.2 million of those acres. Seventy-nine percent of all the offshore oil available off the coast of Florida, into the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic Coast, the Pacific Coast, lies within those acres that they now have. Why are they not pumping? Why are they not doing this? Why are they not pursuing what''s estimated to be a total of 70--54 billion barrels of oil at their disposal right now if they pump? Why are these greedy fellows deciding they want to go beyond that? It''s because they want to get it in before George Bush leaves the presidency. It''s because they''re not pumping the oil to keep the price up. They are not even drilling. So here you have 30 million leased acres they have right now that possesses 79 percent of all the offshore, and they''re not drilling. And John says they need more? And it would take 10 years for it to come online.

[zerato-2009]

Why is it that they pundits are wondering where the paul voter will go? They will go to the candidate that best covers their concerns. Why is it that both parties feel an entitlement to all the votes. And if you do not vote for either party you are "throwing away your vote".

The election is a buffet of ideas and we should be ale to choose what we want. I do not like the hamburger and pizza the major parties are offering. So paul voters have fun and vote your beliefs.

[king_quest]

SEN. BIDEN: Let''s get this straight...

SEN. GRAHAM: ...the price for gas.

SEN. BIDEN: ...they can do that already.

SEN. GRAHAM: No, they don''t. There''s a federal moratorium on off-coast drilling.

SEN. BIDEN: No, no, no, no. There''s a moratorium on--no, this is off-coast. Where do you think the 40 million acres are, Lindsey? They''re off the coasts.

SEN. GRAHAM: So.

SEN. BIDEN: They''re off the coasts.

SEN. GRAHAM: So.

SEN. BIDEN: Forty million acres off coast. They want to get to the other 600 million acres that are not included in this.

SEN. GRAHAM: I thought we were talking...

SEN. BIDEN: The 79 percent of the reserves they already have access to, off your coast and mine.

SEN. GRAHAM: I thought we were talking--I thought the question that we were asked is there''s new resources being made available by lifting the moratorium.

SEN. BIDEN: That''s simply not true.

SEN. GRAHAM: It''s not? Well, that would be news to everybody.

SEN. BIDEN: There are existing resources that they have available that they''re not drilling for now. Those are the facts.

[king_quest]

SEN. BIDEN: We already can do that. Let''s get the facts. You''re entitled to your own opinion, not your own facts. Forty million acres leased offshore, number one. Number two, the first well to be dug from the time they lease, if Lindsey gives them access to more area, it''ll take 10 years from the time the lease is let to the time oil comes out of the bottom of the sea in the new leases.

[obama8years]

This may appear racist, but its the truth, and if the Obamas are not vetted, we dont want any surprises later on. So I will post some things that seem shocking but true.

Politico.com received a possibly redacted copy from the Obama campaign recently. The excerpts show that Obama identifies with black militancy, utterly obsessed with race in America and her own blackness. It is a fundamentally racist document.



Obama%u2019s thesis is full of paranoid claims and overtly racist feelings. She cannot accept the idea of a diverse student body working together in a melting pot. Others worry about her black militancy here.

%u201CI have found that at Princeton, no matter how liberal and open-minded some of my white professors and classmates try to be toward me, I sometimes feel like a visitor on campus; as if I really don%u2019t belong. Regardless of the circumstances under which I interact with whites at Princeton, it often seems as if, to them, I will always be black first and a student second.%u201D

Not only does she see separate black and white societies in America, but she elevates black over white in her world.

%u201CThere was no doubt in my mind that as a member of the black community, I was somehow obligated to this community and would utilize all of my present and future resources to benefit this community first and foremost. %u201C

What is Michelle Obama planning to do with her future resources that will elevate black over white in America?

[ricknhouston]

Thank you King_Quest forkeeping us all informed on the "Numbers", however, There is one number that is forever absent, the one that nobody wants to see, hear or talk about! Can anyone guess which one that is ? Let me help ... it''s the one that tells us of the estimated 25,000 military men and women who, since Operation Dessert Storm in 1991, have taken their own lives. Yeah, you read it right ....25,000! And that was last years count taken by an independent news correspondent. Why did a "news correspondent" want to know these numbers, you ask! Because they are not kept, reported on, included or even acknowledged by the Pentagon. Why not? For the same reasons they don''t let you see the flag draped caskets being offloaded at Andrews AFB.... because GeeDubya told them to!

[king_quest]

SHE MARRIED A MAN WHO IS BOTH BALCK & WHITE, GET OVER THE FAKE, SHIZZIT. She is no diffrent than you! Have you ever gone through a diccovery period, or ever had an epiphany or is this new to you? People have a right to question anything and everything, it is call free will, protected by free speech.

you can have your own opinion but not your own facts!!!!!!!

[jivedadson]

I am a huge Ron Paul supporter. I campaigned, contributed the max, and organized a meetup group. Unless there''s a local or state issue that I have a strong opinion on, I plan to sleep in on election day, as is my habit. If a decent, honest, and intelligent man or woman who will obey the Constitution is ever nominated, then I will vote again. I am not optimistic, but we will keep on trying. Join The Campaign For Liberty.

[jivedadson]

I''ll stay home.

[studdock-2009]

Running a campaign on individual liberty and a return to the constitution is quixotic?

I guess lancing Iraq and fighting "evildoers" is not at all quixotic...
/dumb

[studdock-2009]

Running a campaign on individual liberty and a return to the constitution is quixotic?

I guess lancing Iraq and fighting "evildoers" is not at all quixotic...
/dumb

[jamesorleans]

"Paul''s unique mix of views, which included privatizing social security, allowing states to legalize medicinal marijuana, opposition to abortion rights, enhanced border security and opposition to environmental regulation"


I had to stop here in the article, this is not news. Included at my stopping point is a very biased and short list of items in Mr. Paul''s platform. Funny how fiscal responsibility (i.e. bloated government), anti-foreign intervention (i.e. anti-Iraq War) and strong currency (i.e. anti-Fed intervention) didn''t make the list. Do you think those positions might be a bit more important than the lame ones mentioned in this little hit piece? I should have stopped as soon as I saw the mainstream media''s favorite cliche term "quixotic".

What has happened to journalism? Where is my Economist?

[shanklinmike]

I will be voting for Bob Barr. He is the only other candidate that will get 50 state ballot access and the only honest party built on principal in the libertarians. I have to go with principle over fake promises! McCain and Obama, I see right through you! Too bad the republicans have been taken over by social republicans. This country and it''s constitution have some rough times ahead of it! I think Bob Barr will be a great addition to the libertarians, especially as he learns from past mistakes the neo-cons steered him towards. I just wonder how a Ron Paul person could vote for Obama, McCain, or Nader....... None of them represent constitutional government! None of them represent Ron''s message better than Barr! There might be others to do it better than Barr but they will not get enough recognition this year nor get ballot access. www.lp.org

[lgonzales4]

I believe that the battle before us this election is not between liberalism or conservatism, but the kind of globalism that destroys individual sovereignty and promotes tyranny.

The Republican Party is unworthy of the trust and loyalty that Ron Paul supports have given their candidate. The Republican Party leaders have been either despondent or belligerent to our views and issues. I''m not interested in playing party politics for them this year.

My vote will go to either the Constitution Party, or I will seriously considering Mr. Nader because of his life long commitment to consumers rights and the multitude of public works he has championed.