UPDATE: Hold on! Ron Paul did NOT quit the GOP presidential race

(UPDATE: Though Ron Paul stopped short of telling supporters in Texas Thursday night that he was quitting, his campaign website posted a statement overnight that he is indeed packing it in. "It is time now to take the energy this campaign has awakened and channel it into long-term efforts to take back our country," Paul said.)

Throughout yesterday afternoon and evening news reports flashed all over the Internet that Republican Rep. Ron Paul was going to officially end his hopeless presidential campaign.

ABC News said the campaign, "a pugnacious, ideological crusade against big government and interventionist leanings in the Republican party, will officially end Thursday at a rally outside the Texas GOP's convention."

A European wire service that we won't identify (we'll call it AFP) said: "Maverick Republican White House candidate Ron Paul, a rival to his party's presumptive nominee John McCain, announced late Thursday he is dropping out of the U.S. presidential race."

A certain Washington blog about the campaign Trail reported last night: "Texas Rep. Ron Paul is officially ending his presidential campaign." Even keen observer and enthusiastic Ron Paul supporter Lew Rockwell appeared to give up hope.

But just you wait one Texas minute! We know better than that here at The Ticket.

Once before, three months ago, Paul put out a video message to his hundreds of thousands of supporters saying he was "winding down" his campaign. And we fell for that one, hook, line and libertarian sinker. We wrote that the 72-year-old, 10-term congressman "appears to be....

... -- this is so hard to write -- if not quitting, then almost certainly sort of stopping his race for the Republican nomination for president. Probably."

But hundreds of Paul supporters -- see, we didn't call them longshot Paultards -- descended on The Ticket's comment area and informed us of the error of our words. That we were not only wrong but dead wrong. We didn't know anything. Neither did our parents. Or anyone at the leftist neocon L.A. Times, especially our editors. We kind of agreed with some of that.

They said Dr. Paul will never give up. And lo and behold, he didn't. The videotape was a trick. Paul kept campaigning and selling his new bestselling book all over while his operatives kept maneuvering at county and state GOP conventions to gain control of grass-roots operations and boost their delegates, which the Associated Press puts at 24.

Yes, yes, that's more than 1,000 short of ambushing McCain's nomination victory. But you see, we now understand, thanks to many instructive and yes, well, blunt and, OK, even crude comments, that the Ron Paul Revolution isn't really about winning, as strange as that may seem in normal political terms.

Nor is it about Paul, we've been taught.

It's about changing the long-term way Republicans think, away from being a political party that simply wears better suits than Democrats into one that truly believes in smaller government, less foreign intervention, canning the Federal Reserve and abandoning the United Nations.

Our perceptive Times colleague, Scott Martelle, knew that too as a loyal Ticket reader and guest blogger. In his news story for this website and today's print editions, Martelle notes astutely that Paul's rambling speech stopped short of actually saying he was quitting his campaign.

He talked instead about "shifting gears" and "a technical change" to launch a vigorous new effort, the Ron Paul Campaign for Liberty, using the nearly $5 million left from his successful $34.5-million presidential fund-raising effort over these last 17 months.

In the fourth quarter of 2007, Paul actually raised more money than millionaire Mitt Romney, who seems to print the stuff in the basement of one of his many homes.

True, Paul's old website carries an obviously counterfeit message claiming Paul is ending his presidential campaign. But that site has clearly been hijacked by neocons and other dastardly demons determined to undermine libertarian unity, to confuse Paul's 1,400 meet-up groups and to build that somehow subversive highway across Texas that could maybe undermine American sovereignty like a sinkhole and cause Canada to take over all 50 states. (57, if you're an Obama Democrat.)

First, if Paul officially quit the campaign, he'd lose control of his delegates under party rules, the one little pocket of power that might give him some leverage for platform phrasing or a speaking spot at the Republican National Convention in early September in St. Paul (no relation).

Second, if Paul was giving up like those better-known Republican wusses from Arkansas and Massachusetts, he would likely be endorsing McCain as a gesture of party unity, something that simply ain't gonna happen, if only because Paul opposes everything about the Iraq war, wants an immediate withdrawal and those resources spent on America's own pressing needs. Wait a minute, that sounds kind of, dare we say it, Democratic.

And fourthly, no thirdly, if Paul was really quitting, why would he also announce a parallel gathering of the Paul gang -- possibly 11,000 strong if they fill the Williams Arena in Minneapolis on Sept. 2 during the Republican convention across the Mississippi River?

He also wants to register by then 100,000 members of his new liberty campaign, which may not be too hard since he received 1.1 million votes during GOP primaries this election season.

Paul will have plenty of time to gather those new members at grocery stores and carpet outlets because he is unopposed in his House district for election to his 11th term on Nov. 4.

Texas Democrats may be divided over Hillary and Barack, but they're not dumb enough to challenge a septuagenarian former ob-gyn named Ron Paul, who acted worried this spring and only got 70% of the GOP primary vote.

In the end, whether one Ron Paul campaign stops or another begins may matter more to nonbelievers than to -- what shall we call them? -- Paulites, Paulers, Paulicans.

"We will be a permanent presence on the American political landscape," Paul vowed Thursday evening. "That I promise you. We're not about to let all this good work die."

And, by golly, The Ticket  will be there too with full, often fair coverage.

--Andrew Malcolm

Photo Credits: Associated Press / Jim Cole; RonPaul2008.com

Comments

[Jenn]

The Campaign for Liberty site gained 11,000 supporters over night!

Yes, the R3volution LIVES!

[John McBush]

Repukes are too stupid and full of ridilin to vote for common sense or someone who does not beleive in the NAZI core values. McCain will bring an end to lif on earth which is what repukes want, because they think that god would let people who supported evil on earth will go to heaven....What idiots, you did come from APES and you all stink of it....Pigs on the Wing!!!!!!!!!

[saint peter II]

through a long term series of sell outs and what passes for compromise in washington, both the democrats and the republicans have metastasized to far to what has become the considered to be the center that they are not only not recognizable but have become difficult to differentiate. on the 6:01 news mr drip asked mr drop what were the differences? mr drop said the republicans pillaged while the democrats pilfered, but because they did it at the same time people became confused.
ron paul represents traditional republican values
sem obama may represent traditional democratic values
paul and obama together represent a possible reemergence of a two party system.
www.saintpeterii.com

[Ann]

I have to admit, he is a odd and fascinating creature in the Republican party that prides itself for marching in lockstep. Good for him.

[BART SIMPSON]

PAT BUCHANAN AND SCOTT RITTER FOR PRESIDENT/VICE PRESIDENT!

[Marvin L. Zinn]

I just wish there were not so many ignorant Americans who think then must vote "the lesser of two evils" instead of the right person. I will write in Ron Paul's name any place I can. I do not CARE who is on the ballot

[Vince Clark]

Its a game of mathmatics!

If you take what the mainstrea media news criminals did and look at it like advertising, they just put his name in the ears of Americans who didn't even know he existed, let alone existed in the race. So, if we could all raise our glasses and give a toast to these NEO-CON, NEO-LIB scum. Your work was 100% GREATLY APPRECIATED!

Drink on!

[Keonne]

Andrew,

I've enjoyed your commentary thoroughly over the past months. As a 'Paultard', 'Paulite', 'Batshit insane loonie', I appreciate the fact you gave coverage to my man, even if a lot of that coverage was tongue in cheek. You've done a good job. Thanks again.

K

[James Green-Armytage]

Yeah, he's forming some kind of Ron Paul PAC, right? It's kind of funny to imagine the kind of candidates whom he will fund. Wait a second, maybe it's not that funny...

[kathy from PA]

I certainly appreciate sarcasm, and did get a couple good laughs from this article. Unfortunately, most Americans aren't intelligent enough to see through the face value of your words. These people vote. They will stand at their polling places come November and press the screen for (I apologize for the tired old catch phrase albeit fitting this cycle) the lesser of two evils yet again.

Our civil liberties are being stripped away from us daily, sometimes subtly sometimes glaringly. Our energy costs are bankrupting Americans. The job market is bleak, the economy is ready to tank and food prices are soaring.

Our loved ones are in Iraq fighting an undeclared war illegally concevied. Most of our current elected officials wipe their collective *sses with the constitution.

Thanks to Dr. Ron Paul I am no longer one of the minions. I will work tirelessly and recruit others to do the same for the benefit of all Americans.

Support candidates that don't just say change but mean it and know how to implement it. Get the govrnment out of your houses, schools, hospitals and lives. This country has fallen so far from the intentions of the founders in only 230+ years it is mind boggling.

Volunteer. Write your editors. Get involved. Stop the insanity. This is our country and these politicians do NOT represent me or mine.

Elect officials that will set this thing right before it gets any uglier.

[Brianna]

Thank you for reporting news instead of assumptions and lies like the other news sources did yesterday!

[GHILE]

It is amazing to me the division created by the perception of the two party system we are stuck in. Democrats are close to communism while Republicans are a bunch of war mongering, nation building elitists. Not that both statements don't have some merit, but neither is good for America in this day and age. Ron Paul is truly a Constitutionalist, but since they get ignored he joined the Republican ticket. Now they ignore him there instead! How about we abolish all the parties and make all the candidates look like Nascar drivers in suits! By that I mean they have to wear a patch for on their jacket for every big corporation they get money from. And the Televised debates cannot be "sponsored" by anybody. Don't we have a PUBLIC BROADCAST SYSTEM in place (that was ignored during 9-11 and Katrina). That way they can't exclude certain candidates like FOX and others did. On a side rant, yesterday the Texas Governor vowed to rebuild the Governors Mansion no matter what the cost! While the country reels in financial worries our Governors get MANSIONS? And to rebuild them "no matter what the cost" to their subjects shows a HUGE disconnect! We truly are in a feudal system and are living under the rule of King George again. So make fun of the Ron Paul types all you want, there are kooks in every group, but "Open Your Eyes and Realize" what's going on while there is time to change it. Or our kids will pay a heavy price!

[D S]

We could re-write the constitution so that we have a dual presidency. Say an American Party with Paul and Kucinich as dual presidents and agreement between the two is needed to act. No more single political individuals controlling the day-to-day operations of government. Better interface with the legislative and judicial branches. Eliminate government excesses and return operational authority back to local communities, with the federal government handling only fiduciary responsibilities. The national guard, being local by nature, is handling international responsibilities, anyway. Politics should not be a big pep rally as we have seen from cheerleader Bush. Necessity should drive all political actions. Thoroughly thought out and acted upon. Dreaming - maybe, but we must do something to protect individual freedom and the democratic process.

[Wm Tate]

"with full, often fair coverage."
Well put. If only other media organizations would be so diligent--and honest!
-Wm Tate,
http://www.atimelikethis.us/

[BigAl]

Your opinion matters not Andrew.
The only candidate in our lifetime worthy of the white house and the corporate media whores shout him down the entire time. Parasites, all of you! Obama, nor McCain will neither get my vote nor anything else for that matter!
The slumbering masses are awakening albeit slowly, but surely.
And you sir can continue on with your false hope for this country and witness its ultimate demise. Both candidates are OWNED! What part of Bilderberg do you not understand?

[jack]

Don and Andrew, you guys are a bunch of jerks, it's so pathetic how your try to attack Ron Paul in this post. You say nothing, just try to slam him. You disgust me, you clearly have some kind of agenda or bias against him. Your writing is drivel and a disservice to your readers.

Just because you think big momma government is going to take care of you i.e your a whiny democrat that's lazy and only wants to do the minimal amount of writing required by your socialist editorial job, doesn't give you the right to talk bad about Ron Paul. Which is obvious you nothing about the man except what you rehash from watching Fox news last night while eating your TV dinner and ice cream.

You guys are pieces of *(&*(@, and smart people that search for the truth are seeing right through your writing

[Jerry]

While there are many points Ron Paul wants to see implemented in a Paulista Government which I would NOT care to support, I DO support his attempts to withdraw all American troops from all across the world -- Empirus Americanus. He has also got my support on reigning in spending, and the first big step would be to prudently withdraw forces from all over the planet to home. We could set up a large and well-equipped rapid response force to go where troubles broke out -- AND, We were ASKED to come.
But, the greatest possibility for Paulistas is the actual broadening and support of Libertarians in congressional roles. I think this is the exact way to approach coalition politics in America. I would support Senator Clinton (have supported her) in establishing a Center Democrats, too. It's time to break away from the Ultra Liberal Elitist Democrat Party. We need to let Obama founder on his own.
I won't vote for a guy with two years experience in the Senate, who also won't come clean about a trip he made to Pakistan in 1981. I have to wonder what the big secret is there. I suspect if the press ever tried to find out, it would sink his ship forever, since it either involved drugs, a nice Pakistani bride, a run at Wahabbi Islamic instruction, or, deciding whether to engage as a mujahadeen in Afghanistan.

[JP]

You're nothing but a corporate shill neocon working in the mainstream media conspiracy......just kidding. Thanks for the analysis spiced with some humor. I think it's great that Ron Paul is taking this movement to the next level rather than just fading back into his Congressional seat. It's more testimony that Paul is not in it for the power (like the other candidates) but has a genuine concern for the direction this country is going. We need a real grassroots movement to get back to the ideals of our founding fathers enshrined in the Constitution.

[Kevin]

I was there last night, and boy, was the energy level high. Estimated 2000 - 2500 in the crowd, standing room only.

Yeah, this is a movement with staying power. Which is good for America!

[Mark]

Dude, you Rock!

[Independent Voter]

Andrew Malcolm, you have to be the biggest idiot to ever put a word to print.

[Amy]

Thanks for sharing your "wisdom," Mr. Malcolm.

You'll write the most meaningless, superficial tripe just to get attention and clicks. That is your legacy. Congratulations.

As soon as I leave this comment, this site will be blocked from all the computers in my home.

[Jim Rongstad]

Geography lesson time. Williams Arena, while in Minneapolis, is on the same side of the Missisippi River as St. Paul. :)

[Thomas Jefferson]

That's it my Sons & Daughters of Liberty..

Do not give in to evil but proceed ever more boldly against it."

Forwards towards FREEDOM!

[El Capitan for Dr. Paul]

well Mr. Malcom, not bad. Thanks for covering this, even if it is for the hits, thanks for not being a turd about it.