The rebel forces of Paul -- Ron Paul -- organize to resist John McCain

As far as Sen. John McCain is concerned, the Republican presidential nomination is a done deal and he's working on uniting the party behind him. But thousands of Republicans -- particularly supporters of Texas Rep. Ron Paul -- aren't buying that.

In the Pennsylvania primary, more than 215,000 Republicans cast ballots for Paul or former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who quit campaigning weeks ago. Together, they captured 27% of the Republican vote.

That was tame compared with the uproar last weekend at Nevada's Republican Party Convention. Or before that in Missouri.

About 600 well-organized Paul supporters overwhelmed McCain's forces, as The Ticket reported earlier this week, and engineered a rule change that permitted national convention delegates to be nominated from the floor, wresting the task from party establishment leaders.

That evening, party leaders unexpectedly adjourned the session, saying the proceedings would take too long to finish that night.

But tongues were set wagging about whether the adjournment was a maneuver to save McCain from the embarrassment of being swamped by Paul delegates.

Eric Herzik, a political scientist at the University of Nevada, Reno, said the disruption reflected, among other things, that McCain had "yet to capture the hearts and minds of Nevada Republicans." Previously, Paul forces had elected about one-third of the delegates to the Missouri state Republcan convention.

As the 72-year-old Paul, who is unopposed in the November election for his 11th House term, suggested to his dedicated troops earlier this year in a video, they should prepare for for the long haul.

And buy his new book, which has promptly soared to the top of Amazon.com's bestseller list.

All of which suggests there might be some drama or at least confrontations in St. Paul at the GOP's national convention in September after all.

-- Maeve Reston

                                                                                                                                Photo Credit: AP

Comments

[Parke]

Could you please add it debuted at #7 on the NYT best sellers list...

Regardless if the power elite wish RP to go away. Regardless of the outcome of this election, you better bet your butt we are going to come back with experience and local GOPs on our side. The MSM will not get us again.

I keep imagining Poltergiest in four years. 'Theyre heeeeeeere'

[Web Smith]

Very nice unbiased article.

[Tominellay]

Well, to be fair, party establishment leaders shouldn't have the power to select those delegates...It seems to me that Paul's support grows in spite of negative coverage and non-coverage, so it must be the message that attracts...But 27% voting against the presumptive nominee McCain in Pennsylvania is telling. The establishment leaders obviously aren't going to be in charge of the party for too much longer...I think it's about time they go...They can take war and inflation with them...

[sean truitt]

Maeve, thank you for such a refreshingly respectful tone. on mention of Paulians or snidely left-handed compliments. i just got my two copies of the revolution: a manifesto in the mail today. it's a great book and i will be buying more as gifts. the constitution. mccain hasn't read it. i'm part of the 27% who doesn't matter.

[keith]

I did a little research on RP, I stopped when I got to the decriminalize marijuana part. Now I understand where he gets a lot of his support.

[Eric]

The upcoming Rep primary in Idaho is really going to be a scream, because Democrats and Independents who didn't vote in the Dem caucuses can vote in the Republican primary. And there is a big push on, urging these folks to vote for Ron Paul.... :-)

[Greego]

I was thinking whilst reading this that this article doesn't sound as sarcastic or insulting as most Ron Paul articles on this blog... then I noticed the byline at the bottom. Thanks Maeve for some objective reporting. It's a refreshing change.

[tim, minnesota]

Posted by: keith | May 03, 2008 at 10:05 PM

Ron Paul support from our family is not from smoking pot. but a realization of our rule of law and constitution. The issue of pot is a states issue. We Americans have become nipple sucking babies of the Federal big brother. We need to develope self supporting will and not looking for a nany state support structure.

[TJ]

That is what citizens should do if they care deeply about issues. We have the right to be delegates and right to be angry. I love how I am being called a rebel and insurgent because I support Paul. I go from detaining them in Iraq to being called one for supporting the constitution.
These people in the media who call us terrible names should realize more military personal have donated to Paul than any other person running. So are they suggesting thousands of soldiers are rebels and extremists?

[Leonardo]

Hey Keith,
A little research on RP on criminalize marijuana part "IS NOT ENOUGH"
Here's some insight for you;
Marijuana is the third most popular recreational drug in America (behind only alcohol and tobacco)...
http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=7305

You yet to have a "Clue" of what Dr. Paul stand for on the issue! It's call freedom!
It's my view that; what you do and/or put in your body is nobody business, as long as you've done "no harm" to others.

"I understand where he gets a lot of his support." You are too intelligent to make this assumption!

Never give up on "Facts". Read more of his positions and do keen an openmind...

"If we intend to use the word freedom in an honest way, we should have the simple integrity to give it real meaning: Freedom is living without government coercion. So when a politician talks about freedom for this group or that, ask yourself whether he is advocating more government action or less." - Ron Paul

“…man is not free unless government is limited. There's a clear cause and effect here that is as neat and predictable as a law of physics: As government expands, liberty contracts.” - Ronald Reagan

Freedom, Prosperity and Peace...

[Leigh Nobis]

For Keith: I saw Dr. Paul state on a nationally televised interview that he personally hated drugs and taught his children and grandchildren not to use drugs. He does, however, feel that the "drug war" has failed and that laws regarding drugs should be dealt with at the state level.

I support Dr. Paul, as do my husband and my parents (who are in their eighties.) Not one of us has ever used marijuana, nor would we have any idea where to obtain it.

A very LARGE percentage of Dr. Paul's supporters are like my family, elderly and/or middle aged people who see where our country is going and want to see it return to where it once was.

Thank you, Leigh

[LibertyVini]

Keith, you aren't seeing the forest for the trees. There is absolutely nothing to be gained by the people in prohibiting marijuana, or any drug. But there is much liberty lost, and much more to be lost. Multiply this throughout everything government does, and you will realize that this is much more important than whether a few of Ron's supporters are potheads, that the real significance of his support and the freedom movement is that it represents liberty and peace for all.

[DJ]

Thanks for the coverage, Mr. Reston.

As for Keith, I'd suggest you do a lot more research then just "a little" bit. The "War on Drugs" is a burden to tax payers, and has proven to be inherently racist -- see convinction statistics for powdered cocaine and crack cocaine. Another friendly suggestion would not to parrot the Bill O'Reilly fallacy, who said that Daily Show viewers "Are drunken, stoned slackers.", which is completely missing the point.

And that is personal responsibility and liberty is not synonymous with getting "high", except maybe from Freedom itself, perhaps.

[Jose Castillo]

I am proud to be part the 27% that has not caused any of the following:

1. Support of the Federal Reserve which has caused all of the artifical inflation and drove the value of the US dollar down to record lows.

2. Supported the unfair trade agreements that have strained American jobs and supported companies going oversees.

3. Defied the will of the people (75% are against the war)and not brought our troops out of the middle east.

4. Agreed with borrowing $10B and giving it to a military dictaor in Pakastan, all in the name of defending "liberty" in Iraq

5. Pushed subsidies through Congress to support Ethanal, in doing so, caused our famers to market a product that adds to the gas emmissions and even if 100% of all the corn was used, would not even produce 10% of all the power needed to run the USA. Not to mention is helping to drive the cost of food in the US.

I am proud to be a member of the 27%!!!

[DianneinVA]

Dr Paul has never been a single issue or a sound bite politidian. His message has consistently been for the Constituion, for the people, and for liberty. I encourage anyone who can support their chosen candidate to do so. I also encourage those who feel that they are unsure, to read Dr. Paul's own words, his own voting record, and decide if he makes sense.

The media is feeding America sound bites, which often are more focused on trivia than issues. Likewise, the many, many bills that cross Congress are not important or lacking consistency.

Every voice has importance.

[Sam]

For the sake of accuracy:

"As far as Sen. John McCain is concerned, the Republican presidential nomination is a done deal and he's working on uniting the party behind him. But thousands of Republicans -- particularly supporters of Texas Rep. Ron Paul -- aren't buying that."

This should not read "thousands of Republicans" it should read "MILLIONS of Republicans" if you care to be accurate.

Anyone who honestly seeks enlightenment on the issues Dr. Paul brings to the table will certainly find it. And along with it you will find a kind of culture shock. You will realize that the world is not the way the media has been broadcasting it for years. In stead of read news you have been consuming pablum. Its time to grow up and taste the truth. You already know this in your hearts but you've been trained that thinking outside of popular opinion is worthy of ridicule and so you avoid it. Pick up Dr. Paul's book and read it, it will open your eyes. The time is late, Ask yourself why the media doesn't ask salient questions. Ask yourself if it is ethical to pass on debt to our children. Ask yourself why the only person to bring up the impending economic troubles in the psuedo-debates was ridiculed and yet only a couple of months later we see the beginnings of economic meltdown. Ask yourself why no one but Dr. Paul is talking about the impending social security entitlement for the baby boomers and what that will mean to our country.

Do you know that the Iraq police action has now outlasted WWII? How many chains are you willing to hang around the necks of your children?

[Brandi]

Keith, you can't make generalizations like Ron Paul gets all his support from potheads. I assure you they will get high whether it's legal or not. In fact, that issue rarely seems to come up on Ron Paul forums... I encourage you to do some objective research. Yes, learning new things hurts a little at first, but you get used to it.

[Keith]

Didn't say all of his support, said alot of it, but I don't understand where parents could ever get behind a candidate who waters down the fight against supplying and using illegal drugs in this country, it's a national problem, it deserves federal attention. I know cigarettes and alcohol are destructive as well, but 3 wrongs wouldn't make a right. As for the war on drugs being ineffective, well that statement is made in a vacuum, because there is no parallel universe we can look into to see where would be right now without it. But I guess if you made it a "states rights" problem, it would all go away? Of course then you be crying around about how your kid got in trouble in some state that wanted to be tough on drugs and got an excessive punishment when it would've only been a slap on the wrist in California.

Kids and young adults don't get turned onto a path of self destruction by people not engaged in it themselves, personal choice is a BS position when some dopehead is giving your kid his first toke or a snort and you're not there to protect them and turn them away from it.

I don't have to go any further than that in my research to know he's not right for me, sorry.

[KING777TUT]

Keith, you should smoke some, you might see the light.

[frzngds]

"Fascism is a term used to describe authoritarian nationalist political ideologies or mass movements that are concerned with notions of cultural decline or decadence and seek to achieve a millenarian national rebirth by placing the interests of the individual as subordinate to that of the nation or race and promoting cults of unity, energy and purity." - Wikipedia

keith you're a Fascist - So obviously you wouldn't agree with Ron Paul

[keith]

Posted by: KING777TUT

Yeah right, I'm well aquainted with how it works and as a younger man I smoked plenty. Don't throw your enlightment garbage my way pal, I've watched firsthand as this social disease has claimed some of my friends lives and livelihoods. Fortunately as I got older, I saw and began to understand the darkness behind the light. Maybe the drug problems only claimed one out of ten or twenty of my friends along the way, but it wasn't worth it to lose them. You should stop smoking, then you will see the real light, not the false one. You are only hurting yourself and those around you. Your sense of higher social consciousness is false and built on quicksand.

All this talk of "freedom", if your personal freedom is dictated by politicians, then you have missed plenty on your path in life. I understand why you would look to another politician to "free" you, but there's nothing Ron Paul can do to fix that for you, the answer is not in his manifesto, it's within you and only you can unlock it. When you understand that, you will truly be free.

[erick]

Personal freedoms are not always comfortable for all people. Even when a particular freedom does not directly bring harm to another person,the perceived potential of harm to another can be of concern. So, Kieth's concern about some freedoms will always be there, and that's understandable. However, many current laws are based only on the potential for crime. Farsighted people who see this slippery slope, and our government 's historical behavior, should be concerned about laws on the books and laws now being passed while we sleep.

[JONAS]

I say "it's debate time!"
but McCain won't

[Chez]

"I did a little research on RP, I stopped when I got to the decriminalize marijuana part. Now I understand where he gets a lot of his support."

No you don't.

[Matt Everett]

Ron Paul is still the loser of a party of losers.

Even if he got the nomation, he is still the candidate for the GOP who got the nation stuck in the situation it is today.

His best bet is to go Independent.