What's this? Ron Paul runs a conservative campaign with no loans?

Rep. Ron Paul of Texas and his thousands of fervent supporters may be fighting more over the soul of the Republican Party nowadays than they are for the actual presidential nomination, seeing how the congressman is more than 1,000 delegates shy of what he'd need to head the ticket.

And John McCain has already wrapped up the September nomination so tightly he's not even campaigning and has headed off on an overseas trip this week with congressional colleagues.

This just so happens to provide photos back home of him talking to foreign leaders like a president and praying at the Wailing Wall while Democrats argue over Florida again.

McCain's entourage includes Connecticut's Joe Lieberman, former Democratic vice presidential candidate, former Democratic senator, current independent senator and probably McCain's future secretary of defense. Although that hasn't been officially announced yet because McCain first has to win this little thing called a presidential election.

The 72-year-old Paul has plenty of free political time now because no Democrat, not even in Texas, is dumb enough to take him on in the November House election, which will award Paul his 11th term. On March 4, Paul vanquished his main Republican challenger in the 14th District by capturing 70% of the vote. Other than that, it was close.

Paul says he'll continue to take his conservative message of...

smaller government, more personal freedoms and an end to American troops abroad wherever his followers are strong and loyal, places like Pennsylvania, North Carolina, maybe Idaho. But they're actually all over, even allegedly liberal California, where one branch posed nearly-naked for a Hotties4RonPaul pinup calendar. Others did a music video.

As noted here earlier this week, Paul's volunteers are winning GOP influence the old-fashioned way, at the grassroots level county by county, tedious meeting after tedious meeting, largely under the radar of the national media, except The Ticket. Paul's volunteers, many of them new to politics, hope to exert some influence on the platform in St. Paul and go from there, the way the 1964 Goldwater generation of conservatives finally won in 1980 with Ronald Reagan.

This is supposed to be a bad year for Republicans, whose turnout in caucus states, for instance, has been low compared with Democrats. But although Paul has yet to win an actual primary or caucus, he's taken some fourths, fifths and seconds.

And with a minimalist campaign organization and a ton of money from about 400,000 dedicated donors (just watch the comments section below for their bounteous vows of loyalty), Paul has won about 803,000 votes. Which, in case you didn't notice, is more than that New York mayor guy with all the ex-wives got, and more than that tall, slow fellow from Tennessee who was a prosecutor and also played one on TV.

In fact, Paul, a former OB/GYN, raised more money in the fourth quarter of 2007 -- nearly $20 million -- than any other Republican candidate, including those rich guys from the East who were supposed to walk away with the nomination. In fact, Paul's website has a delightful photo display of all 11 Republican presidential candidates.

Nine of them have big black Xs across their face because they're gone. And guess who's not? Paul even outlasted (and easily out-fund-raised) that Arkansas governor who stayed around forever.   

Speaking of money, Paul has now filed his required monthly campaign finance report with the Federal Election Commission. Knowing how interested The Ticket remains in the Ron Paul Revolution, The Times' dutiful Dan Morain dug out the Texan's new report.

Not only does Paul talk the conservative talk, it seems he walks the conservative walk. He reported having raised $34.65 million since he launched his (get ready, Paulunteers) long-shot White House bid last year. Paul reported spending about $29 million as of Feb. 29. And he reported having an impressive $5.57 million cash left in the bank.

Now, get this: The Ron Paul presidential campaign reported no debts. Not a dollar. Not even a penny. What has this country come to when half the members of Congress run for president and fully one of them campaigns within his means? This conservative revolution will not be run on funny money like the Federal Reserve system they want to abolish.

-- Andrew Malcolm

Photo: John A. Bowersmith / Killeen Daily Herald

Comments

[Tominellay]

...hehehehehe...Andrew gets it! Great article...

[AKK]

Our country, like Ron Paul's campaign, does not need to borrow one cent if our government was "living within its means" and not spending $12b a week on a un-winnable war in Iraq.

[Karl Kraut]

Wow, what a pleasure to read, what a delightful article!

[Joel]

This is an excellent post, Mr. Malcolm. Thanks very much for pointing out the fiscal responsibility of the Ron Paul campaign; I'm very glad and proud to have donated twice.

While the sheep flock to the big spending, wasteful candidates, we realize our battle is just beginning--and it's going to be a long one.

SC Patriot for Ron Paul!

[poppatml]

It is a shame that the only people who will read this blog are RP supporters. You see we already understand RP spending policies.You have to search the news for RP to get any info. The Washington Post has the ability to truly compare candates policies, what legislation they have introduced, you know real journalisum, facts, records, truth and then opinion. This silence won't change untill someone has the courge to be a real journalist. Walter Cronkite, I liked that Guy!

[CT Johnson]

Bounteous Vow of Loyalty here :P

Good article Malcolm...the fight continues...

[Mitch C]

The media ran the election and won the battle against Ron Paul. What a shame, what a missed opportunity.

[Tony]

The people of this country need understand that we are in a revolution.

[Republicae]

In a Nation accustom to numerous false choices, when a real choice for change [Dr. Paul] is introduced to the People they simply have no real ability to make a comparison between the false choices and the real choice. The People of this country have been so conditioned over the decades by both entrenchment political parties that they seem incapable of making a difinitive decision for the type of drastic change needed in this country. They cry for change, whine, scream and yet choose candidates that only offer empty promises that they simply cannot keep because the economic reality prevents the fulfilment of such promises.

The People of this country have grown dull in their senses, trusting in the false prosperity that has been heaped upon through years of debt creation, all the while mistaking it for real wealth.

Dr. Paul has given this Nation some hard, but real choices that can either be entered into voluntarily or be forced upon them as the false economy crumbles like the false fiat currency is crumbling.

[Robin Dicken]

You ever been in a position that feels like the "Twilight Zone"? I'm sure I speak for thousands when I say that Ron Paul and Barack Obama are too far ahead of their time. Dr. Paul's message was indeed rooted in the Constitution, that one legal document which was genius in design, Good rules are timeless. One major problem with Ron's philosophy (me being a hippie-liberal all my life) was this "laissez aire" free market principle. It looks good on paper, but the reality is greed AND racial prejudice. Other than that, I think his agenda is GOLD- in both senses of the word. I'm sure Ron and Barack can relate on how race also has been used to smear their campaigns. As I understand, Mr. Obama has been considering Chuck Hagel (R) as possibly Sec. of State or some other head of Foreign Policy. How outrageous? Not really, when you think of Lincoln doing precisely the same thing-putting people in office regardless of affiliation or even liking them personally, but because they are good at what they do and believe in the welfare of the Union. True, Dr. Paul was not the most photogenic or politically connected. He was definitely not the Corporate Media's Darling-but when you are the antithesis of big government and Military/Industrialist's- what did you really expect. When Rep. Paul said things at the debates, you felt that he was letting you in on big secrets that no one dared or were too involved in to discuss. He was dead on correct. The same can be said for Senator Obama with his historic speech last Tuesday. These men are few and far between these days (there is Hagel also) and should be rewarded for their courage. With that said, I hope we are the people that rallied once during a war (WWII), which I consider the criminal admistration we are now under, and rise above the petty to achieve "a more perfect union".
That being said, I would like to personally ask Barack Obama to show what your made of and reach across the aisle of partisanship and appoint brave, deserving Republicans who will help this nation heal. Ron Paul- Secretary of the Treasury.
And to you, Andrew, I know if you didn't invoke controversy, you couldn't sell newspapers. Thanks again.

[Tom deSabla]

Ok Andy. Not bad.

But, since you went to the trouble of examining Paul's campaign spending records, let me suggest another quest for you and your intrepid staff:

Take a look, a real look, at how the candidates were treated and featured by say, the front pages of a few major newspapers, LA times NY Times, Wash Times and Wash Post, for 30 days before Super Tuesday. If that's too much, then just do a week before ST instead.

Count the front page articles and pictures. Note if Paul is nearly blanked while all others are constantly in the news. If there is a huge huge discrepancy, then why not blog about that too?

We love this new supportive tone of yours, and your foray into real investigative journalism! Go with that Andy - go with it, and take it wherever it leads, please.

[Matt Thomas]

Our modern media distorts the political picture so much that an honest man such as Congressman Paul becomes sidelined and perceived as someone on the fringe even though his principles are very conservative and, yes, Republican. Until Americans reject the media and journalism that is used by corporations to steer politics we will never have an honest, issue based, intelligent, and fair election process. Dr. Paul's fiscal responsibility speaks worlds about the man's integrity. But, Americans keep buying into and watching main stream TV news and all it's BS and don't seem to care about integrity. Ron Paul has awakened some of us though. There are now people running for state governments and congressional seats that are taking up the platform of Dr. Paul. This revolution will be won from the bottom up. Ron Paul might not be winning in the presidential race but his message is winning all over this country.

[Hasan]

I think he should run as an independent candidate.

[Fred Shoemaker]

People all over the country voted for Ron Paul but alas many votes were not counted, voting machines broke down, others were sent to the wrong voting district, etc. Check the Brad Blog for the slimey details. As Stalin said "The people who cast the votes decide nothing. The people
who count the votes decide everything."

How interesting is the fact that Dr. Paul got around 9000 votes in his district's presidential primary and nore than 37000 voters picked him for congress.

Something sure smells in Texas and it is not the lonhhorn outhous.

[Tom deSabla]

"He reported having raised $34.65 million since he launched his (get ready, Paulunteers) longshot White House bid last year."

Oh, by the way, I thought you weren't going to say, "longshot" anymore...

March 5 "(You won't find longshot in here. You guys taught me that a long time ago.)"

Oh well, I guess everyone can't be as consistent, honest, and principled as we Ron Paul supporters.

[james m doyle]

I take this time to write, to say that I totally agree with everything Ron Paul stands for. There should be no IRS. I think war is a way to show nothing exept...Who has the the bigger gun's, and who has more testosterone. And this is not the olympics, this is our civilization. We NEED to stop bombing other places and then fixing them back up with the little funding we have. we need to keep our people (Troups), and resources here to better our own economy, not to alter others to match ours. I feel this country is like the place that I work (no manager, and too many foreman's).
I dont consider myself as politic or democrat, but as a human, american resident. We all know we like to conserve (everything), Why waist ? when before you know it we WILL be out of resourses, if we keep waisting funds on things like shipping, and the process of remanufacturing things (like a water jug) when we can just reuse them.
I work for a company that fabricates strucural steel. I think we use alot more money and time than what it is worth. for example: Some of the steel we get is shipped from over seas, then we will fabricate it, then we ship it to another state to have it sandblasted (when we can do that ourselves), then it is shipped somewhere else or back to us to get painted, then it is shipped to the location where it is being put together (sometimes the same place where it came from). And each time it is moved the product price goes up in value. That is just one of those little things that cost millions of dollars per year that is waisted. Just so you know I work a hard 10+ hours per day, have little or no fun, and trying to raise a family (like alot of Americans do), living in a small 12x60 mobil home (with lots of problems). And I have been working steady like this for almost half of my life. And I am worn out and broke. The money that I make per hour is taxed, and the money I spend on things that I need like work boots, food, lights, and things for personal wellbeing are all taxed.
I think that Ron Paul is the perfect candidate who understands these factors. I don't know that he has to face these things, but I feel that he undestands what I am trying to say.
If there is a way that I could help Ron Paul get elected for US President please email me back @ jamesmdoyle@yahoo.com , or jimmdoyle@hotmail.com
PLEASE... lets do what we "NEED" to do for economics sake.
P.S. I also feel that if the economy keeps falling (like my youth) it will be very painfull to the U.S. if us "Middle Class" people just give up (a.k.a. "Go on Strike"). There is alot of us that do nothing But work hard to have the luxery of a tv set so we can watch those people that do next to nothing become rich.

[Dar]

Insightful and funny. As always. Thanks!

[Shane Savoie]

Only in the blogogsphere can I find a journalist that sees the r3VOLution for what it is. Though I know that Mr. Malcolm has heard from the "most colorful" supporters in our midst, he doesn't use his blog for tirades about the kooks that we all now do exist. Rather than focus on the cranks, he reports on the activities of the campaign that is openminded enough to accept people so easily marginalized.
Thanks again, Andrew!

[Maxwell McGee]

What this? Malcolm is not funny? Oh yeah.

[Bo]

Thanks for the great props. Working hard here in Williamson County, Texas for eviscerated government (calling it "limited" just seems so -- limited), peace, life, liberty, and prosperity!

[Jaime]

The MSM did their part in making sure that Dr. Paul would not be heard, with a couple of minor excemptions. WHn Mr. McCain was all but out of the picture the MSM gave us seemingly unending reports and interviews with Mr. McCain about his low polling.

Are y'all listening to the economics news lately? And radio and TV pundits dare say that none of the candidates saw this coming!

BTW, Dr. Paul is NOT a gold standard guy. Dr. Paul is a gold and silver and a hard asset standard currency guy.

[TC Bell]

Too bad there weren't any positive Paul stories from January 1st through yesterday. They probably could have boosted his numbers a tad in the primaires and caucuses. Oh I just figureed it out! That is precisely WHY there weren't any pro-Paul stories.

And to Mr. Goldfarb at Weekly Standard: You need to grow up and actually present an arguement next time. In case you haven't noticed Ludwig von Mises and Murrary Rothbard were both teachers of Ron Paul's and they both happened to be Jewish. We won't get lost but our friends subscriptions to your magazine will be lost to you forever! We vote with our dollars! Screw a little booth that I can only enter every two of four years.

[AGGOZZUR]

WOW!!! I can't BELIEVE YOU ACTUALLY WROTE SOMETHING THAT IS JOURNALISTICALLY NEWS WORTHY AND IS THE TRUTH! You are learning and growing up Andrew!!!

[Tom J]

His campaign is still recognized by the people who count:
http://www.dmoz.org/Regional/North_America/United_States/Society_and_Culture/Politics/Candidates_and_Campaigns/Presidential/2008/Candidates/Paul,_Ron

[mike]

Ron Paul!!! The Federal Reserve or private institution of a small handfull of rich men has the united states enslaved with chains of interest barring debt that the citizens must pay with their sweat through an un constitutional taxe called the income tax coinsidenataly passed the same year the federal reserve act was passed in 1913. The FED or meglomanic bank, it's true name controls alll the media and the schooling system i,e board of education. Ron Paul doesn't get any coverage becuase he is not will to conform to the Fed and he is a threat to them retaining their power. Thats why the media run these smear campiangs and non coverage so that
Ron Paul doesn't educate the masses and wake people up from there lazy wishfully thinking slavery. Vote Ron Paul. This is why the American Revolution began becuase of the Bank of England the ring leader of the decietfully named Federal Reserve. Look it up! Ron Paul!