Thread: Ron Paul on the Issues

Ron Paul Tampa Rally

With the Republican National Convention just around the corner, join Dr. Ron Paul and several special guests to celebrate how far our message and movement have come this past year.



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Aug 26, 2012

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“This is the most libertarian generation that’s ever existed”

Will public disgust with creeping government drive more people than ever toward limited government principles? A very good and interesting story from Illinois’ The Telegraphabout how the movement Ron Paul ignited now also correlates with public attitudes and national trends:
To begin: This is not a story about Ron Paul.

Not exactly, anyway. And yet to get where we want to go we will start at OPA!, a Greek restaurant on the edge of town where Clark County Republicans and tea party conservatives gathered on Nevada primary night for what looked undeniably like a Ron Paul rally.

In one corner was Cindy Lake, the acting chair of the Clark County Republican Party and a delegate to this summer’s Republican National Convention. A self-described “libertarian Republican constitutional conservative,” Lake became a Paul convert in 2007 after she heard him advocate for something she passionately supports: the freedom to buy raw milk.

Nearby stood Megan Heryet, celebrating her GOP primary victory in a state Assembly race. Heryet, a real estate agent, substitute teacher and mom, is hardly a Paul fanatic. But she did back him in Nevada’s caucuses earlier this year, primarily because she is a big proponent of being free to make decisions such as choosing to give birth to her second child at home instead of a hospital. “It’s about being left alone,” she said.

And there were the Bunce brothers, Richard and Carl, who marshaled a four-year “Paulist” takeover of the Nevada Republican Party. The tax system is their biggest irritation. “This is the land of the free,” said Carl.

“How free are we when we’ve got a government that can choose how much money we keep in our paycheck?”

But we promised this wouldn’t be about Ron Paul and, in fact, it really isn’t. Rather it’s about unpasteurized milk and home births and taxes and, yes, freedom.

Something’s going on in America this election year: a renaissance of an ideal as old as the nation itself – that live-and-let-live, get-out-of-my-business, individualism vs. paternalism dogma that is the hallmark of libertarianism.

Paul, the Texas congressman and GOP presidential hopeful who champions small government and individual liberty, is one manifestation of it. We saw that with his rising popularity during the Republican presidential primary season and, now, the recent “takeovers” of political conventions in Nevada, Minnesota, Maine, Louisiana and elsewhere that will result in a sizable faction of Paul delegates at the GOP convention come August…

But what looms are far larger questions about whether an America fed up with government bans and government bailouts – with government, period – is seeing a return to its libertarian roots. And, if so, what that might mean in a potentially close presidential race and long after election 2012 is a mere memory.

“There’s this kind of growing distrust of the institutions of government, and so it leads folks to step back and say, ‘Well if they’re not working, then we ought to have less of them in our lives,”‘ said Wayne Lesperance, director of the Center for Civic Engagement at New England College in the “Live Free or Die” state of New Hampshire.

Paul’s libertarian message joins people “who probably under any other circumstances would not see the world the same way and gets them politically involved,” Lesperance said. “It is a challenge for the Republicans to wrap their arms around this and harness this in a way that gets them an electoral victory.”

This will all be hotly debated this week as thousands converge on the Las Vegas Strip for a libertarian fete called FreedomFest. U.S. Sen. Rand Paul – Ron’s son and the future hope of many limited-government enthusiasts – will speak, along with a slew of libertarian-leaning politicians, scholars, economists and entrepreneurs, from Whole Foods CEO John Mackey and publisher Steve Forbes to Gary Johnson, the Libertarian Party’s nominee for president.

When the festival first began in 2002, some 850 people attended. Last year, there were 2,400. Festival founder and economist Mark Skousen will tell you this is a sign, albeit a small one, that libertarianism – or something an awful lot like it – is surging.

“It is a rebirth,” said Skousen, and a reaction to a feeling shared by many that America has moved too far afield from its founding principles. “This country was established for the very thing that we’re fighting right now: excessive government control of our lives. In today’s world everything is either prohibited or mandated. … You have to have medical insurance. You have to wear a seat belt. … They have to pat you down (at the airport).”

Skousen has a simple analogy for all of this: “If you restrict a teenager, they rebel. I think that’s what people are feeling…”
In its annual governance survey conducted last fall, Gallup found that a record-high 81 percent of Americans were dissatisfied with the way the country was being governed. There were increases, too, in the responses to questions that gauge a more libertarian-view of governance: A record 49 percent said they believed government posed “an immediate threat to the rights and freedoms of ordinary citizens”; 57 percent believed the federal government had too much power; and 56 percent said they would be willing to pay less in taxes and accept fewer services (a position advocated during the campaign by Paul)…

Many pondered why Ron Paul, at 76 years old, attracted throngs of 20-somethings to his rallies and, according to exit polls, consistently won the 18-29 age bracket early in primary season in states such as New Hampshire and Iowa.

Twenty-six-year-old (Students for Liberty President) Alexander McCobin has a response for that: “This is the most libertarian generation that’s ever existed, and it’s because libertarianism is just correct…”

To any remaining naysayers, they warn that this is neither a passing fad nor a “Ron Paul phenomenon” that will fade once he’s gone from the scene. They see hope in other up-and-coming libertarian-leaning Republicans: Justin Amash, a Michigan congressman seeking re-election whom Reason magazine christened “the next Ron Paul”; Kurt Bills, a Minnesota state representative who is running for U.S. Senate; and, of course, Rand Paul.

“Everything we’ve done up to this point is based on ideas. … It carries on well past Congressman Paul,” said Carl Bunce. “Hopefully we’ll start to bring more voters to bear into the Republican Party – all those apathetic voters that were like myself.”

When that happens, he said, “our ideas of liberty and freedom will persist.”

The entire article is well worth reading

"This is the most libertarian generation that's ever existed"*|*Ron Paul 2012 Presidential Campaign CommitteeRon Paul 2012 Presidential Campaign Committee

Maddow: Paul could be nominated at the RNC; Romney has not won yet. All eyes on Nebraska!

Submitted by ron_paul_is_awesome on Fri, 07/06/2012 - 23:15
Ron Paul 2012



Maddow: Paul could be nominated at the RNC; Romney has not won yet. All eyes on Nebraska! | Peace . Gold . Liberty | Revolution

The Nebraska Establishment is Trying to Steal the Election from Ron Paul Delegates

Submitted by PE4233 on Fri, 07/06/2012 - 16:17
Delegates
DP Original

The Governor is ruling Nebraska with an Iron Fist and trying to crush Nebraska delegates who support Dr. Paul. Please help by commenting and let them know we will not stand for a crooked convention


Exclusive: Security heightened at GOP convention in anticipation of Ron Paul insurgency


The Nebraska Establishment is Trying to Steal the Election from Ron Paul Delegates | Peace . Gold . Liberty | Revolution

Exclusive: Security heightened at GOP convention in anticipation of Ron Paul insurgency

By Deena Winter on July 6, 2012
Security at the state Republican convention has been tightened this summer in case turmoil breaks out as it did in other states where Ron Paul and Mitt Romney supporters clashed over control.

Even though the state Republican chairman Mark Fahleson decided this week to stay in his position to prevent a Paul supporter from winning his seat, there’s still potential for fireworks at the state convention on July 14 in Grand Island.

The executive director of the state Republican Party, Jordan McGrain, told Nebraska Watchdog in addition to its usual sergeant at arms committee, the party hired additional security for the first time in convention history, to his knowledge. Party officials are preparing for potential for trouble caused by Paul supporters. The libertarian Texas Congressman quit campaigning for president in May, but his supporters have circumvented primaries and caucuses by winning delegates at conventions in Iowa, Nevada, Minnesota and Louisiana with an eye toward sending as many as possible to the national convention in Tampa.

In Louisiana, Paul garnered about half the state’s delegates and chaos broke out, with several delegates arrested and the convention chairman reportedly getting thrown to the ground by police.

McGrain said Nebraska Republicans are preparing for the potential for “some pretty rowdy guests” at the convention – noting that other states experienced “all-out anarchy” at their conventions because they weren’t ready for a ruckus.

“We’re just not going to tolerate any disruptions,” McGrain said. “This is not going to be a free-for-all.”

In Nebraska, about half the delegates went to Paul supporters in Douglas and Sarpy counties, with Paul supporters claiming rules were violated in Dodge County and retreating to a rump convention in Fremont. Then the Paul-Tea Party movement appeared poised to get their candidate elected chairman of the party – over the wishes of Gov. Dave Heineman – until chairman Fahleson pre-empted that fight this week by announcing plans to stay in his position until his term ends next year.

And so ends the battle for the chairmanship, but the battle for delegates continues. It would be an embarrassment for Heineman – the first governor to endorse Romney – to have his state’s delegates vote for Paul at the national convention. Heineman has been mentioned as a contender for a Romney cabinet post.

McGrain said Romney and Paul supporters have been “burning up the phone lines” – making calls to delegates to ascertain who they’re committed to before the state convention. He accused Paul supporters of claiming to be from the state GOP or refusing to say who they are. A leader of the Paul movement said those calls are being made by the Paul campaign.

“They’re not interested in a straight-up fight,” McGrain said. “They need to float underneath the radar. It’s just kind of their M.O. (modus operandi).”

Nebraskans voted for Romney in the primary, and it is delegates’ responsibility to deliver those votes, McGrain said. He expects Paul supporters will “steal away a few delegates” at the state convention, but “nowhere near a majority.”

“We’re all cautiously optimistic that we’ll be able to deliver our delegates for Mitt Rommey,” he said.

McGrain said Paul’s supporters are trying to “take by party rules what they couldn’t on election day.”

He has been warned by Republican officials in Nevada and Louisiana to be prepared for “Paulistas” to try to seize control of the convention through endless votes, amendments, re-votes and parliamentary delays aimed at wearing out establishment Republicans.

That’s why McGrain intends to make sure the agenda is “tight” and ballots counted in an orderly and efficient way, with rented ballot-counting machines. He said the battle for delegates has become a “political sideshow that’s not helpful.”

“Frankly some of the people that got involved are supportive of Ron Paul and really don’t have any interest in doing what’s right by the Republican voters of Nebraska or by the Republican Party, who overwhelmingly said on election day that Mitt Romney was their choice,” he said. “Now is clearly the time to coalesce behind our candidate.”
A leader of the Tea Party/Paul movement in Nebraska is Laura Ebke, a blogger and chairwoman of Republican Liberty Caucus, which promotes limited government and individual liberty. She has said her movement is about the heart and soul of the Republican Party, which she said will “sink into oblivion” if it doesn’t bring new people on board.

“It’s just a matter of trying to bring the party back our way a little bit,” she said today.

She said there’s dissatisfaction with the state party and her group would like to have more of a role in the GOP. She said many counties aren’t sending a delegate to the convention, which ought to worry state party officials.

Ebke was called in to a meeting with the governor recently, where Heineman “made it clear to us that he wasn’t very happy” about the group’s support for the candidate for chairman that he had not endorsed, John Orr. She said the governor said they shouldn’t challenge his authority to name a state chairman.

They were not dissuaded, however. Fahleson’s move this week solved that problem for Heineman – delaying that battle until next spring.

Ebke said she hopes the Nebraska state convention doesn’t get tumultuous, and as the “mom” of her group, she’s tried to keep people on an “even keel.” She said her group just wants to get as many Paul delegates as possible, to get his name put into nomination in Tampa in a symbolic victory.

“The last thing I want is to have a real rowdy convention,” she said. “By the same token, youthful enthusiasm could result in… ” she said, trailing off.

“I hope that the party plays fair,” she said. “We’re prepared to lose, as long as we lose fair.”

Reported by Deena Winter, deena@nebraskawatchdog.org.

Exclusive: Security heightened at GOP convention in anticipation of Ron Paul insurgency

Ron Paul Liberty Movement Will Outlast the Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street

July 7, 2012

in Front Page, Politics
Post image for Ron Paul Liberty Movement Will Outlast the Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street

By Robert Taylor,

In the last few years, we have witnessed the rise of several protest groups and organizations that have made their voices heard in the public and in the media. On the left, there is the Occupy Movement, on the right, there is the Tea Party.

There is also a self-described “liberty movement,” with strong libertarian convictions and influenced by the presidential candidacy and ideas of Ron Paul. Although both the Occupy Movement and the Tea Party highlight legitimate grievances, both groups have obvious inconsistencies and shortcomings. The more principled and focused liberty movement will undoubtedly have the biggest effect on public debate and long-term political trends.

The Tea (Taxed Enough Already) Party was officially started on November 5, 2007, when then presidential candidate Ron Paul held his first “money bomb,” raising of over $4 million (which, at the time, was the most money ever raised by a political candidate in one day). The Tea Party began as a grassroots group of frustrated libertarians and paleo-conservatives, angry at the Republicans for their spending, deficits, and debts, the loss of civil liberties, and military interventionism overseas. As it grew, however, the movement soon began to be co-opted by mainstream Republican politicians and pundits, and combined with the election of President Obama, took a much more partisan turn.

Ron Paul Liberty Movement Will Outlast the Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street [continued]
Ron Paul Liberty Movement Will Outlast the Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street


Ron Paul Liberty Movement Will Outlast the Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street



Security Heightened at GOP Convention in Anticipation of Ron Paul Insurgency

July 7, 2012

in Front Page, Politics
Post image for Security Heightened at GOP Convention in Anticipation of Ron Paul Insurgency

By Deena Winter,

Security at the state Republican convention has been tightened this summer in case turmoil breaks out as it did in other states where Ron Paul and Mitt Romney supporters clashed over control.

Even though the state Republican chairman Mark Fahleson decided this week to stay in his position to prevent a Paul supporter from winning his seat, there’s still potential for fireworks at the state convention on July 14 in Grand Island.

The executive director of the state Republican Party, Jordan McGrain, told Nebraska Watchdog in addition to its usual sergeant at arms committee, the party hired additional security for the first time in convention history, to his knowledge. Party officials are preparing for potential for trouble caused by Paul supporters. The libertarian Texas Congressman quit campaigning for president in May, but his supporters have circumvented primaries and caucuses by winning delegates at conventions in Iowa, Nevada, Minnesota and Louisiana with an eye toward sending as many as possible to the national convention in Tampa.

Exclusive: Security Heightened at GOP Convention in Anticipation of Ron Paul Insurgency [continued]

http://www.policymic.com/articles/10...py-wall-street

Daily Presidential Tracking Poll: Romney 45%, Obama 45%

MTV's Aimee Allen, Ron Paul Anthem Music Video MUST SEE!!

Drone hijacked by hackers from Texas college with $1,000 spoofer

Submitted by PWA on Sat, 07/07/2012 - 21:33
Sci & Tech

Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin hacked and hijacked a drone in front of the dismayed Department of Homeland Security officials who had dared them $1,000 to do it.

According to exclusive coverage of the event from Fox News, the researchers flew the small surveillance drone over the Austin stadium last Monday.

The drone followed a series of GPS waypoints programmed into its flight computer in what initially looked like a routine flight.

At one point, the drone veered off course from its intended flight path.

It banked hard to the right, "streaking" toward the south, before it turned to hurtle at the ground in what looked like imminent drone suicide, according to Fox's description.

A safety pilot radioed the drone - which was owned by the university, according to Reuters - and forced it to pull up just a few feet before it would have crashed into the field.

The demonstration of the near-disaster, led by Professor Todd Humphreys and his team at the UTA's Radionavigation Laboratory, points to a "gaping hole" in the US's plan to open US airspace to thousands of drones, Fox noted: namely, drones can be turned into weapons, given the right equipment.

The researchers managed to hack the drone with a spoofer they put together with about $1,000 worth of parts.

The Department of Homeland Security traditionally has been concerned with GPS jammers - the method of interference that some believe Iran used to bring down a US spy drone in December.

http://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2012...ne-hackedwith-...

http://www.dailypaul.com/243623/dron...h-1000-spoofer