Ron Paul, political loser, now best-selling author

"Every election season America is presented with a series of false choices," Texas Rep. Ron Paul writes in his new book. "And so every four years we are treated to the same tired predictable routine: two candidates with few disagreements on fundamentals pretend that they represent dramatically different philosophies of government."

If you agree with that summary, you may want to consider joining the Ron Paul Revolutionaries, several hundred thousand highly motivated political partisans, many new to politics, who despite their more than $34 million in  donations over the last year have seen their 72-year-old candidate distinctly  not catch fire with the broader electorate.

He took 16% of the vote in Pennsylvania's GOP primary, but Sen. John McCain got 73%, which he doesn't really need because he  already has sufficient delegates to win the party's nomination in St. Paul come September. Second place or worse is a familiar spot for Paul, a former ob-gyn who'll be entering his 11th House term next January.

But no longer. At least in terms of his book, Paul is Numero Uno. Paul's Paulunteers have driven his brand-new book -- 'The Revolution: A Manifesto' -- to No. 1 on the amazon.com bestseller list. They're also packing the reader reviews with five-star evaluations, as they've been packing the comment columns of blogs like this for many months.

Paul's call to conservative, libertarian-like action is even selling better than Oprah's latest book recommendation. According to Lew Rockwell's blog, Paul's book will rocket into seventh spot on the New York Times nonfiction bestseller list later this month.

The book is designed to be both a call to arms for his would-be followers and a....

... source of longterm income to help finance the longterm revolution Paul tells his loyalists to expect in turning around the country's over-governed political system.

Many of Paul's fans firmly believe that a vast media conspiracy resulted in his name rarely being published in the last year, which they say cost him a straight-ahead chance to beat out McCain, get the U.S. unilaterally out of Iraq, kill the Federal Reserve, the Department of Education and other large chunks of the federal government in the name of Paul's strict constitutionalism.

Of course, the conspiracy charges do not apply to The Ticket because we've covered him ad nauseum;  his followers were one of the most interesting stories of the campaign so far in terms of dedication and willingness to sacrifice for a larger goal.

Although Paul didn't do well in the state elections so far, he hopes his crowd will persevere and bring about the same kind of fundamental change in today's Republican Party as Barry Goldwater's disciples did in the 16 years between that Arizona senator's defeat and the electoral win of Ronald Reagan.

Meanwhile, as The Ticket noted yesterday, Paul's political partisans have quietly taken over a number of local Republican organizations in a bid to boost his presence at September's Republican National Convention in St. Paul. Paul has declined to endorse McCain and his supporters have phrased it  with considerably more vehemence in comments left on The Ticket in recent weeks.

Again, the comments area is open.

--Andrew Malcolm

Comments

[Dan]

"If you agree with that summary, you may want to consider joining the Ron Paul Revolutionaries, several hundred thousand highly motivated political partisans"

Dr. Paul has about 950,000 votes so far.... with many primaries remaining, that number is sure to top well over 1 million.

[Tony]

The loser in November will be McCain. This is not about Ron Paul, 'the political loser' you labeled, who by the way, received more money from active military officers than anyone else (COMBINED). This is about his 'winning' message of liberty, peace, and prosperity. This election will come and go. The quest to take back America from the corporate elite has just begun!

[Barney]

Political loser?!

Let's see, before a single vote was cast the establishment media and their cohorts bombarded the public decrying that the Paul campaign was polling 2-3% which was within the margin or error of being ZERO. Then Iowa gave him 10%, and Fox responded by banning him from the debate citing the same set of bogus corporate polls.

The man that you claim had only 2-3% beat out the heavy favorite 9/11 mayor in just about every contest up to Florida! Now Dr Paul is one of 2 remaining candidates out of a field of 11 despite the media slurs and blackout. If that makes Dr Paul a "Political Loser", then what words would you use to describe Rudy and the rest of the GOP dropouts?!

Mr Malcolm, you are one sad excuse for an analyst.

Oh, and the reason "The Ticket" continues to write about Dr Paul is because it would be crickets here without mentioning the good doctor's name. I for one am done being baited to this useless site. Good riddance!

[Mark Smith]

Nice story, Andrew, apart from calling Ron Paul a "political loser" in the headline (and I'm betting you don't write the headlines). Obviously, he's not winning the GOP nomination, but neither did nine of the other candidates. Do we see Rudy, Fred, Mitt et al described as "political losers"? Paul has won 11 elections to Congress, three as a non-incumbent. I'm not 100% certain, but I believe only Duncan Hunter among this cycle's GOP presidential candidates has won more elections than Ron Paul. As for the success of his book, it's only been available for a very short time -- if it shows any staying power on the best-seller lists, it will difficult to attribute longer-term success solely to the efforts of those who supported his candidacy.

[Jeff Van Wanten]

I am living in Europe, although america does not make a good impression, people like Ron Paul you can only meet in America. If he wins the election, I convert my expensive euro's directly in bargain dollars, and help rebuild your great nation.

[tc]

It will support and donate to any candidate endorsed by Ron Paul or the legitimate organizations that are born of this movement. I live in LA and gave $200 to a Senate candidate from NJ. I am certainly not alone.

[Matt]

I'm a Ron Paul supporter and I don't believe that there's a media conspiracy, so don't classify us as all conspiracy theorists. You continually draw to the lowest denominator of our supporters, unfortunatley ones that are most vocal. I am a supporter of his foreign policy (his foreign policy is right on the money). I also like his understanding of fiscal spending and the economic ramifications of the war...even though I disagree with his gold standard. There are a lot of people, like me, who respect and support Ron Paul who are intelligent, rational, and not conspiracy driven, so grow up and start accepting that fact you douche.

[scott]

you did not spell ad nauseam correctly.

[Abe Gluckman]

I have been a Republican all of my life and I will never vote for John McCommunist. I don't care if he was a war hero at one time. He betrayed his oath to uphold and defend the US Constitution during every single term he has served as Senator and has thus betrayed his country. Hell...It's not like he's a conservative either. The boy runs around with Lieberman and Kennedy in efforts to enslave the citizenry with tax hikes and full frontal assaults on the Constitution.

[D]

Andrew-
Before you make an attepmt to write a scathing review saturated with obvious distate for the author of the book that you are reviewing, I suggest making a slight effot do actually do your job and be unbiased and non partisan. You know, the code of ethics that you, like most journalists, choose to blatently ignore.
The article, while blatently filled with a digust for Ron paul & hes "Paulenteers', lacks the actualy facts that even before the books official release date, presales were skyhigh and reviews, not only from 'Paul's would - be - followers' but from other news outlets that do not include the La Times, raved about the publication.
Now before you go on to call me a "Paulite' 'Paulenteer' 'cook' or other degrading works meant to severly discredit the knowlage of Ron Paul's support system, let me present this. I have no yet heard one Obama Hillary or even McCain supporter quote none the less understand any of what the founding fathers have said or have stood for. Yet when a Ron Paul supporter agrees with what was said back when the country was being formed, we are 'cooks.' Why?
Let me also say that it would be refreshing for one reporter of one news outlet, actually take the time to cover Ron Paul give him airtime, let him get the message out. But I assume you must only present the views of the station or th e newspaper or its owners in order to keep your job. Correct? Very ethicle.
To tell you the truth, im sick of reading all the negativity spun towards Paul & his supporers because its out of the norm. Its apparently not normal to support someone who stands for liberty, freedom, less government interferance, less debt, and an immigration system that actually works.
Next time you write a book review with obvious undertones of digust, know who you're offending. And know you are just another skeptic contributing to the downfall of America. Congratulations.

[Darren D.]

Hey Andrew, how many times have you been elected to national office?

Dr. Paul is far from being a loser. That America is accepting of socialism and has given up on the vision of the founding fathers is not Dr. Paul's fault.

Ron Paul is running on virtually the same platform that made Ronald Reagan one of the most popular presidents ever. The media would rather marginalize Dr. Paul and his supporters than actually have a debate on the issues.

What EXACTLY do you disagree with within Ron Paul's platform?

- You like high taxes?
- You like spending 100's of billions of $$ each year fighting wars against countries that pose no threat?
- You like being in a financial crisis that none of the other candidates understand or are offering solutions?

It is embarrassing that the the 5 owners of the major media have got together and pushed this man to the side.

I feel bad for your family who will have to deal with the next 1/2 century of recovery. Welcome to the USSA.

[Dave]

Thanks for covering Ron Paul when no one else will!

As a conservative I rarely read something like the LATimes, but I like reading your stuff a lot.

[Eric Roth]

Is Ron Paul really a political loser? His ideas have gained in orders of magnitude of attention and reverence compared to just one year ago. I contend that this is a monumental political win for Paul.

[Dave]

Thanks for covering Ron Paul!

As a conservative I rarely read stuff like the LATimes, but I love reading your stuff.

[belle]

If you truly believe that it wouldn't have made a difference that Ron Paul got more extensive media coverage, I have a bridge to sell you. Yet, we revolutionaries don't need the approval of the mainstream media to know our guy is the best candidate. We think for ourselves, know the principles that this country was founded upon, and understand that the r3VOLution is about more than just one man.
Truth is Treason in the Empire of Lies - Ron Paul

[AK209]

Mr. Malcolm,

While I can understand the strangeness with which most standard drones view the RP supporters, there is no denying their dedication, passion and drive. I have heard comments from many people, supporters of all the different candidates across the board. The only ones that even mention a concern for the lack of personal liberties, the preservation of constitutional boundaries on government and the power of the people to hold their servant government accountable are the RP supporters. Why are these principles so foreign in a nation that used to hold them in high esteem? Why has the general population forgotten the law of the land? They stand by and allow things like the Patriot Act.

Maybe it was not Ron Paul's time, but it is time to re-acquaint ourselves with the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. Our nation has drifted too far from it's governmental origins and forgotten the words of her founders and others who understood what liberty and patriotism was.

"The highest patriotism is not a blind acceptance of official policy, but a love of one's country deep enough to call her to a higher plain"

"Patriotism means unqualified and unwavering love for the nation, which implies not uncritical eagerness to serve, not support for unjust claims, but frank assessment of its vices and sins, and penitence for them"

The peace and welfare of this and coming generations of Americans will be secure only as we cling to the watchword of true patriotism: "Our country -- when right to be kept right; when wrong to be put right."

We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. When the loyal opposition dies, I think the soul of America dies with it.

[Chuck]

The supporters of Ron Paul are the real change this election.
We are going back to the Constitution, and American Politics will be changed forever. As a life-long Republican, I can assure you that the GOP is going to be changed from the neo-con takeover back to liberty and I intend to personally participate. We are not all nerds in our mom's basement.

[Chuck]

The supporters of Ron Paul are the real change this election.
We are going back to the Constitution, and American Politics will be changed forever. As a life-long Republican, I can assure you that the GOP is going to be changed from the neo-con takeover back to liberty and I intend to personally participate. We are not all nerds in our mom's basement.

[Kyle]

Nice Article! I am fully in support of Ron Paul for President of thee United States of America. I'm proud to be part of his REVOLUTION. Ron Paul was really not covered well by the media just like Presidential Candidate Mike Gravel was not covered well by the Media. The Media in a big way is controlling our election more and more these days. If one were to actually look up voting history and information on each candidate though, I'm sure that most of the US population would pick Ron Paul as their next President, sadly most of the US population are like sheep in the fields.
Good Article

[Rod Miller-Boyer]

Revolutionary Constitutional Loyalists (formerly known as "Americans") have not been a majority in this country for a few generations now. However, we may still constitute a majority of the remaining LITERATE Americans.

[USAF Vet Dan]

"...Paul's strict constitutionalism"

Andrew, is that like being "completely pregnant"? Either one takes the position that the supreme law of our land is just that - law, or they opt to let our elected officials take us on an uncharted course to an unknown destination. There is no in between.

You are contributing to the attitude that we have unlimited government driven purely by popular opinion. That is called a Democracy. Ours is a Republic and you and others like you would do well to learn the difference.

[Hamid7716]

Andrew,
What part of this failing economy don't you understand?

[Colin]

How can he be used to being second place or worse? He's one his congress seat what, ten times now? And twice or maybe three times against encumbants. Seems like a pretty stupid comment.

[Stine]

I'm glad to see coverage of Ron Paul's book. I'm really excited to get it and read it, and then pass it along to another person to have them read it! It does piss me off that the author of this article couldn't be positive. To say that RP is a loser is so short sighted and shows that this guy (like SO many other brainwashed Americans) does not understand the larger picture.

It is not patriotic to apathetically watch your country evolve into a police state. Ron Paul's message is the antidote to this profound apathy.

[Dave]

I think many people are afraid to take responsibility for their own lives. They are frightened at the prospect of thinking for themselves and making their own decisions. They believe that somehow civil society will break down should the free market be allowed to operate without regulation. And these people want to use government to force me and other freedom lovers to give up the same cherished liberties that they have given up. Except for the handicapped the rest of these people are pu$$ies. What ever happened to America - home of the brave??? I wonder if that mentality will ever take hold again...