Breaking News (Updated): Ron Paul surges in Pa.

While some people pay attention to the alleged contest between Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama (and she won big), almost unnoticed is the Republican primary.

Many people think Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain has won the GOP nomination.

Actually, he has. A long time ago.

But Texas Rep. Ron Paul's revolutionaries continue to plug away. With 45% of Pennsylvania's 9,268 precincts reporting, Paul has captured 15% of the vote. He's easily beating former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who has only 12%.

Two things will moderate joy in the Paul camp. One, Huckabee suspended his campaign and stopped campaigning weeks ago. Yet, he's still getting 12%. And second, McCain is capturing 73% of the GOP vote -- which was apparently reduced by some thousands of Republicans who changed their registration to vote Democratic for Clinton, as ordered by their leader, Rush Limbaugh, to promote further prolonged feuding among Democrats.

On the other hand, Paul will point out, McCain has already won the party's top ticket spot and yet is drawing only 3 out of 4 Republican ballots.

(UPDATE: With 98% of Pennsylvania's 9,268 precincts reporting Rep. Paul has narrowed the lead of Sen. McCain by 1%, to just 57 points. Paul captured 125,204 votes or 16% to McCain's 570,188 or 73%. Mike Huckabee trails both with 89,344 or 11%.)

-- Andrew Malcolm

Comments

[JP]

How can McCain possibly win the presidency when over 1/4 of his base won't vote for hm and the Democrats are turning out 5 times the vote? The GOP is cooked. Let's wait and see what happens at the convention, esp. since PA delegates are not bound.

[Ryan Cowles]

Mr. Malcolm --- Thanks for the note. I know the majority of your readers probably think we (Ron Paul supporters) are off-the-deep-end crazy, but those who really try and understand Congressman Paul begin to see that he only wants what is best for our country. I cherish our United States, as I imagine you do as do most of your readers.

Thanks for being honest and acknowledging the material fact that McCain is not winning Pennsylvania 99% to 1% like he SHOULD be if he were the party's clear choice.

It's truly a saddening year for my Republican Party.

Ron Paul supporters not only have big hearts for Congressman Paul, but also for our country.

[Fred]

Nearly 1/6 Republicans in Pennsylvania voted for Ron Paul. Considering that he only received $120,000 in donations in March, hasn't received any media attention, and has an extremely limited campaign staff, I consider that outstanding.

I continue to be amazed by the dedication of Ron Paul's supporters. If only other candidates could raise so much enthusiasm in their supporters, we would actually have meaningful Presidential elections.

[Dr Kibble]

The underlying theme here is that there are a vast number of people who are dissatisfied with the current Republican Party. If the GOP had a big tent, it would welcome Ron Paul supporters, listen to their concerns, and adapt. This is the optimist in me speaking. The pessimist in me believes that the GOP will not change and will face certain defeat come November.

Ron Paul supporters will continue to wave signs on street corners and try to change the Republican Party back to what it once was. We also hope to get the rest of American to at least listen to Ron Paul's message. We continue to do this even though Ron Paul's odds are slim to none of winning the GOP nomination. It reminds me of a passage I came across in the Bible:

Matthew 11:16
But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market places and calling to their playmates, "We piped to you and you did not dance; we wailed and you did not mourn."

[ellen]

The fact that Ron Paul is pulling 16% (with 85% reporting) is ASTOUNDING considering the uphill battle he fights to be acknowledged as existing-much less actively running. I looked hard-very hard- to find mention of his candidacy anywhere in the national media, leading up to this PA primary. Even C-span has dropped the ball and acts as if there is no Repub. contest at all.

Against such odds, and with no hope of success "in the conventional sense", Ron Paul energizes 100,000 people in PA to come out and vote for him? What are these people saying? There is a story here-a huge one--thank goodness you all have a basic nose for news to touch upon it. Where the heck are your colleagues---snoozing on the job??

[Ron Moss]

Ron Paul, Andrew Jackson, all sounds familiar. Silence him , silence him. Same people, just a repeat of history. We get what we deserve. Are prices really going up or is the dollar coming down. Do we really know up from down any more?

[Edward]

I'm suspicious that Hillary has committed voter fraud again, like she did in NH.

[Linda Rayborn]

I admire the dedication of Ron Paul supporters, but what he proposes is just too far out there to be possible and Ron Paul himself does not seem to campaign very hard. Just shows up for the debates and that's about it.

I am a Huckabee supporter and am glad that Mike got a huge amount of votes considering he is not in the race, has supported McCain and is campaigning for him. I would vote Huckabee (I already did in SC) in the primary too, but we must rally to Senator McCain in November. I hope and pray Senator McCain can see what an asset Mike is to the party and add him to the ticket because we will need all the conservatives, youth, black Republicans, evangelicals and the cross-over Democrats that Mike's populist message appeals to in order for the Republican's to win. We also need Ron Paul supporters to vote McCain in November.

[Dr Ward Ciac II]

Ron Paul! Ron Paul! Ron Paul! Ron Paul!

[Michaelb1]

"She won big"
Really? She netted 3, maybe 4 delegates.

[Paul]

The GOP leadership is in for a real shock. The resistance is growing not lessening in the ranks.

McCain is washed up. His record is one of self interest at the expense of country. He is a Keating Fiver and the Dems will tear him to pieces.

The Dems are a mess now but mark my works by September 1st the GOP will be in Open Revolt.

Regardless of the GOP leaderships efforts the ranks are not having any of it any more.
Have you been to the Gas pump this week?
Have looked at the cost of Bread?
Do you have 53 trillion to pay for the unfunded liabilities McCain, Obama and Clinton have worked so hard to lay at our lap.

What about the war? We have done what for seven years? I remember a carrier landing and the president's statement Mission accomplished!

OK so How will this war that costs 1 trillion a year end? When will it end?

Lastly, I saw almost our entire military move in the seventies and eighties to bases over seas, every community they abandoned suffered and are a shadow of what they could be. WHY IS THAT? Did you know one of John McCain's best AZ buddies went around the country buying up those bases and making a killing!

Have you any idea how to fix this problem? No neither does McCain or his Crew! They are all burnt out has beens.
I vote for Ron Paul and regardless of the out come the penny has dropped and the GOP is in for a decade long brawl.

McCain's words are less than meaningless. Hell he does not even know what the Presidents Working Group is? It is also known as the Plunge Protection Team! Do the research? This aging old man is not able to keep his cool or his mouth from running in expletive mode. He has balls I read on one Blog. So what they are made of LEAD and poisoned what brains he had too.

McCain is a total mistake! GOP I expect better, now get ready because we have the time and money to cut you aging and out of touch mad fools out of party and that is what I and the 300,000 will do as soon as possible.

[Neocons Are Children]

Only children are addicted to power to such an extent, that they have to rig the system to get their way. You will forever be looked upon as children amongst men, little neocons. You should be delegated to the status of small rodent in your communities, because that's your heart and soul and it also accounts for your lack of vision and imagination.

[ReadABookChumps]

Try reading one of Ron Paul's books chumps. In his books you'll find that he's been fighting against foolish government intervention and has been constantly fighting to reign in the governments spending sprees. The only guy to obey the Constitution and the only guy that actually understands economics and the dangers that US imperialism poses to liberty, peace and prosperty.

But those issues aren't important to you childish media chumps. You're far more interested in lapel pins and dubious connections to "America haters".

Dolts.

[RPismyPrez]

I just want to see RP speak at the Nov convention and show the idiot Republicans what foolish people they are, before they get their heads handed to them by the democrats.

We got a hardcore socialist future ahead of us.

[Joe]

Put a stick in it. The GOP is dead with McMunster as the candidate.

Will the real GOP candidate, Ron Paul, please stand up.
It's time to assume the role, good doctor.

[Pete]

Dr. Kibble,

Another Bible passage that comes to mind is Judges 7, where God has Gideon reduce his force from 32,000 to 300, so that all would know who was the force behind their victory over the Midianites.

Still got my fingers crossed for a miracle!

[Todd in Sacramento]

If one in six people were active in thier congressional districts we would win the battle for freedom and liberty. It takes a minority not a majority to sway your local congressman's vote. The real political power is in the House not the presidency. Even one in twenty would get the job done, but you got to have some balls and knock on your congressman's door and pound on his desk with your fist demanding a return to constitutional government.
WAKE UP!

[Doug D]

That's got to put him close to 1 million votes for the campaign.

125,000 in PA is more than the 110,000 he received in California.

16% is nothing to sneeze at.

Double-digits again, for the 11th time, but the first in a primary.

[Joe]

better move harder to the right Mr. McCain. And that means free markets, less war, more less gov't, personal liberites, etc. Oh wait ...McCain's actually a Demo ... who doesn't believe in the Constitution or any of the above. Sorry John ....Your toast come November! I'm a Republican and I approve of this message. 4 years in Obama/Hillary hell is better then one day of McCain!

[jan]

You "so-called Republicans" ought to take a good look in the mirror and ask yourselves what really is important- in your personal life AND with your country. Is a woman's right to choose any of your business anyway? And if life is so precious, then why do you support wars? Don't people die in wars? Our economy is a mess because of this disastrous and expensive war. Maybe this is God's payback for the killing you promoted! You should all be supporting Ron Paul in droves!! Read his website. You can't possibly think McCain is the better candidate, you'd have to be a moron or have your heads in the sand. I'll send my tax bill to all you that think war is the answer to our problems. You have no right to declare yourselves a true republican unless you can honestly stand for what Ron Paul does - defending the constitution. It should be a priority for EVERY American!

[Steve]

Ron Paul baby! 16% in PA!! This is strong victory for us Ron Paul supporters. PA beat out CA in total number of votes for Ron Paul without any media coverage. Plus we are having delegate success that should at the very least, embarrass McCain and the rest of the country club Gop'ers. Here in DC I get exposed to the some of the National GOP Committee people and they think Ron is a nobody!! But little do they know that a whole movement is growing, let's take back GOP!!!!!! Limited Government, low Taxes, and a strong national defense!

[p sarver]

we don't think the Ron Paul supporters are off the deep end crazy-the problem with Ron Paul is that ppl think Ron Paul himself is off the deep end crazy and would not do well in general election.

Ii've run into his supporters and no tactic is beneath them.They ran smear boards on Huckabee.They jammped up his phone banks back when Huckabee was running.All dirty pool. Sorry. I just can't see,no matter how well it looks like he did here,that he would ever carry a general election.He appeals to a tenacious but small group of supporters.

[blakmira]

Armstrong County in Pennsylvania:
Ron Paul was at 71% in Armstrong County, then mysteriously he lost votes and went down to 15%.

Vote tally with 13% reporting:
McCain - 118
Paul - 524

Vote tally with 48% reporting:
McCain - 2,063
Paul - 409

Wow. How does a candidate lose votes?

If you believe that half a million people in Pennsylvania voted for McCain and only 1/5th of that number voted for Ron Paul, I've got some swamp land in the desert to sell you.

Can you say "vote count fraud" and pre-programmed Diebold tampering? Or should we just whisper those words and pretend it hasn't happened in every primary and election in the past few decades?

[Evgeny Libek]

I have said it before, and nobody seems to listen...

The GOP made a HUGE mistake to shun Ron Paul.

Rep.Paul was signing new GOP members by the thousands -- far beyond all of the other candidates combined -- yet the party "leaders" treated him like a fool, and made NO effort to understand why.

They still haven't the slightest clue about the dynamics behind Ron Paul's ability to BROADEN the party.

Fred, Rudy, St.Huck, Mitt, and McMilitary -- they all behaved like frenzied, drunken, homo-erotic jocks at a public shower, jostling to achieve the loudest towel-snap on Ron Paul's a$$.

Nobody bothered to realize the damage this could do to the party's future, nor to add up the VOTES.

Romney would have likely won the nomination, had he only the courage to consider Ron Paul's message.

After G.Dumbleyou Bush, you'd think this party (my former party) would have grown-up.

Now, the cruel irony is, the GOP depends upon Hillary Clinton to save them, by returning the favor (she's doing a fine job discrediting Obama, and driving a wedge between the Bluedogs and the Democratic Party's future).

Typical politics... a rival for even the most profound stupidity is never found wanting from the slightest gaze across the aisle.

You'd think, by now, that the smartest generation would realize that the next generation is always significantly smarter.

[Marilyn in Texas]

Linda Raybourn,
You mosted at 8:46pm that Ron Paul doesn't campaign hard. He has been campaigning all over the country, drawing big crouwds, especially at the universities and colleges. But the media just hasn't covered him. He does campaign very hard.

[Darrell]

Ron Paul has some nice ideas but they are not well thought out. Ron Paul supporters need only take a look at history to know that trickle-down economics DOES NOT WORK.

Ron Paul's plans are far too simple for the complex world we live in. If you think his plans are great, you should travel a bit and allow yourself to see other perspectives because you're clearly missing something.

He's a nice guy and I'm sure he's sincere in his campaign but seriously, do some thinking.

[Roger]

Ya know, it's kinda sad that people are talking about how the GOP shouldn't have "shunned" Ron Paul, how they are going to "Pay", or about the "rampant" dissatisfaction in the GOP party....15% rampant?

It doesn't really matter anymore whether its a Dem or Rep elected to our high office....it's just more of the same....two sides of the same coin.

Get used to a small minority of people voting based on the principles that founded our country...the feeding trough is too big...though thankfully we will all be reminded of our humble roots in agrarian culture as our economy collapses and we all learn the value of saving rather than spending.

No more whining RP supporters, get over it...prepare yourselves and let the sheeple suffer as they must.

[Josh]

John McCain = Bob Dole. Another Lame Duck nominee for the good ole GOP. They could care less about winning and only want to drive the party further to the left.

Ron Paul = true conservative and the ONLY canidate who will hold true to his oath of office.

Clinton/Obama = 4 years of socialism and listening to liberal whiners cry about how they are victims of everything. Throw personal repsonsibility out the door.

America gave up a great chance here because they watch too much TV and could care less to read any policy. Policy isn't sexy. Race, radical preachers, supposed masoginism, arguments over tax returns, and back room comments about small town folk,....now that's sexy. Turn off your TV America and pick up a book. I'll even recommend a title; The Revolution: A Manifesto by Ron Paul. Sometimes a book can change an enitre generation. Are we wise enough to take heed?

[mike hicks]

Ron Paul is the only choice there is, move over McCaine the humble RP is being raised up by some one much more powerful than you could ever be. don't stop believing all you RP supporters, keep canvassing, get delagates for Ron, I just talked to some one about Ron and he is going to vote for Ron , he was totally turned off with the other candidates, there are lots of people who still need to hear about Ron so keep up the good fight and keep praying, I believe God is listening . pray in our Lords name Jesus Christ, Give us Ron Paul for President

[Terri Kurowski]

Darrell: Ron Paul's ideas too simple for the complex world we live in? Surely you're joking! He has, by far the most well thought out solutions to the complex problems in this country, most specifically the floundering economy, and he's been talking about this and predicting what's happening now for years (and nobody listened). And who said anything about trickle down economics??

What Ron Paul is saying about the Federal Reserve alone is worth all the gold that used to be in Fort Knox. Study up!! We're being fleeced while the elites line their pockets. It's all about the monetary policy and a private bank that prints money out of thin air and lends it to the government with interest.

Ron Paul can't be summed up in bumper sticker slogans; read Ron Paul's own words. You will be amazed.

Incidentally, I just re-read his essay "Neoconned!" last night; it's a brilliant piece of writing. Check it out.

[Boltlady]

Conspiracy? Alive and well. As blakmira pointed out, it is extremely likely that it was RP who got the most votes before the machines did their thing. After all, the same type of machines were used that were used in NH. You remember how Hillary went into that one way behind in the polls and then somehow came out way ahead? Many discrepancies were uncovered in that recount but the media has been quiet about it.

Logic has to tell you that if so many people were convinced that McCain has everything sewed up, there would not have been so many that would have bothered to come out and vote for him. On the other hand, it stands to reason that the majority of the GOP votes would have been as a protest to McCain.

All you need to do is look at how many times across the states that people tried to vote for one person only to have the machine display his or her opponent. In NH the discrepancies had to do with the machine tallies. Since PA used the same kind of machines, I suspect that it was the case once again. That 16% was probably a bone thrown to the supporters hoping to quiet them down. The true numbers could well have been reversed.

[Shohadaku]

If Ron Paul had fair media, and debate time to honestly debate the issues 9 out of 10 Americans would vote for him.
If Ron Paul was the Republican candidate he would destroy whatever Democrat runs against him.
I dare ANY Candidate to go on a 1 on 1 issue debate with Ron Paul.
See how "radical" people would think Paul is if they knew Paul's stances and honesty that spans his lifetime.
Cheers to a true patriot. Our founders are rolling in their graves at what Americans have let happen to their media and Government.

[Mr. C]

Roger wrote: "Ya know, it's kinda sad that people are talking about how the GOP shouldn't have "shunned" Ron Paul, how they are going to "Pay", or about the "rampant" dissatisfaction in the GOP party....15% rampant?"

When you add the 12% of P.A. Republicans that voted for Huckabee over McCain with Ron Paul's 16%, you have 28% of the state's GOP voters that said NO to McCain!

I predict the trend will grow.

[Randolph Miller]

If Ron Paul won the Republican nomination, I'd vote for him in the general election. Since the Republicans would rather vote for 100 years of war, I'm going to vote for a different party.

[Sophie]

Darrell and other individuals have commented that Ron Paul has "nice" ideas, but that they're too simplistic. Why not try picking up a book written by Paul detailing his positions and stances instead of relying on 30-second sound bytes to draw dismissive conclusions? I highly recommend The Revolution: A Manifesto.

Traveling will only take you so far (and I've actually lived in various countries). It is the ideas that you garner from your experiences that makes the difference. If one truly wants a fresh perspective, listen to Ron Paul with an inquisitive mind. He's focused his entire political career on economics, history, and domestic & foreign policy, and I can assure you that he's had decades to think his ideas through.

[Ken]

I tried to switch my registration from Independent to Republican to vote for Ron here in PA, back in October, and never recieved confirmation of change of party...so did my wife(formerly Democrat), to the same result. Then she got calls from Barack Obama's campaign to vote for him on the 22nd...VOTER FRAUD!!!!!!!!!!!! They never switched us! We couldn't vote! This system is corrupt and if you think we still have honest elections, just place your right hand out to receive your mark! Ron Paul is the ONLY candidate that makes any sense and the PTB couldn't let him win...by any means necesarry. And for those of you who think I should have checked up on the change, by the time I realised something wasn't right, it was too late. This country is going to collapse, but that's the plan, and all the ones the MSM would recognise are in on it...even Huckabee and the rest of the dropout republicans.

[Dan Warner]

I count myself among the proud Pennsylvanians who cast their vote for Ron Paul. I can tell you that we are organized and also voted for delegates who have plegded support for the good Dr. In PA we vote for our delegates on the ballot and they are NOT bound or comitted, unless they have stated so before the voting begins. Even then they can vote as they choose.

Ya gotta love PA, birthplace of a nation and our constitution. I thank my fellow patriots from the keystone state for standing up for freedom and liberty!

[judy bell]

Horton heard some who : we americans who are trying to return this country to the dignity and common sense that it was founded on. I was so thrilled to vote for Ron Paul (May God Bless Him). This Who spoke up and it felt soooo good.
Peace out

[diane]

It amazes me that so many people making less than $500K/year believe in RP's plan to eliminate all entitlements (e.g., Medicare and Social Security). Trickle down economics is really trickle up for the rich; it is a simple transfer of wealth from the poor and middle class to the rich. Once again Republicans can be convinced to vote against their own economic interests. If you believe in the complete absence of a social safety net and want to build your own roads, schools, etc. (i.e., privatize everything) and turn into a third world country, keep voting for persons like RP. Even though many of his observations are on-target, his plan for America is to take us back to the 19th century robber barons era.

[Brian]

Hey, Mr. Malcolm - How can McCain win the nomination when the convention has not yet occured? There is that whole messy delegate process to still go through. Why all the pomp and circumstance if he already won it?
Oh, maybe because it hasn't been decided yet. Paul may not have more than the very slimmest chance, but it is not over yet.
If the GOP and the MSM weren't scared of making a surge, they would actually show his 16% numbers on their minute-by-minute updates. They wouldn't even show McCain's numbers last night. This is something you would see in the Soviet Union. Huckabee supporters must be disappointed, too because their symbolic votes weren't shown either.

[Richard]

Bible references... link - http://www.harmlessasdoves.com/israelking.html

1 Samuel 8:4-22: All the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. They said to him, "...appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have."

But when they said, "Give us a king to lead us," this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. And the Lord told him: "Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will do."

Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king. He said, "This is what the king who will reign over you will do: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. Your menservants and maidservants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use. He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, and the Lord will not answer you in that day."

But the people refused to listen to Samuel. "No!" they said. "We want a king over us. Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles."

When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the Lord. The Lord answered, "Listen to them and give them a king."

There is nothing new under the sun. Let's make our voices louder than those that call for a worldly king's authority over them. Keep government UNDER God.

[drawlr]

Diane, Thou knowest not of what thou speakest. Ignoramus!

[Frank]

Ron Paul's plans are far too simple for the complex world we live in. If you think his plans are great, you should travel a bit and allow yourself to see other perspectives because you're clearly missing something.

Apparently you have traveled the world with blinders covering your eyes. I have spent months in other countries that: haven't had a war in centuries, have no huge deficit to pass to their grandchildren, don't print money to empower the already wealth, all citizens have enough food, fuel, minimum healthcare, and don't experience a constant rollercoaster of boom/busts in their economies. Why, because they have responsible leaders like Ron Paul running their government and not corporations and special interests twisting their country to their own needs.

[Richard]

Diane, the robber barons did more for America's poor than any politician since the Revolutionary War era. Ron Paul supports Bush's tax cuts, but doesn't champion them. I think he understands that the poor need the cuts even more than the rich, which would explain his support for the removal of the IRS tax system.

Besides, I'd still rather work for an undeservedly rich person than the undeservedly financed government, which will find my wages in the taxes they steal from myself and others.

This year, the government will spend over $30k for each citizen. This should scare anyone who earns less than that, and sees the government assuming financial responsibility (and soon decision-making responsibility) over our lives, because of the debts they have incurred in our name.

Its like we all have an insolvent uncle, who also has our Power-Of-Attorney. He spends for 'freedom', while we toil in prison. Good luck.

[keith]

"Even though many of his observations are on-target, his plan for America is to take us back to the 19th century"

Bingo!

[ellen]

"Sometimes a book can change an entire generation." Wow! Josh, above, you put your finger on exactly what is going on.

This presidential election cycle has prepared the ground to be seeded by the common sense freedom message spelled out in "The Revolution: A Manifesto" (Ron Paul's new book, due out in bookstores April 30, and already # 1 in "Politics" at Amazon.com.).

These ideas will not fade away, but will grow into a towering oak, because our children and grandchildren need them.

[Paul]

"I hope and pray Senator McCain can see what an asset Mike is to the party and add him to the ticket"

gag

" We also need Ron Paul supporters to vote McCain in November."

Simply put: That ain't gonna happen.

[txpenguin]

Write in Ron Paul for president.

[Brandon]

I plan to write-in Ron Paul regardless of the preliminary result.

My only other option would be non-participation.
Unless there was a "none of the above" ballot option, as suggested (AFAIK) by Jesse Ventura.

Out of all the people in this nation, I can't believe were reduced to this selection.

[WILDEY J MOORE]

There is way to get RON PAUL ON THE BALLOT. if the Libertarian and members of the Consittution Party to endorse him, he would appear twice. Even the diisident Republican's could vote for him.

Question is, are they more interest in their party or the country? I'm a Contitutionalist. I ran for congress. If I can, I'll vote for RON PAUL, not that aren't any good Constitutionalist. but we have one RON PAUL.

[Mike Knapp]

I was wondering if, just once, this column could give some news about Dr. Paul without the condescending attitude. His supporters know that he is not going to get the nomination, but continue to fight to get the message out.

[Stanley Pinchak]

diane,
You really need to get an basic background in elementary economics. I recommend "Economics in One Lesson" by Henry Hazlitt. I grabbed my copy at the used book store for $2.50 last year. I did a google search and its available to read for free online. http://jim.com/econ/contents.html

I won't ruin the book for you , but I will say that after reading it you will have a much better understanding of how government interventionism leads to unintended consequences and never achieves the goals for which it aims. Furthermore it will provide you with the foundation to further research to foundation of all progress and increases in the standard of living, free market capitilism, as opposed to interventionism which leads to capital decumulation and the resulting relative and absolute impoverishment of those subject there to.

[Tom deSabla]

Andrew said: "John McCain has won the GOP nomination....A long time ago."

What's your hurry Andy? The nomination process happens AFTER the primaries, remember? McCain is very unstable and is liable to do or say just about anything that comes into his small, yet Napoleonic mind. He could literally slap someone around and berate them in a fit of rage.

It could be a problem. McCain is a blustering bully. Ron Paul is a long-distance runner and thinker. If he was so dead in the water as everyone says - HE COULDN'T HAVE POSSIBLY PULLED 16% IN PA.

Something out there is alive and well. Growing, even.

****

Linda Rayborn said:

"I admire the dedication of Ron Paul supporters,

YEAH RIGHT

but what he proposes is just too far out there to be possible

OH REALLY? HOW WOULD YOU KNOW? WHICH ASPECT OF DR PAUL'S LONG-CONSIDERED POLICY PLATFORM IS 'TOO FAR OUT THERE" TO BE POSSIBLE? THE CONSTITUTION PERHAPS?

AND, COMING FROM SOMEONE WHO BELIEVES THAT JESUS CHRIST THE SON OF GOD IS GOING TO ROLL INTO TOWN AND START HANGING WITH US, IT'S PRETTY FUNNY HEARING YOU TALK ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE "TOO FAR OUT THERE" TO BE POSSIBLE.

and Ron Paul himself does not seem to campaign very hard. Just shows up for the debates and that's about it.

BULL. DO YOU SAY THIS BECAUSE SOMEONE MISINFORMED YOU, OR BECAUSE YOU'RE ACTUALLY LYING?

I am a Huckabee supporter

WE KNOW

and am glad that Mike got a huge amount of votes considering he is not in the race, has supported McCain and is campaigning for him.

SINCE MIKE SUPPORTS MCCAIN, WE KNOW HE DOES NOT SERVE THE LORD, BECAUSE MCCAIN COULD NEVER BE CALLED A PEACEMAKER, ANDTHE LORD DOES NOT LOVE THOSE WHO GLORIFY WAR.

I would vote Huckabee (I already did in SC) in the primary too, but we must rally to Senator McCain in November.

WHY? WHOSE INTERESTS WOULD THAT SERVE?

I hope and pray Senator McCain can see what an asset Mike is to the party and add him to the ticket because we will need all the conservatives, youth, black Republicans, evangelicals and the cross-over Democrats that Mike's populist message

AHA, "populist message" EH? NOW WE GET TO IT. YOU'RE A BUNCH OF SOCIALISTS WHO HAVE NO UNDERSTANDING THAT BIG GOVERNMENT IS THE PROBLEM IN THIS COUNTRY. MIKE'S POPULIST MESSAGE IS THE EXACT WRONG MESSAGE FOR THIS COUNTRY - IT'S MORE OF THE SAME.

appeals to in order for the Republican's to win. We also need Ron Paul supporters to vote McCain in November. "

DREAM ON. YOU NEED TO STOP DRINKING THE KOOLAID, LADY. YOUR LITTLE JESUS BOY IS A TOTAL IDIOT, A STATIST, AND A FRAUD. WE NEED REAL THINKERS NOW, REAL MEN OF IDEAS AND COURAGEOUS ACTION.

Linda P Sarver said:

"Ron Paul himself is off the deep end crazy and would not do well in general election.

WE DISAGREE. IN FACT, WE FEEL THAT PAUL HAD TO BE MARGINALIZED BECAUSE HE WOULD DO WELL IN A GENERAL ELECTION. HE CAME FROM NOWHERE, AND IT'S ALL BECAUSE PEOPLE HEARD HIS MESSAGE. ONCE YOU UNDERSTAND PAUL'S IDEAS OF FREEDOM - YOU DON'T GO BACK.

Ii've run into his supporters and no tactic is beneath them.They ran smear boards on Huckabee.

THIS IS BULL TOO; BUT I WILL SAY THIS - HUCK IS A DUMMY WHO SHOULD BE SMEARED. WHAT KIND OF HONEST CHRISTIAN MAN TELLS THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT THEY COULD MAINTAIN THEIR LIFESTYLE AND STILL ELIMINATE IMPORTED OIL IN 10 YEARS?

WE IMPORT 2/3'S OF OUR OIL NOW, AND THE PERCENTAGE IS INCREASING. HUCK IS VERY UNINFORMED AND IS JUST SAYING WHAT HIS FOOLOWERS WANT TO HEAR, TRUTH BE DAMNED.

They jammped up his phone banks back when Huckabee was running.All dirty pool. "

LIES, ALL LIES! NO REALLY, I'M CALLING THIS PERSON A LIAR.

****

Darrell said:

"Ron Paul has some nice ideas but they are not well thought out. Ron Paul supporters need only take a look at history to know that trickle-down economics DOES NOT WORK.

Ron Paul's plans are far too simple for the complex world we live in. If you think his plans are great, you should travel a bit and allow yourself to see other perspectives because you're clearly missing something.

He's a nice guy and I'm sure he's sincere in his campaign but seriously, do some thinking."

***

Darrell, you have have no idea what a common, statist myth this is, that the world is just so complex, that oh dear, anyone who provides a simple solution just must be wrong.

Bull. For example, most every economic problem the world over can be traced back to the abandonment of the international gold standard, and the universal adoption of fiat money by the nations of the world.

Of course, they got sucked into it by, guess who?

Us, that's who. After Bretton Woods, they were supposed to be able to trade their dollars back to us for gold. That's what spread dollars out all over the globe, and also allowed us to export inflation, rather than deal with it ourselves, like other nations have to do. Of course, we reneged in 1971.

With fiat money, the gap betwen the rich and poor will always increase, and saving will always be given the cold shoulder in favor of consumption.

You see, simplicity can be very comprehensive! And, complexity is the enemy of liberty.

[Bill]

We're learning this election...

It doesn't matter how popular your candidate is, if you don't get the corporate media's "blessing", you don't stand a chance.

This campaign is living proof of that. Ron Paul had the biggest grassroots movement possibly ever for a presidential candidate. He was the most popular on the internet by far. (People on the internet are generally better informed too though, I might add.)

Just imagine if Ron Paul was treated fairly in the debates. Instead of getting 9 minutes speaking time out of 90, he got 25 or 30.

Imagine if he was mentioned 1500 times per day on CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, etc. Imagine if he was the subject of "Bowling for Votes" like I saw on CNN with Hitlery and Obama Bin Laden the other day. Imagine if they had days of discussions about his pastor, or his hairdresser, or anything else for that matter.

Imagine if they didn't say things like "kooky" and mention "conspiracy theorists", or say that he was "a long shot" or that he "has no chance" every time they mentioned Dr. Paul. Imagine if they asked McCain if he would support Dr. Paul if he himself ended up dropping out.

You've seen that even bad coverage for the front-runners is better than no coverage at all like Dr. Paul is getting. The other candidates are dispicable... crooked... bought and paid for... and everyone knows it. They even tell you that on the msm. But they know it doesn't matter. People are so apathetic in this country, all they have to do is parade the faces of the people they want in office on the idiot box every day... day in and day out... and people will vote for them.

About 10-15% of Americans really know what's going on in this country, and I think most of them would/will vote for Dr. Paul. The rest are simple-minded dolts, but mostly just brainwashed by the msm. They are too busy trying to pay their bills so they can keep up with the Joneses next door... too busy trying to pay for their overpriced home and their SUV payment to even have time to pay attention to why it just keeps getting harder and harder, when it should be becoming easier. All this technology... all this economic power (we used to have)... we should've been living on easy street. If we had a constitutional-sized government, I think we would've been.

Now we're screwed. And they're gonna keep screwin' us into the dirt. Sorry, but that's just how I feel. I don't know when people are gonna wake up, but I'm afraid it's gonna be too late.

And to you people who think that Ron Paul's ideas are "too radical" or "extreme"... I think we need something radical to change in this country, or we're all gonna be standing in the soup line soon. We need "radical" change... NOW.

But I still fail to see how following the constitution is a radical idea. Not following it is exaclty what put us in the situation we are in today... economic meltdown, growing fascism, hatred toward American's around the world, and our growing police state.

Ron Paul 2008 -- Save our nation!!

[Web Smith]

It's interesting that the combined vote totals of McCain, Paul, and Huckabee don't equal the votes of the loser Obama.

In an industrial state, the so called Republicans and the MSM special interest groups can't get 10% of the population out to vote. Perhaps MSM special interest group bias and marginalization has become so blatant that it's too much to stomach.

Listening to announcers after the contest was sickening. "Blacks are voting for", "Women are voting for", "Blue Collar workers are voting for", "White people are voting for", "Young people are voting for", "Elderly people ate voting for", "Obama is a candidate with serious problems", "Hillary squashed Obama", "Obama spent an extraordinary amount of money and failed", and on and on. TV personalities were spewing spittle because they were so worked up about the opportunity to trounce on someone who is not their choice.

[MGC]

Ron Paul is the ONLY candidate who has a clue about the rule of law as propounded by the Constitution; economics -- at home and abroad -- and the dilatory impact of maintaining the status quo in Washington. For these reasons and more his campaign has gained momentum with the disenfranchised in America -- which involves increasingly more Americans -- despite the blackout of his campaign by conventional media. He represents real change; change that would bring back the Constitution and relieve Americans of the increasingly heavy hand of their government. You won't hear that on ABC, CBS or NBC, however. But his message is getting out and if he isn't the man who brings us back to our revolutionary roots, certainly his followers will.

[Steve L.]

Diane and Darrel - you keep citing this "trickle down" theory as though it relates to Ron Paul. Nowhere does Ron Paul in his entire book talk about making things easier for rich people so that they can provide more for the poor.

The concepts he espouses are liberty and freedom. Our entitlement programs (yes, the safety net programs listed above) are bankrupt. There is no trust fund that will provide for the people as they get older. The safety net system that we have now is funded by new workers, and there are not enough of them, and so if we do not reduce our dependance on welfarism we will be forced to either take more money from the taxpayer, or devalue (inflate) our currency. Neither of which helps the poor.

Rather than talk about how his policies sound nice, how about you read up on how he plans on fixing our country. HINT: It has much more to do with following our constitution than putting anybody out on the street.

[1440 minutes]

Thank you, Andrew, for covering Ron Paul again. If it wasn't for journalists like you, he would receive zero coverage, and no one would believe that he exists when we go out and campaign for him.

[Gmartine]

Our current form of monetary policies are not sustainable. Free markets unhindered by the central planning of the federal government can work even with some reasonable amount of regulation.

This doesn't mean "trickle down economics." The federal reserve system we have is part of the trickle down theory. They are in charge of printing the money and lowering interest rates. The average citizen or small business doesn't get the initial rate. That artificially lower interest rates is given to big banks, large corporations and government subsidies. Eventually we get easier loans but the interest rates for citizens outside the initial money tier usually reset to much higher interest rates. Then the government is now bailing out large investment firms that made bad choices with our children's future tax money.

We are in debt because our empire is too big. We have more enemies around the world then I can remember in my lifetime. And there is a man that has the best solutions I have ever heard of in my lifetime.

"If we live above our means then we are destined to live below our means" - Ron Paul

[Dave B]

Huh? What trickle down economics is the earlier poster talking about? When you let people keep 100% of their income and prevent government largess & collusion with big buisness isn't that the opposite of trickle down? I think Judy Bell is very confused about the policy RP endorses.

We've spent many years giving our money and rights over to big government so they could end poverty, drug use and crime. We ended up poorer with the same problems. Now we will be forced to give up more money to give everyone universal healthcare or forced to give up more liberties so the governement can protect us froom the terrorists, or islamo-fascists, or communists, or boogeymen or whatever.

I'm very proud that my state (PA) gave Ron Paul more votes than any other state in the nation. Please join the revolution for the sake of this great country's future.

Dave

[daddysteve]

In Iowa we won't accept the electronic voting machine. Why are you?

[DavidE73]

If you add up McCain's and Huckabee's votes in Pennsylvania, you have a better estimate of McCain's strength, particularly if he chooses Huckabee as a running mate. Most Paul supporters will vote for McCain because the economic policies of the Democratic candidates are anathema to him. What McCain needs is a running mate with which he can distance himself from the Republican economic conservatives who are destroying Main Street so that they can enrich Wall Street. Huckabee would be that man.

[Brandi]

As Ron Paul himself said, Revolutions are long-term projects. People talk a lot about individualism in this country, how we're all so unique and express ourselves so differently. That simply is not true, because if we felt free to follow our hearts without worrying about what the TV tells us everyone else is thinking, Ron Paul would be our next president. Even though he might not win, he's still RIGHT. Long live the Revolution!

[RustyJohn]

In the caucus states what we are finding is that Paul is getting a half of or the majority of delegates at county and state conventions- all these McCain delegates are laegely unpledged- it takes some 1200+ to win the nomination but only about 70% of those are pledged delegates. Here in WA state the majority of delegates from SPokane County are Paul delegates and in King and Pierce County anywhere from 1/3rd to 1/2 of the delegates are Paul delegates.

[YZ]

you guys are nuts. obviously the mccain supporters either voted for hillary or didn't vote at all because WHO CARES, HE WON. the crazy ron paul/nazi supporters are off the deep end so came out en masse to support him. amazing, he won 16%, that's ridiculous. For example in 04 on may 4, almost two months after kerry clinched, edwards took 7 of N. carolinas 13 delegates. WHO CARES on june 11th dean took 2 of 14 of new jerseys. it doesn't matter

[TJ]

The 120.000+ will not vote for McCain in November. People can just keep on thinking McCain is winning over conservatives. This shows he has not even starting.

[Chris]

All of you Bible thumping Christians need to wake up and smell the fish and loaves. Jesus was a radical and never intended for his words in the Bible to be thrown into the political arena (or else he would have taken over the world when he was here). So those of you who are quoting bible verses really should get over it and accept the fact that not everyone believes the way you do. Next, OBAMA all the way MCstupid doesnt have a chance.

[TJ]

To Linda Rayborn:

No, what is "too far out there" is the DEPRESSION that this nation is about to go through, and nobody wants to face the facts.

What will be needed to pull this nation out of it is NOT more of the same...so Mr. "I don't know much about economics" John McCain certainly does not have the answers.

People are going to have to educate themselves about monetary policy, and Dr. Paul has it down pat.

[Deco]

I am wondering what would motivate people to vote for McCain't. McCain wants the boys and girls from the wrong end of town, or the rural poverty areas, to be in Iraq for 100 years. McCain wants to increase military expansionism. McCain wants to deflate the dollar, but encourage US drivers to keep their gas guzzlers and not use the bus. McCain wants to out-obliterate Iran, compared to Hillary. McCain's understanding of economics is practically non-existent. McCain promises to say angry words to the corporate interests that dominate in Washington, so that he can continue doing business with the same corporate interests....just like he did in Arizona...McCain thinks Putin is the President of Germany...McCain is not the best candidate available...even Romney would have been more capable...but he represents American Machismo and Militarism at it's most extreme...and therefore he is dangerous...as exemplified by the long list of US Forces commanders who have switched to endorsing Clinton, Obama, and just about anybody who can stop McCain.

I can't beleive half a million PA residents think that McCain is the best hope there is. I suppose on the bright side, it is much less than the quantity of Californians, or Floridians who agree with everything McCain represents. Half a million people voted for McCain because he 'iz tuff on terror'....hilarious....even more hilarious than all the fools voting for the snake oil salesman who has proven nothing except show business appeal, Obama, because he 'represents change'.

I am begining to think that the voting machines have been doctored !!! I mean Ron Paul signs are everywhere. Ron Paul donators are everywhere. Ron Paul advocates are everywhere. McCain seems only present in the commercial media.

[Jake]

Ron Paul has begun a revolution and revolutions take time. I just purchased his book from Amazon yesterday (Revolution: A Manifiesto) and I can't wait to devour it.

Mr. Malcom, thanks for writing about Dr. Paul. As always, your irony and sarcasm keep things interesting. But it's good that you write about the good doctor nonetheless because he has started a genuine movement that is only in its infancy.

Those that support Dr. Paul are young (or young at heart), idealistic and have learned a lot about the political process this time around. We know what we believe and we vote on the issues. We also know who we won't be supporting (i.e. John McCain) and why.

[Brad]

I don't think that there was any vote fraud. I voted for Ron Paul on a paper ballot at the polling place, not a Diebold machine and he lost in my county. I seriously doubt that Diebold rigged the election. Many voters are not yet ready for Ron Paul, so I think 16% is an excellent showing. Bob Barr will derail McCain in November, then if Hillary or Obama fails to end the War (and stay out of Iran) and rebuild our economy, I wouldn't be surprised if Ron Paul wins the nomination and the White House 4 years from now.

[RP has my vote]

DavidE73: I am a Ron Paul supporter and will never vote for John McCain.

[Doug Alder]

Ah yes the Ron Paul white supremacists coming crawling out from under their rocks at every mention of his name. Ron Paul sure know how to work that old dog whistle.

He's a moron. His ideas won't work and he is likely to find himself in legal problems over attempts to subvert the US Treasury with "Ron Paul Dollars" . If you think he's the answer and you are not a white supremacist (he actively accepts their support and does not denounce them) you really ought to do some real research into his historical activities. Here's a good place to start - http://dneiwert.blogspot.com/search?q=Ron+Paul

[Jeffrey H]

Unfortunately it took segregationist Governor Wallace to reveal the truth that "there's not a dime's worth of difference between" Republicans and Democrats. The Democrats willingly went along with the War in Iraq, suspension of Habeas Corpus, detaining protesters, banning books like "America Deceived' from Amazon, stealing private lands (Kelo decision), warrant-less wiretapping and refusing to investigate 9/11 properly. They are both guilty of treason.
Support Dr. Ron Paul and save this great nation.
Last link (before Google Books bends to gov't Will and drops the title):
http://www.iuniverse.com/bookstore/book_detail.asp?&isbn=0-595-38523-0

[Jake Larsen]

To Linda Rayborn:

I just want to reitterate the point above that was made rather bluntly by Tom deSabla: true Ron Paul supporters will not support McCain in the general election and adding Huckabee to that ticket wouldn't change a darn thing. To support a neo-con or a populist/socialist would be an affront to every sensible thinking anti-statist, free-market, limited government Republican/Libertarian/Constitutionalist.

Here are Dr. Paul's very own comments about backing McCain in a general election:

"Will you encourage your supporters to back McCain in the general election?"

I'm not going to tell them what to do, but I honestly can't imagine ANY of them supporting him. That would be a tough sale. The odds of him all of a sudden coming to one of our rallies and being cheered on are not very high.

To be fair, Dr. Paul did say that if McCain reversed his position on the war and renounced McCain-Feingold that he would consider endorsing him. But this isn't going to happen since McCain thinks we should continue this war and perhaps have permanent military bases in Iraq.

The neo-con crowd will struggle to keep power, but they will eventually be replaced by clear thinking, young motivated Republicans/Independents/Libertarians that respect the rule of law, the constitution, balanced budgets, civil liberties, a foreign policy of non-invervention, and freedom. Like I said earlier, Revolutions take time.

[Patrick from California]

My vote will always be for Ron Paul. The GOP will get the message: You're not conservative anymore.

McHillobama are the same person.

More war, more death, more devaluing of the debt note.

You all should be so proud.

1 million people voted for Ron Paul. We are all running for office. You think Ron Paul pissed you neo-cons off? Just wait until you meet me and the tens of thousands like me.

[Akston]

Diane,

I'm not sure if it was intentional, but you've completely mischaracterized Ron Paul's positions. First, Ron Paul has never advocated "trickle down economics". Second, he does not propose to that Americans build their own roads and schools. Third, a robber baron era happens when businesses cozy up to government to get protection from competition. This is what we have right now.

If arguing for a "social safety net" means believing the $56 trillion dollars of impending entitlements – taken from all Americans via taxes and inflation, and then promised to other Americans – then I think we've found our "simple transfer of wealth" in the policies Ron Paul opposes.

What Ron Paul proposes is a healthier dose of the liberties which created this country and made it great. Liberty to produce (or fail) as independent citizens is the only real means of production we have. Government in the Unites States was *designed* to be small. Read the founding documents. These are concepts with no shelf-life. In aggregate, they make the point that the government exists to *protect* life, liberty, and property – not redistribute it.

[belle]

That 16% is probably a lot more if you factor in vote fraud.

But it is still extremely impressive for Ron Paul, who is valiantly promoting liberty, freedom, and the Constitution against tremendous odds.. I bought his book today and hope to get it autographed when he visits NY on Monday.

Go, Ron Paul!!!! All the way to St. Paul!!!!

[Geepa]

I'm going to early voting, requesting a write-in ballot, and voting for Ron Paul. Some have asked me about waisting my vote. Doesn't matter to me -- all the others (Obama, Clinton, McCain) are the same. Either tax-and-spend or spend-and-spend. I know I'll sleep better at night voting for Ron Paul.

[Theonly Smartone]

Am I the ONLY one that knows about Bush the first deal he made with Clinton when his CIA was smuggling coke into Mena Arkansas for Ollie North? They agreed they could achieve a "new world order" by cooperating (the way WWF wrestlers plan out their fights) and trading off. Bush WANTS CLINTON TO WIN! the GOP WANTS Clinton to win. That is the way the system is designed. One side does whatever the hell it wants to do to the American people for 4 or 8 years, then the other side takes over. It is Clintons turn again.

[kelley]

Obama/Paul 08

[Dorothy]

I will write in Ron Paul. I think the elections are all fraudulent anyway. The country is in the hands of the neocon fifth column

[freedom]

Linda: don't count on it.

[Republicae]

Ron Paul is the only candidate and one of the few in Washington that has been warning this country about what it is facing, yet few listen. Eventually however, events will cause people to perk up their slumbering ears, especially as their money is debased into negative value [almost there folks].

Today, a person making an annual income of $35,000. 00 has the effective purchasing power, in 1970 "dollars" of merely $6,359.83 per year. So, a person making that $16.83 "dollars" per hour really has an effective purchase power of only $3.06 in 1970 "dollars" per hour. Now, can anyone see why the government must mandate minimum wages? The fact is that a person making the average minimum wage of $5.85 per hour has the effective hourly wage in 1970 "dollars" of only $1.06 per hour; in other words that person working forty hours a week has a wage of only $42.40 per week in 1970 purchasing power "dollars". Hardly a subsistence wage, wouldn't you agree?

Now, for more horrifying news, consider what has happened to the purchasing power of our "dollar" since the inception and imposition of the Federal Reserve on this country in 1913. That same $35,000.00 "dollars" per year has the effective purchasing power of only $1,622.74 in 1913 "dollars", or $0.78 per hour. So today, it takes approximately $21,568.48 "dollars" to purchase what $1,000.00 "dollars" purchased in 1913. In other words, it takes One Fiat Federal Reserve Note, $1.00 to purchase what $0.05 cents bought in 1913. These numbers however, are based upon the government's own CPI calculations, which are fraudulently low to say the least, meaning the actual numbers are even worse, but this little example gives you some idea about what has happened to the value of the currency.

What has happened to all that immense wealth? It has effectively been siphoned away from the People, making their labor basically free, making them basically serfs who slave by the sweat of their brow only to receive a pittance in return. That wealth has been diverted through the use of this Fiat Monetary Scam imposed against our Will and the best interest of this country by those who should be considered nothing less than criminals and traitors.

So, if you are interested in the future of this country, your future, your children's future and their children's future then by all means listen to Ron Paul and buy his new book The Revolution: A Manifesto!

As I have been saying that if Ron Paul is not elected in 2008 then by 2012 we will all wish he had been.

Hillary, Obama and McCain offer nothing of note, nothing of value....listen to their collective pandering of empty promises. In four years, no matter which one of those sold-out politicians win, nothing will have changed that will essentially make a difference in this country or the direction it is headed. Mark those words!

[republicae]

I am truly amazed that there are still people who bring up the "racist card" when referring to Ron Paul...where have you people been, that dog died over a year ago when it was debunked.

But some people have to cling on to yellow journalism as something factual. So sad.

[republicae]

Obama, Hillary and McCain are speaking the words to lure people into the same old status quo. Listen to what they are promising, what they are saying; there is absolutely nothing in their words that actually meet the core issues facing this country with solutions. Their plans totally depend on a Monetary System that is rapidly approaching its maximum possible life span. How will they pay for all their promises and how will you sustain yourself and your family when the terminal point of our Fiat Monetary System is reached.

I mean everything that we have, even in government, totally depends on this Monetary System and as Ron Paul has stated: history and mathematics have shown that no Fiat System can be sustained indefinitely, it will collapse and everything that depends on it will follow.
Now, consider what depends on that System; the government and all its agencies, including the military, social security, medicare, all bonds, investments, 401ks, IRAs, insurances, and even the banks depend on a System that will fail and we are seeing the beginnings of it right now.

Total Fiat Monetary Systems have a practical life span of about 40 years...in 1971 Nixon cut all ties between the Federal Reserve Note [dollar] and gold, making our System a Total Fiat System backed by nothing more than the creation of credit/debt. Time is running out folks...where will you turn when it happens...to this same old government who could care less about you and your family. They only care about power, the power to coerce you to comply and for that compliance they will throw you a dry bone of contingent freedom.

Freedom contingent upon compliance is not Freedom!

[Eddie Thinking]

This is the problem with America, bunch of non-thinking people. Who in the world voted for Mike Huckabee (the guy is not even running!), that tells you the state of the brain-washed television-soaked non-thinking-brains have-no-clue voters. No wonder McCain is winning the primary!

[Burt]

[b]Federal Reserve is as Federal as Federal Express[/b]

The dollar is worth 4 cents compared to what it used to be worth back in 1913.

What happened in 1913? The Federal Reserve (The central bank of the U.S.) was created.

A central bank is not needed. Before 1913, banks used to compete with each other and were forced to be responsible or they would go bankrupt. The federal reserve removed this competition by uniting all the banks; kind of like when two companies get together and do price-fixing instead of competing. This is illegal if any other company does it.

History shows that money HAS to be something of value for an economy to prosper. That is why the Constitution says only Gold or Silver should be used as money. Before 1913, dollars represented actual Gold or Silver that were stored in banks. A dollar was really a receipt that you could use to get the actual gold.

Inflation (higher prices) is caused when more money is put into circulation. In a monopoly game, if you use twice the amount of money for every one, all the property prices will probably double because there is more money in circulation (everyone's money is now worth less).

When dollars are backed by gold, it prevents high inflation because in order to introduce more money into the economy gold has to be mined, which is not an easy or free process. So having a gold-backed currency protects us from inflation. Inflation causes the value of your saved money to go down (think of a pie that has to be split).

A gold-backed dollar keeps the politicians in check by limiting their power to spend and cause inflation. Without this power they would have to tell the people that they plan to directly raise taxes. The people would not be happy and they would be out of office.

The federal reserve eventually removed the requirement that the US dollar had to represent something of value (gold). It is now just a piece of paper.

Since it is a piece of paper, it can be printed in a printing press without the need to mine gold or anything else. Money can be created by just printing it!!!!

The Federal Reserve is a private organization. It doesn't belong to the government (it's not really federal).

When the federal reserve prints money and gives it to the government (to finance a war, for example), the Federal Reserve charges the government interest. They charge them interest for money that COST THEM NOTHING TO CREATE!! If the government were the one creating the money, they would not have to owe interest!!!

Where does the government get the money to pay the interest to the Federal Reserve?? From our taxes. So not only are we paying for interest for that money, but because inflation is created when the money is printed, we are also paying in higher prices.

How do the bankers benefit?.
- They charge the government (really, it's the taxpayer) interest on created money.
- Also, the Federal Reserve serves as a safety net for all the U.S. banks. When there is a safety net, it encourages banks to be very irresponsible by lending too much money. By taking risks they make more money. If an irresponsible bank is about to go bankrupt, the Federal Reserve bails it out by creating more money.
- So basically, bankers can do whatever they want and the taxpayer pays for their mistakes. It's a perfect system for them.

- An example is the FDIC. The FDIC NEVER has enough money to insure all the deposits in all the banks. When it's time for the FDIC to help and they don't have enough money, more money is printed by the Fed Reserve. So as taxpayers we are paying for a bank's mistake, instead for the irresponsible bank to be allowed to close for being irresponsible.

How do politicians benefit?- Politicians are afraid to tell people they will raise their taxes. But since people don't know how inflation works, it is very easy for them to go to the Federal Reserve and ask for a loan. The politicians get to spend as much as they want for whatever they want, without the people finding out that they have been taxed. They are taxed because the money that they have is now WORTH LESS and LESS everyday.

How special interest groups benefit?Corporations close to the government who are paid directly by it will get the newly created money first. When they get it, inflation hasn't happened yet because it hasn't had enough time to circulate through the entire country. When all that money starts circulating, our saved money will be worth less. So they get to receive the money before the inflation happens. We, who are not close to the government, get nothing. We get robbed.
Also, the special interest groups lobby (bribe) congress people to pass laws that will benefit them, like subsidize their industry by helping them out with money.

If you read "The Creature From Jekyll Island" by Edward Griffin, you will see that this system was not a mistake. It was a calculated plan to protect the bankers at the expense of the taxpayer. Jekyll Island is a place in Georgia where these group of people met secretly to come up with this plan.

Woodrow Wilson (then president) who went along with it, even regretted it and said that he gave a group of elites the power to control the country.

Time and time again the government tries to fix problems that they actually created by getting involved. Free markets work. Government doesn't.

Since the FED loans the money to the government at interest and they have a monopoly on creating our money, where does the government get the money to pay the interest? Answer....by borrowing more money from the FED which sinks us deeper and deeper in debt as a nation, we can never get out of and that's why our dollar is worth nothing. Since 1913 they have had to print more and more money just to cover the interest on money borrowed.
The FED system does not need to exist AND the government can manage and print money interest free....the treasury is responsible for our money not a private bank.

[Joseph]

My money is still on Seabiscuit, Ron Paul, to win in 2008.

Don't ask me how it will work out. It would not be a miracle victory if it could be explained in advance.

War Admiral in 1938 and the Soviet Olympic hockey team in 1980 were undefeatable.

This country needs a miracle victory to help it survive its looming economic perfect storm of huge debt, retirement of its well-educated baby boomer generation, and growing economic competition for the world's resources.

[Tannim]

Doug Alder spewed:
"Ah yes the Ron Paul white supremacists coming crawling out from under their rocks at every mention of his name. Ron Paul sure know how to work that old dog whistle.

He's a moron. His ideas won't work and he is likely to find himself in legal problems over attempts to subvert the US Treasury with "Ron Paul Dollars" . If you think he's the answer and you are not a white supremacist (he actively accepts their support and does not denounce them) you really ought to do some real research into his historical activities. Here's a good place to start - http://dneiwert.blogspot.com/search?q=Ron+Paul"

Well, another uninformed moron just showed up in Doug Alder.

First of all, just because white supremacists support Dr. Paul it mean he is one. If you have been paying any attention, and judgeing by your screed, you haven't, you would know that Dr. Paul is no racist, unless you're talking about being a "race-ist" and only then in reference to his track days in high school over 50 years ago.

Second of all, Dr. Paul has no affiliation with NorFed or the Liberty Dollars. NorFed put Dr. Paul's image on there independently of Dr. Paul's campaign. Again, you haven't been paying much attention.

Third of all, his ideas are the same as the Founding Fathers. Are you suggesting, Doug, that their ideas, the very foundation of this nation and the very ideas that give you the right to be a blithering idiot on this board, those ideas called America won't work? if so, then you are truly a poor lost soul.

Fact is, McCain is either being thrown under the bus by the GOP (taking itself out in the process) or the GOP leadership is scared out of their wits of actually being held to their esposued principles for a change. Either way, they lose it all without Dr. Paul, and they may take our nation down with them unless they are stopped.

[ART DEKKO]

WILL I, AS WELL AS MY ENTIRE FAMILY....WRITE-IN RON PAUL FOR PRESIDENT IN NOVEMBER?

DAMN STRAIGHT!!

EURIPEDES AND I HAVE FINALLY FOUND AN HONEST POLITICIAN.

HALLELUIA!! AND AMEN TOO!!!!

[Candy]

Huckabee supporters and Ron Paul supporters all have a roll in this election and its about time the GOP recognize they can't win without us.

[Anon87]

Overtly opinionated, unfactual article.

Paul got 960,000 + votes, even though PA is dubbed "the worst place to vote in America" (see blackbackvoting.org) and with his near blackout media coverage.

Neocons are strongest in PA as well. If McCain is only getting 72% in the state should favor him strongly, due to fraud and neocons from floor to ceiling. He definitely does NOT have the nomination in the bag.

Three cheers for Paul!

PS - This blog better stick to professional journalism or I'll be putting this site on my 'blacklist'. Your official opinions are no use to me. A forum of highschoolers could come to better conclusions than this.

[Tom deSabla]

To Doug Alder: You said

"He's a moron. His ideas won't work and he is likely to find himself in legal problems over attempts to subvert the US Treasury with "Ron Paul Dollars."

Well, Doug, gee, um, ok, ahhh, if he's a moron, he's a ten-term U.S. Representative moron, a moron who set the one-day fund-raising record on Dec 16 2007, and also has a book, (presumably filled with his moronic ideas) currently at #4 at Amazon.com just behind a fellow named David Bach, and some woman named Maria Shriver.

I think what you really mean, Doug, is that he scares you. His ideas already worked - they are the foundation of this country, so it's useless to try to discredit them. By trying, you're just trying to discredit the Constitution itself.

Now, about the Ron Paul dollars "subverting the Treasury" - this is sneaky crap you're pushing here. First off, Ron Paul had nothing to do with the Ron Paul gold coins - NORFED simply used his likeness. He did nothing.

Second, what they did was simply coining gold, which is not a crime - THEY NEVER CLAIMED THAT THEIR COINS WERE LEGAL TENDER, OR OFFICIAL U.S. MONEY AT ALL.

There have been no charges filed in that case, perhaps because no law was violated. Finally, it is the paper dollar that subverts the people and steals their wealth and labor. If gold and silver coins are in any way deemed to have "subverted the Treasury," then we may be assured that the Treasury is already up to their necks in the subversion and exploitation business already - and can't tolerate any competition from honest men.

Please, peddle your lying filth somewhere else Doug.

[edward]

Far too many Ron Paul supporters are appealing to the Aristotlean rhetoric of logos to persuade naysayers to Paul's positions. $60 trillion in unfunded liabilities? The Austrian Theory of Money and Credit? Please, keep it simple. Reduce to the debate to "Spearsian" bickering about pastors or lapel pins. I didn't see Paul wear one recently. He must be unpatriotic like Obama, the closet Muslim.

[cmo]

A comment on the MSM black-out of Ron Paul:
The months of December and January were crucial for the Ron Paul Revolution. The 'surge' in the Media war against RP peaked in the new year with the total exclusion of a few incredible facts.

Source: fec.gov

Ron Paul, the only republican candidate against the war, raised MORE MONEY than all of the other candidates in the last quarter of the year. (McCain had to take a loan out based on his donor lists... talk about sellin' out your supporters!) This played into the bogus electability issue.

Ron Paul raised in Q2, Q3 and Q4 MORE MONEY from MILITARY personnel than all of the other candidates combined!

The TOP THREE CONTRIBUTORS to RP's campaign in Q4 were the US ARMY, US NAVY, and US AIRFORCE!
(even the Dept. of Defense was in the top ten. Naturally, all the funds were from individuals)

We are electing the god damn Commander and Chief and the MSM crapped right on the favorite of the men and women who serve, those who have sworn to uphold the Constitution!

This disgusting injustice will not be forgotten by history!

Rock on PA!

[John]

Kudos to Eddie Thinking for using his comment space to lay out the basic form of the fraud that is the Fed (and indeed all fractional-reserve banking). I refer anyone reading my comment upwards to his well thought-out premises.

[Tommy]

The people who bash Ron Paul can be distinguished into two groups: (a) incredibly ignorant and stupid, or (b) bold-faced liars.

[Binea]

I would love to see an Obama/Paul ticket.Both are patriots just from an opposite politcal philosphy.Both have been talking about cival liberties,Ron paul more so,But Obama has said on several occasions that he will reverse executive orders that undermine our cival liberties.Both Ron Paul and Obama signed the oath of Government Transparency,both were against the war in Iraq from the start. oh yeah,and Both were attacked by neocons and democons by insinuations and outright statements that they are somehow Racist.I think this ticket is perfect for the times we are in now. This is not a race between Democrat and Republican..it's 2 patriots against Facist passing themselves off as American.

[Seth Genst]

DIANE QUOTE: "It amazes me that so many people making less than $500K/year believe in RP's plan to eliminate all entitlements (e.g., Medicare and Social Security). Trickle down economics is really trickle up for the rich; it is a simple transfer of wealth from the poor and middle class to the rich. Once again Republicans can be convinced to vote against their own economic interests. If you believe in the complete absence of a social safety net and want to build your own roads, schools, etc. (i.e., privatize everything) and turn into a third world country, keep voting for persons like RP. Even though many of his observations are on-target, his plan for America is to take us back to the 19th century robber barons era."

Ron Paul isn't calling for the abolishment of programs like Social Security. He stated that it isn't going to be around much longer (do you deny that?) and that the younger generation of people should be able to opt out of it if they choose, since there will be no money left for them.

As far as your roads/schools comment goes, let me teach you something that you obviously didn't learn in school. Roads, schools, etc, are covered by LOCAL taxes within your city/county/state. Why do you think you pay property taxes, sales tax, gas tax, etc? For fun? Ron Paul wants to return power to the states and local Governments so that people like you have the power to make your own decisions/choices without the Federal government getting involved and screwing it up, as the founding fathers wanted it. Why do you think we have states and local government? Think about that.

Whats going to cause us to become a 3rd world country is by allowing the Federal Government to spend out of control and print money out of thin air driving down the value of the dollar. Wake up, look around you, whats our economy like RIGHT NOW? Is that Ron Pauls fault? Have you stopped think about why the economy is the way it is? Did it just magically happen out of the blue? And here you are talking about us becoming a 3rd world country if he is elected? Please, tell me you are not serious.

Thats the REAL problem, is that you don't THINK. If you don't think, you don't know. If you don't know, you are just another walking number.

Read the Bible, read the Constitution... and actually READ it this time.

[Gino Madaio]

PEOPLE !!!! You all need to understand that these SO CALLED VOTE PERCENTAGES FOR MCAIN / PAUL ARE BASED ON WHOS COUNTING THEM.. WHO IS REALLY COUNTING THEM. DO YOU BELIEVE WHAT OUR MEDIA REPORTS TO YOU ALL..!!! MULTIPLE PHONE CALLS ARE MADE FROM DISTRICTS THAT EVENTUALLY MAKE IT TO THE MEDIA..WHO REALLY CHECKS THE VOTE COUNT AGAINST THE MEDIA REPORTING.. NOBODY.... I KNOW THERE WERE MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WHERE RON PAULS NAME DID NOT EVEN APPEAR IN THE VOTING BOOTH.. "HACKING DEMOCRACY" is a MUST SEE VIDEO. OUR SYSTEM IS RIGGED...ITS CORUPTED

First off let me say that it is only due to the furver that Ron Paul supporters have to really do something and change America is the reason why we have come this far. Secondy, I do have to agree somewhat with what Gino Madaio said. I do believe that Ron Paul did get more votes then has been reported thus far, but just like it has been so far in the election, the media does not want to report that anyone besides John McCain can possibly be in the running to be the GOP's nomination. Not even the GOP want to support Ron Paul because there are far too many neocons like McCain who enjoy watching most of America suffer while they profit off of us.
Thirdly, Clinton did not 'win big' and even though she did take the state, she is still condsidered the underdog for the Democratic side. Personally it doesn't matter who the Dems choose