Ron Paul in 2012? And as a Republican or a Libertarian?
Reason magazine’s David Weigel gets ambigious answers when he asks Jesse Benton, press secretary for Ron Paul’s Campaign for Liberty, whether The Man will make another run for the presidency:
“He hasn’t closed out the idea of another run,” said Benton today. “We have some time to decide whether he runs again, or whether he gets behind somebody else. But we don’t have tons of time. By the middle of 2009, the decision needs to be made.”
That’s definitely not a Shermanesque “no,” and there’s more interesting stuff in the interview.
November 17th, 2008 at 11:08 am
This election cycle was RPs last chance and he blew it. You have no idea how many Romney, Huckabee, and blue Dems were coming up to me asking if RP was going to run, but he just dropped out. He let us all down. He’ll be 76 in 2012 … this was his last chance.
November 17th, 2008 at 11:26 am
Ron Paul sucked
November 17th, 2008 at 11:36 am
he will probably live to 110, he was an athlete and exercises every day. The people will likely decide if he runs again. If it’s not him it’ll be some loving individual he endorses. Maybe former NM governer Gary Johnson or maybe they will both will run?
November 17th, 2008 at 11:37 am
oops I meant to say freedom loving… But hey that’s loving aswell.
November 17th, 2008 at 11:55 am
Ron Paul was awesome and I hope he runs on the republican ticket. Being on the Republican ticket allowed him at least SOME media attention, enough to get his ideas out there.
We don’t need the Ron Pauls of the world to have flash presidential runs that burn out… what we need is EXACTLY what he did and is doing.
Campaign for Liberty. The Ron Paul ReLOVEution.
a Movement that starts from the grassroots up… get involved
November 17th, 2008 at 11:58 am
Whatever Ron Paul does to help educate the masses is a positive.
Too many mentally minuscule sound byte simpletons living in the US today. They have forgotten the principles and the reasons for the institution of their form of government. It has become bastardized and bloated in its current form.
The incentive to attempt to understand is coming though. The circus continues but the bread is almost gone.
Nothing like unemployment to give you time, and hunger to give you interest, to evaluate the situation.
Let’s hope that the education continues and the masses will be able to recognize the disease rather than complain about the symptoms.
Fools and their rights are soon parted.
To assume benevolence is foolish.
November 17th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Firstly, I agree with him being on the republican ballot because support for him may change how the direction the party wants to move. Paul attracted many of the younger voters, which is exactly what the republican party needs. The older voters that do vote republican were attracted to the party because of reagan and have been loyally voting rep even though the party went far away with bush. My point being that the republican party should have noticed the hype paul received from the younger generation and take that into consideration.
Secondly, he is getting old. He needs start endorsing other politician or get his son to run in congress. Somebody mentioned former NM governer Gary Johnson. I don’t know much about him. Are there any other candidates that are potential successors to the revolution?
November 17th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
I think he should run. Most people know his name now, and he is very healthy for his age. I think Gary Johnson would be a great VP for him! I believe after four years of Obama, the people will be ready for a REAL change!
November 17th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Lojiko is right. Paul will be too old in 2012. His campaign failed to deliver its initial promise. Paul employed too many relatives and cronies like Jesse Benton. His revolution was over before it began.
We need a real libertarian ticket in 2012, i.e. not a conservative one like Barr and Root . Step forward Penn & Teller!
November 17th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
The only way if Paul runs if he doesn’t see an obvious successor and wants to keep his movement “united” or at least not spinning off into separate and unproductive orbits. Right now such successors would be Gary Johnson or Gov. Sanford of South Carolina. Jesse Ventura is just too mecurial and not someone I would rely on. It will be interesting to see if politicans like Bobby Jindal and Sarah Palin style themselves to fit in with the Revolution as well.
November 17th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
I’d support Ron PAul again in 2012. Absolutely. He might be in his 70’s but he’s a healthy one. I hear he tries to ride his bike at least 10 miles per day. He’ll be around for a while yet.
And dammit. I know of no one else we can really trust.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
Hopefully Ron Paul will indeed run again. What matters though is that the Catholic Trotskyist Party is growing, and beginning many rival revolutionary parties with it, which is causing the libertarians much consternation. Please visit IPR for more information.
November 18th, 2008 at 1:31 am
Ron Paul at 76/77 would NOT be too old. There are congressmen in their eighties and there is a NJ senator at 84 that has just been re-elected and will be 90 when he completes his term. His mind is still very young and he looks younger than his age. He has the name recognition now and can build on the momentum and with a professional oiled machine he can win the nomination.
For those that think he is too old (already), he received most support from young people, who are the most inclined to vote for a younger political leader, so Paul will NOT have this problem, someone like McCain had. Many of the youth open to Paul and voted for Obama would vote for Paul in 2012 in a general election, I am sure. Only Paul is really versed to speak about economics and foreign policy. A governor has executive experience, but not the optimal experience with national and international issues that paul has. It has also became clear Barr (or Baldwin) would NOT be able to fill in Paul’s shoes. The older generation may be attracted to Paul’s wisdom.
Also, with a good experienced VP like Gary Johnson there would also be no fear about having an experienced successor that can fill into his shoes should he have to resign as a possible future president due to say health reasons. Paul has proven he can stay very calm and rational in very difficult, stressful situations and make the right decisions, and not act erratic or impulsive (a la McCain), thus he has the presidential timber. He will make mince meat of Obama in any debate.
November 18th, 2008 at 5:38 am
Paul couldn’t run as an independent or 3rd party because the he signed contractual agreements with I believe eleven states stating that if he did he would not be allowed on the ballot. Now that’s democracy for ya…
November 18th, 2008 at 6:47 am
Brian Doherty’s post-mortem on the Barr campaign.
http://reason.com/news/show/130107.html
November 18th, 2008 at 11:26 am
So what if RP will be pushing 80 in 2012? Even if he were to die while in office, we know he’d pick a VP who stood for the same principles.
November 18th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
After the next four years of his predictions being proven right and those who scoffed and laughed at him being proven painfully wrong, if age were the only argument against him and it won out, well it would be a very tragic commentary.
November 18th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
Ron Paul managed to unite two groups of people who actually have sharp disagreements; libertarians and paleo-conservatives. He generated some interest among youth—mainly because he opposed the Iraq War, but unless they are a member of either anti-government faction, that is about as far as their support goes.
The problem is that this primary move was not new for him. This is how we has basically built up a successful financial-political career; appeal to these two major factions at the same time.
Yes, both share a general disdain for the government, but libertarians oppose a ban on gay marriage as an unjust violation of liberty, where as paleo-conservatives oppose a federal ban but at the State level are really hoping that they can legalize “honor killings”.
These important differences between the two groups—civil liberties, equal protection, due process, church/state issues, immigration, etc. are a major reason why this is not a successful coalition over the long term and has hurt the reputation of the LP because people are confusing it with the CP.
Perhaps the most notable thing Paul did do was to be a major party candidate who publicly opposed the two-party system and spoke out on electoral reform issues—most notably ballot/debate access rules. This has an appeal to Independent voters who do share a common frustration with how the system works and may change how people try to appeal to this demographic.
Yet, otherwise Paul is a man who earns his bread and butter by wearing a libertarian and paleo-conservative masks, depending on the audience, tries to brush over their important differences and, well, frankly is either an incredibly racist man or one who just so incompetent that he could not manage a simple newsletter.
We should be impressed at his ability to build coalitions. We should be thankful that he has taken on harsh ballot access and debate rules. Yet, we should be very very cautious about putting too much hope in any sort of ‘Paul Revolution’.
His age is a factor, albeit not as much, but their is no one being groomed to replace him, the newsletter comments will stick with him, and while Republican candidates may try to hitch onto a ‘Ron Revolution’, many will probably find it difficult to keep this coalition going.
November 18th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
A) In order for Ron Paul to gain traction, be a 1st-tier candidate, actually win the primaries, so on and so forth, Ron Paul is going to need a little something called PATRONAGE. Ron Paul’s campaign for liberty needs to get a whole lot of (competant) people to offices around the nation. Once they win, and if they are successful and liked, their opinions are taken even more seriously, and their endorsements will matter even more. If most of them endorse Ron Paul for the primaries, then Ron Paul can really succeed with another Primary run.
That’s why I am glad to see the Campaign for Liberty up & running. Although, I’m not sure anybody was elected. Keep electing loyal candidates a high priority for the Campaign for Liberty in the 2010 elections, to build up patronage and bolster a machine that can take Ron Paul to power in 2012.
OR
B) Barack Obama will be such a leftist socialist that the people wake up to their dire conditions and elect the only clear choice…
November 18th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
Ron Paul attracted a rather eclectic following, but it is hard to characterize it as a coalition. It is more a cult of personality. If Ron Paul is not there, the differences between the various groups are likely too great for them to stick together.
Age does get to be a factor in a national campaign. Although senators may win campaigns in their 80’s or 90’s using their state political machines, trying to do that on a national campaign, particularly when the party leadership doesn’t like the candidate, is a daunting task.
November 19th, 2008 at 12:13 am
Run Ron Run! Pick your VP, announce you’re running and start campaigning tomorrow! I’m in.
November 19th, 2008 at 1:04 am
Paul will be too old. Lets get Ventura in the mix!
November 19th, 2008 at 7:57 am
...hopefully someday people TRULY become aware of the fraudulent nature of their fucking, rotten money (issuance) system..
..until ?you/they do, you may as well just shut the fuck up…as you are merely grunting ‘ooga booga’ as you work your chutes as to most/all thing$ ‘political’..
...but have a good day!..
November 19th, 2008 at 10:31 am
It was actually a good year for Third Partys.
It sure was better than 2004 .
Nader had his 2nd best showing in 5 tries
Barr is only 2nd Libertarian to surpass 500,000 votes.
Baldwin was the highest vote getter in Constitution Party history for Prez.
In Florida, where I live there were numerous Libertarian victories, more than ever.
Please read my UPDATED Third Party election results article:
http://www.nolanchart.com/article5411.html
November 20th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
Please with the Ron Paul! Ron Paul is a schmegeggie. Enough from this gutless atrocity.
November 23rd, 2008 at 11:13 am
I had sex with my peepaw when he brought me my food.
November 24th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
If Ron Paul were to get the Republican party nomination in 2012, the presidential race may look a lot like it did in 1964. I’ve already writen on the paralells of Obama-Biden to JFK-LBJ, Ron Paul is like a contemporary Barry Goldwater and would be able to start a movement to get on the ticket like Goldwater in 64’. If there is anything that can be learned from the Obama campaign it is that you need to have a good “ground force” in a campaign.
Obama had thousands of dedicated campaign workers out canvassing, holding events, etc that got the message out. Ron Paul did this to a lesser extent during primary season, if only he could get this activity ramped up to Obama-levels then we could have a serious contender to a now President-elect who I think WILL be in for 8 years unless there is a movement-based challenger that comes along in 2012.