Ron Paul, defeated at the polls, plans for a long revolution with his book

The normal pattern of presidential political campaigns is that right at the start the candidates publish a book about their lives and thoughts, which may not be worth $28.95 and likely wasn't really written by the candidate anyway.

But it gives them an excuse to travel the country seemingly free of overt politics to talk to virtually anyone anywhere about their book and plans for their candidacy.

It's a great tool. Book signings draw TV cameras, and fans in the autograph line can be interviewed as if they were at a "Star Wars" convention: "I can't wait to meet him!"

Not surprisingly, Texas Rep. Ron Paul, the Republican with the libertarian streak and the only one to oppose the Iraq war, is doing things a little differently this year.

Now that his chances of snatching the Republican nomination away from Arizona Sen. John McCain are nil, and the Republican campaigns are basically overshadowed by the ongoing bitter dispute on the Democratic side, Paul is publishing a book, on April 30. But you can probably buy the book now on Amazon.

Regular readers of these items on the Ron Paul revolution will....

not be shocked that the book is titled, "The Revolution: A Manifesto," and it's a collection of his thoughts and writings from the campaign trail that cost on the order of $29 million. That's for the campaign, not the book. He wouldn't sell many books -- even autographed -- at $29 million apiece.

Paul and his loyal Paulunteers -- more than 800,000 voted for him this election season -- were an intriguing phenomenon this year for their passion and dedication (that group is probably still out on the windy interstate bridge waving "Ron Paul 2008" signs at cars passing underneath).

Their generosity and determination made him the most successful Republican fundraiser in the fourth quarter. He's still got about $5 million cash in hand and no debt. What a conservative!

He beat Rudy Giuliani and Fred Thompson at various times and intends to wander the countryside as long as the money keeps coming in, like some kind of political Johnny Appleseed, sowing the seeds of a return to strict constitutionalism that he hopes will flower some years down the road, since not much happened in terms of convention delegates this time.

Much the way Goldwater gang planted the seeds of the conservative revolution in 1964 that led to Ronald Reagan's ascension to the presidency 16 years later. It'll probably be a long road for Paul and there are no guarantees, except that Paul will talk to virtually anyone anywhere during the weeks leading up to the GOP convention -- in (of all places) St. Paul.

Only one thing seems certain: Paul and his Paul pals have no intention of voting for McCain.

-- Andrew Malcolm

                                                                             Photo Credit: AP

Comments

[Chris Bieber]

I have been a longtime supporter of Dr. Paul and his(THE) message of freedom liberty and soveriegnty for over 20 years here in CA and have watched the Conservatives let alone the Republicans drift, nay hurtle, towards total interchangeability with its supposed opposites the "liberals" and Democrats when it comes to individual freedom and private property and less government.

The bankrupt Empire of the US and the Debt ownership of CA by Communist China is just the sympom of the utter rejection of the principles of freedom so eloquently put forth in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution by the SkinnerBox residentUSA and CA voters.

Californians will get the Republican Party and the Federal Government and all their/its fetid hypocracy and socialist manacles they deserve. They had their chance.

[onewhonos]

Go Ron Paul!
The pundits are now mouthing a lot of what he said during the campaign. Think economics.
He is right on the war and global relations.
Thank you, thank you, the Honorable Paul.
Dave

[Brian]

After reading about the Fed and our economy, looks like Ron Paul supporters are the last true American's.

[Tominellay]

This is a fine article, Andrew, and fair!

"...Rep. Ron Paul, the Republican with the libertarian streak..."
"...about $5million cash in hand and no debt. What a conservative!"
"...sowing the seeds of a return to strict constructionalism that he hopes will flower..."

Thank you for reporting on the publication of "The Revolution: A Manifesto", Dr. Paul's new book! I do hope you will review the book on your blog.

[TJ]

Can't wait to buy it.
Also he still is in the race and wants people to vote for him. Huck and Romney have dropped out, Paul has not. Big difference, between being honest and saying it is unlikely to win, and quiting.

[Michael Seebeck]

Old news, ordered my copy over a month ago along with "A Foreign Policy of Freedom". Well worth the read, and the Three Stooges (B.O. as Moe, Hillary and Larry, Songbird as Curly) could take some lessons on realpolitik from Dr. Paul.

Given the choice of the authoritarian left or the authoritarian right, I'll take the libertarian every time!

[Brett]

Can't wait for the book review.

[Zack]

Thank god Ron Paul continues to spread the message of liberty. We need voices like his to counter the BS being spewed by the media and the remaining presidential candidates.

[dave]

last time i checked, mccain still could not legally meet the constitutional qualifications required for the presidential office (e.g. natural born american citizen).
there's no way mccain could 'snatch away' his victory from ron paul.

[Rex]

> last time i checked, mccain still could not legally meet the
> constitutional qualifications required for the presidential
> office (e.g. natural born american citizen).

This idiocy has to stop. McCain's parents were US citizens, on a US Military base. That makes him a natural born US citizen. Full stop.

There are more than enough reasons to not vote for McCain, you don't need to make up lies -- and pathetically stupid lies at that.