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??