Sunday, January 14, 2007

Political Dream Team

The following is from Chuck Muth's DC Confidential newsletter from today...it's more information about Congressman Ron Paul and his potential run for the presidency. If you're a listener of WSPD, you may have heard one of the several interviews Chuck has done.

Rep. Ron Paul, Texas Republican, is far from a household name to the general population (for now), but to limited-government libertarian/conservatives, he's the patron saint of their philosophy. He is the congressional embodiment of Barry Goldwater's belief that an elected representative's job isn't to determine if something is "needed" before determining if it's constitutional. And for that reason, whenever you see a vote in Congress that goes 434-1...the "1" is usually Congressman Ron Paul.

Which why he is reverently to many, derisively to a few, referred to as "Doctor No."

Many people were thrilled this week to learn that Paul is mulling a second presidential bid in 2008, recently opening an exploratory committee for such a run. His first pursuit of the presidency was in 1988, when he ran as the Libertarian Party candidate.

This time he'll be running a similarly uphill, if not impossible, battle as a Republican. His odds are long, but his grassroots support from around the nation will likely surprise a LOT of people. Many of us are dying for a leader we can vote FOR, someone who actual believes the Constitution means what the Constitution says.

By the way, although Rep. Paul is a committed, self-described, card-carrying libertarian...he's also pro-life and has impeccable credentials on the illegal immigration debate.

Which brings us to a new rumor; that Rep. Paul may ask illegal immigration's fiercest warrior, Rep. Tom Tancredo, Colorado Republican, to be his running mate (or vice-versa). In addition to his illegal immigration bona fides, Tancredo also sports a strong libertarian-leaning streak while remaining a staunch, pro-lifer with impeccable social conservative credentials.

In a GOP field which so far boasts so many flawed candidates who so many libertarian/conservatives are having trouble stomaching, let alone supporting, a Paul/Tancredo or Tancredo/Paul "Dream Team" would be a huge shot in the arm which would force discussion on SO MANY issues which heretofore in recent years have been swept under the carpet, mostly by Republicans (including the current president).

Not only would a lot of ignored issues suddenly get prime-time exposure, a much-needed, long-awaited Goldwateresque public policy debate over the appropriate, constitutional role and nature of the federal government would finally take place.

So let it be written; so let it be done.

4 comments:

Unknown said...

I think that the media and his political opponents would have a field day with some of Tom Tancredo's past statements, especially on immigration. That could possibly hurt Ron Paul's chances more than help him. Especially since to win you have to attract those more in the middle. It will be interesting though to see what happens.

Maggie said...

Lisa - no more of field day than they've already had...

Actually, I think the illegal immigration issue is one where a significant majority of Americans agree with Tancredo...but we'll see. The Paul/Tancredo (or Tancredo/Paul) team could pull a lot of people who have a strong opinion about a single subject...

But it's so early that there's a lot that can happen.

Hooda Thunkit (Dave Zawodny) said...

Do we conservatives dare to hope?

We've been let down many times before. . .

Maggie said...

Hooda - I'm hoping! Also, Tom Tancredo announced he was forming an exploratory committee...

dream on!

Google Analytics Alternative