With only 1,448 days until election day 2012, Ron Paul ponders another run

With only 1,448 days left before the 2012 election, you-know-who is making plans to launch another long-shot campaign for the presidency.

So much can happen before Nov. 6, 2012: Hillary Clinton could be on the Supreme Court. Her husband could be getting $400,000 per speech.

There'll be yet another James Bond actor. Shrek IX will be showing. And Harry Reid will be scowling. Still.

Also, you can bet Rep. Ron Paul will be running for the White House again, probably as a Republican. Not so much to actually win, mind you; RP runs to make a point about less government and foreign intervention.

And anyway by then, at age 77 Paul will be the second oldest guy to launch a losing presidential campaign, behind only Ralph.

Thanks to one of our favorite libertarian writers, David Weigel over at Reason.com, we get a Ron Paul update and a peek inside the opaque window that is the perpetual Paul campaign. Weigel tells us, via Paul's grandson-in-law Jesse Benton, that the Texas congressman is pondering another run.

Benton says Paul needs to make up his mind soon, like by mid-summer next year, because "those voters in New Hampshire and Iowa expect to see their candidates early and often."

Benton says Paul "would be very likely to run as a Republican," in large part because the hated media conspiracy that allegedly ignores him so much gives him more exposure as a GOP candidate than as some kind of fringe nutjob.

With the primaries a dim memory and Paul once again back in the House for an 11th term (unopposed this November because Texas Democrats know a political tornado when they see one), people tend to forget that Paul raised nearly $35 million from his fervent fans.

That's way more than Mike Huckabee and almost as much as Mitt Romney dished out from his own funds. In fact, Paul raised more money in the third quarter last year than any other Republican.

Of course, Paul's total $35 million is only about two weeks' or less take for the '08 Barack Obama money-printing machine.

But since when have the odds ever deterred Paul?

-- Andrew Malcolm

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Photo credit: Associated Press

Comments

[Mike]

The preamble to the Bill of Rights states that "in order to prevent the misconstruction and abuse of power further restrictive declatory restrictive clauses must be added". The 16th amendment does not mean that Congress can tax for no reason, tax for unconstitutional programs, tax for political gestures such that everyone should pay their fair share, or for an unconstituitonal debt. The ninth amendment is such a declaratory and restrictive cluase for all the amendments including the 16th amendments and the 9th amendment also prohibits the Supreme Court for allowing Congress to tax for no reason, tax for unconstitutional programs, tax for political gestures such that everyone should pay their fair share, or for an unconstituitonal debt.

[Jen]

Ron Paul has now been proven to have understood far more than the others who were running...the ones who were rolling their eyes when he was warning of the coming economic woes from all this borrow, borrow, borrow. He was warning about the stuff none of them were listening to, nor admitting until it all hit the fan in the middle of the election's last few weeks.

I didn't vote for anyone in the last primary (did vote in the main election for McCain relunctantly) but if Ron Paul runs the next time, I'm there to vote for him, as I've come to have a great deal of respect for his intelligence and candor. He's been proven to have a far better understanding of what is really going on in this country than any of the rest and not afraid to voice it.

I take your picture to show that Ron Paul wasn't afraid to be the lone person running who wasn't afraid to stand alone on values needed for this country. You probably didn't mean it that way, but to me it shows a man who isn't afraid to stand up for what's right.

Go, Ron, go!

[Jeremy]

Ron Paul was the only viable Republican candidate, and he was compltely ignored by the mainstream media. The problem is now, that the Republican party is in disarray, and need a true conservative to lead them in 2012. The only candidate who can attract the young vote, and the true conservatives is this man. I'm an Obama guy, but I would definatly have voted for this man, if he had made it to the end instead of MCAIN.

[Troy]

Why does the media always jerk us around around with unappealing photos? Seriously, is that the best one you could find, or the worst one you could find? It must be one or the other.

[Gmartine]

I can't fault the author too much. He has given Paul mostly positive reporting. Of course all reporting on the man's substance would naturally be good.

But Malcom I think just wants to fit in with the media elite rather than his readers who want to know facts and substance.

[DJ]

What?! Most readers here don't care about Individual Freedom, Sound Money, or Small Government. They enjoy fart jokes and stringing together ad hominems; tard, tard, tard! HURRR! It's a 1-up mentality where debate degenerates to parroting Agitprop type pundits and winning consists of who can vomit the most insults in a paragraph. Like this is some hotdog eating contest, except the crap goes out, not in.

Seriously, Ron Paul isn't ever going (nor ever needs) to get much affection at TotT, he's getting quite a lot of it, post elections, from his economic predictions. Well, besides those who begrudgingly stumble back here via Google -- guilty! Granted it's never a disappointing moment to enjoy the bitter-sweet rapid-fire succession of backhanded compliments with underpinnings of seething rhetorical laughter by our beloved Malcom -- it's the dark humor some have grown to love -- like victims of Stockholm syndrome.

[Jer]

I'd vote for Ron Paul again. Probably the only candidate who gives a care about the constitution which... :: cough cough ::...is the last defense of our rights.

Hopefully President elect Barak Obama gives the people what he promised. If he does, there is a good chance that the American people will lose many of their rights with the constitution being used as a snot-rag.

One can only hope that the American people will care enough about their rights to vote for Ron Paul (or a conservative candidate) in 2012.

Who knows? Maybe we've finally forgotten why rights are important. I have a sneaking suspicion that President Elect Barak Obama will help a ton of people remember why our founders were willing to die for rights.

[samba]

Ron Paul is the only honest congressman left that I can think of. The rest sold us down the river a long time ago for their own bribes, campaign contributions and most act as whores to the lobbyists.... American citizens need to start waking up and take a real close look at our country. I don't expect everyone to agree with Ron Paul on every issue but having a congressman who has consistent principles should get their attention. He has been right about too many things with the economy and our liberties. His message hasn't changed in 30 years.

[Nick]

Is it really fair to say that Paul would not run to win? I don't think so. When he ran, he ran to win, and it will be the same if he runs again. I certainly hope that he does.

[eric g]

Intelligent, articulate, pragmatic, passionate, humble, honorable, courageous, earnest, true, indomitable. Adjecives that I believe describe Mr. Paul's character. Our society today snickers at these traits (having succumbed to the hopelessness that pervades). I have only barely managed to hang on to the ideals of my childhood, but still do respect and revere them and those that possess them. More importantly, I share much of his political philosophy. I'm 'hoping' for real 'change'. If he runs again, he has my vote this time.

[Andrew, Ireland]

I have a keen interest in US politics, and have read a lot of newspapers, but this article is the most biased, pathetic piece of journalism I have ever seen. It is these kinds of unprofessional standards in the US media that feeds the ignorance that is rampent in the American public, leading them to make ill informed political decisions (hence two terms of George Bush and the upheaval he has brought to the Middle East and beyond). Your media has a lot to answer for.

[mike]

fringe nutjob? are you kidding me? Rp .and. nutjob should never be in the same sentence. how can you badmouth the guy who has predicted it all? how can you hate the candidate who gave you clear justified answers? how can you ignore the only candidate with any economic insight? Apparently these things are trumped by empty rhetoric and whimsical promises, and thats an unfortunate reality of american public persuasion. in the least, when the system falls appart its time to get back to basics. RP 2012!!!

[atlasdaddy]

I doubt this comment will make it through the moderator but..here goes. With all that is going on with this country, the crashing dollar to bring in the Amero, the war, too much spending, and way too much borrowing. You would seek to single Ron Paul out this early in the game. Bravo. One thing you might have underestimated is the power of the war tested and true base of Ron Paul. People like me. Good luck with your smears. We have learned new and better ways around you and will NOT make the same mistakes of trusting the papers and TV to tell a simple non bias truth. The new media is "US". Peace. Ron Paul 2012!
--
"When governments fear the people there is liberty. When the people fear the government there is tyranny."
-Thomas Jefferson

[LA TIMES SUX]

We all know who your handlers are and why you smear Ron Paul... HE is a threat speaking truth to power and your puny article shows that.

[John Fejes]

Oh, no, the LA Times isn't out to push an agenda or anything...That may be one of the most absurdly presumptuous articles I have ever read. I love how they throw in the comment about "the One", Obama, at the end...even though his "stimulus" bill is going to crush this nation. You better throw in all your pro-Obama comments in now because in one year he is now longer going to be the golden boy considering his "great" idea to spend this country 1 trillion dollars more in debt is going to break this countries back...

[BillyV]

Look at the MSM media already trying to (once again) sabotage Dr. Paul and the Liberty message 4 years ahead of time. Cowards.

[Tess]

Malcolm,
I am very disappointed with this article...I know you are looking to get all the Ron Paul, and LIberty minded people of this country upset....Let me tell you, the bait is great, but you are still an idiot..

[gigs]

Ron Paul 2012!

[sam]

fascinating.

we all say that "the media controls everything" but when I was in new hampshire campaigning for ron paul, i saw it first hand.

they don't call television "programming" for nothing.

we complain that ron paul was ignored by the media. i wish to god that were true. the truth is, there was scarcely a mention of ron paul that was not prefaced by "dark horse, long shot, quixotic, can't-win, fringe".

no other candidate from either party was referred to in that manner.

really, if you were looking for a candidate to call a long-shot , wouldn't a socialist half-black Kenyan native be more appropriate?

[Dave]

This guy's bio confirms that this guy doesn't even know that we have a Republic, not a Democracy. Maybe he's related to Bush?

Battle Hymn of the Democracy?
I pledge Allegiance to....the flag...and to the Democracy for which it stands

Sheez.

[dogmaticatheist]

LA Times has been losing subscribers for a long time now, and this kind of drivel is exactly why.

[AAAAANDRE]

When O gets done, the country will be ready for Ron Paul.
We already have a great slogan... "Ron Paul Was RIght!"
You saw how fast his campaign grew in what, 6 months, imagine what we can do with 4 years lead-in.

[Hank]

What drivel. After all Ron Pauls been right about, this is how you refer to him? Anybody here remember when we had 'journalists', instead of propoganda outlets?

How about running a story about how RP called the credit bubble bursting (he called it decades ago). Look at the situation were in now. You 'report' on the people that got us into this mess, and you only mock Dr. Paul.

A complete lack of journalistic integrity. What a bunch of bottom feeders you people are.

[Wayne]

I am a real estate broker with over 30 agents under my helm here in the Indianapolis area and a vast majority of my agents, including myself, are Ron Paul supporters.

If there is anyone in politics I can give my deepest love and regards to, it is Ron Paul. He has been an inspiration in my life and a true steward in his understanding of economics, history, and of our founding principles that created our nation as a beacon of liberty to all.

I am not worried about how the media misrepresents Ron Paul because the media is losing. The eyes of the public are opening and we are growing aware that we are in a serious situation due to complete corruption and failed ideology that's mandated interventionism through Keynesian principles which has literally plundered the future prosperity of all. It's literally comical to watch the media collapse for they have failed in their duty to be a voice of the people and protect us from the problems we face by asking tough questions and investigating our elected leaders and holding them accountable for their misdeeds.

[Audi]

Andrew Malcom calling out Ron Paul for being old is pretty hilarious.

It sure is easy to make predictions like knowing he would 'lose' another run. It would be such a tragedy if such a highly regarded journalist lost his remaining credibility over something as rediculous as a few cheap jabs at a respectable politician in his internet blog.

So for now, just sit back, drink some prune juice, enjoy that pulitzer, and pray you've got as much foresight as Paul has had regarding domestic, economic, and foreign policies over the last 3 decades.