RonPaulR3VOLUTION
07-09-2008, 11:23 PM
I see a lot of pondering over Ron Paul's leadership abilities. I contend he doesn't suffer from a lack of leadership ability:
Paul is no demagogue, and probably couldn't be if he tried. He's too libertarian. He can't stand to tell other people what to do, even people who've shown up looking for instructions. On board the campaign's tiny chartered jet one night (the plane was so small my legs were intertwined with the candidate's for the entire flight), Paul and his staff engaged in an unintentionally hilarious exchange about the cabin lights. The staff wanted to know whether Paul preferred the lights on or off. Not wanting to be bossy, Paul wouldn't say. Ultimately, the staff had to guess. It was a long three minutes.
Being at the center of attention clearly bothers Paul. "I like to be unnoticed," he says, a claim not typically made by presidential candidates. "That's my personality. I see all the excitement and sometimes I say to myself, 'Why do they do that?' I don't see myself as a big deal." Ordinarily you'd have to dismiss a line like that out of hand--if he's so humble, why is he running for president?--but, in Paul's case, it might be true.
http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=83665295-1de6-4571-af9c-0a90f6d1fde0
I think the above sufficiently answers the leadership question. Ron Paul so strongly believes in liberty that he detests telling others what to do, even to his own detriment. He also seems to be very 'shy'. I don't believe it's a lack of ability, ineptness, nor a case of being blind to reality.
I think those attempting to turn Philosopher Ron Paul into Leader Ron Paul (which would realistically include him giving orders and telling others what to do) might benefit from taking a closer look at the reality of that effort.
This is in no way a flame against Ron Paul or any his supporters. Most of all, I'd appreciate it if people keep in mind this is *not* an anti-Ron Paul post. It just seems to me that many may not be aware of this situation. I support Ron Paul and the movement just as much now as I ever did.
Paul is no demagogue, and probably couldn't be if he tried. He's too libertarian. He can't stand to tell other people what to do, even people who've shown up looking for instructions. On board the campaign's tiny chartered jet one night (the plane was so small my legs were intertwined with the candidate's for the entire flight), Paul and his staff engaged in an unintentionally hilarious exchange about the cabin lights. The staff wanted to know whether Paul preferred the lights on or off. Not wanting to be bossy, Paul wouldn't say. Ultimately, the staff had to guess. It was a long three minutes.
Being at the center of attention clearly bothers Paul. "I like to be unnoticed," he says, a claim not typically made by presidential candidates. "That's my personality. I see all the excitement and sometimes I say to myself, 'Why do they do that?' I don't see myself as a big deal." Ordinarily you'd have to dismiss a line like that out of hand--if he's so humble, why is he running for president?--but, in Paul's case, it might be true.
http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=83665295-1de6-4571-af9c-0a90f6d1fde0
I think the above sufficiently answers the leadership question. Ron Paul so strongly believes in liberty that he detests telling others what to do, even to his own detriment. He also seems to be very 'shy'. I don't believe it's a lack of ability, ineptness, nor a case of being blind to reality.
I think those attempting to turn Philosopher Ron Paul into Leader Ron Paul (which would realistically include him giving orders and telling others what to do) might benefit from taking a closer look at the reality of that effort.
This is in no way a flame against Ron Paul or any his supporters. Most of all, I'd appreciate it if people keep in mind this is *not* an anti-Ron Paul post. It just seems to me that many may not be aware of this situation. I support Ron Paul and the movement just as much now as I ever did.