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.

[steveN]

Maybe "Keith" could explain why the Netherlands, where cannibis is essentially legal, has only 19% of their teenagers using it? The United States has 38% of their teenagers using it.

Who's the real "dopehead" here anyway?

But most Ron Paul supporters know that this is a very minor issue. The mainstream media would have you believe that it's the main part of the Paul campaign.

[Robert Owens]

If you are not allowed to vote for Dr. Paul in November, consider Dr. Chuck Baldwin. Read what Dr. Baldwin has been advocating for many years: www.chuckbaldwinlive.com

Also look at: www.constitutionparty.com

[keith]

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

Posted by: frzngds | May 04, 2008 at 01:04 PM

Negative - being against using recreational drugs and/or supplying recreational drugs to our kids doesn't make me a fascist.

[keith]

Maybe "Keith" could explain why the Netherlands, where cannibis is essentially legal, has only 19% of their teenagers using it? The United States has 38% of their teenagers using it.

Who's the real "dopehead" here anyway?

But most Ron Paul supporters know that this is a very minor issue. The mainstream media would have you believe that it's the main part of the Paul campaign.

Posted by: steveN | May 04, 2008 at 04:31 PM

No I can't, I do not live in the Netherlands nor do I study social issues there, as a matter of fact, what happens in the Netherlands doesn't concern me that much.

Major or minor issue to RP supporters also doesn't matter, I'm just saying it's enough for me not to support him. Funny, for a freedom and liberty crowd, you sure don't have a lot of tolerance for dissenting opinions. Why is that?

[Pepper]

Keith, What has been so great about America in the past is the right for everyone to their opinion. Where the problem comes in, as our founding fathers pointed out, is when that decision or opinion is not INFORMED. In otherwords, its birthed in ignorance.

Thomas Jefferson said it well, like he has most things. when he said "A civilization that expects to be "ignorant" and free, expects what never was and never will be".

To vote in ignorance is to ensure the demise of this republic and frankly, I believe its that ignorance by a majority that has contributed greatly to the irreversable slide of our once great nation into oblivion. We keep electing people that represent the worst of this nation.

If you don't believe me just look at who the top three candidates are and greatness eludes them all except for Ron Paul. Just MY humble opinion.

[keith]

I will say this, if the r3VOlution comes to pass, the r3-education camps will certainly be more enjoyable than in other regimes for an old fascist like me.

"Please report promptly at 4:20 to the cafeteria for kannabis and Kool-Aid. Be sure to bring your copy of the manifesto. The beatings will continue until enlightenment improves."

[Tom deSabla]

Well, Keith, you want to do good and so do we.

The problem that you have, Keith, is that you have allowed your concept of what is good to be dictated to you by government. There was once a time when none of these drugs was illegal here - and we had no problems at all compared with now.

When that fact of history is combined with the corraborating fact that there is another drug that we had terrible violence and crime associated with years ago when it was illegal, and those problems have now largely disappeared - alcohol.

What these examples tell us, Keith, is that prohibition does not work - that is to say that it increases both the use of the prohibited drug and also imposes other associated costs to society. I don't believe that any honest assessment could conclude otherwise.

I'm sorry that you know people who have been hurt through their associations with illegal and recreational drugs - but have you ever even tried to figure what role prohibition might have played in the story? Have you ever tried to imagine what would have happened if the drug in question had been legal?

In reality, as opposed to in people's fevered minds, the drug war was never about doing the right thing - it is about a huge machine with cops, corrections officers, snitches, probation officers, judges, bailiffs, huge government agencies like the DEA and propaganda agencies like the ONDCP, and treatment centers, shrinks, and then finally a government pension, or for the supposed "addict" a disability check at the end of it all.

It's nothing but a jobs program for all these people, Keith. We don't need it and we never did. You would be shocked at how little research went into these drug laws, and now all the proof that they've failed is simply ignored.

I hope and pray you come to realize this, but whatever you may think about drugs, the fact remains that no free society can long exist when people don't even own their own bodies.

There can be no virtue without free will.

Keith, statism has you. Take the red pill.

[LEONARD]

Ron Paul can beat Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.
Tell McCain to get out off the way,
And let a real Man do the Job,

[ricknhouston]

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.

Posted by: keith | May 04, 2008 at 01:31 PM

***************************************************************************************************************************************

Are you sure you're not still sneakin a few hits every now and then, Keith? Sure sounds like your high to me. And let me just offer you this ... I'm 60 years old, have raised and educated two children, one of which is an Attorney and the other a cardiac sonographer, I have been self empoyed my entire life, not missed more than 2 weeks of work over my whole adult life, make more than 100K per year. I don't use tobacco, don't drink & don't take prescription drugs but I have smoked pot since I was 18 years old. It's like anything else in life, my friend, .... if you don't control it .... it will control you!

[Marley]

The only candidate that I could vote for this presidential election is Dr Ron Paul. I'm glad I'm not the only one. Ron Paul 2008 even if I have to write his name in!

[Sam]

Kieth would rather have the state dictate morality to all it's citizens. That is why he is being labeled a fascist.

What is right for one person must necessarily be right for all people, wouldn't you agree Keith?
...because we all know in the end that we are exactly the same. <--sarcasm

My guess is that Kieth has never been exposed to the philosophy of liberty. Kieth if you are still around try taking 8 minutes to absorb the following video and see if you agree. Believe me, they didn't teach you this in your federally funded educational system.

It will help you understand why Ron Paul and millions of other Americans would think it unethical to make moral decisions for others.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8z1buym2xUM

Do you have the right to tell others what they can or cannot eat? If your neighbor is fat, it is not your right to impose a diet on him no matter how righteous your motivation. Just because ten out of nineteen people think one way should never mean that the other nine should be forced to think like them.

Our diversity is an asset not a detriment.

[Hyrum]

At my local convention in northern Seattle the only people elected to be delegates to the State convention were 15 McCain supporters who were recommended by the local party leaders, even though there were about 50 people who were trying to be selected. This election has completely turned me into a third party fan. I am sick of voting for the lesser of two evils.

[Scott Harmon]

First, to the article: I liked it. Now, to the comments. I am a little cautious, these days, to try everyone in absentia. There are people who do have valid arguments that are contrary to the classic Libertarian philosophies. The war on drugs is an example. For quite a long time, I saw the policy of "pre-emptive policing" against drugs as a good thing. After all, drugs often lead to nasty things in the neighborhood. I saw it first hand. Thus, I can understand how people can push back on Paul's policies of ending the "drug war." Yet, while I've changed my views on this subject, I think Libertarians must realize that the "symbolism" of defending the community can be more powerful than an intellectual argument against government intervention. It serves no purpose to the Libertarian cause to criticize people and label them. If we, Libertarians, are to act as the moral and cerebral compass, and hopefully, win the support of detractors, then it would be most helpful to make an argument, or an appeal, to the issues involved. Yes, the war on drugs, and statist intervention against drug use, are a failure and an excuse for more domestic and international involvements. Yes, we should be outraged by the statistical evidence which shows how futile the "drug war" is, and outraged by who benefits from it. But, in the end, people who don't want to see others affected by drugs within their own communities will turn to anyone who offers a solution. That is the problem--any solution will do--that gets us into more trouble. So, while there are many other solutions that can be posited to clean up the communities and forego state interventionism, these solutions are not in the public discourse. It is the job of Libertarians to make those solutions recognized, and explain why smashing down doors and creating roadblocks are not only futile, but damaging to many law-abiding (innocent) citizens. It takes a long time to change viewpoints, so we should be respectful of those who are critical of alternative ideas. My first "argument" against people who want to believe in wars against drugs, terrorists, and so forth, is a question: what has been gained, and who is gaining? When answering that question, many are forced to re-think the issue, and that is the goal: to unshackle our minds from what has been taught. That is, labeling and lecturing are not nearly as valuable as opening minds. And that means we, who want to change people's minds, must tolerate the backlash and deal with the "symbolism" involved.

[Parke]

Keith,

Ive lost 2 of my closest friends to drugs. Wonderful human beings that would have become awesome people.

We do no one justice by locking up users. They end up felons, they end up a constant drain to tax dollars.

Freedom is about tolerance and personal responsibility.

Get some.

[keith]

"The problem that you have, Keith, is that you have allowed your concept of what is good to be dictated to you by government. "

Negative - my concept of what is good and bad in this small corner of morality is based on having to bury some people I knew, some from suicide that had it's roots in drug use, others by accidental drug overdoses, some by other accidents and mishaps caused by drug use. It's also been formed by watching other friends tear apart their relationships with their spouses, their kids and destroy their careers and their health with drugs. The government has nothing to do with it.

Rick - I'm sure I am not high on anything. As long as you want to discuss demographics, I'm mid 40's, 3 degrees from major universities, a working professional and firm in my belief that recreational drug use is a killer. Being 60 and still getting high is nothing to be proud of, it's too bad you've never discovered how to enjoy what's real in life without altering you perception of reality first. Do the people in your life know you or do they know the stoned you more often than not? Do you care?

Once again, I've found my freedom in life, I don't need another person to tell me what defines it, I don't need to read any manifesto to outline a path for me. I make and follow my own. Try it sometime.

[keith]

"There was once a time when none of these drugs was illegal here - and we had no problems at all compared with now."

Tom, the current drug laws were borne of a massive cocaine epidemic in this country in the early 1900's. Have a Coke and a smile.

[keith]

Ah, it's time to say good night. Be well and prosper, and have a grateful day.

[keith]

R.I.P. Taylor Clifford

[Tom deSabla]

"my concept of what is good and bad in this small corner of morality is based on having to bury some people I knew, some from suicide that had it's roots in drug use, others by accidental drug overdoses, some by other accidents and mishaps caused by drug use. It's also been formed by watching other friends tear apart their relationships with their spouses, their kids and destroy their careers and their health with drugs. The government has nothing to do with it."

****

The government had nothing to do with any of that? You're kidding yourself here Keith. Anyway, you will recall that this whole conversation started with marijuana decriminalization, and here you are talking about your friends overdosing etc. Well, no one has ever died from an overdose of marijuana, so I think we're getting pretty far afield from what originally so offended you about the Paul platform. Again, what's so offensive to you about a drug that has never killed anyone?

****

"the current drug laws were borne of a massive cocaine epidemic in this country in the early 1900's."

****

Massive cocaine epidemic huh? Sure pal. Was that anything like the terrible alcohol epidemic we had prior to 1919? - the one that prohibition fixed for us? I'd like to read up on this "massive cocaine epidemic" you refer to - could you direct me to some sort of proof? HAHA, don't worry, I won't hold my breath waiting.

Most people, when pressed to be honest, will admit the drug war is a failure. I guess you're not capable of being honest.

[dave]

it would be irresponsible to advocate individual liberty without also advocating the massive and permanent individual efforts it takes to make informed and self-reliant, responsible choices; from a certain angle, to relegate more and more of your personal responsibilities to authorities, and restricting yourself to making your pick from their fixed assortment of ideas of how your life, or that of your family, is 'supposed to' look like, might look tempting and kind of cozy; and sooner or later, many a pet might be surprised to wake up and see that someone else decided for him to lose not just his fleas, but his balls as well. however that might relate to your freedom.

[Edward]

Keith, you're a fascist.

1) Drug laws figure very low in what the vast majority of Paul supporters think is important. We are far more concerned with monetary and foreign policy. Guilt by association is an arbitrarily vague and shallow accusation. The message of freedom unites many people of different colours, that is half the bloody point.

2) Making drugs illegal is a failure from an economic, crime, health, and moral point of view. If nothing else, the principle of self-ownership should make you understand that I have the right to decide what I put into my own body. By attempting to dictate to me what I can and cannot do with myself when it has no negative consequence on anyone else's life, liberty, or property, you become a fascist.

[free the constitution]

hey everybody!! stop picking on keith!! and keith, freedom to live or in life as you put it is fabulous!! i only serve here to help you realize that soon, you will have a right to live by whatever way the government ALLOWS. how does that grab ya? we will be lucky to have an election at this point as all roads the U.S. is taking now leads to martial law and socialism. forget looking at ron paul 'cause you won't, but at least check out what is happening HERE, right now. bush admin. wants complete control of the waters-war in iran-and i could go on and on, AND the minute you get the REAL ID or the REAL social security card, you are a prisoner, everywhere you go, YOU WILL BE TRACKED my friend, you will be a slave. I will be voting for RON PAUL and i will pray for you as i am the rest of the world as this election will matter to ALL here on Earth. oh- also, the rest of the world IS watching and it's obvious that they too want ron paul. i have never seen support like this!! president ron paul president ron paul president ron paul. is the whole world wrong?? oh, if you truly want a war on drugs, then start arresting the FDA and the pharmecuetical companies- they are the REAL drug dealers and pushers!! peace brother

[Matt]

Kieth, I agree 100% with you. You are so right on man. This one guy I knew had a heart attack when he was 45. Poor guy was way overwieght because he ate McDonalds every day for lunch. He was so funny too. I really think McDonalds should be illegal, If only it hadn't been there, there would be no way for him to eat unhealthy and die from it.

I also had 2 friends, both were killed in car accidents. I tell you, these cars people drive are just so dangerous. I mean, it's all about these people being lazy and not wanting to ride a bicycle, or jog. I mean plus they pollute the environment, so thats a bad thing too, we should really probably make driving cars illegal. I tell you, having to bury my friends has really opened my eyes to how evil these machines are. We are slaves to them.

I personally had a relationship that was torn apart by something much worse than drugs. Halo 3, it is possibly one of the most addicting video games in the history of the world, and it's violent too. I would be running around the house pretending to sniper rifle the dog, my girlfriend, heck anything that moves. Well eventually she had enough of that, she left me over it because I could just not put it down for 2 seconds. I am writing to my senators and congressmen right now, this needs to be made illegal so I don't play it anymore.

Just think of how great a place america will be once we have made everything that must be used with RESPONSIBILITY, and made them illegal.

[Luke]

Keith, thanks for the discussion here. You encourage each to find his or her own path as long as it involves choices that you find acceptable. Some might say their path is blocked by restrictions from the government.

Kids get drugs regardless of the laws as you know from your childhood. What the laws do is create the underground and secrecy of the problem so people are scared to ask for help and violence erupts because of the black market ensuing from the government regulations.

This is a very small issue to me, but to me freedom is freedom. How can the goverment tell me what I can and cannot put in my own body. Alcohol has done far more damage to me yet I am allowed to buy it on any corner. Even as a seven year very grateful recovering alcoholic, I know that alcohol should not be outlawed. We know from history what a violent mess Prohibition turned out to me. We are not talking about a vacuum; We can look at the example of Prohibition to see a before and after look. Thanks for reading.

[mike]

It sounds like keith is a proud 5th grade DARE graduate! America supposedly promotes tollerance and non descrimination of others. Just not with this herb. Uneducated, misinformed, and ignorant are the words that I hear when people dis cannabis or it users. Many people who use this herb can and do live quite productive and healthy lives, and just because you know people who are loosers, shouldn't affect my freedoms or private personal choices! myob- imo

[Bruce Liddel]

Kieth: what has been gained by the governmental war on drugs, and who is gaining?

I empathize with you over the tragedies you have witnessed. I deplore recreational drug use of any kind. Nobody on this forum has asked you to begin using drugs for recreation. What others have asked you to do is to look beyond the issue of drugs as good or bad, and question whether or not ever-increasing centralized government intervention is necessarily good or bad.

You have indicated that you dismiss everything Ron Paul stands for, because of his entirely consistent position that the drug war has not helped matters as much as it has hurt matters. That's similar to dismissing a person's foreign policies because of their views on abortion. This may just be human nature on your part, but this is also an opportunity for you to think on a higher level, if you are willing to try.

Ours is not a perfect world. Government cannot make our world perfect. Government can, and usually does (to one degree or another), engage in murder, theft, and enslavery. If your government engages in these pursuits on your behalf, and with your tacit approval, then you become as guilty as your government.

This is why Libertarians believe the power of government should be limited and decentralized. One size does not fit all, and indeed most laws have unintended consequences.

[shaneinwy]

There is something wrong with the author of this. They forgot to use words like "insurgent", "truther", etc. They forgot the time tested method of picking the biggest kook out of a group and holding them up as a generic example of the group. Did they not get the memo that said that Nevada and Missouri are not newsworthy?

Where did this person get their political journalism license, a cracker jack box?

[Carol]

Keith,

There is something you don't understand about Ron Paul's stance on drugs. First, let me explain that I am a Mormon, so I don't even drink tea or coffee, let alone do drugs.

The point about the war on drugs is that it has failed. Since the drug war began, the availability of drugs has increased dramatically, the cost has gone down, making it more accessible, the potency of drugs has increased, the numbers of addicts have increased, and the amount of drug-related violent crime has increased.

In addition, our thoroughly bankrupt country has countless numbers of non-violent marijiuana possessors sitting in prison at a huge cost per day. People who didn't harm anyone else but themselves....

I have sat in several lectures about drugs where two questions are asked:

1) If marijuana were legal, how many of you would use it...?

2) If marijuana were legal, how many of you think other people in this room would use it...?

To the first question, only 1 or 2 people answer yes. To the second question, half the room says yes.

We thoroughly trust ourselves to regulate ourselves, but we don't trust other people. Which is like the government, which tend to think we are all morons.

If marijuana were legalized, that does not put it on the shelf at Safeway next to the parsley and cilantro. It does mean that it won't be a tool to finance criminals.

When an activity is illegal, it makes it very difficult for people to seek help for that problem, since they are in effect confessing to committing a crime.

Ron Paul believes that whether or not you choose to use marijuana is not the responsibility of government. It is a personal decision, like religion. It does not mean you have to think that smoking drugs is a good thing. I happen to think it a very foolish thing, something that I would never do.

I happen to think that taking drugs is like robbing yourself of your own ability to choose, especially if you become an addict and therefore a slave. However, I do think that what you take in to your own body is your individual responsibility, not that of the government.

There certainly can be laws that punish those who harm others while under the influence of mind altering substances.

[Dan]

I teach my children why they should not use drugs. I take an active part in their lives and do not rely on the government to tell me or my family what is good or bad. I think the government should pursue drug pushers because they prey on people, but putting people in jail because they are addicted to a substance is not the answer. Addiction is a disease not a crime.

I will vote for Ron Paul because there are no credible candidates left at this point.

[Eli C]

Go Paulunteers! Shake the GOP up like Clinton is shaking our party up!
Also, Ron Paul is by far the candidate with the most INTERGRITY on the GOP side.

[Joshua]

the rEVOLution is much bigger than this election cycle.... and the establishment knows it and is quaking in their brown boots.

[James]

Do your own research people. Ron Paul is the real deal! Stop fearing and let the person who can best run your life take the responsibility and do it. THAT PERSON IS YOU! Ron Paul doesn't want to run your life. He wants to step back the power of the government because it has gone overboard and let the people govern with freedom.
It is amazing how little people know and afraid to know answers to questions.

[david bitner]

prefering to sleep with a clear conscience, i stopped voting for the lesser of 2 evils a dozen years ago. this year i will write in ron paul.

[jason]

maybe it will come clear that the fascist republican/democratic media conspired to keep the movement down, as it has done many times before (i'm sure) ..
many of ron paul's supporters don't even belong to a party or participate in big politics ..
convention in st. paul .. is this a set up ?
i think he should run independent so that his prolific postion as president can be used to endorse congressional and senatorial candid-apes ..

[Raleigh]

Paul is what this country needs. Those who are blinded by Clintons and Obamas lobbyist written speeches and antics are sorely mistaken. Viva La REVoLutioN!!!!!!!!!!

[Jay]

Heres some information to chew on, all of you who think the reason Ron Paul is popular is because he wants to decriminilize marijuana. That has absoluetly nothing to do with the reason why, many individuals, much like you, actually see what he is about. Ron Paul has the mindset and determination needed to help this country out. It is not about marijuan being legal or illegal, its about the rights we as citizens have. The Constitution was founded on equal power to the states. According to our Constitution, the states are to have equal power, one instance of this would be to set restrictions on certain sunbstances such as marijuana. Deeming it legal for medicinal reasons would obviously be the first step. If they then decided to legalize it for personal use, so be it. It is so horrible to see that the Federal Government has so much power over the states. Its rather sickening. Ron Paul will fix that, a man like this does not just get so many interested for no reason. He is the real deal, do not read the propoganda. Go to his website, he is all about helping US meaning our country and us (me and you)

[jstme]

Hemp is the common name for plants of the entire family of Cannabis, although the term is often used to refer only to Cannabis strains cultivated for industrial (non-drug) use. Hemp is cultivated virtually everywhere in the world except for the United States, and its cultivation in western countries is growing steadily. For example, Canadian Hempseed exports surged 300% last year. China and other eastern countries never prohibited its cultivation and use it extensively.

Industrial hemp has thousands of potential uses, from paper to textiles to biodegradable plastics to health food to fuel but it has not been the great commercial success that the enthusiast hoped for in countries where it is legal to harvest. It is one of the fastest growing biomasses on the planet, and one of the earliest domesticated plants known. It also runs parallel with the "Green Future" objectives that are becoming increasingly popular. Hemp requires little to no pesticides, replenishes soil with nutrients and nitrogen, controls erosion of the topsoil, and produces lots of oxygen, considering how fast it grows. Furthermore, Hemp could be used to replace many potentially harmful products, such as tree paper (the process of which uses bleaches and other toxic chemicals, apart from contributing to deforestation), cosmetics (which often contain synthetic oils that can clog pores and provide little nutritional content for the skin), plastics (which are petroleum based and cannot decompose), and more.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemp

Great blog.

[steven]

everybody get off Keith's back. He's beyond our grasp. And he's also no longer participating in the discussion.

p.s. i too am terrified of Real ID.

[Jeremy]

To the guy that said he quit researching Paul when he got to the decriminalization of marijuana part: Do you realize the only reason pot is illegal?? Take a guess while you sip on your scotch on the rocks....Alcohol is BY FAR a more destructive drug than pot

[Jake in Los Angeles]

Keith checked out, I think because he was getting too close to a realization.

But in case you are still around, Keith-
Sorry for the tragic stories of your friends but it was their personal decisions that led to their demise not drugs.

I happen to be one of these pothead Paul supporters I guess. I smoke weed pretty often and even use cocaine and other drugs recreationally. My friends and family, most of which don't use, are pretty aware of my habits and it hasn't affected them in any negative way at all. Why? Because they accept me for who I am and support me the same way that I support them, with love and understanding.
You see, drugs do not rule my life, I do.

Keith, drugs didn't work for you and so you were quick enough to realize that and so you stopped. I commend you for that but where you try and impose your decision on others is what I can not defend.

It is not being an American that makes us free it is that we are human and all humans have inherent rights. We have the right to make our own decisions for ourselves.

And frankly if one's decisions lead to their death than they rightly deserve to die.

[keith hater]

everyone hates you Keith. your ignorant. go jump off a bridge. oh no but wait. then they might make gravity illegal.

[mgeez]

I'd like to elaborate on the 'decriminalize marijuana' statement someone made.

1. Ron Paul does not want to decriminalize it. Instead of giving our federal government the power to make it a crime, he wants to let each state pass its own drug laws. So in California, say, marijuana, cocaine, and LSD could all be legal (maybe I'm pushing it too far, but who knows), but in Oregon, all drugs would still be illegal. This reflects on a problem that California is having with its legalization of medical marijuana, because the DEA comes in to California all the time, busting medical marijuana shops because of federal law, when it is still legal in the actual state.

Also, take note at how much MORE revenue states could make if, after making a drug such as marijuana legal, imposing a tax on it, such as the tax that is already apparent with alcohol and tobacco.

2. While I'm sure some people may be supporting Ron Paul because of his stance in this issue, Ralph Nader did the same thing years ago, did he not? And when he was running he was no where near as popular as Ron Paul is today.

These are all things to consider.

[Drumz]

No rulers, no wars. No laws, no crime.

[evan little]

I respect no one more than, Dr. Ron Paul.

See you in D.C. July 12th!!

[James]

Guys watch the american drug war, the war on drugs is moot if you consider the government has been bringing in the drugs and filling the prisons with non-violent illegal drug users. The drugs that are illegal are the ones we can aqcuire ourselves, the rest you have to go to a "doctor", the legalized drug dealer and the drugs are just as bad or much worse. Illegal drugs creates a blackmarket, which creates crime and most importantly corruption, see the prohibition, that's what happening but on a much larger scale. Look at the Frank Murrah case where 2/3 of the new york police force was indicted for corruption or the iran-contra affair where the cia was using drug money to overthrow governments in other countries. Fact: I can get illegal drugs just as easy as legal drugs and people end up doing them(its reverse pschology) because they're illegal. The first is pot which they put in with the rest of them which leads people to believe that since that's not as bad as they say and you go on to harder drugs. 2.3 million people in prison, that's 25% of the world's prison population. This was supposed to be the land of the free not the slave and that's what they are slaves and they get paid 50 grand a year to keep them in their cages.

[familliar]

well, i think that just like abortion laws, pot laws should be decided state by state.

people went to the polls a couple years ago in california and said MEDICAL WEED IS OK. but yet, it's still federally illigal. this needs to change. federal law should not override state law. and alcohol kills more INNOCENT people than pot. END THE HYPOCRACY!

ron paul is pro-live, and i am pro-choice. but that's OK! because this is a free nation and the people should be able to decide as a state and a people if something should be allowed or not, not the prezident. and i think thats what so great about him.

so...stop arguing about silly nonsense (like hillary and obama) open your eyes to the REAL issues facing us and our children!!!

our stockpiles of milk and butter are at ZERO

we are in a neverending war in the middle east, killing innocent people and spending 170 MILLION dolars a day

it looks like we are about to invade syria.

look at how the mainstream medica can shut out dr.paul, what else do you think they are shutting out?!?!?!

[familliar]

well, i think that just like abortion laws, pot laws should be decided state by state.

people went to the polls a couple years ago in california and said MEDICAL WEED IS OK. but yet, it's still federally illigal. this needs to change. federal law should not override state law. and alcohol kills more INNOCENT people than pot. END THE HYPOCRACY!

ron paul is pro-live, and i am pro-choice. but that's OK! because this is a free nation and the people should be able to decide as a state and a people if something should be allowed or not, not the prezident. and i think thats what so great about him.

so...stop arguing about silly nonsense (like hillary and obama) open your eyes to the REAL issues facing us and our children!!!

our stockpiles of milk and butter are at ZERO

we are in a neverending war in the middle east, killing innocent people and spending 170 MILLION dolars a day

it looks like we are about to invade syria.

look at how the mainstream medica can shut out dr.paul, what else do you think they are shutting out?!?!?!

[Darren]

I personally have never done drugs OR Marijuana, but if alcohol is legal, which by far kills more people every year either directly or indirectly than Marijuana ever has or will (to my count, no one has ever died from smoking it), then let people do what they want. This is what liberty is all about. This is why Ron Paul has my vote, or i don't vote at all.

[Chris]

You sure don't see comment pages like this on McCain's articles! Vote Ron Paul for Freedom!

[Darren]

Keith, should you still be reading this...

I understand where you are coming from, believe me I do. Drug use, if left unchecked, can and will end your life, either by way of simple stability or in death. And I am sorry for your loss. When a friend dies, no matter how, one never truly recovers.

With that said..

Understand that Freedom and Liberty aren't just cute words some people use to make themselves feel like a part of something different. This country was founded in part on those very concepts. Your friends that died chose to do drugs, and simply did too much. Drugs didn't knock on their door and force their way into their blood.

Being part of a free society means you are free to not just succeed, but free to fail as well, with little if any hand holding. It's nice to have friends and family there to catch you should you trip or fall, but when you start giving big entities like government not just the right to try to catch you, but the ability to prevent you from falling to start with, you open the door for them to create measures with which they can prevent anything from happening, and the more power they have to do this, the less freedom you have to do with your life as you wish.

I am sorry for your loss, but they were free to live or die how they pleased, and they chose poorly. Don't let your loss be the rest of our burdens by telling politicians that you want everyone to live how you would like them too because you miss your friends. It makes you immoral and unethical. your friends didn't deserve to die, but they certainly might have earned their deaths. Big difference. Ron Paul wants to ensure that everyone has a right to live however they please whether they make good or bad choices.

That's a real man of the people.

[Paul]

Hey people, leave "Keith" alone.

He either just will never understand freedom, or he is a plant, maybe a Pentagon E-spook, working to turn the discussion negative.

Either way, it's a waste of time, and drags things down.

Please stay on the positive, move forward, and ignore people like that.

Thank you.

[Gabriel from Mo]

I am not sure why anyone is responding to this argumentative and unprecedentedly pretentious ignorant know nothing name kieth.

His comment is obviously either an uneducated one or just a ploy to destroy any important and or productive conversation taking place.

Ignore kieth!

He makes references to pot then relates them to cocaine and crack and then turns them into the reason himself and others shouldn't support Ron Paul. Com' on people utterly ridiculous don't even respond to him.

I am proud to say I am not a pot smoker and I am also proud to say that I admire any pot smoker willing to become politically active and push for a visionary candidate such a s Ron Paul.

God Bless all of you pot smokers that is if any of you actually are pot smokers.

[andrew]

good article...

when is the march?

(to the white house)

[Brian Lynch]

Our nation was once a shining beacon of freedom in the world. Something to be aspired to. Now, we are hated around the globe. Our deeds have become wicked and the source of much suffering. I say "OUR deeds" because there in lies the catch to a democracy. We elect our leaders and from that day forth, they do as they choose without fear of reprisal or judgment from those who elected them and in the end, who's left holding the bag? Why, we are of course. And why shouldn't it be so? After all, it was we who chose them. Who's to blame for their misdeeds, if not us? I've listened to all the candidates in this debate and there is only one who speaks to the truth that is in my heart.....Ron Paul. I've lived long enough now to understand the depths of ambition that brings about the wickedness in man and I fear for our great nation. I listen to McCain, Clinton and Obama, the calculated coolness that pervades their every word as if the woes of our nation were merely obstacles to be negotiated in there race for power.........and I fear.

[BooToo]

Everyone is getting hung up on the marijuana issue instead of looking at the big picture. Ron Paul is basically calling for Americans to stop relying on big government to solve their problems. One of his main points is for personal responsibility and for politicians to stop leading us into a deeper hole.

Personally, I agree with most of what he has to say.

[Martin]

On election day I will be writing in Mr. Paul's name as my vote for President. No one is going to tell me that I have to choose between the Dem or Rep nominee on the ticket. My choice is Ron Paul regardless of what media outlets tell me. Hopefully everyone who wants Mr. Paul to the be the leader of this country will do the same and show the elitist Democrats & Republicans that no ammount of money will buy them the White House.

[JK]

I love how educated people, such as Keith, who was quick to point out his 3 degrees from major universities, are so clearly UNINFORMED on the very issue he spoke out against. It scares me to think that anyone who's taken the time to educate themselves with 3 degrees can be such a close-minded boob. I'd say the educaton system has failed Keith miserably because any rational, clear thinking adult can see that the current system of drug policies in this country DO NOT WORK.

[Amy]

wow...now isn't that bit interesting? 27%? The people are speaking, and it's about time they were heard! Go Ron Paul!

[mrc]

I'm voting for Ron Paul tomorrow in the Indiana Primary. He is the only one worth voting for - the other three are just running for 4 more years of the exact same thing. Why am I voting for Paul? Because I love this country and the principals it was founded on. I'm not willing to cave into the fear mongers and hand over my civil liberties and freedoms for a little bit of perceived security. I'm a big boy and I can take care of myself thank you very much and I don't need or want the government's help with every little decision I make in my life. As far as the whole drug thing goes, someone is missing the point - if you raise your kids right in the first place then you won't have to worry about your kids doing drugs. Drug abuse is a symptom not the source of the problem. Ron Paul wants to fix America, not just treat the symptoms like all the other candidates.

[Angelika]

"Negative - my concept of what is good and bad in this small corner of morality is based on having to bury some people I knew, some from suicide that had it's roots in drug use, others by accidental drug overdoses, some by other accidents and mishaps caused by drug use. It's also been formed by watching other friends tear apart their relationships with their spouses, their kids and destroy their careers and their health with drugs. The government has nothing to do with it. "

Keith, try to keep in mind that everyone is responsible for the paths they choose. Your friends decided to poison their bodies and minds with drugs. No one forced their hand.
Also, remember that your friends chose to engage in these activities regardless of their legality (or, in this case, lack thereof).
Don't get me wrong - I'm strongly against the use of any drug, be it so-called "recreational" marijuana or tobacco or alcohol. As I said, it's all poison. However, we cannot pass the buck by putting the responsibility of the individual in the hands of the government. It's what we've been doing for years, and it's obviously failed, and by refusing to acknowledge that fact, you are also refusing to accept the reality of it.

[Yuan]

Keep spreading the message Dr. Paul!

You guys should check out Ron Paul's new book, titled The Revolution: A Manifesto.

It's #1 on Amazon!!

protect your freedom!

[Rachel]

Keith,

Is there any candidate out there that you agree with on every single issue? I doubt it. So writing RP off over his stand on one issue is closed minded and pointless.

Not to mention, implying that all of RP's supporters are supporting him because of his stand on one issue is just as ridiculous as dismissing him over one issue.

I, personally, am 100% anti-marijuana. I have never smoked it, even once. I have seen the destructive influence it has had on friends. However, they are adults and I believe that they should be allowed to make their own decisions. Not one of them has ever caused any harm to anyone else as a result of smoking pot. My ex is a pothead and that cause issues in our relationship. But he is an adult who can choose that if he wishes. And I, as an adult , can choose to walk away from the relationship.

This is not an issue that should be legislated. The drug laws haven't worked anyway. And meanwhile, we are wasting tons of time, energy, and resources (aka tax dollars) trying to micro-manage people. The money could be much better spent elsewhere.

Point being, RP stands for your right to not be parented by the government. We are grown-ups and should be treated that way. RP is the only candidate who truly represents the American Way.

[JP]

Keith is an idiot.

[Craig]

I just wanted to say a quick thanks to the writer of this article! Thanks for covering Ron Paul! He derserves it! Also, thanks for the fair toner of the article. The only thing I'd add is that the Ron Paul supporters didn't so much "force a rule change" as they simply "made sure the rules were followed as they are written". As I understand it, the party leaders choosing the delegates were the ones not abiding by party rules in the first place.

To anyone reading this who isn't already a Ron Paul supporter, I would only ask that you research all his positions on the issues and decide for yourself. Just keep in mind that Ron Paul doesn't have such a rabid following of supporters for no reason. It's because those of us who understand his way of thinking are actually excited and fired up about it. And we're SO convinced that this guy is the best hop for America that we're doing everything we can to help the rest of you out there realize the truth as well.

To everyone reading this who is already a RP supporter...GOOD CHOICE AND KEEP ON DOING THE RIGHT THING!

Craig

[JP]

I did a little research on Keith. I stopped when I got to his idiotic comment. I now realize where his lack of support comes from

[Sarah]

I used to smoke pot but don't anymore because I now have a little boy and don't feel that it would be a responsible thing for a mother to do. I support the decriminalization of marijuana for three reasons:

1) Having the experience of using it, I can tell you that it is a nice way to relax after a hard day. For some, preferable to a drink--those being people who have alcoholism in their families who don't wish to take the chance of becoming one themselves, and people who wish to avoid the carbs. I know that someone's thinking, "Yeah, but pot gives you the munchies!" I never got the munchies because I always ate first because eating after you smoke tends to reduce your buzz.

2) All around this country, prisons are overpopulated. Here in Florida, they are strongly considering letting people out before their sentences have been completely served. They are prioritizing the release of violent offenders over drug charge convicts. Now I don't know about you, but I would prefer having my next door neighbor freed from prison and smoking bonghits behind the privacy of his own walls every night than know that there is a rapist on the streets out prowling for prey when I am out doing my grocery shopping or my teenage sister is at her softball game.

3) It should be a great source of shame to withhold marijuana from people when it has medicinal applications. I have seen a friend with anorexia shoot up from 75 pounds to 100 in a few months from taking up marijuana smoking. Pot was helping Peter McWilliams to survive with AIDS until he was caught with it and died after drowning in his own vomit. This was an inspirational writer who has made an immeasurable difference in millions of lives. Look him up, including the book "Aint Nobody's Business if You Do" on this subject.

I have focused on marijuana use because it is being talked about here at length, but it is only one facet of the support I give to Ron Paul. For the first time in my life, I am seeing a politician who actually stands for very concrete things in an endless tide of candidates and elected officials who hope their personalities will get them elected or re-elected.

[Nick]

This whole notion of Ron Paul and his drug position is so old. People were attacking him in 1988 for the same stuff. Frankly, I despise drugs and think anyone who uses them is a waste of life. Ron Paul has stated over and over again that he is very much against drug use, but is aware that he cannot control what people will put into their bodies. The Federal gov't should have learned that with the drug war. Even though it's happening, we still have a drug problem and it's because ultimately, we can't control what people will do to themselves in the privacy of their own homes. Now if we want to go further and invade their homes and violate the 4th amendment, then sure, we can do that and grow into bigger government.

Look, I'm a Christian and I find the actions of some people absolutely detestable, but I cannot legislate my morality. If people want to sell their bodies, I can't stop them using force. If people want to destroy their minds with drugs of any kind including alcohol and tobacco, I cannot stop them. If two people of the same gender want to be lifepartners, I cannot stop them. None of these people have to answer to me, but to their Creator whom has given them freewill. Far be it from the government to take that away from them, even if the action is detestable. Fact is, Ron Paul wants people to govern themselves in entirety. He is not about regulating their lives or controlling their minds. As he has stated, if we're going to outlaw drugs, at least have respect enough for the Constitution to amend it as they did during Prohibition. Anything else is illegal, including making drugs illegal.

His position on legalizing drugs sings nothing to me. I couldn't care less about that. He wants to return to sound Constitutional government and stop inflation by getting rid of the Federal Reserve and slow government spending by getting rid of the IRS. He wants to stop illegal wars (and those are illegal by our laws, since I couldn't care less what international law has to say), stop illegal immigration, stop the handouts, stop big government. Those are the things that stand out to me.

[bleep]

Kieth, I agree 100% with you. You are so right on man. This one guy I knew had a heart attack when he was 45. Poor guy was way overwieght because he ate McDonalds every day for lunch. He was so funny too. I really think McDonalds should be illegal, If only it hadn't been there, there would be no way for him to eat unhealthy and die from it.

I also had 2 friends, both were killed in car accidents. I tell you, these cars people drive are just so dangerous. I mean, it's all about these people being lazy and not wanting to ride a bicycle, or jog. I mean plus they pollute the environment, so thats a bad thing too, we should really probably make driving cars illegal. I tell you, having to bury my friends has really opened my eyes to how evil these machines are. We are slaves to them.

I personally had a relationship that was torn apart by something much worse than drugs. Halo 3, it is possibly one of the most addicting video games in the history of the world, and it's violent too. I would be running around the house pretending to sniper rifle the dog, my girlfriend, heck anything that moves. Well eventually she had enough of that, she left me over it because I could just not put it down for 2 seconds. I am writing to my senators and congressmen right now, this needs to be made illegal so I don't play it anymore.

Just think of how great a place america will be once we have made everything that must be used with RESPONSIBILITY, and made them illegal.
********************************************************
Matt, that is hilarious, simple, and effective way of explaining this issue. :):)

[Busia]

I read Keith's input, I know Keith, you didn't inhale, either, Got It! Who you voting for? Larry? Curly? or MoeCain? Like I tell my kids; anyone who has two or more brain cells that work together is part of the Ron Paul R3VOLUTION! The rest are drinking that funny koolaid that warps a person's mind. I am proud to be a part of the people for FREEDOM! Remember that, Keith?

[Sashia]

Rebel Forces? Resist John McCain?
Well, words are wepons and although I'm surprised to find an article about Ron Paul NOT derrogitory, I surely haven't found one in any article iin print media that is indepth, or even thorough.
Isn't that what people should have the right to read about? A True picture of the candidate and what his views and voting history are?. Isn't that the obligation of the media?
Or is it to shine a light where they want us to look and only there.
I'm a 58 y/o grandmother, don't drink,don't somoke, don't go to church and have been knownto curse like a sailor. I'm college educated and in a professional field. I spend an enourmous amount of time studying our Constitution, & Bill of Rights and watching the media, which only enrages me further. I feel like Alice still in the hole. I feel like the little boy who shouts out "but he's not wearing any clothes, only to be rebuked by the crowd.
I can no longer tolerate the "group think" that pervades this country, (and that's the one who even think at all).
I have not had ONE person who supports the current "Top 3" candidates that's been able to support their candidate with any intelligent information. The point is they DON'T Know their candidates position on the issues or worse, they know but have no idea what the repercussions would be, All they know is "I'm a, ---(filli in the blanks)-----(gun owner, small business man, Catholic, Jew, Republican, Democrat, Italian, or gung ho Arab hater, pot smoker, pot hater,ad nauseum)
They are willing stick their heads in the sand, allow this country to continue on its downward spiral because they refuse to look further than their noses. The've made up their minds and that's it. Well, there were people on the Titanic who not only refused to believe they were sinking, they attacked those who tried to get them to abandon ship. We know those people are at the bottom of the deep blue sea. Don't be one of them.
Get off yur lazy butts and spend some time researching the issues, talk intelligently instead of antagonistically, get the facts ALL the facts, because half the story isn't the truth. Tell us about some in depth article you've read recently, that changed your views on SOMETHING, so we know you're not just a GNOME. If I don't know where MY candidate stands on an issue, I reasearch it. My views have changed radically in the past 2 years. At first I was for Hillary, because she was a woman of course...Then I changed my mind and went with Obama.
I thought about McCain, (but I'm a democrat who voted ALL dem. hoping to get enough people in the house and senate to stop this insanity,,,ha). I spent much more time researching and despite the mainstream's ability to keep Ron Paul's name out of the public eye, unless it was derrogitory story, I managed to find enough information to prompt me, a lifelong Democrat, to switch parties in order to vote for Ron Paul.
I think if you would do a REAL survey, you will find that there are MILLIONS of educated, informed, and politically active people voting for Ron Paul, because they know that despite some differences, he is the ONLY one who has shown the leadership, intelligence and committment to the American people and the Republic for which they stand.
BTW I don't smoke POT either, but don't care if you do, you will anyway if you want to.

[Jack McGuirk]

If Ron Paul decides to address John McCain on his claim that the federal government is not locking up sick and dying medical marijuana users, it will be a hard blow. And if Ron Paul brings up Michelle Rainey as the counter example to McCain's claim that blow could be deadly to a lot more than McCain's presidential hopes (marijuana laws?). Below are links to relevant videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAlH1oZ0NfU
John McCain denies that sick people are being arrested

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjV6cutmaxA
Michelle Rainey, suffering from Chrones disease, discusses her extradition from Canada and the front lines of the medical marijuana war.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-WPhkkPkEM
Barry Cooper: Drug Cop turned Pot Activist

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4uc98rM33M&feature=related
Marc Emery: Philosophical Freedom Fighter of the Century

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57DdviStOFo
"Walk Hard" movie trailer

[stan wright]

What do George & Ringo think?

[Joshua Earlenbaugh]

Free state fever!

RP 2008 and freedom forever!

jE

[Sidric The Viking]

Sorry for the poor finish on my last post - typing on an iPhone takes a little getting used to and I'm tired.
Just wanted to say one more thing (yes, I know I said an awful lot already!)
You have a terrific history of putting things out in the public arena and giving them a decent airing. You have media which are not yet totally under state control and you have free and fair elections ( think where Zimbabwe and Pakistan, among many others, might be if that were true for them also!).
Love what's good about your country and work on fixing what's not. Just be sure that in trying to fix things yyou don't trample others along the way in your enthusiastic fervour.
God bless and guide each of you as you vote this Autumn.
Sidric The Viking.
ps. on a trivial note: will you ever acknowledge Lief Ericsson as the true discoverer of the Americas in 1001AD?

[dddienst]

I don't do recreational drugs but the war does not work and the claim is not made in a vacuum there are other countries that handle the problem very differently and it works for them without putting a large percentage of their population in prison or crating an economic means for organized crime.

Freedom works. We are supposed to be free to pursue happiness... even in ways that are not good for us or that other people don't think are good for us. Who defined happiness as two parents working at walmart and costco to pay for a overpriced house with a white picket fence and 2.5 kids? If you choose any other type of happiness look out. It does not guarantee happiness just the free pursuit of it.

I don't drink coffee or smoke either but I don't think they should be made illegal, although they are trying hard and lookout if they pass universal healthcare!

[Natalie]

He's truly the voice of the people.

WATCH FOR US JULY 12TH!!!

RON PAUL AND OTHERS WILL RISE AGAINST STATUS QUO POLITICS IN A MARCH ON WASHINGTON D.C.

BE THERE!

[Karina DeBeers]

Ron Paul's supporters will indeed give McCain a reason to be a spokesperson for Depends and it will be a Maalox year for the rest of the politicians on the take!

Go Ron Paul.

[Mike Costantini]

Ron Paul's new book, The Revolution: A Manifesto should be required reading for anyone who calls themselves an American!

[Stoner dan]

i'm a huge ron paulian and those who stop looking into him as a potential leader because of his views on the decriminalization of cannabis need to look a little more into why it is illegal, and the health concerns in comparision of it to alcohol and tabacco, i plan to offer my support to ron paul :)

[John]

Ron Paul is fighting hard, as are we, his supporters. We're fighting for freedom and liberty. Is it so hard to see that our liberties are being held hostage by politicians in washington? We're trying to put a stop to this and restore the constitution to it's place of prominence. Millions of americans are sick and tired of having their rights taken away for no reason, their money snatched from their hard earned paychecks and their soldiers dying for no reason. Hillary Clinton doesn't want to fix things, neither does Barack Obama or John McCain. Ron Paul is the only chance we have to make things right.

FIGHT FOR FREEDOM!!!!!!! GO RON PAUL!!!!!!!!!!!!

[GOPaul]

Ron Paul is the only real choice for the candidacy of the president of the united states. All the others are more or less saying the same thing. I would love to see a true patriot become our president. Oh yeah, buy his latest book, it's a great read!

[Forrest]

May these victory's in Nevada and Missouri serve as karma, when in the Louisiana caucus, the GOP broke it's own bylaws to vomit McCain to the top.

[ModernDaySerf]

OMG is this guy for real? He actually wants us to use real money and abolish Rothschild's private FED bank, what about my welfare and foodstamps? i will have to get a job ...*crys. WTF? He also wants to end the federal drug war, I won't even be able to be a drug dealer...*crys harder - I may have to get a real job.

[Afi K. James]

That's why I Have supported ron paul throughout and will continue to support him.

[DHS]

This is only the beginning....

Ron Paul's legacy will live on. We will not make the same mistake as our parents and grandparents.

Only the beginning....

[daniel peterson]

Great book. End the IRS! End the Federal Reserve! End the fake war on terror. End the war on drugs.

[nick]

Only the educated Republicans vote for Ron Paul. Most of America is too stupid to get it and will continue to vote against their own interests.

[DHS]

Ron Paul and Cynthia McKinney would be the REAL Dream Ticket for this country.

[krzee]

To Meave: Thank you for this well written and objective article, I wish for you to make it far n the media while not losing your will to report the truth.

To my fellow supporters of Ron Paul: If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping in a room with a few mosquitos.

[Mike Is Pissed Off At The Government!]

LONG LIVE THE RON PAUL REVOLUTION!

[nick]

mccain may have the nomination..but i can't bring myself to vote for him or whoever wins the hillary/obama drama. they're so drastically removed from my politics that i'd rather throw my vote away and write in ron paul. the American public chooses their candidates from a small pool of people, none of which are that close to their viewpoints. engineered smiles and speeches to appeal to the lowest common denominator. ron paul embodies my philosophy like no other politician has. it's not a matter of picking the guy who is the next closest to RP in viewpoints. to do that would be to deny what i believe politically and philosophically

ron paul is the only person on the platform screaming to the throngs that surround him: 'do this for liberty! do this for justice! do this to reclaim our cherish, much-abused constitution. do this so we may set the the true values by which America made herself - life, liberty, FREEDOM - to their rightful place in this government that has lost its way!'

the opener for everyone else' stump speech goes seomthing along the lines of 'we cant let the neocons win! They will destroy us! or 'We cant let a woman, or god forbid, a n*gger win! They'll destroy us!!! (i hate to write this word, but you'll see my point in a second) S