Joe Slater
01-09-2008, 09:04 AM
I may be wrong, but it is my impression that a lot of you are new to this libertarian thing. We old-timers are extremely happy you are here. Ron Paul has been the one political leader of any renown that the movement has had since Barry Goldwater or Robert Taft. He is the one voice in the government that consistently and honestly speaks for liberty and smaller government. And he needs to be heartily congratulated for the work he has done in getting the movement this far. Eight percent in New Hampshire from a true libertarian is amazing. He has proven that the libertarian message has power and an audience.
Ron Paul has faults though. He is not the most prolific speaker and he is a bit of a policy wonk. From Saturday's debate one can see that he is ill-suited for national campaigning. He isn't glib, fawning nor a good actor. He is a nice man, but he comes across as a little weird, a little nerdy and a little bit flighty. He has no star power.
A presidential election is about winning over the non-political and the not-so-throughout. Paul does not appeal to the vast majority of these types of people. Unfortunately, style matters as much as substance in campaigns. With Paul's limitations and age, 2008 is his one and only serious attempt at securing the nomination. Who will be our hope in the future? The libertarian movement needs a leader who has all of Paul immense strengths and none of his weaknesses. We need our Ronald Reagan.
Who will it be? I have one idea, a little far-fetched but interesting after you think about him for a-while. Drew Carey. He is firmly one of us. He is likable to the tenth power. And he is smart. He taught himself to be a comedian. He can teach himself to be a politician. Go www.reason.com and Google his name. Read his interviews and view his reason TV spots. I think you will not be disappointed. He is diamond in the rough, but he has so many things going for him, I think he could become a great political leader in the libertarian movement.
Ron Paul has faults though. He is not the most prolific speaker and he is a bit of a policy wonk. From Saturday's debate one can see that he is ill-suited for national campaigning. He isn't glib, fawning nor a good actor. He is a nice man, but he comes across as a little weird, a little nerdy and a little bit flighty. He has no star power.
A presidential election is about winning over the non-political and the not-so-throughout. Paul does not appeal to the vast majority of these types of people. Unfortunately, style matters as much as substance in campaigns. With Paul's limitations and age, 2008 is his one and only serious attempt at securing the nomination. Who will be our hope in the future? The libertarian movement needs a leader who has all of Paul immense strengths and none of his weaknesses. We need our Ronald Reagan.
Who will it be? I have one idea, a little far-fetched but interesting after you think about him for a-while. Drew Carey. He is firmly one of us. He is likable to the tenth power. And he is smart. He taught himself to be a comedian. He can teach himself to be a politician. Go www.reason.com and Google his name. Read his interviews and view his reason TV spots. I think you will not be disappointed. He is diamond in the rough, but he has so many things going for him, I think he could become a great political leader in the libertarian movement.