(no subject)

[american-geist.livejournal.com]

I'm so happy the endless fellating of Ron Paul's "reasonable" positions is finally ending. 

 How is this for sound fiscal policy?

• “When the New Money is imposed, every American family must have a Survival Kit of highly liquid, small-denomination silver and gold coins for hand-to-hand use. The Ron Paul Survival Kit — now an industry standard — comes in an official World War II US Army ammo holder.” -Ad for ‘The Original Famous Ron Paul Survival Kit,’ undated

And just for good measure. A true champion of liberty! :

• ‎"I miss the closet. Homosexuals, not to speak of the rest of society, were far better off when social pressure forced them to hide their activities. They could also not be as promiscuous. Is it any wonder the AIDS epidemic started after they ‘came out of the closet,’ and started hyper-promiscuous sodomy?” -June 1990

More here. IMO Anyone who publishes a newsletter with their name (and sometimes even their signature) deserves such intense scrutiny. The victimized attitude Ron Paul has displayed regarding HIS OWN NEWSLETTER is pathetic. What if Barack Obama had some secret "kill whitey" newsletters from the 1990's? Also Merry Christmas, or whatever. 

Comments

[aviv-b.livejournal.com]

And he's anti-semetic to boot. Its the usual trifecta of hate - racial minorities, religious, minorities and GLBT. He's for free market as long as 'free' is defined as white, males, straight, mainline Christian. Merry Christmas. Bah Humbug.

[telemann.livejournal.com]

The stories about Paul's newspaper from the late 1980s are a bit scary. And his "explanations" don't seem to make much sense either.

[jonathankorman.livejournal.com]

I've been accumulating links to resources (http://miniver.blogspot.com/2011/12/ron-paul.html) about how Rep. Paul is an evil crackpot the last little while now. It's very troubling how many acquaintances I have who have caught Ron Paul fever.

[farchivist.livejournal.com]

Got this one? (http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2007/12/ron_paul_quackery_enabler.php)

[jonathankorman.livejournal.com]

Ooh, good catch. Added it now.

[jamie-miller.livejournal.com]

This is, in my opinion, the best article on the topic.

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/12/grappling-with-ron-pauls-racist-newsletters/250206/

[lafinjack.livejournal.com]

They were never fawning over Ron Paul's positions, but the fawning over the concept of Ron Paul (i.e. the parts they like) will continue forever.

[mylaptopisevil.livejournal.com]

Hey, that's Obama's trick! WHAT A COPYCAT.

[pacotelic.livejournal.com]

heh

[badlydrawnjeff.livejournal.com]

This was dug up in primary season 4 years ago, and authorship is almost certainly Lew Rockwell (http://reason.com/archives/2008/01/16/who-wrote-ron-pauls-newsletter/singlepage). Still stupid that he let these come out under his name in any way shape or form, definitely has kept me from supporting him this go 'round. Can't expect someone to be a competent President when he's not even able to be competent about what gets published under his own name.

With that said, if there's been someone who's been a greater advocate of freedom and liberty in the government during his tenure, I'm not sure who it is. His shifting rationales about who wrote what and what he knew aside, if these were truly his points of view, you wouldn't know it by looking at his record.

[american-geist.livejournal.com]

That's certainly debatable, but I do think the newsletters are an issue for people looking at his record. It's a narrative problem for him, because he's the candidate of liberty and personal freedom, and yet refuses to take responsibilities for his own mailings.

[badlydrawnjeff.livejournal.com]

I think, rightfully so, his record as a politician is more important, and that he's doing a piss poor job of explaining why that matters and not some newsletters he most likely didn't author do. But messaging has never been Paul's strong point - instead, he's the beneficiary of a cult of personality among many who are more conspiracy minded, so it's why a) this won't end well, b) he won't see a major drop in support even as his support has increased since these came out nationally, and c) why he's not actually going to be the nominee regardless of the couple primary wins he may squeak out.

[mylaptopisevil.livejournal.com]

His shifting rationales about who wrote what and what he knew aside, if these were truly his points of view, you wouldn't know it by looking at his record.

How often is Ron Paul given the opportunity to do exactly what Ron Paul wants? I see no reason to believe that he isn't a pragmatic man, and if he believes that hyper-sodomites are going to unleash the new money, would he really push for legislation to head it off unless it was going to gain a reasonable amount of traction without causing him to lose his base?

[badlydrawnjeff.livejournal.com]

That's the million dollar (backed by gold!) question, I suppose. He's shown a willingness in theory to implement his agenda gradually, but...

[farchivist.livejournal.com]

Lew Rockwell denies writing them. So either he's lying or Paul's lying; I find it amusing that the two contest on the subject.

[blueduck37.livejournal.com]

If the comments I see on the internet from Paul supporters are indicative of anything, the only "freedom" they believe in is freedom from "zionists" and the "new world order".

[jonathankorman.livejournal.com]

if these were truly his points of view, you wouldn't know it by looking at his record

I think you might. (http://dneiwert.blogspot.com/2007/11/ron-pauls-record-in-congress.html)

[badlydrawnjeff.livejournal.com]

Not really. Confusing limited federal power with racism isn't really fair in this day and age, but I don't expect much from Neiwart, either.

[jonathankorman.livejournal.com]

Confusing limited federal power with racism isn't really fair in this day and age

I cannot fathom what you mean by that.

Paul still opposes the Civil Rights Act. I find it very difficult to find a charitable interpretation of that position.

[badlydrawnjeff.livejournal.com]

The CRA infringes on personal property and freedom of association rights as well as acts outside the power of the federal government. It's very basic.

[jonathankorman.livejournal.com]

Well, that's comforting. I'm sure the newsletters are all just a big misunderstanding, then.

[badlydrawnjeff.livejournal.com]

Given the authorship issue, I font think they can tell is much about Paul's beliefs, but plenty about his ability to manage and choose a staff to associate with.

[jonathankorman.livejournal.com]

I am once again impressed by the amount of smoke you'll tolerate before suspecting that there may be fire.

[badlydrawnjeff.livejournal.com]

If he had written the newsletters, you'd have a stronger case, imo

[jonathankorman.livejournal.com]

If it was just the newsletters, I'd say that it's possible that he was just so hugely sloppy and irresponsible that he's disqualified for any responsibility greater than running a lemonade stand.

If it was just his opposition to the Civil Rights Act, I'd say that it's possible that he's just a bonehead libertarian whose idea of “rights” begins and ends with property rights.

If it was just that he voted against the Martin Luther King holiday, I'd say that it's possible that

If it was just that his anti-immigration stance put him at odds with libertarian principle, I'd say it's possible that he was operating from some kind of misunderstanding of economic theory.

If it was just that his criticism of the banking system combined with his isolationism sounded uncannily like paranoia about the International Conspiracy of Jewish Bankers, I'd say it's possible that the international conspiracies and bankers he's worried about aren't necessarily Jewish.

If it was just that the proud bigots of Stormfront recognize him as one of their own, I'd say that it's possible that they're projecting, and everyone has a few crackpot supporters.

But put them all together, and I find the charitable readings harder to believe.

[badlydrawnjeff.livejournal.com]

A lot of that, though, is simply anti-conservative/anti-federalist belief that's being molded into racist belief as is common with many on the left.

[madscience.livejournal.com]

I oppose the Civil Rights Act, too, on the grounds that it's completely outside the scope of Federal constitutional authority. Progressives should be pushing for even stronger civil rights legislation (protecting classes that were not addressed in 1964, like gays) at levels of government that actually have the authority to enact such legislation. And if state constitutions or local charters don't create that authority, the first step is passing constitutional amendments.

[lilenth.livejournal.com]

"What if Barack Obama had some secret "kill whitey" newsletters from the 1990's?"

Then you wouldn't be able to hear anything but various white politician's screaming about how Obama is a 'racist' and zomg he's going to turn the US back to the 1950 but with whites being oppressed... Oh wait, they're already doing that.

[pacotelic.livejournal.com]

Obama = Jeremiah Wright's one speech, donch'a know.