bobbyw24
01-17-2012, 01:19 PM
http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Admin/BkFill/Default_image_group/2012/1/17/1326806854820/Ron-Paul-illustration-007.jpg
The 76-year-old libertarian has secured a seat at the high table of US presidential hopefuls, but his rise is causing reverberations
Ron Paul's uncompromising libertarianism is redefining the Republican party. Illustration: Alexander Wells for the Guardian
The crowd strained forward as the lights dimmed, a sea of smartphones trained on the stage. Whoops and cheers turned to screams of delight as a gaunt-looking figure mounted the steps and slowly approached the microphone.
This wasn't a rock star or the latest teen idol as you might have expected from the almost universally young gathering. This was 76-year-old Ron Paul, the spidery libertarian from Texas, shuffling towards the podium, his shoulders hunched, head bowed, eyes squinting in the spotlight.
"President Paul! President Paul!" came the chants as he peered out at 500 supporters crammed into a hot, sweaty New Hampshire function room. It was election night in New Hampshire and Paul was celebrating an achievement he has worked for tirelessly for almost 25 years. He had finally secured a seat at the high table of presidential hopefuls by coming in a solid second – a feat that had eluded him in two previous runs for the White House.
So how would he mark this turning point: would he deliver a tub-thumping call to arms in the mould of Teddy Roosevelt? Or would he be smoothly triumphant like Ronald Reagan?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jan/17/ron-paul-profile-maverick-libertarian
The 76-year-old libertarian has secured a seat at the high table of US presidential hopefuls, but his rise is causing reverberations
Ron Paul's uncompromising libertarianism is redefining the Republican party. Illustration: Alexander Wells for the Guardian
The crowd strained forward as the lights dimmed, a sea of smartphones trained on the stage. Whoops and cheers turned to screams of delight as a gaunt-looking figure mounted the steps and slowly approached the microphone.
This wasn't a rock star or the latest teen idol as you might have expected from the almost universally young gathering. This was 76-year-old Ron Paul, the spidery libertarian from Texas, shuffling towards the podium, his shoulders hunched, head bowed, eyes squinting in the spotlight.
"President Paul! President Paul!" came the chants as he peered out at 500 supporters crammed into a hot, sweaty New Hampshire function room. It was election night in New Hampshire and Paul was celebrating an achievement he has worked for tirelessly for almost 25 years. He had finally secured a seat at the high table of presidential hopefuls by coming in a solid second – a feat that had eluded him in two previous runs for the White House.
So how would he mark this turning point: would he deliver a tub-thumping call to arms in the mould of Teddy Roosevelt? Or would he be smoothly triumphant like Ronald Reagan?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jan/17/ron-paul-profile-maverick-libertarian