How does Ron Paul plan on getting Congress on his side?

[VoteRonPaul2008]

How does Ron Paul plan on getting Congress on his side?
Ron Paul is known as Dr. No in the House of Representatives. He has proposed some pretty radical ideas on leadership and and minimizeing government. We all know the president does not have the power to write and pass legislation. So If Ron Paul were president how many of his proposals would pass congress and how would he get the majority of congress on his side to get his proposals to become law.

I need a thorough explanation?

[DerekOfCPlusPlus]

Public support would help.

And at least he would have the power to veto anything unconstitutional.

[silverlegacy]

He would veto a federal budget until it was balanced, which means to cut back on lots of programs! Every year they would have that same cycle.

[FreeTraveler]

I think the bully pulpit would be his best tool, particularly considering his huge and growing grassroots support. If he gave a fireside chat, explained an issue in detail, and then told what needed to be done, the letters and calls to both houses would be overwhelming. If he didn't get support the first two years, you can bet your booties he would the last two, and there'd be a lot of unemployed former congressmen and senators.

The current crop of politicians in both houses would come to that realization pretty fast, I suspect, and get a lot more cooperative very fast.

[fedup100]

I think the bully pulpit would be his best tool, particularly considering his huge and growing grassroots support. If he gave a fireside chat, explained an issue in detail, and then told what needed to be done, the letters and calls to both houses would be overwhelming. If he didn't get support the first two years, you can bet your booties he would the last two, and there'd be a lot of unemployed former congressmen and senators.

The current crop of politicians in both houses would come to that realization pretty fast, I suspect, and get a lot more cooperative very fast.

Bingo!!!!!!

[hypnagogue]

Thankfully, perhaps, the president has considerable power over the actions of the administrative agencies, like the CIA, DOD, FEMA, etc. It would be within his purview to strictly limit their actions and, as he's done with his congressional budget, return much of it to the treasury. It wouldn't be a full solution, but it would be a dramatic step in the right direction.

[Maverick]

I believe that Ron Paul would be able to accomplish this by doing the same things that have earned him his moniker of "Dr. No." Only this time, as President, his 'no' vote would carry substantially more weight. ;)

[johngr]

I believe that the single most important thing that "President No" will do to get the Congress to play ball is to say "NO" to the IRS by instructing his US Attorneys not to prosecute IRS or drug cases and by pardoning all IRS and drug war victims.

[plp]

This is an excellent question, and one of my reservations about Dr. Paul.

What he proposes is going to throw this country into shock on a lot of levels, not the least being exactly what will Congress' powers be if he is elected?

The Constitutional directives for Congress' powers, and the present version are on different astral planes, so wide is the divide. How will he get across to them exactly what they can legislate, when they have held court as lord high master of all they survey?

The answer is, by the states being prepared to step in and take charge of their own human services, highways, and infrastructure in general. The more effective the state agency in providing the specific services their citizens expect the smoother the transition. I feel I am lucky to have Messrs Shelby and Sessions as my state reps, as I believe they will be receptive to Dr. Paul's direction at the top and their constituents at the base.

The big unknown, is how prepared are we the people to make wise use of our newfound power and the responsibility that goes with it?

[SeanEdwards]

I can't wait to see the look on Pelosi's face once Paul is elected.

Actually, what am I saying, her face will look exactly the same as it does now: an over-botoxed animated skull.

If Paul gets elected, American politics will turn on its head. Tim Russert will commit sepuku on national TV. Probably a big chunk of Congress will resign, and those that are too cowardly to do that will immediately start flying a freedom flag and try to claim they supported Paul all along. There won't be any meaningful opposition to Paul for quite some time, because nobody will want try and stand against the wishes of the horde of voters that defied the establishment and put Paul in office.

The politicians will at least visibly support Paul, while probably trying to cause problems behind the scenes. They'll want Paul to fail, but they won't want to be identified as obstructionist.

[jblosser]

If the American people elect Ron Paul the Congress will have a clear mandate what they need to do to keep getting elected.

But even if they refuse to play ball, Ron can unilaterally change our foreign policy, end the drug war, force a balanced and constitutional budget (or at least force them to compromise a whole lot so they can override veto), etc. He can refuse to enforce any law that is unconstitutional.

This is one of the better pieces on what exactly he could do, from NRO of all places:
http://campaignspot.nationalreview.com/post/?q=NjgxM2E0ZWEyNjRjNWE1Njg4Mjk1NWEyNDRiNjY5NjI



Congress either overrides it, or maybe with enough folks to sustain veto. Suddenly the appropriators of both parties find themselves constantly bumping up against a president who forces them, for the first time in anyone's memory, to justify the existence of this federal department and its attending bureaucracy, much less the size of its budget. In the meantime, Paul may not appoint a Commerce Secretary, since he thinks we don’t need a department. Or any of the undersecretaries. Or Department of Agriculture, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development….

[TheNewYorker]

The same way Bush got congress on his side. Look at all the Dems that keep giving Bush more and more money for the war.

The current congress currently are mindless pawns and will listen to whatever the president says, Ron Paul, Bush, or whoever.

[CoreyBowen999]

I wonder how many pens he will need to veto considering he will most likely use it more than any other president ever.

[Kregener]

Initially, he will not, because Congress is FULL of socialists and commies who have been "buying" votes with more and more promises of public largesse.

But if WE THE PEOPLE start throwing the bums OUT and electing people who stand for liberty and freedom (read - Ron Paul true conservatives) to Congress, then it will be smooth sailing.