NEWS: Ron Paul sells out

[DisabledVet]

LINK TO STORY (http://rossdouthat.theatlantic.com/archives/2007/07/ron_paul_sells_out.php)


Ron Paul Sells Out

28 Jul 2007 09:55 am


Ramesh, from a few years back, on Frank Meyer:

The influence of fusionism has not been wholly positive. Meyer contributed to an unfortunate tendency among conservatives toward theoretical maximalism, as in his casual reference to “the totalitarian implications of the federal school lunch program.”

David Freddoso, yesterday, on a sense-of-the-House resolution to the effect that public schools should offer healthy lunches:

What to make of Ron Paul's "aye" vote? Is he selling out to win the presidential race?

A Paul staffer informs me: "It was a sense of Congress [resolution]. It was harmless. It didn't do anything." Also, he said, Dr. Paul figures that as long as there is a school lunch program, the least we can do is make sure it isn't doing too much damage to American children.

Well, okay. I would have still thought of this vote as a teachable moment for the American people. After all, it's not often that someone like Paul gets all this attention. The wave of interest in him as the anti-war Republican gives him a nice platform from which to explain to liberals why socialism is bad.

Indeed. I know that whenever I try to explain to my liberal friends why I'm not a socialist, I usually start with the case against healthy school lunches and work my way forward from there.

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[nullvalu]

i'm not up to date on the school lunch program.. could you explain this article? i'm not following.

[foofighter20x]

A Sense of Congress vote has about as much legal weight as a resolution to change the Congressional cafeteria menu from "french fries" to "freedom fries": none.

[specsaregood]

This quote says it all:

A Paul staffer informs me: "It was a sense of Congress [resolution]. It was harmless. It didn't do anything." Also, he said, Dr. Paul figures that as long as there is a school lunch program, the least we can do is make sure it isn't doing too much damage to American children."

It's tough to spin that into "selling out".

[kylejack]

A Sense of Congress vote has about as much legal weight as a resolution to change the Congressional cafeteria menu from "french fries" to "freedom fries": none.
Yes...but Ron Paul usually votes no on such things, like when the Congress wants to honor someone. Not talking about medals, just a positive commendation.

[foofighter20x]

Yes...but Ron Paul usually votes no on such things, like when the Congress wants to honor someone. Not talking about medals, just a positive commendation.

Link? Cite?

I get the whole medal thing, but if congress wants to give reward with a good word and a pat on the back, both of which cost nothing, he votes against that?

You sure?

[Kuldebar]

Also, there's a story breaking that Ron Paul jaywalked in Galveston sometime in June of 1986.

[Syren123]

Link? Cite?

I get the whole medal thing, but if congress wants to give reward with a good word and a pat on the back, both of which cost nothing, he votes against that?

You sure?


No he's not against that if it costs nothing. He is against spending $30,000 to mint a medal at taxpayer expense. He was also willing to pony up $100 of his own money which none of the other congresspeople were willing to do.

[foofighter20x]

Also, there's a story breaking that Ron Paul jaywalked in Galveston sometime in June of 1986.

:eek: OMFG! Call the FBI! :rolleyes: :D

[Syren123]

Also, there's a story breaking that Ron Paul jaywalked in Galveston sometime in June of 1986.

Oh wow. How did THAT get leaked? Now we're really sunk.

Corruption, debauchery, dishonesty...why couldn't he have picked one of THOSE? They're easily defensible. But jaywalking....

[foofighter20x]

No he's not against that if it costs nothing. He is against spending $30,000 to mint a medal at taxpayer expense. He was also willing to pony up $100 of his own money which none of the other congresspeople were willing to do.

I know... ;) Dr Paul is tight with the People's money... I'm just trying to find out what K-Jack was basing his statement on.

[Dustancostine]

Do y'all understand what the vote was for?

It was not for school lunches.

It was for whether government provided school lunches should be healthy, the lunches were going to be provided regardless of this vote.



For Example, It would be like if the congress already had passed the resolution to give a medal to Regan but then were talking about how to design the medal and Ron Paul voted to approve the design.

And this is a far cry better article than "Ron Paul Votes for Unhealthy Lunches for Children"

Either way the government spending was going forward and the lunches provided regardless of the vote. All Ron Paul has to say is look at the record when the lunch program was approved. I bet he voted against it.

[Kuldebar]

I know... ;) Dr Paul is tight with the People's money... I'm just trying to find out what K-Jack was basing his statement on.

Kylejack has expressed his concern for Paul "hypocrisy" concerning earmarks in another thread, so this may be along the same lines.

It's good to be critical and no one is perfect, but I think sometimes things get stretched all out of proportion when you have to go to such lengths to be critical.

Also, I must admit I don't know what the #uck the original post and link is talking about. Color me lost.

Fusionism and School Lunches? A Sense of Congress? What is that, a cologne?

[specialkornflake]

When I read that he sold out, I thought that it was a good thing, like if an event sold out. Then, I think the article did a great job defending him.

[freelance]

Also, there's a story breaking that Ron Paul jaywalked in Galveston sometime in June of 1986.

That's it. I'm joining the other Rudy defector.

About his sense of Congress vote--even if he had voted on the real thing, I'm here to stay. One vote here or there against something doesn't mean a hill of beans to me. Hell, I'm pro-choice, and I'm here.

The only thing that matters to me is FREEDOM! I'd rather see him vote to give money to a school food program than to the Iraq war.

I live in a glass house, myself.

[Kuldebar]

That's it. I'm joining the other Rudy defector...



Me too, I just ordered about 1000 of these signs to start putting up here in Boise. I just can't support a candidate that can't stand on principle. Guiliani has his faults but at least he stands for something and means it!

http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/6718/paul10x101nl5.jpg




















:eek:

:D

[Scribbler de Stebbing]

Do y'all understand what the vote was for?

It was not for school lunches.

It was for whether government provided school lunches should be healthy, the lunches were going to be provided regardless of this vote.

I still say it should be up to the local school boards to decide whether to hire a salad chef or a fry cook. Not the business of the federal government regardless of where the funding is coming from. 'Cause the funding starts locally too; it just gets siphoned up to the federal where they take their cut and send it back down dressed up with mandates.

Maybe the stress of the campaign is getting to the good doctor. I'm not going to jump on him for this, but it is out of character.

[pazzo83]

I still say it should be up to the local school boards to decide whether to hire a salad chef or a fry cook. Not the business of the federal government regardless of where the funding is coming from. 'Cause the funding starts locally too; it just gets siphoned up to the federal where they take their cut and send it back down dressed up with mandates.

Maybe the stress of the campaign is getting to the good doctor. I'm not going to jump on him for this, but it is out of character.

Yea, but the federal gov't is ALREADY supplying the lunches. This wasn't a vote to say, should the federal gov't supply local school systems with lunches. This is already the case, their is already a federal lunch program. The vote was on whether these lunches should be healthy. I see in no way how that conflicts with RP's principles.

[AnotherAmerican]

there is already a federal lunch program. The vote was on whether these lunches should be healthy.

And doesn't that match what he said about Social Security at the GOP debates? If there is overwhelming support for a program with which he disagrees, he'll at least administer it properly.

The question here wasn't whether there would be a school lunch program; that was already decided. The only question put to Dr. Paul was whether it should meet its stated goal of providing nutrition.

Bottom line: "I don't agree with this program, but since the people have spoken and they want it, let's do it right." How.... Presidential.

[kylejack]

And doesn't that match what he said about Social Security at the GOP debates? If there is overwhelming support for a program with which he disagrees, he'll at least administer it properly.

The question here wasn't whether there would be a school lunch program; that was already decided. The only question put to Dr. Paul was whether it should meet its stated goal of providing nutrition.

Bottom line: "I don't agree with this program, but since the people have spoken and they want it, let's do it right." How.... Presidential.

If the Congress didn't hand down this dictate, the local schools would have the choice of how to use the money for lunches. That would be better than a one-size-fits-all Congressional opinion.

[Akus]

:rolleyes: at Ron Paul skeletons compared to those of Thompson, Hillary or Rudy.

[angelatc]

If the Congress didn't hand down this dictate, the local schools would have the choice of how to use the money for lunches. That would be better than a one-size-fits-all Congressional opinion.

Go look up "sense of Congress." It is not a dictate or a law that is in any way enforceable. It is an opinion of Congress.

[kylejack]

Go look up "sense of Congress." It is not a dictate or a law that is in any way enforceable. It is an opinion of Congress.

Then why pass it? Why print it up, bring it to a vote, and issue it if it has no effect on anything? Why are we wasting time on this?

[angelatc]

Then why pass it? Why print it up, bring it to a vote, and issue it if it has no effect on anything? Why are we wasting time on this?



I'd rather have them doing things that have no real effect than just about anything else, really.

[kylejack]

I'd rather have them doing things that have no real effect than just about anything else, really.

Hum, you may have just convinced me. I wonder if we could flood the zone with more Sense of the Congress resolutions:

Hell's Kitchen is a good show.
We like Mountain Dew.
French President Nikolas Sarkozy is a funny-looking fellow.
Hawaii is our most fun state.
Sarah Silverman is one funny lady.

[LibertyEagle]

Also, there's a story breaking that Ron Paul jaywalked in Galveston sometime in June of 1986.

:D :D :D

[freelance]

Also, there's a story breaking that Ron Paul jaywalked in Galveston sometime in June of 1986.

Maybe he can find an AG who will cover it up!

[stevedasbach]

Friends, the article is satire. The last line gives it away:

"Indeed. I know that whenever I try to explain to my liberal friends why I'm not a socialist, I usually start with the case against healthy school lunches and work my way forward from there."

Does anyone take this statement seriously?

IMO, the author agrees with Paul's vote.

[LibertyEagle]

I can't believe we're wasting time talking about this.