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

[TheWhatNow?]

Oh no Malcolm, you did not!
Fact is, you're a loser.

[Brian]

At least use some journalistic integrity and don't call him a political loser (20 years in the House, mind you) until after the convention.

[Davey D]

Politcal loser? He's a ten term congressman. What kind of a loser are you?

[sean truitt]

a 10-term representative is a political loser? i have noticed a change in your language.

[ben]

"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."

Yeah, Andrew - with friends like you who needs enemies.

Here's a suggestion you won't follow - READ HIS BOOK and then get back to us. Maybe write a book review of your own and shred his constitutional ideals with your vast wisdom. Haha! Never gonna happen.

[Elaine McKillop, Esq.]

Dr. Paul a political loser? This country is the loser for not having the only honorable man in Washington as president. My son's friends were in New Hampshire as part of the Live Free or Die team and it is without a doubt that massive vote fraud occurred. They were on the streets and Dr. Paul had about 37% of the vote. The corrupt votes were recounted, but that was a mistake, the people should have been contacted for affidavits. People like you should be ashamed of yourselves for being the gatekeepers for the criminal enterprise that has taken over our government and our "free press". Will this country be the winner with the three remaining CFR shills that are all in lockstep and will lead us to the destruction of this country? I think not. One can hope that McCain self self-destructs and we have a chance to elect a real American Hero, Dr. Ron Paul!

[V]

Thanks, Mr Malcolm. Won't you be surprised when President Paul appoints you as his press secretary. You are the perfect choice. A person who obviously doesn't agree with or understand Dr. Paul's Freedom Movement, yet is still principaled enough to report on his campaign.
As the Paul Revolution reaches a peak in St Paul and the main stream media finally takes notice, you can be happy knowing that you were there first. Good scoop and kuddos.
Go Ron Paul!

[Jose Castillo]

Wow, can you feel the hate for Ron Paul in this blog. Hey Malcolm what did Ron do to you?

[Tominellay]

"Again, the comments area is open."

No class at all...

[Frank]

Rep Paul is a godsend in our fading Republic . To reffer to him as a political loser is unprofessional and inaccurate.

[Chris Bieber]

Thank you LATOnline....your coverage of the campaign that DOES INVOLVE Ron Paul far outdistanced yourselves from the other MSM.

Congressman Paul had the courage to say Here I Stand! on truth freedom soveriegnty and the Constitution. So do his supporters....in ways which did not exist 20+ years ago...

Our freedoms are on the edge of the abyss and the charade/faux "election" of "opposites" nears its logical conclusion/result. LESS freedom MORE government controls/regimentation/debt/intervention and more Americans saying the heck with all this...

but watching AmIdol and the Dodgers and running up THOUSANDS OF CCard Debt is not the solution...

We all need to get out and read and learn and tell others about what is happening to our freedoms/country.

Thanks to the LAT.

Fmr Political Activist Chris Bieber in Lake Elsinore

[Web Smith]

You should listen to others with interest because occasionally, you will learn that you are wrong and your life will become better.

I have no comment yet on the book because, while I have ordered it, I have not read it. I am hoping that Ron divulges the things that he knows that he has not shared publicly yet. If I were an informed journalist, I would definitely buy it and read it before I wrote about it.

Ask yourself what Ron hopes to gain from this. Is it money? He apparently wants none. Is it power? He claims to not want that either. Does he want to be remembered as one of the country's great leaders? Good on him if he does. It appears that, this is actually a man who only has the good of the nation and its people at heart and you would call him names and belittle him.

“Though written constitutions may be violated in moments of passion or delusion, yet they furnish a text that those who are watchful may again rally and recall the people.” - Thomas Jefferson, 1802

[TimeToRetireMalcolm]

I'm not going to bow down and thank you for having the mercy to mention Ron Paul (while you soil his good name and give Ron Paul supporters a hard backhanded slap across the cheek).

You are scum Malcolm and a pathetic journo. You're just pissed that Ron Paul's books are selling a lot better than any of your lame efforts ever did.

You aren't even capable of discussing Ron Paul's ideas or intelligently approaching the content of his book. No, you take the easy way and deride his supporters as nuts and throw around the c word.

Get lost Malcolm, the likes of journos like you are completely irrelevant in the digital age.

[Web Smith]

You should listen to others with interest because occasionally, you will learn that you are wrong and your life will become better.

I have no comment yet on the book because, while I have ordered it, I have not read it. I am hoping that Ron divulges the things that he knows that he has not shared publicly yet. If I were an informed journalist, I would definitely buy it and read it before I wrote about it.

Ask yourself what Ron hopes to gain from this. Is it money? He apparently wants none. Is it power? He claims to not want that either. Does he want to be remembered as one of the country's great leaders? Good on him if he does. It appears that, this is actually a man who only has the good of the nation and its people at heart and you would call him names and belittle him.

“Though written constitutions may be violated in moments of passion or delusion, yet they furnish a text that those who are watchful may again rally and recall the people.” - Thomas Jefferson, 1802

[comic book guy]

Worst....book review.... ever.

[tre]

I'm done lambasting those who fail to understand and see what's happening right in front of their eyes, so here -

John McCain hasn't won anything yet. Be prepared for anything and everything at the Convention.

And it doesn't help that McCommie has an extremely small base of support. Anyone active in political canvassing can tell you that.

Yet, I'm still trying to figure out where all of those "votes" came from...?

RON PAUL 2008 - The ONLY choice for REAL CHANGE!!!

[GG]

"First they ignore you.
Then they laugh at you.
Then they fight you.
Then you win."

-Ghandi

[Mery]

one thing i agree with you on, ron paul hasn't gotten the media attention he deserves. you're right. it's assholes like you who sit there randomly talking out of their asses. no need for sources.

[MadisonPaine]

Mr. Malcolm, you usually do better than this. I'll just focus on one point: the way Ron Paul's supporters claim there's a media conspiracy to marginalize him.

Surely, as a journalist, you're familiar with the logical fallacy of the "bandwagon": if you aren't in numerous company, your arguments can't be of much interest. For a long time, now -- and not just in the context of Paul's campaign, but in general -- the media has poisoned the well against ideas that aren't already widely popular. Take an objective look at the major network reports about, and interviews with, Ron Paul. Count how many times they simply ask about his views without first warning viewers that he "barely registers in the polls," or is a "dark horse candidate," or a "fringe libertarian," or "out of step with the GOP mainstream."

What do you mean, "zero"?

Now check out the blind Zogby poll that described Republican candidates' qualifications and positions without identifying them. Ron Paul won with almost double the support of the closest contender, Giuliani.

I submit that if the media simply reported without adding their horserace commentary, Americans would have a chance to learn something about their choices for a change.

[Chad]

I can't believe how many people don't get the sarcasm in your title/words.

Thank you for your continued quality journalism and unbiased coverage of Dr. Paul.

[Alex Wallenwein]

Please do explain this to your distinguished readership, Mr. Malcolm:

How is a ten term Congressman who last beat his Republican primary opponent (who had the full backing of Dr. Paul's own party) with a 70% margin a "political loser"?

I thank you for your time.

[Marina]

Dear Mr. Malcolm (or author),

I am a 61-year old grandmother who, after reading Mr. Paul's book last weekend, considers myself a "Paulunteer," as you put it. Not only did I pre-order a copy from Amazon, but I also purchased a copy from my local Barnes & Noble on Thursday, April 24 as soon as they had them in- because my Amazon order wasn't expected until the next day. And I knew I'd want to give one to a girlfriend of mine as a gift.

As a voracious reader who pays attention to the NYT Bestseller List, I would like to point out to you that Paul's new book, "The Revolution: A Manifesto" was placed #7 on the NYT Bestseller List (nonfic) BEFORE the book's April 30 "release date." If you don't understand, please go to the NYT Bestseller List and read how they compile their results for FUTURE list publication. The high placement was due to the huge numbers of pre-orders in bookstores and from internet retailers like Amazon, as well as actual purchases of the book as early as (I believe) April 23, when they were available in bookstores.

This book will place high for 6 months, I believe. Certainly higher than McCain's, Clinton's (both of them), and Obama's books ever did.

My daughter is politically active, my two sons are not. However, all three of them had been telling me about Ron Paul since last February or March. This is the first thing all of them have agreed upon in the 30-some years they have been on this planet. So I knew I had to look this guy up.

One of my sons upgraded my computer and all three sent me links to Youtoob video about Mr. Paul. Even my husband started using the computer and the internet!

And to think, my husband (who is a decorated Vietnam Vet) and I figured John McCain wanted to stop this war! We met him when he was campaigning several years back, and I guess I was just hoodwinked into thinking he still stood for the same principles and ideas that he SAID he did, way back then. Now we know he's a traitor. And so does the local VFW post where my husband volunteers once a week.

We'll all be voting for Ron Paul. And we'll all be telling others to read this fine book, in his own words, from his own mind.
Sincerely,

Marina D.
Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Rotarian, Master Gardener, Real Estate Agent, Bingo Lover

[NH Republican]

RE: where did all those votes come from???

those were courtesy of the folks at Liebold...

[Brian]

Hey Andrew,

You must be a fan of the liberty movement by now. You must have stumbled upon what makes those who love liberty tick and been at least enticed by the pure logic of it all. The logic is simple. It is the belief that government can't create a perfect society. When we give government the power to do this, whether to make us more moral, or push democracy on unenlightened heathens in the Middle East, we in turn destroy the very thing that makes life worth living. Liberty!!! Government is supposed to protect liberty, but lately it has only destroyed it.

[Rhys]

The syntax of the lead quote bothered me until I realized there is indeed only a serial of false choice, singular. One choice, and it's false and it's presented in a series of different ways. How esoteric is that for you? Or the first Ron Paul book conspiracy?