A shocking report: Inside the Ron Paul conspiracy

Maybe you've heard rumors about an explosive newspaper expose on a major political figure that would rock the political world just as the presidential voting is about to begin.

We haven't either.

But we do know that today is when this newspaper blows the top off of the Ron Paul Conspiracy, that vast unorganized protest movement that has silently become one of the more interesting political phenomena of the current election season.

A Times reporter -- we'll call him James Rainey to protect his identity -- has managed to penetrate the Paul presidium.

In his story he recounts for the very first time the shockingly ordinary details of a movement of thousands of disparate, dissatisfied people, some of whom want an end to the Iraq war, an end to gun controls and the IRS, an end to laws banning marijuana and a return to the gold standard, whatever that means.

These Paulites believe the government has been hijacked by a bevy of big interests that threaten the freedoms of ordinary Americans. They're not going to take it anymore. Locally, they're even organizing a re-enactment of a brazenly defiant act, the BostonTea Party, except it'll be in Santa Monica and won't involve tea or white people dressed as Indians. And the protestors promise not to leave anything foreign floating in the water.

These committed partisans, bonded by their suspicion of authority and venal influences like the mainstream media that ignored them until they did something, have united behind a 72-year-old...

Air Force vet and ob-gyn from Texas who has managed to win 10 elections to the House of Representatives as a Republican with two first names and strongly libertarian leanings.

This man believes that U.S. sovereignity is threatened by many things, especially including consistently ignoring the Constitution and by a planned mystery superhighway that would unite with a ribbon of inexorable cement all three North American countries--Mexico, the United States and that other larger one on top that can only afford to have three downs in its football games.

Apparently he's not talking about I-15, which already does that.

"Rainey's" account describes how this man's followers appear to be ordinary citizens with jobs and family by day. But at night they gather openly in chat rooms and living rooms to plot how to promote a tiny unassuming man whom they call reverently Dr. Paul. With little central direction but tons of commitment, idealism and passion, Dr. Paul's followers do everything they can think of to mobilize voter support.

They patrol the internet day and night seeking Paul slights to right. They stand on windy interstate bridges holding inflammatory signs saying: RonPaul2008.com.

Even as you sleep at night some of the 1,200 Paul meet-up groups are handwriting letters to all 700,000 independent Iowa voters urging them to consider their long-shot leader. A couple of weeks ago Paulites raised $4.2 million on the internet in one day, a near-record, and a sum they intend to more than double on Dec. 16, the anniversary of that rebellious tea party. How's that for insignificance?

As one result, the ultra-lean Paul organization has been able to buy advertising in New Hampshire and to pump its poll numbers up near double-digits in some places. Rainey's story describes the commitment of one Ron Paul meet-up group in Southern California and the regular folks who drive it with their political beliefs and energies.

Few professionals -- well, to tell the truth, no one -- actually gives Paul any chance of winning the Republican nomination. But then up until Yorktown back in the 1700s, all the smart Vegas money was on the British.

--Andrew Malcolm

Comments

[HavNfun]

OMG! The cat is finally being let out of the bag! Yikes...If you let everyone know that we are mostly normal people with a sense of concern for the direction of the nation... the rest of the media won't have much else to talk about!

[Steve]

Excellent! Thank you, Andrew. I think there's really something quite large and special happening here that we haven't seen for quite some time. I'm going to enjoy watching it unfold.

Oh yeah...and don't forget to vote for Ron Paul in '08!

[JP]

This is rich! Pretty funny stuff. Seriously though, Dr. Paul is making waves--and his entire campaign platform consists of following our Constitution. Imagine!

I am an unassuming Naval officer by day, fervent Ron Paul supporter by night. This same "plotters" (should I say we?) have now independently raised over 350,000 to buy an airship for Dr. Paul which will launch Dec. 10th. The first presidential airship in history! www.ronpaulblimp.com

[John Shutt]

Andrew Malcolm...writing a PRO-Ron Paul piece? A piece that says Paul's supporters have "commitment, idealism, and passion"? Are you coming around all of the sudden?

[Mike]

I like these hit pieces attempting to belittle the Paul campaign and his supporters. However, to use Rudy Giuliani's favorite three words, "The reality is..." we might get the last laugh. Paul dominates all the online polls, the straw polls, fundraising from individual donors, fundraising from active duty military officers, interests among previously inactive eligible voters, and so on.

For anyone interested in a realistic ranking of the Republican contenders...

http://truthalert.net/Republican%20Presidential%20Candidate%20Rankings.htm

This website has a good synopsis of Paul and his chances...

www.thecaseforronpaul.com

[Emmett]

This is a fantastic piece. I cant wait to read the upcoming article by "Rainey." Especially loved that very last line. Good Job, folks at the LA Times, very well done.

[Jack]

This is the best Ron Paul Article I've seen yet. Thank you LA Times.

-One of those Ordinary by day, internet activist by night Paul supporters...

[Trevor Winton]

Well put, Andrew Malcolm. We are real people with real money and really want the message Ron Paul's running on to echo from the White House to the halls of congress. We are ordinary citizens who seriously want our country back - and we mean to do just that. Thanks for the great article. Cheers!

[mty]

Andrew,

Love your surreptitious writing style.....

Thanks for a non-dismissive and fair minded post. I get so used to being labeled a crackpot because I dare to support a minimalist role for the Federal government and refuse to trust the conscience of those in power alone to restrain the advance of centralized power that an article/post which avoids calling me names comes off like a love note.

The last line echoes the 'hope for the best' theme that is nearly universal among the good doctor's supporters. I don't get the idea that you are necessarily amongst our numbers (a supporter, per se), but you're bound to make a few new fans if you keep turning out the high quality prose on this subject.

I await the full missive with baited breath. Next time I see your byline on a google news hit, that article moves to the top of the reading list. I hope that we'll see more from you on the subject of our working man's revolution, even if it's just a cynical ploy to suck us in as fans (please pander to us :)).

[Max Merkel]

Hah, i'm proud to be one of them :)
i'll definitely read this "insider report" ;)

watch a good in depth interview with dr. paul : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCM_wQy4YVg

join the teaparty http://www.teaparty07.com

[NSB]

In regards to that "planned mystery superhighway"...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzjSX2kO07Y

[Almost Speechless]

I wish it was an ultra-lean following again, I think. With the success of the Nov. 5th fund raiser and today raised 530k (as of right now, and the day isn't over yet) The Ron Paul campaign has taken on new supporters and a new direction. The campaign has been offered a full hour on the Glen Beck show both TV and Radio only to have a full schedule.

Dr. Paul message of freedom might be old hat to hear but rarely do we live that way anymore. We repeat the chant whenever we can, we wont to believe it. Then comes tax time, and all the money goes to Washington to fund the Dog and Pony show of old. Its no surprise that people are fed up, with a sinking dollar, inflation on the rise and Oil doesn't look like the price has plateaued yet I would say they is plenty to be PO'd about.

While the usual suspect would love to marginalize and categorize and belittle the good doctor but his 30 odd years of principled voting and with hind sight being a bonus now Ron Paul has been right. Voted against the Iraq war, against the Iraqi regime change under Clinton, against the Patriot act and has never voted for an unbalanced budget.

While I do support Dr. Paul, I dont agree with his every position but after doing some minimal research he only wants to give the states the rights to regulate there residents through there own voting. Removing the Federal mandates that plague this country in so many ways, leaving the states to deal with Federal decisions needs to end. Bring back the troops, build up our defense, and talk with other countries.

The hardest part about this campaign has been trying to convince Americans that their Americans. We can go to the moon, explore space to no ends but ending the Federal Reserve seems to be reaching just a tad to far. While having a private bankers control this nations money supply makes no sense, people seem to just think paying a usury fee for paper money backed by nothing makes good rational sense. Oh have we drifted into the abyss when it comes to talking about and living what the Constitution so eloquently gave us, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. This saying has been changed to death, taxes and if your lucky a good wife the second time around, again if your lucky.

The choice for America is simply, follow the constitution and the rule of law, get the Govt out of your bedroom, and your wallets and live your life as you see fit.

I'm almost speechless.

note: This super highway has been underway for some time.
http://www.nascocorridor.com/
http://www.nascocorridor.com/naipn/index.html

[James Adams]

My godness, what do we have here. A postive article about the revolution behind Dr. Paul? It's about time some real reporters started looking into things, rather than fakes printing slander articles. Thank you Los Angeles Times for taking the time to redeem some of the integrity of the media. Nice to know some haven't suffered the epidemic lazyness that prevents digging up those pesky facts. =)

Ron Paul in 08!

[Cindy]

Great story!

I am a every day person who is self employed and my husband is a lawyer. I'm a Democrat and my husband is a Republican(not a neocon) we both plan to vote for Ron Paul.

I guess being a Democrat and switching over just so I can vote for Ron Paul would be "shocking". ;)

[Jim]

Gosh, I was all prepared to be "bloggravated" again.
But then, I laughed.
I laughed, until I cried. Sneaky funny, you are.

Tell the pressmen to prepare for an extended run.
Beef up the bandwidth. You're going to need it.

And me?
I may not need anything else for Christmas.

[Immigrants4RP]

For those who might like more info:
(0 Troop support) http://www.ronpaul2008.com/states/iowa/#military
(1. straw polls) http://www.ronpaul2008.com/straw-poll-results
(2. Ron Paul: A New Hope) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FG2PUZoukfA
(3. National Threat) http://www.ronpaulnation.com/tv.html#controller_general_david_walker
(4. True cost of gas) http://www.terrarossa.com/?p=225
(5. America: Freedom to Fascism) http://www.freedomtofascism.com
(6. The Secret Government…) http://bullnotbull.blogspot.com/2007/01/secret-government-bill-moyers.html
(7. Truth about Giuliani) http://www.rudy-urbanlegend.com/
(8. CIA drug dealing) http://youtube.com/watch?v=1l31x-IIK4E
(9. Civil Liberties Lost) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8QwTKKSvR8&mode=related&search=
(10. Money Masters) http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-515319560256183936
(11. Iraq War: Legal or Illegal) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Khut8xbXK8&mode=related&search=

Book list from Ron Paul recommended reading for Giuliani:
- Imperial Hubris by Michael Scheuer
- Dying to Win, by Robert Pape
- Blowback, by Chalmers Johnson
- 9/11 Commission Report
- 1984, by George Orwell

[John]

Wow! great piece

[Winston S.]

So basically, Ron Paul has passionate supporters from all walks of life
who are "bonded by their suspicion of authority " and love of personal freedom.

Oh hell no! The establishment can/will not accept this.

Now go practice your writing Andrew.

[Britton]

An article about a future article? This better be good....

[Mark]

"a return to the gold standard, whatever that means."

That statement totally baffles me.
So what your saying is your uneducated and
don't research your material before writing it.

Good luck with journalism!

[James R]

Here is CNN reporting the North American Union as plain fact:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBmFrYWPoG8

[Dave]

"a planned mystery superhighway?"
If Lou Dobbs knows about it, why don't you?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBmFrYWPoG8

[Steve]

"Few professionals actually give Paul much chance of winning the Republican nomination. But then up until Yorktown back in the 1700s, all the smart Vegas money was on the British."

So true! Ron Paul will indeed win, I have never seen so many people from all sections of our society come together for a common cause before like I see with the Ron Paul movement. In my meetup group there is Doctors, lawyers, cooks, nurses, teachers, bus drivers, highway patrolman, 2 electricians, a WW2 vet and several Vietnam vets. Rich poor, young and old are coming together under the banner of freedom, it's the American way.

[Jo Jowas]

"Few professionals actually give Paul much chance of winning the Republican nomination. But then up until Yorktown back in the 1700s, all the smart Vegas money was on the British."

Thank you, Andrew. Your article is well-written, and causes me to remember a quote by Samuel Adams: "It does not take a majority to prevail...but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men.."

[kenneth c]

lol this keeps getting better and better...how old are you andrew??

[Tim_Ohio]

I don't get no respect -- Ron Paul Supporters

...oh wait

... That was Rodney (RIP)

never mind.

Join Ron Paul's Freedom Express - http://www.ronpaul2008.com

[William]

Wow, this piece is both hilarious and insightful. Thank you very much Andrew.

Depending upon the contents of Saturday's piece, I'd say that the LA Times just got a brand new subscriber!

[John]

Well done....

[Adrian]

This is great,

I'm printing it off to read to meetup/318
9:AM Saturday morning.
I

[Dr. Vaultman]

Are you serious? Do you really not know what the gold standard is?

Super highway?
Look.
http://www.nascocorridor.com/pages/ports_network/ports_network.htm

I live outside Toronto and they the reason they told us they were expanding the 407 past Whitby was to get ready for it.

seriously, what happened to doing research before spouting off?

[mty]

"a return to the gold standard, whatever that means."

That statement totally baffles me.
So what your saying is your uneducated and
don't research your material before writing it.

Good luck with journalism!
____________________

It is an open question, Mark. Don't look for reasons to be offended. You can find plenty of reasons without looking....

What gold standard? Do we use just gold coins? Do we return the quasi-gold standard of Bretton Woods? Are we talking about simply having the government make a gold currency available, or allowing the private sector to fill the lack of a gold currency, ending the forced monopoly of what constitutes acceptable value storage and exchange medium?

People need to learn that when you've got jackals nipping at your heals, don't throw rocks at the boar that's fighting those jackals. I'm not familiar with Andrew's work, but a Paul supporter is straining at a gnat if he gets his head hurt over anything in this article.

Act like a civil human being, and don't get wrapped around the axle because the author doesn't share your fervor. Save the histrionics for real hit pieces. What Andrew has written is in no way a hit piece, so knock the chip off your shoulder and be nice. Remember what momma used to tell you about flies and honey......

[Jack]

A good article overall, I suppose, but you forgot to mention that Ron Paul is an isolationist kook whose support comes from even nuttier group of dope-smoking, 9/11 truthin', tin-foil beanie wearing "Paultards," along with an assortment of neo-Nazis, Klansmen and "angry white males." Didn't you even consult Wonkette or RedState.com for the standard meme? It seems to me like a gross departure from accepted journalistic practices.

[Lost_in_Samoa]

Thank you for the article. It's very refreshing to read something that is not "spun dry".

For those who are interested here are some links to video evidence that Mr. Romney's political machine will do whatever it takes to buy the presidency.

Watch while his people purchase and place vote after vote in a straw poll.

100+ vote Romney lady
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlZ-wuXuofw

Thank you for your time

[Jo Jowas]

If anyone wants to learn more about Ron Paul, check out www.lewrockwell.com/paul for articles about Ron Paul, as well as articles by Ron Paul. (Of course, you should probably first read the U.S. Constitution ...... !)

[Andy]

Is a NAU a thing too unreasonable to consider? Is it possible multi-national companies have lobbied and have high influential positions like our VP to make larger government desirable for a few? Can anyone deny the US has a disappearing southern border and the peoples on either side of the northern border share many similarities that physical protection from is nearly non-existant?

Do you think we have an American empire? Are we a good empire? Is that what our nation shuld be?

I don't want an empire. The US is enough as is. Our $ is in trouble and so is our founding ideology with an agressive foreign policy to spread our form of democracy. We have no moral obligation to do that even if an evil religion has it in for us and we fought two world wars victoriously that seeded military bases around the world.

They would have a much harder time killing our soldiers if they were home, and unless we declare war on the ideology the war on the tactic of terror will be like the war on drugs- never ending because it targets the wrong enemy.

Could you imaging a 4 year period where the US withdraws all overseas military; people and equipment. Stops giving aid to the USSR, Israel, Jordan, Iraq, N/S Korea, Brazil, Africa...

Would we have the money to build our brisdges, levy's, highways, and water sources? We could build power plants and tap our own oil, coal, wind, solar...

Would the terrorists follow? Would we still be blamed when Israel bombs Iran, or China retakes Taiwan? We do nothing now in Darfur so why should we do anything in Korea? Will Saudi Arabia refuse to sell us oil? Will Chavez not sell to the US?

Would Americans still respond with help in earthquakes, tsunamis, and other disaters? What would it mean to have a stable currency and live without borrowing money from future generations? What if you looked to your state capital for decisions about abortion and taxes instead of the nations capitol?

We know what life is like not living by those ideals and every candidate but one is promising the same as you know now with more surprises like a more powerful UN and NAU type treaties that are not in the best interest of the US.

We could do a lot worse than by letting Dr. Paul lead us to a future focused on peace and stability, national unity, and the liberty to regain our footing to properly face the threat from a religion that hates everything not under its dominion. Maybe they will burn themselves out if we are not on their lands for whatever reason for a few years.

Whether we stay or go in Iraq, the Iraqi government will not unite like Lebanon is trying to and remain unstable because of religion. Civilians will still be killed for religious and secular reasons and eventually it will level out to whatever the people will tolerate with Saudi Arabia and Iran will fight over control. Iran will win. So what? We are losing our southwest to Mexico but we worry about Iran in Iraq? Dumb.

So what if Iran gets the bomb? Pakistan already has one and they will likely soon fall to more readical moslems. Will we immediately bomb them like we threaten Iran? They don't have missles like China does but they could get one in by cargo like anyone who has one and the intent could now.

I'd be up for some radical change like that. What is wrong with doing for ourselves for a while?

[LP]

Great Story! Am Excited.

[Ben Franklin]

Energy and persistence conquer all things.

Ben Franklin

[nate pohlman]

google ron paul, you might be surprised how much this guy makes sense

[Elizabeth]

HO-HO Andrew! You are CLEVER! Thanks so much . . . well, I better get back to my "sign-making-by night!"

[jt]

At last a decent article. Believe me, it is a great relief to read a balanced article. The gold standard Paul advocates is nothing but an attempt "To prevent the Fed from abusing their monopoly power to print money out of thin air, to help their WS buddies". It is as simple as that...Thanks, LA Times...

[Craig]

Since when is someone 6 feet tall "tiny"????

Ron Paul is taller than John McCain -- we saw that at the debate intro. How come reporters never call John McCain "tiny" or "diminutive"????

[Proud Romney Supporter]

Romney is going to win this thing. Sorry.

[Frances]

Did Jack Cafferty help you write this?

[Yo Ma Ma]

"Didn't you even consult Wonkette or RedState.com for the standard meme? It seems to me like a gross departure from accepted journalistic practices."

I thought one only consulted Wonk Wonk and Red State for breaking stories of man on man sex.

[Dave]

I have to hand it to the LA times. I just may have to buy the rag now. Down here in San Diego Ron Paul still doesn't exist with the Union Tribune. Even though you drive around town his bumper stickers, home made signs and even dome lights on cars are every where. Now he's raised over 10 million and it's not even December, but to the San Diego Union Tribune he doesn't exist. Oh wait; they did carry an article on the planted hooker story by Tucker Carlson. One big shout out to the LA times. Boy times are a changin! Thanks

[CD]

Andrew, you have never been so nice as James Rainey. But after this, you are back on my Christmas list!

I and thought the LA Times was just a great crossword puzzle!

[Citizen Joe in San Pedro]

Ron Paul deserves to be our President and the United States of America deserves a great leader and statesman. Ron Paul is the man for the job. We deserve the truth from our leaders and he speaks truth, no matter how hard it may be to accept.

I abhor what's happening to our country and most Americans are realizing that this is our chance to take it back. The world is watching what is the beginning of a true revolution as the founders envisioned. A Revolution of Peace and Honor, the very embodiment of the true American Spirit.

Ron Paul is winning and I believe he will win in a shocking landslide! When he is elected as our next President the world will breathe a collective sigh of relief. I know I will.

All Congressional and Senate representatives should take head because those of us who support Ron Paul will not elect incumbents who have betrayed their oaths of office and the will of the people.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
The American Revolution 2.0 will not be televised.... it will be downloaded!

[John]

Excellent article LA Times! Bravo. Keep 'em comin'!

[paul T]

Thanks for a good story. Looking forward to the next. Hope you delve into the core of some of Paul's positions.

Thanks again

Paul

[YadaYada]

Amazing how the media still laughs and guffaws about how insane the idea of the NAU and NAFTA superhighway is. I'm sure the Europeans were laughing back in the day when people called EU believers "conspiracy theorists". Do you think they're laughing now when an EU constitution is being forced down their throats without a referendum? The path to the EU was a long stealthy process that began with the Treaty of Rome in 1957. They called it the European Economic Community back then.

Are LA Times journos really that lazy that they can't pull up the aforementioned NASCO corridor site or the SPP site:

http://www.spp.gov/

How about reading up on Council on Foreign Relations publications like:

Building a North American Community
http://www.cfr.org/publication/8102/

Creating a North American Community
http://www.cfr.org/publication/7912/

"Regional Monetary Integration"
http://www.cfr.org/publication/14534

Gee, sure sounds crazy when the incredibly influential CFR that includes the majority of presidential candidates as members is talking about "Creating a North American Community". How explicit do they need to be before you guys stop treating it like "conspiracy theory"? Maybe their intentions are completely benign but you journos could at least treat the subject professionally.