Purple Tang

Afraid that I will have to agree that morality and ethics are generally found on the fringes of our social fabrics. It is kooky to be sure. Truther as well.

emptypepsi

Oh come now, Tang. You know better than to interrupt a sophomoric name calling tirade with new and possibly conducive information!

__________________
"The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom."
Isaac Asimov

donsutherland1

Joeblough,

Mr. Paul is counting on a combination of nascent neo-isolationism, discontent with the situation in Iraq, and public dissatisfaction with President Bush to give him a breakthrough in the polls. To date, it hasn't occurred, as he remains stuck at 2% or less in the polls.

Neither the absence of a foreign policy--which most Americans would likely find unrealistic--nor scare tactics will change the dynamics. On January 11, 2007, he declared, "We should remember that Iran, like Iraq, is a third-world nation without a significant military. Nothing in history hints that she is likely to invade a neighboring country, let alone do anything to America or Israel. I am concerned, however, that a contrived Gulf of Tonkin- type incident may occur to gain popular support for an attack on Iran."

Let's dissect this statement:

1) Iran does not lack "a significant military." In fact, at last word, Iran's military is second strongest in the Middle East and has some 500,000 soldiers.
2) President Ahmadinejad has said Israel must be "wiped off the map."
3) The idea of a "Gulf of Tonkin-type incident" is pure cynical speculation.

In the end, Mr. Paul's facts concerning Iran are incorrect. At the same time, he is offering unsubstantiated speculation. Combine this with his lack of a foreign policy--neo-isolationism is essentially an abdication of foreign policy--in the international affairs realm, Mr. Paul is not a credible or serious candidate. Considering the foreign policy challenges that confront the U.S., this reality will likely ensure that he remains little more than a marginal candidate (<5% in most or all primaries) during primary season.

Purple Tang

After listening to Bush slaughter the English language for eight years now, we have come to overlook mishaps in the choice of words. Especially when they are far less blatant and simple as "we decided to pull building 7" (it was pretty close to that).

As for the polls, I could have sworn that Mr Paul has outperformed the other candidates at the debates. Though Fox did show Mr Paul slipping to second with three minutes to go.

John Q Public has largely never heard of Mr Paul. How can they possibly support a candidate they have never heard of?

donsutherland1

Purple Tang,

Having watched all the debates so far, I believe Mr. Paul performed reasonably well in the debates so far. On the notable exchange with Mayor Giuliani, he missed the chance to explain "blowback." Then, he might have come out stronger.

Nonetheless, to date, his positions have not resonated with the voters.

The polls to which I'm referring to are those that concern for whom one would likely vote. I wasn't talking about debate performance polls. One can do well in the debates, but hold positions that don't appeal to the voters.

The most recent opinion poll to come out on the Republican race is the American Research Group Poll (7/9-12). The voter preferences were as follows:

Giuliani: 30%
F. Thompson: 17%
McCain: 14%
Gingrich: 10%
Romney: 10%
8 candidates (including Paul): 1%
Pataki: 0%

That's not much different from the USA Today/Gallup Poll taken on 7/6-8.

micfranklin

It's too bad most, if not all, of what he says is the truth. Watching all of the debates recently, I'd say he's given the most reasonable responses out of any candidate this election.

Purple Tang

There are significant advantages to being backed by the power elite. Here in Colorado, I have yet to meet a Giuliano supporter. The Republican party has largely yet to hear about Giulianos history with gun control, gays, abortion, mistresses, and multiple marriages.

His mean streak will also likely eventually manifest itself. George Bush's complacency contradicts personality characteristics that tend to turn off voters. Thus his success at coming off as a genuine fellow next door type of guy. The somewhat lazy candidate does sometimes enjoy a significant advantage in personability.

emptypepsi

micfranklin makes the best sense here. The point is not whether he is "perfect" or anything, but that he makes the most sense out of anybody and answers with responses that resemble an original thought, which is not hardly what I can say for anyone else behind the podium. The fact that he is being smeared and attacked left and right by those towing the party line makes my intrigue of his candidacy grow even more.

__________________
"The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom."
Isaac Asimov

donsutherland1

Given the historic experience associated with isolationism and the major foreign policy challenges that confront the U.S., I have to beg to differ that Congressman Paul "makes the most sense out of anybody" when it comes to foreign policy. Neo-isolationism is no antidote for neoconservatism.

Purple Tang

It is becoming clear that your purpose here is too beat the drums about Dr Pauls wishes to leave other nations conduct their own business without pre-emptive strikes and military invasions.

You seem to be the persistent type. I suggest that you call him an isolationist rather than confound so many by unnecessarily using compound adjectives.

Actually Dr Paul was interested in doing trade with other nations with is contradictve with traditional isolationism (example being the closed door policies of China before the central bankers opened it up)