Paul: kingmaker?

[Bradley in DC]

http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2007/07/ron-paul-kingma.html

Ron Paul: Kingmaker?
24 Jul 2007 09:27 am

A reader writes:
I was reading your posts about Ron Paul's candidacy [YouTube Paul convert here], and I had an idea that I'm surprised nobody else has thought of (to my knowledge). Paul isn't going to win the Republican nomination. But I believe he is poised to become the most significant third-party candidate in 2008. Other potential independents -- Michael Bloomberg in particular -- seem to want to run as independents just because neither major party will have them. That's true of Paul, too. But Paul, unlike Bloomberg, will have the support of a party: the Libertarian Party.
The Libertarian Party nominated Ron Paul for President in 1988. He ran his campaign while maintaining good relations with the Republican Party. Since then the need for a credible Libertarian candidate has grown significantly, as the Republican Party leaders have abandoned libertarianism, and Paul's views have become heretical. Now, thanks to the shock value of his "heresy", he's already become far better-known than most Libertarian Presidential candidates ever get. The Libertarians would be fools not to nominate him. And if they do, he and his supporters will be even more vocal, from now until November 2008. In a tight three-way race, this could put him in an excellent kingmaker position.

A.S.: Why not run again as a libertarian? Many of us are dreading the possible choice next year. Paul as a third party candidate would cheer us up no end.

[mconder]

I'd rather see him take The Constitution Party nomination.

[Mort]

Screw third party. They never have a chance. The system is biased against third parties and Ron Paul admits that. For him to have a chance to actually win he needs the republican nomination.

[JS4Pat]

Only as a last resort.

I think our best shot is "taking over" the weak and defeated GOP.

[LibertyEagle]

I don't know about anyone else, but I'm tired of this crap about him not being able to win the nomination. If we start believing that, they're right, it will happen.

We're not likely to have any do-overs on this whole deal. Note: Has anyone checked out the Decider's recent Executive Orders and Presidential Directives, lately?

NOW, is the time. We'd better pour out everything we have into this fight, if we want to have any hope of saving our country.

[beermotor]

I think taking over the GOP is the way to go. I have to wrinkle my nose, since it's Lincoln's party, but oh well, you gotta do what you gotta do.

[freelance]

I don't know about anyone else, but I'm tired of this crap about him not being able to win the nomination.

Me too. ANYTHING can happen at a convention, even with the rules. Think jury nullification. ;-)

[Bruehound]

In years past I had poured my heart and soul into the LP(PM me if you want my background) but I came to the conclusion that the LP never decided what it wanted to be when it grew up.

The constant infighting often revolved around what its core purpose was to be. Was it to be an educational/outreach institution or was it to be a serious player in the political arena?

As a consequence of 35 years of non serious amatuerish campaigns the LP became a characature of itself and thus a tarnished brand name. Voters are mostly aware of the term libertarian and do not reject the philosophy but they do associate the LP and their candidates as non serious.

I would beg and plead that he does not consider the LP as an option but I am confident that he will remain true to his word and not entertain such folly.

[JosephTheLibertarian]

I hate when people try to act like psychics "ohh he's not going to win" how the hell do you know? I'm glad that no one tells me such drivel to my face.

[Wyurm]

I don't know about anyone else, but I'm tired of this crap about him not being able to win the nomination. If we start believing that, they're right, it will happen.

We're not likely to have any do-overs on this whole deal. Note: Has anyone checked out the Decider's recent Executive Orders and Presidential Directives, lately?

NOW, is the time. We'd better pour out everything we have into this fight, if we want to have any hope of saving our country.

Exactly, the next person that says "hes not going to win" or anything to that effect, is getting slapped. Really, I'm very tired of it. He IS going to win and that's that.

[JosephTheLibertarian]

Exactly, the next person that says "hes not going to win" or anything to that effect, is getting slapped. Really, I'm very tired of it. He IS going to win and that's that.

I'll second that :) Don't let the pessimists demoralize us, now you know why they used to shoot pessimists/cowards in wars.

[SeanEdwards]

He has a great chance of taking the Republican nomination. The only way he doesn't win, imo, is if the establishment does backflips in order to cheese the nominating process. And if they do that, well, they may not like results when the Republican party vaporizes under the assault of a face-melting LP/constitution/unity/green coalition candidate. ;)

[sleeper]

He's needs to stay republican. I changed my party for him to republican allready.
This will confuse people and really screw us on how many allready did also.

[angelatc]

I think taking over the GOP is the way to go. I have to wrinkle my nose, since it's Lincoln's party, but oh well, you gotta do what you gotta do.

I wonder, if Paul gets the nomination, if the GOP will support him. It's possible they'd rather let Hillary rule than let Paul restructure their party.

Ron Paul is more dangerous to the GOP than he is the Democrats.

[JosephTheLibertarian]

I wonder, if Paul gets the nomination, if the GOP will support him. It's possible they'd rather let Hillary rule than let Paul restructure their party.

Ron Paul is more dangerous to the GOP than he is the Democrats.

ha his own party supported the Democratic candidate in his district LOL

[hard@work]

The system is biased against third parties and Ron Paul admits that.

The system hasn't been adjusted to account for internet activism yet. Guarantee it's in the works, all the more reason to go all the way no matter what. It's our one shot.

[Texan4Life]

Voters are mostly aware of the term libertarian and do not reject the philosophy

+1

I also think they know that it is a 2 party system.

[AMack]

If RP doesn't win the nomination, I'm either voting libertarian or writing Dr. Paul's name in. The mainstream of the republican party doesn't represent me anymore. It is pretty disgusting how far our two major parties have fallen. The democrats have turned into the socialist party, and the republicans have turned into the fascist party.

[Bradley in DC]

The system hasn't been adjusted to account for internet activism yet. Guarantee it's in the works, all the more reason to go all the way no matter what. It's our one shot.

The internet doesn't change state elections laws making third parties difficult if not impossible.