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Subscribe to RSSDES MOINES, Iowa -- At a Des Moines hotel rally this morning with son Rand at his side, Ron Paul says enthusiasm for his limited government message is building ahead of tomorrow's caucus, while warning that a vote for his rivals tomorrow would be a vote for the "status quo."
"Believe me, you don't have to choose another candidate because the others represent the status quo," Paul explained in a stop here after having taken the weekend off to spend the New Year's holiday with family in Texas. "Variations of the status quo, but they're not talking about a foreign policy to defend America, they're talking about mischief around the world and policing the world."
A partition had to be opened by hotel staff inside the Marriott ballroom to make room for a large and vocal crowd, who greeted Paul with chants and cheers of support. A large media presence was also on hand, with more than a dozen still photographers snapping away at the base of Paul's podium.
"Today we're moving in the wrong direction, but the American people are stirring, this is what this campaign has been all about -- this is what the vote is about tomorrow, are we sick and tired of the expansion of government?" the congressman asked the crowd. "The endless spending and the deficit, doing the things they weren't supposed to do and forgetting about doing the things they should be doing?"
"The next generation is here today, that is why we have to change things today and bring back the traditions of America which means liberty, peace and prosperity," Paul said, to applause.
His son, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, warmed up the audience promising a Iowa victory. He echoed his father's individual liberties and small government message asking, "anybody here want government to mind their OWN business?!"
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Ron Paul wins Iowa and the Republican Party blows up, the Iowa caucuses become completely irrelevant...and Barack Obama should automatically be granted that second term he wants so badly. The GOP primary has continued to devolve into chaos and radicalism. These people seem to forget that a general election looms for the sucker unlucky enough to win the Republican nomination. The GOP has become a right-wing entity totally detached from mainstream America and ordinary Americans. http://www.sunstateactivist.org
Ron Paul winning the nomination would destroy the Tea Party as well as the "Establishment" factions within the Republican Party, effectively destroying the GOP.
Given how the GOP has governed (or should I say failed to govern) in the Congress, we can only hope.
Ron Paul 2012.
Wow.
GOP Blows up? Is destroyed?
Tin foil hats on a bit tight, eh?
The Iowa caucus is already irrelevant. Just ask Mike Huckabee.
Except here at First Read, where it serves as fodder for Democrats, errr Liberals, errr Progressives pathetic rants.
BTW matt, posting that website is advertising and can get you banned.
Seems like a lot of wishful thinking from those on the left. If Paul wins, it destroys the republican party. Hmmmm. I wouldn't put money on that. Of course liberals have been hoping for the destruction of republicans and conservatives for some time now. What a funny perspective. I've been a conservative for quite a while now... never once have I even desired that liberalism gets destroyed. For as much as I disagree with liberalism, I feel it's a necessary component to the balance of this country's welfare.
I guess liberals don't feel that way though. It appears as though they would rather destroy that which they disagree with, or wish it destroyed. That's where a huge difference in ideology occurs.
Let's play Twilight Zone for a moment. What would this country look like if the republican party was destroyed. Let's say there was only one party standing... the Democrats. Would they faction off into two different groups, or would they unite under the national party? Maybe something else would occur... a second group steps in to fill the void of the republicans... What would the make-up of that party look like? Could be possible that liberals would long for the days of the republicans as the new party vowed to destroy the Democrats. Something like this could lead to a civil war... where death and destruction might occur.
Oh, the simple answers never are that simple are they? Keep on wishing liberals... one of these days you might get that wish... but... be careful what you wish for...
What amazes me Brian is that the liberals here don't see that the President has done more to hurt Liberalism than anything going on in the GOP.
He has put it on full display and the country has seen what Liberal policies do. The Liberals here fail to acknowledge the right track/wrong track numbers.
That number is an indictment of Obama's Liberal agenda.
Yet they pray for the destruction of the GOP when their own party is crumbling under the weight of it's ideals.
Forests and trees......
It sure does not sound like Ron Paul will ask his supporters to back the republican nominee if he does not get the nomination. I think he may run as an independent candidate once the Republicans officially announce their nominee. Unlike the supporters of the other candidates, his followers have little interest in jumping of the republican bandwagon just because the republican establishment would wish them to do so, they are not on a mission to elect a republican, they want to elect Ron Paul, with or without the republican party.
How do you know that WCA, do the right track wrong track polls ask why they think we are on the wrong track? How do you know they don't feel we are on the wrong track with regard to republican ideas? The presidents approval rating is now 5x better than the republican controlled house, voters in WI and Ohio, turned their back on their governors agenda, people are in the streets protesting and they are not calling for what republicans have been selling, over 70% of the nation feels taxes should be raised on the wealthy, and the Ryan Plan went down in flames. Are you sure you know why people say we are on the wrong track?
Forrest you have been hoping for a third party candidate for months now.
It's a shame that you know that is the only chance that Obama has to win. Someone to siphon off GOP votes.
Ron Paul has made it clear that he will not run independently, yet you keep posting and hoping.
Keep it up, my friend. It is probably the only hope that Obama has.
Yes Forrest, I know because I get information from places other than First Read and MSNBC.
It 's the economy and it ain't getttin' any better out here in the real world.
To the contrary WCA I seen Hannity and others flat out ask Ron Paul if he would run as an independent and his answer has always been I will keep that open as an option, you must have seen something I have not, but Ron Paul is not a guy that contradicts himself so I question where you seen him say he would not. Obama will be re-elected with or without Ron Paul's help, republicans in congress have insured that, along with some help from some newly elected republican governors.
Here's one of the dozen places I have seen it Forrest:
Ron Paul not considering third party run
Ron Paul said he is not considering a third party presidential run on a campaign stop in New Hampshire Tuesday. He did say "some good will come" of former New Mexico governor Gary Johnson's Libertarian Party run. (Dec. 21)( /CBS News)
Well ok then, but that is not what he said when asked by Sean Hannity and others, I guess he is allowed to change his mind as well as the rest. So now you can relax WCA because there is no way Obama will be re-elected without Paul running as an independent, right.
WCA: Ron Paul has already reaped some of the benefits of Gary Johnson jumping to the Libertarian brand, he's picked up most of Gary Johnson's staffers. Ron Paul's people want to win.
Irrelevant? Didn't Barack Obama beat Hillary in Iowa in 2008?
I don't think that Ron Paul's idealistic fans have a clue what this country would be like without any regulations, much less without a unifying Federal Government.
The governance of the U.S. of A., to paraphrase, is for the people, of the people, and by the people. So if Ron Paul believes in his own shallow anecdotes and wants the government to mind it's own business, does he want every American to isolate themseves from each other? Get real.
The Hard answer to Dr Paul running as a third party candidate will come soon, yes has has said he is not considering it at this time, but Forrest is also right he hasn't outright rejected it.
He has been waiting to see what happens in this Caucus, if he wins or places a very strong second, he will continue with the republican nominating process, if he comes in third or lower, he will make a decision on which way to go...
It's decision time!!!!!
Status quo = phony unhonorable republican obstruction.
Correct, Paul has constantly said he doesn't speak in 'absolutes' when asked about the possibility of running 3rd party.
Brian B. -
What is all that distinguishing about the Reps and Dems considering foreign and monetary policy anyway? They argue over peanuts while wholesale looting us for $trillions$ to continue the BS 'war on terror'. I guess you can blame congress, and then blame congress, and then blame mr. president, and then blame China, and by 2020 we'll all be pushing money around in wheelbarrows to buy bread.
WCA - Smiled when you mentioned that right track/wrong track comment. FR libs automatically assume that the word "right" is a bad thing. Team that up with the word "wrong" and they don't understand, so they fall back on obamas hope and change mantra.
Reminds me of an old supervisor who had a sign hanging in his office saying what his two rules were for supervising...
#1 was...The boss is always right.
#2 was... If the boss is wrong, see rule #1
Hope Rand Paul continues in his father's footstep and runs for president in 2016.
If you remember he was thinking about running this election cycle, but he declared he would not run if his father did. But hey look at it this way, at least we know his father has at least one strong ally in congress already.
Ron Paul is correct. Voting for anyone other than him is voting for the status quo. So, a person has to ask themself if that's what they want when going to the polls.
mattpfl: Ron Paul wins Iowa and the Republican Party blows up..............
Would that be so bad?
Personally I'd like to see both the democrat and republican party's blow up and blown away. The party's platforms change as often as the seasons. The politicians will all say anything to get elected and later decide if they will follow through with their promise. If they decide to change their mind they come up with long winded excuses as to why they "had" to change it or by saying they were misquoted or were misinterpreted.
Rather than having to go through long and costly measures to remove a politician from office for certain reasons, we should have a law that automatically removes every politician who 'flip-flops' on the issues they campaigned with to get elected.
I totally agree with you. I want a president who is strong and who follows the constitution. Not one who says one thing and does another. I am tired of having criminals run this country.
You are half correct the "Right Wing" GOP has become totally detached just like it's Democratic cousin the Libs have. However that is exactly why I am voting for Ron Paul not only does he talk the talk, but he walks the walk. True change we can believe in unlike Obama. Obama cannot beat Ron Paul.
Ron Paul 2012!
for Ron Paul only not does he talk the talk, but he walks the walk.
Wasn't Ron Paul against killing Osama bin Laden? Wasn't Greenwald against killing Osama bin Laden? Of course they were. These libertarians only are against something when the current Administration is successful. Whatever GWB did was a-okay. Didn't Ron Paul vote FOR the Afgan War?
Of course he did. Now let's blame it on all President Obama!
The People's View:
This is the bill Ron Paul introduced in Congress in 2001:
The President of the United States is authorized to place a money bounty, drawn in his discretion from the $40,000,000,000 appropriated on September 14, 2001, in the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Re- covery from and Response to Terrorists Attacks on the United States or from private sources, for the capture, alive or dead, of Osama bin Laden or any other al Qaeda conspirator responsible for the act of air piracy upon the United States on September 11, 2001, under the authority of any letter of marque or reprisal issued under this Act.
Paul re-introduced the bill in 2007.
A tweet posted on The Obama Diary:
60 years of freedom bus riders, murdered liberal activists, murders of MLK, RFK...all thrown out to support Ron Paul's drone free weed run.
C Gauvin @JeffersonObama
Actually he suggested that we work diplomatically through the Govt. and by International law to capture Osama Bin Laden. And of course he voted for Afghanistan it would have been political suicide had he not. Who is blaming everything on Obama? Obama is a great President if you want more Government and less individual liberty. Vote for the old guard establishment GOP or the DEMS if you want more of the same. However if you want true change and work done towards a paying off the national debt and a restoration to a sound fiscal and international policy...............
Vote for Ron Paul 2012!
Bush was the worst president of all time; do not make it sound like Paul was blind supporter of that blockhead. Paul being against blowing up Afghanistan for 10 years while not pursuing bin Laden while voting to get him initially in 2001 are two different things. Now bin Laden is gone (again) and the current administration doesn't seem interested in anything less than spreading our homicidal drone goodness for another 10 years. Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Yemen, and beyond!
If Iowa does not matter, then why has every single new article for the last month been about it? If Iowa does not amtter, then why have all the other canidates spent millions and millions trying to win them over?
The gig is up. Iowa matters.
Vote Ron Paul!
I apologize for misreading an article and wondering if Rep. Paul had said that Jim Crow laws were OK. He did not.
However, he did say that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was bad for the US, and personal property. Which is why we now have so much less personal property, than in 1964, I guess.
Care to take a look at how modern media propaganda works?
Look to the 2008 and 2012 presidential election coverage by most media outlets for Republican candidate Ron Paul. Whether you support his candidacy or not, through the coverage of his campaigns versus the other candidates you should be able to get a close up view of bias and propaganda in modern media. Stories and interviews that aimed to reflect a central goal of defacing, attacking and even ignoring him in every way possible. Most of the media would offer up pundits that completely disagreed and or had ruthless opinions of him in every interview, framing even postive news about Ron Paul in a negative manner. The media outlets would then often show a positive view to other candidates such as Rick Santorum's surge towards the beginning of the 2012 Iowa caucuses. These segments seemed to reflect the same specifc agendas and or points almost attempting to direct viewers and potential voters to a specific outcome.
Looking to the interactions of the media with the other candidates we could clearly see that most of the other interviews often displayed a lack of the same disrespect, ill will, bias and strong personal attacks such as those towards Candidate Ron Paul. Whether the pundits actually felt the way they were reporting or were just reading what they were told, it is apparent that the segments were framed in a way that could offer no other discussion but that of the one being pushed. Creating and pushing viewpoints that reflected bias and not tradional coverage. Giving way to a central theme for all candidates over and over again on all media outlets. Search 2008 and 2012 elections, watch the interviews with all of the candidates and find out for yourself if bias and propaganda slipped into our news and election coverage. Remember, the individuals candidacy or view points are not the main issue. It is moreso the ability of modern propaganda and bias towards a particular issue and or person being portrayed as normal election coverage or news.
Ah...I see...remember, simply because a person is honest and forthright, does not necessarily mean they are right.
And, to think that Paul doesn't have his own bias is more than a little naive...but typically Libertarian.
Touché! I'm tired of the "hard hitting questions" that accomplish nothing! Neither CNN, MSNBC, FOX, CBS, etc, serve journalism or the American people. They're all in step to the same marching orders. None are free to speak their mind. If they did they'd be out of a job. All the media moguls are against Ron Paul because he's a threat to the rampant greed and the continuing swindle against the American people by these self-declared elitists masquerading in the guise of virtue. You hear how they continually cast seeds of doubt, exaggerations and even slander. Even most so-called independent news orgs avoid Ron Paul like the plague. And if they're willing to lie to us we have no dignity to them! We're just pawns for their selfish gain. Ron Paul is the ONLY man with integrity to his word. You may disagree with him on certain issues, but at least you know his course of action. Not so with those who say they will and do not. Just look at Obama: all those great speeches at the last election: those weren't his words! (But he sure took all the glory!) They were carefully crafted to deceive the American people into trusting him while fully knowing our betrayal in promising "change!"
"None are free to speak their mind. If they did they'd be out of a job."
Or being removed from primetime MSNBC like Cenk Uygar who, while getting better ratings than the rest, was asked to do weekend gigs because he was to critical of the White House. Thankfully, he turned them down, retained his integrity, and reminded us of how corporate media works.
As someone who has never been really political, I have to say WTF? I mean could this campaign get any more confusing?! I was raised a democrat, but switched affiliation back in 2002. So I'm hardly closed minded, as I voted for Clinton twice, and Bush twice. I try to vote for the person, not the party, but this time I have absolutely no idea who to vote for. They all seem the wrong ones for the highest office in the land. I like Bachman, but she hasn't done well, and it seems she should use this as practice for next time around. I don't trust Romney. Paul is too radical. Cain is good, except for the pesky 9-9-9 thing. Perry, although a cutey, is a cornball. Obama is out of the question, I mean look around us, the country is a @!$%#Z HAUS! So who DO we vote for??!! I have no clue. Write in Chuck Norris, I guess.;)
Chuck Norris would tell you to give your Vote to Dr Paul in his name..
Look and see the link on youtube of Chuck Norris' Wish.Hilarious!Then look at who supports Ron Paul the most!Viva La Ron Paul!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To vote for Paul is to support lunacy.
Albert Einstein - "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results". ;)
CJ, Ron Paul is only where he is because there are nothing but a bunch of idiots vying for the Teapublican nomination. They are all losers......
Lunacy? That's how the following was characterized long ago, by the establishment at that time:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed..."
Declaration of Independence, United States of America, 1776
To vote for ANY of the Republican candidates is like voting for the guys in "Animal House". Paul is right but he's right in with them....
How many of the American people want illegitimate government that is out of control with deficit spending, military adventurism, and is heading towards totalitarianism? That seems quite an exaggeration, except for the fact that it is basically true, with 900 military bases worldwide, a bankrupt economy, an aggressive and militaristic foreign policy, and the extension of the dubious "Patriot Act" further encroaching upon individual liberties. We must follow the valid parts of our historical heritage; we must follow the Constitution.
RON PAUL 2012
Ron Paul leads the latest PPP poll! Help this article go viral! Share it everywhere! http://www.examiner.com/conspiracy-in-denver/ron-paul-leads-latest-ppp-poll
Ron Paul is an optimist. Republicans want the status quo as of 1930 BMC (Before the Middle Class).
ALL candidates offer the same rhetoric in a different guise. Except Ron Paul. Paul has been the most consistent and honest over the years, you know where he stands. Paul WILL restore out precious Constitution and Bill of Rights.
Ron Paul IS electable. The only way that he is not electable is if nobody votes for him, not what the media tries to coerce. It is OUR choice.
Please, at least look at the candidates politifacts before casting a vote.
RON PAUL 2012!!
Clear Channel Communications which is owned by Bain capitol(Romneys company) shared with Thomas H. Lee Partners. They have 100 Fox Station under Contract..Fox+Bain own 1/2 the Media. Both buyout leverage co.s(combined 100 bill assets) We remember Refco? How about MF Global?
Thomas H. Lee Partners ownes MF global. Remember the hard drives removed from Romneys Governotorial computers?
People better come to understanding that the Dec 14th meeting in New York this year with the Primary dealers JPMorgan, Blackrock ect was when Romney got final approval from the Federal Reserve for the Presidency. Wall Street is going to get a pass on ever being held responsible for it's action, past present or future. Like Greece or Italy and other countrys Bankers now directly run the Govt. There is no Democracy in a Banker run social order. Leverage is what got the world to where it is at, and The Federal Reserve will blow out the dollar to help the Banks all over the World.
And Romney will be saying 'everything is fine' as our ship goes down. Sad thing is his greed and hunger for power will not allow him to see, he is just another Jon S. Corzine, another ex Govenor, 'Ex Banker-Private equity'
who will be taken to the woodshed by the Bankers. Like Obama or Corizone, Romney thinks you can swim the Sharks. America is about to sleep with the fishes
OBOMBO took more money from wall street than any candidate ever!!!!
Also OBOMBO has NBC, CBS, ABC, PSMNBC, CNN and all the big
hollywood stars and producers behind him pushing his liberal
progressive agenda and brainwashing america! give it a break!
these PSMNBC bias stories are halarious! where any story on OBOMBO's record?
what the demos are doing? nothing it's all slanderous and stupid comments
on the republican race! you know the libs had Peanut Carter up on Reagan
and Carter was slaughtered! keep dreaming of OBOMBO in 2012! it's over!
Would somebody PLEASE tell me ANY candidate that has had a record of fighting for the CONSTITUTION?Who has a record of fighting for the Bill of Rights?Is there any answer other than Ron Paul???I didn't find anyone else.Go look!