Why Ron Paul is Past his Prime

(The New Ledger)  This article was written by Sean Noble for The New Ledger. He blogs at Noble Thinking.

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My argument that Ron Paul has outlived his usefulness enrages many a Paulite. What they don't know, is that I was a Paulite long before most of the current Paulite's had ever even heard of Ron Paul.

You have to know a little about my past to understand this. I grew up in Show Low, Arizona, a small ranching and timber town in the White Mountains of eastern Arizona. There is a lot less ranching and almost no timbering now, it's mostly vacation homes and tourism.

I was reared by very conservative parents. My first political memory is seeing tears in my mother's eyes in 1976 when Carter beat Ford and her saying, "We're going to be beaten by the Soviets now." Anti-communism was a staple in our household growing up. The two political magazines that showed up in the mailbox were The New American and National Review (I didn't learn until years later the massive battle between the John Birch Society and William F. Buckley).

When the U.S. Olympic hockey team beat the Soviets, you would have thought I had won the lottery. I was a kid running around the living room with my fists pumping and you would have thought that we had just defeated Communism in one, fell swoop.

I made phone calls for Reagan in 1980, passed out literature for him in 1984 and then reality hit me in 1988 when I realized that Reagan would no longer be the President.

My parents were very skeptical about George H.W. Bush. His history as a Washington insider was a stark contrast with Ronald Reagan's populism. As the campaign between Dukakis and Bush went on, I felt more and more that Bush would NOT carryon the Reagan legacy.

I turned 18 in the summer of 1988, and the first vote I cast in my life was for Ron Paul for President in November 1988.

For you younger folk, Ron Paul was the Libertarian candidate for President in 1988. I had read up on him in The New American, and read a couple interviews with him. I didn't really know much about the Libertarian Party platform (I was registered Republican, as I always have been) but his comments about the role of government, monetary policy (yes, I was an early proponent of getting us back on the gold standard - and I still am), and tax policy were music to me. I glossed over the drug legalization stuff and proudly cast my vote for Ron Paul.

I couldn't tell whether my mother was proud of me or not. She said Paul was more principled but that it was a "wasted vote." Was it? Probably. But it had an impact on me, because at the first opportunity I had to participate in this great republic (it's not a democracy) I cast a vote on principle. And I think it set the tone for every vote I have cast since - including my wasted vote for Ross Perot in 1992, and my wasted vote for the Libertarian Harry Browne in 1996. In fact, I was 30 years old before I cast a vote for a Republican for President.

When I was a Congressional staffer I had a lot of fun chiding Ron Paul's Congressional staff for not being "true" Paulites. For the 14 years I work in Congress I am the only staffer that I know of that actually voted for Paul for President in 1988.

But his time has passed. If there was anything that struck me coming out of CPAC 2010 this last weekend, it was a feeling that Ron Paul's fans need to focus less on a 74 year-old mediocre Congressman, and more on how to actually affect real change in the political process.

Paul's victory in the CPAC 2010 presidential straw poll only serves to immediately diminish the impact that CPAC could have on providing conservatives with some direction on who some of our future national leaders might be. Ron Paul certainly won't be one of them. I'm not saying that to be critical, it's just a fact.

More and more average Americans are getting involved in the political process through the Tea Party Patriots and other movements. They are real people, with real lives and most have never been involved in the political process beyond voting. The more they learn about Ron Paul, the less he will appeal to him. His dovish stance on the war on terror and his support for earmarking (the gateway drug to huge spending) won't wear well with newly inspired activists worried about federal spending and the debt. Either you are a fiscal conservative, or you're not. Unfortunately, Ron Paul is not at the most basic level.

So, conservatives, tea partiers, libertarians… Americans, let's find those who stick to fiscal conservatism, limited government and less spending and then support them like the future depends on it, because it does.



By Sean Noble:
Reprinted with permission from The New Ledger.

[victorkiriakus]

There will be many more attacks from the corporate media by neocon trolls like Sean Noble in an attempt to derail Paul's candidacy. This time around, I don't think they will be able to talk the American people out of their sound instincts on taxes, government spending, the police state, war without end, and states' rights.

Americans are longing to give up an empire they never wanted and can no longer afford. Under President Paul, America will be respected again by the rest of the world as a nation of peace.

[robertclidebrown]

Mr. Noble titles his article "The More that Tea Partiers Learn About Paul, the Less Will be his Appeal", yet the story really does very little to address this assertion.

He talks about the magazines his parents subscribed to, the "Miracle on Ice" and his "wasted" votes for other libertarians, but not until his conclusion does he even address his point at all.

He doesn't explain what made him decide his previous libertarian votes were "wasted". He just makes this jump to "his time has passed" without explaining at all why. His argument is completely circular:

"Paul?s victory in the CPAC 2010 presidential straw poll only serves to immediately diminish the impact that CPAC could have on providing conservatives with some direction on who some of our future national leaders might be. Ron Paul certainly won?t be one of them. I?m not saying that to be critical, it?s just a fact."(but why is it a fact?)

So as soon as Ron Paul wins the CPAC straw poll, the CPAC straw poll loses its legitimacy.

He only mentions that Ron Paul is "dovish" and prone to earmarking. He does not go into whether we are justified in our aggressive wars, or whether they serve us at all in combating "terrorism". He does not explain that Ron Paul votes "No" on those earmarked bills anyhow, nor does he explore whether or not Dr. Paul's strategy is honest in getting back the money that the government steals from his constituents through taxation through inflation and other means.

He challenges his readers to find true conservatives without offering up a single example (and it would be difficult to find a single representative more fiscally conservative even with the earmarks).

This article, unlike a vote for Ron Paul, was a waste. If it were not for the media's general hostility towards Ron Paul (could it be they would might stand to lose something were he elected, such as all the "Ad Council" commercials?), I would be surprised this empty, rambling article were ever reprinted at all. A better title might have been "How Sean Noble is Past his Prime" since it seems like more of a tale of how his principled stance on politics turned to empty arguments geared at diminishing the power of Ron Paul's message of liberty.

[victorkiriakus]

Neo-con hacks like Sean Noble said Reagan was too old in 1980, and insisted we needed uninspiring candidates like George Bush.I can't think of a single other Congressman that is as knowledgeable on a the full range of issues as Ron Paul.

Far from being "mediocre" Paul is the only Congressman that voted against the war(and is with the majority of Americans in opposing it now)and accurately predicted our current financial mess. Paul is a living legend among lovers of liberty all over the world.

Noble claims a vote for Paul is "wasted" and its "a fact" he has no chance of winning, by arguing Paul is against earmarks. This demonstrates how ignorant Noble is because earmarks are less than 3% of the budget.

Only an uninformed neo-con like Noble(or Sean Hannity) would say something so stupid. Noble is someone few people have ever heard of and nobody should pay any attention to.

[levity138]

First, real quick: I think the author is clearly trying to get "Paulites" riled up by throwing out these comments such as Ron Paul has "outlived his usefulness" and is "a mediocre Congressman". He's just looking to get a big response. And besides, these are very harsh things to say about a person, and words I'm sure the author would NEVER actually say to Ron Paul should he bump into him on day. "Sir, you have outlived your usefulness, and you are a mediocre Congressman." That's just outlandish.

HOWEVER, what I think the author is right about is the fact that, relatively speaking, Ron Paul the man is not really that important. In fact, Ron Paul himself knows this and says this.

What's important are THE IDEAS. People are attracted to the ideas of personal liberty, sound money, the writ of habeas corpus, and a foreign policy that is less interventionist and militaristic.

People are drawn to Paul because he simply stands unflinchingly and courageously behind those ideas. And, it's important to note, they're not "his" ideas, per se. They are the ideas of Jefferson, Hayek, von Mises, Adam Smith, etc. He's just presenting them honestly, applied to our current situation.

So, as long as Ron Paul continues to spread these ideas, get another generation inspired to carry on these ideas and to be involved in civic life, he's doing a great duty.

[angelatc]

The author is a Tea-o-con who should stop confusing the GOP platform and the TEA party objectives. And by the way, his Mom was wrong, too.

[Chuck480]

You say,"let?s find those who stick to fiscal conservatism, limited government and less spending". And just what republican, ever fits that definition? What part of the 8 years of GW Bush had anything to do with any of that? What republican in the history of the presidency has ever successfully "limited" government in any way? What agency did they shrink, downsize, cut, ever? When will these establishment republicans get it...we are sick and tired of supporting people who will not do anything in government but grow it....democrats and republicans both grow the government. That's why we are such supporters of Ron Paul...his ideas and principles...something the leadership of the republican party not only doesn't know anything about, but could care less.

[jsknow]

With years comes WISDOM! Use your head! ELECT Ron Paul in 2012 if we have to all write him in! The winner in 2012 will be the person that returns to the rights, protections and liberties of the CONSTITUTION 100%, reduces the size of the federal government on a huge scale, returns the power to individual states, ends the FED, ends income tax, returns to the gold standard, promotes a strong defensive military, ends the illegal wars we are fighting and does not start unprovoked wars, returns the USA to being self sufficient and prosperous in every way, ends the failed, harmful and wasteful drug war, identifies the crimes of government and private corruption and prosecutes the violators that have bankrupted our Country, promotes inexpensive natural medicine, is interested in renewable environmentally friendly fuels like hemp (which the diesel engine was invented to run on and could produce up to 90% of all our fuel needs without continuing to load the environment with pollution), will support and defend our allies but will not finance them free of charge with our tax dollars? the list of good things goes on and on about RON PAUL. He?s not perfect but he?s what the majority of voters want. We?re tired of being oppressed and we?re tired of being over taxed and over governed and we?re completely FED up with being governed by corruption.

The gentleman from Texas has a creed and that creed is the Constitution. The document that ALL federal US policy should be measured by. The Constitution strictly prohibits a central bank system like we have with the FED. It prohibits cruel and unusual punishment, which is becoming commonplace under the authority of our current federal legislative and executive branches (and has under both parties for many decades). It documents that our rights are inalienable and granted NOT by the Constitution but by our Creator. The Constitutional right to freedom of religion, free speech, a free press, to keep and bear arms, to be secure in your person, house, papers and effects against unreasonable search and seizure, to life, liberty and property, to be protected from having your property taken by the government without due process of law and without just compensation, to confront the witnesses against you, to be protected from excessive bail, excessive fines, cruel and unusual punishment, to vote and others have been unjustly denied to millions of Americans by the very Congress and President that took an oath to govern based on the Constitution.

Congressman Ron Paul spoke out on the House floor against US policy to assassinate US citizens, secret evidence, torture that includes American citizens, without legal recourse, secret prisons, unlimited detention, all issues that are strictly prohibited by the Constitution. He aptly points out that: ?our government and military have taken oaths to support and defend against all enemies, foreign and domestic?.

Dr. Paul appeals to ALL true Constitution supporting Americans. It?s not about which political party a person supports. It?s not about religion, it?s not about race, it?s not about any of the issues that have been distracting us as the Constitution is shredded before our very eyes. It?s about being governed by the document that has been the creed of the most successful and freest society the world has ever seen. Send Congress and the President a message! We the people support representatives like Ron Paul, which govern strictly according to the Constitution to the best of their ability! RON PAUL For President: 2012 !!!


This man has been bucking the powerful establishment of corruption in both parties. He?s been called strange and quirky and I?m sure a few other off colored adjectives but I suppose his creed calling for government of the people, by the people and for the people, would to many of our elected representatives, seem quite strange and quirky. Congressman Ron Paul deserves your support and your prayers, I don?t know of any other federal representative that consistently supports the Constitution on every issue to the best of their ability as well as Ron Paul does.

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WHY END THE DRUG WAR?
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[rockcutr]

I do not believe past prime is a valid argument. The author might be just a little ashamed that he voted with someone that chooses to legalize pot. Oh, you bad boy. Your vote is never wasted. To the Democrat for which we stand. Life Liberty and the pursuit of power, One nation divisable by 50 states and two really retarded political partys hell bent on disagreement even when an issue is absolutely correct.
Money is worthless paper without the gold standard. It is a bewilderment to all as to why the gov is determined to run our country into the ground. Lead, follow or get off the highway. Nobody gave the government the power to have their nose into every thing a citizen does. They just took it. Macarthyism clearly did not die in the 60's. Only now the suits all see terrorists instead of communists. The thing which they tout against is precisely what they themselves have become. The loudest most emotional cry is the prayer that is answered.

[Mousepd]

Look. As my Grandpa use to say: " that old dog won't hunt anynore."

-People like Congressman Jim Demint, Glenn Beck, Rush, Palin and many others INCLUDING Mr. Bash- Ron Paul supporters Sean Hannity are all copying Paul. *** for Tat.

-Now they're listening. And agreeing with everything Paul was saying all along.

- he's past his prime? Really? Well,as long as he's still talking the movement will keep growing.

[troutfishyman]

Same problem McCain had - just too old. He had his shot, maybe time to retire.