Huffington Post: Ron Paul Can Win

[FSP-Rebel]

I'm just wondering how happy some of yall are..

[FSP-Rebel]

I still have to ask myself how apt his parallels really are. I agree that the country is headed for a paradigm shift, but I'm not sure that 2012 isn't a little early. I don't think Mao Tse Tung is a good parallel at all. That was a war, and the Communists more or less inherited the key power centers from the Japanese. Chiang was essentially forced try to re-conquer the country. But I don't think there was any huge shift in sentiment toward the Communists particularly.

The Churchill parallel is a little closer but Churchill headed a national coalition government that included the Labour Party. Churchill ran the war, but Attlee, as Deputy Prime Minister, ran the country.

I'm hard-pressed to find a parallel in American history. Lincoln won against a divided Democratic Party. FDR claimed that Hoover was too experimental and that he would return to tried and true principles. The McGovern campaign comes to mind but McGovern was basically just the far left of the party. He didn't actually offer a new paradigm. Goldwater won because the South shifted from the establishment to the conservative wing of the party.

I have to go back to William Jennings Bryan in 1896 to find a good parallel. That's when the Populists took over the Democratic Party on a platform of "free coinage of silver" at a time when the sitting Democrat president was a strong champion of gold only as the currency of the realm. But while Bryan won the nomination, he didn't win the presidency.

That said, I must confess that things are going better than I expected. Remember that four years ago at this time, Mitt Romney was still polling nationally in the single digits, and McCain was given up on by most pundits. The nomination of McCain is particularly significant I think. Because it shows for the first times since the Goldwater conservatives took over the party that the conservative movement split. Establishment conservatives went for Romney while ideological conservatives united behind huckabee. This allowed the moderate McCain to win. So in a sense, the old conservative movement simply doesn't exist anymore.

Finally, as Liz Trotta Fox News pointed out, the Ron Paul campaign shows that conservative Republicans are tiring of all these wars. That may be more significant than Ron Paul's economic views which don't really stand out among voters who are not economically literate. Rick Santorum does not appear to be gaining any traction form his confrontation with Ron Paul at the Iowa debate, but Paul has gained substantially against Bachmann and even Romney.

The economic paradigm shift may have to wait until the next election.

On the other hand, we may be headed for yet more economic catastrophe. We could see a bond market collapse or even a dollar collapse well before the primary season is over, and that could shift the debate strongly in Paul's favor.

Just wanted to know what you'll think. Apparently, mush. the bond market crashing of course but wat else?

[Ronpauljones]

Hey I just made my 213th post!!

Grats

[sailingaway]

Here it is from Moderate Voice if you'd rarher a non HuffPo site to spread. http://themoderatevoice.com/121040/r...istory-lesson/

[cavalier973]

I don't think one need worry about whether this article will help or hurt Ron Paul with conservative voters; the point of the article is that a drastic change in people's perceptions of reality is in the works, a change that will drive people to Ron Paul regardless what the "conservative" chattering class (which of necessity is tied to the old paradigm) tells them.

[Paul4Prez]

I would compare Ron Paul's becoming presidency more to James Garfield than I would to Churchill the blood lusting man.

I would compare it more to Andrew Jackson's election. The Washington Establishment was shocked, and the banksters backing the Bank of the United States (the Fed of that time) were in for a rude awakening.

Jackson, for all his faults, was the last US president to pay off the national debt.

[Bruno]

I don't think one need worry about whether this article will help or hurt Ron Paul with conservative voters; the point of the article is that a drastic change in people's perceptions of reality is in the works, a change that will drive people to Ron Paul regardless what the "conservative" chattering class (which of necessity is tied to the old paradigm) tells them.

+ rep

[gregb]

I still have to ask myself how apt his parallels really are. I agree that the country is headed for a paradigm shift, but I'm not sure that 2012 isn't a little early. I don't think Mao Tse Tung is a good parallel at all ....

The Churchill parallel is a little closer ....

I'm hard-pressed to find a parallel in American history ....

One parallel that comes to mind (that I remember) was "Trudeau-mania" back in the late 1960's. Like Ron he was an intellectually gifted man, he became a rock-star on campuses - watching Ron at the US universities reminds me somewhat of that. Like Ron, Pierre's son (Justin) is into politics (elected MP) and I would imagine in line for leadership of the Liberal party.

If Ron Paul takes off like Pierre Elliot Trudeau did the presidential election won't even be close. Not that I was a Trudeau fan but Trudeau-mania and the complete difference between having a Prime-minister for the psychedelic era and the stodgy conservative old men that preceded him was a wonder to behold.

Of course Trudeau was the first PM in Canada to run deficits and he was a communist as a youth, a very socialist fellow. He also cut ties with England, got us a constitution, declared martial law (and made it stick), etc. So Ron Paul, his platform, the times, are very different but if I could name a political campaign that happened during my lifetime that I see possible to happen with Ron's campaign then the Trudeau campaign of 1968 is an inspiring parallel that would suit me just fine.

I post when I see something I think should be posted. I joined way back during the 08 campaign. I love reading the info you all post when I find something worth saying I do. That's why my posts are low....Hey I just made my 213th post!!

Same here. I've helped with a few dozen websites, got a "credit" on the For Liberty movie, host a lot of sites for the r3VOLution, etc, donate money to people doing good things (where I can as I'm Canadian), etc. The fact is that people like us are needed because we want lots and lots of new members and people with 70 and 80 posts won't intimidate our new brothers and sisters - had we posted a dozen times a day over the last 4 years we'd all have 20,000 posts and then potential new forum members would be too awestruck to engage with us (and later donate/vote).

[raiha]

I think there are alot of closet RPfans. Articles like this will give them permission to "come out."

[JJonesMBA]

I don't know if this amounts to much, but before the Birthday Money Bomb, the FaceBook page Dems4RonPaul had 674 Likes and as of today its up to 838 Likes. So there is some progress.

FYI, I started another facebook "DemsForPaul" page to direct people to the bluerepublican.org website - please "like." And while you are at it, if you are in the Houston area, please "like" this one too. Also, in line with the effective Twitter strategy campaign, I have started another Twitter account focusing on converting local Houston-area Democrats and left-leaning Independents to vote for Paul in the primary.

[S.Shorland]

Go and play some contact sport or get drunk and swear at a few people.It's never too late.

I cried

[scrosnoe]

Here it is from Moderate Voice if you'd rarher a non HuffPo site to spread. http://themoderatevoice.com/121040/r...istory-lesson/

this is helpful -- thank you!

[davidhperry]

Here's is the author's Twitter account, if you want to follow him.

http://twitter.com/#!/rkoerner

[RonPaulVolunteer]

I don't need to be affirmed by the hack job writer who's perspective is that Ron Paul and voters are arrogant.He must be a typical boot licker.

Why are you here??

[crusader]

CaptainAmerica is a troll/plant. just ignore him.

[Chainspell]

Go and play some contact sport or get drunk and swear at a few people.It's never too late.

somehow you're making me think I actually matter in this world...

i cried again

[Revolution9]

CaptainAmerica is a troll/plant. just ignore him.

If he was I would have to have his virtual head on a virtual pike. I have absolutely no reason to except this one article he misunderstood..or not.. Some of the Captain America covers and panels he posted tell the tale of someone who understands the RP platform and the history of America and its factions.

HTH
Rev9

[szczebrzeszyn]

Pretty good article, wasn't expecting something like that at huffpo

[dusman]

So surprised to see this come from Huffington Post. Wow.

[Joshua2585]

Not gonna lie... I also got a bit teary eyed reading that. I agree that his parallels are WAY off, but hey... it was still a pretty damn good article. Wow. Just wow. My liberal friends are going to poop themselves when I post this. Hehehe

[Joseph]

"In fact, Paul supporters vary significantly even in their views of what in the old left-right paradigm were the "wedge-issues." Rather, they are united around concepts that could almost be called meta-political: whether left and right really exist, and, if they do, whether they are really opposed; whether centralized government should even be the main vehicle for political change, etc.; and whether there are some principles that should be held sacrosanct for long-term benefit, even when they will hurt in the short-run."

This is extremely accurate. The campaign should capitalize on this type of thing. We want something completely different, because it's not about individual issues, but rather it's about a whole new concept of government and governing. What we represent can't be bought, corrupted, sacrificed or compromised. What we represent is an idea! A new mindset manifested in the same ideals that this nation was founded on, but has long since been forgotten.

[febo]

Great article BUT its not on the front page and its not even in the POLITICS/2012 election section.

[cheapseats]

Send this to you liberal friends. But, if you're surrounded by neocons as I am, this just reinforces the idea that Ron Paul is a liberal because, "if someone at huffpo endorses him, why would any conservative?"

Yep, double-edged sword. Endorsement from Arianna Huffington is to Hardright as endorsement from Ann Coulter is to Far Left.

[Bruno]

Not only can he win, but arguably he is the best-positioned GOP candidate who can get the necessary support from independents to do so, considering he has the highest overal likability ratings.

[cheapseats]

Not only can he win, but arguably he is the best-positioned GOP candidate who can get the necessary support from independents to do so, considering he has the highest overal likability ratings.

You'll concede there is a lotta prime real estate between CAN and WILL?

[Bruno]

You'll concede there is a lotta prime real estate between CAN and WILL?

Conceded.

Similiarly, just a few short years ago most Americans also would never have thought an African-American not only could become a front-running presidential candidate, but would actually become president.

[harikaried]

This article might be helpful in the general election, but it is not going to do much to help us win friends and influence people in the conservative wing of the Republican Party which must be done before we get to the general

More people talking about Ron Paul the better. Even liberals have conservative friends. More supporters means more local activism.

[cheapseats]

More people talking about Ron Paul the better.

Maybe, maybe not. It very much depends on WHO IS SAYING WHAT, AND WHO IS HEARING WHAT.

[harikaried]

Maybe, maybe not. It very much depends on WHO IS SAYING WHAT, AND WHO IS HEARING WHAT.

Sure there are extreme positions, but not everyone jumps there immediately.

Just earlier today, a teacher commented on Ron Paul's position on the Department of Education. I was able to clarify it on Facebook for her where she and her other friends (and other teachers) can see the truth, and then they do realize that with things like No Child Left Behind haven't been helpful -- in fact detrimental.

[BuddyRey]

Bump for extended viral life-cycle!