Printer-friendly versionIf you've walked by Williams Hall this year, you've probably seen "Ron Paul" scrawled in large chalk letters across one of its brick walls. No slogan, just the name: a kind of modern-day "Frodo Lives." On first view, its guerilla aesthetic practically cries out for a subtitle: "Google It," "Wiki It," "ask a friend."
Paul, of course, is the Texas obstetrician-turned-G.O.P. congressman running for President. He first caught the world's attention when, at the South Carolina primary debate earlier this year, he blamed U.S. foreign policy for the 9/11 attacks. You could practically see the swell in Giuliani's pants.
Yet curiously enough, Paul's gone on to forge a zealous, generous coalition of disaffected Republicans, disenfranchised libertarians and, less flatteringly, white supremacists and conspiracy theorists. He wants to bring back the gold standard, stick to a strict reading of the Constitution, and challenge the power of the Federal Reserve - planks of a bandwagon that now includes college students across the country, as well. A well-attended rally at Independence Mall compelled our own DP to declare "a college revolution."
Are these really the issues driving "the revolution?" Are students actually clamoring for what Paul stands for?
No, there's something else buoying Paul among college students: the ironic value of a 72-year-old, oft-befuddled diminutive man raving about monetary policy. In a culture of "check this out" oneupsmanship, he's YouTube gold.
After the last seven years, I get that our generation is disillusioned with politics. But Paul isn't the new Howard Dean - he's not in a position to shake up the system. As the Times put it recently: "the internet has harnessed Ron Paul," not the other way around. Our Social Security-collecting hero is caught up in something he probably doesn't understand.
Supporting Ron Paul isn't cool. The irony of your campaign stickers won't impress your friends. This "revolution" is just political apathy masquerading as radical politics: a refusal to engage with the candidates who can actually make a difference in our lives. That's what's really written on Williams Hall.
Just listen to the man's gee-golly rhetoric, and it's clear: there's a lot more to "the Ron Paul revolution" than Ron Paul.
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Yes, you are completely right. Nothing about what Ron Paul stands for warrants support from college students, much less anyone else.
I mean, who really wants to get out of Iraq immediately? Only a few fringe candidates like Paul, Kucinich and Gravel want to do that. Just look at the facts: the people of Iraq want us there, the people of the US want us there, and it's pretty much paying for itself through oil revenues. Thank goodness the current Democratic leadership isn't pushing for us to get out. Iraqis now pose much less of a threat to us than they did before the war and the US is more respected than ever across the world. Clearly, all of these things can be appreciated by us college students.
And he also wants to end the war on drugs?! Sending the drug trade underground where violence becomes the means of enforcing agreements was the best decision this country ever made. Just look at the cesspool that the Netherlands has become with its drug trade policies. Too bad we don't do this with other dangerous substances such as alcohol. And as most college students know, drug use will make you go crazy.
Thanks for pointing out his kooky ideas on monetary policy. Only old people on fixed incomes need to worry about having sound money, so why should we college students care about the issue? It's not like anything we buy is produced overseas or even plan on trading in US currency.
You are absolutely correct on Howard Dean, HE was in a position to shake up the system, and THAT he did as chairman of the DNC. Ron Paul isn't in such a position to change things, and we shouldn't attempt to put him in one. And good job pointing out that it isn't cool to support Ron Paul. The only point of an election is to support someone who others like, so they will like you.
Great editorial, thanks for writing it!
The other candidates "can actually make a difference in our lives," but--and I say this with sadness--they won't. Even if the passion underlying the Ron Paul Revolution were redirected to another candidate, he (or she) would not change his/her policies such that our generation would benefit in a substantial way.
Social Security will financially rape our generation. No one except Ron Paul seems to care or have a plan to stop it without cheating the elderly. The Fed quietly pushes inflation on the people to give temporary prosperity so that aggressive invasions can be carried out in our name, destroying America's reputation before we've even had a chance to really influence her future.
Everyone under 30: If you care about your own well-being, support Ron Paul in every way possible. Even if other candidates are more likely to win, do not turn to them. Compared to the growing elderly and baby boomer population, you are nothing to them. And that's what you'll get in return: Nothing.
I am a Ron Paul supporter. I am also a college student who has been active in politics since before I could vote. I was a part of the movement that saw Joe Lieberman cast out of the Democratic party; the campaign to unseat a Big Government, pro-War Congressman; and several critical municipal-level election battles.
Unlike the image of a Ron Paul supporter you've portrayed in the article above, I engage with candidates who can make a difference in our lives on a regular basis. That is part of the reason why I support Ron Paul- he is steadily climbing in the polls, raising more money than many other front-runners, and clearly expressing his message in a way that makes him a true contender for the White House in 2008. I wouldn't spend time working on a fringe campaign; I have too much else to do.
The tens of thousands of others who have been turning out to rallies, participating in door-knocking efforts, and participating in record-breaking fundraising efforts are even clearer evidence that Ron Paul has long been more than an internet phenomenon. He has, for months, been a front-runner in the race for the Republican nomination.
Like the MSM most negatives about Ron Paul sound similar. "Libetarian" "Crazy" Conspiricy Theories" However Dr. Paul has spent no time in an Crazy House, Been a 10 TEN term Repuplican and Does not back any Conspiricy Theories. (Oh yeah I am Canadain...and we talk openly as does our very own government about that Highway that you American say is not happening, watch some Canadian C-Span or our new networks, oh...and we don't want it either.
So lets talk about why Ron Paul can win, or what fuels the fire.
1. Most money raised this quarter:
We are at worst going to raise 14 million and at best probably 18 million in the Christmas season. Our Candidate has the LEAST amount of Lobby money. It is all from the Internet spammers. So we will triple to near Quadruple our funds from last quarter and during Present buying time.
2. Straw Polls:
I know they mean nothing....not Scientific, however lets look at the value of them. A straw poll is a poll of turnout. Elections are also polls of turnout. Paul wins more straw polls than he loses and does so with no money used...how is this possible? It is possible because his followers are REAl and when the real elections come do you believe they will be sitting on their hands at home?
National Polls "scientific" Are based upon probable Republican Voters.
What are "probable voters"?
This survey is based upon Republicans that voted during the last Primaries....wasn't that ummm....8 years ago? Wouldn't anyone remaining a Republican for 8 years, Thru the Bush years be pretty much a person Happy with what Bush did? Did you know that NEW republicans do NOT get a phone call on these polls? Do you know how many "new" republican joined the party since then and more importantly in the past 6 months?
So in Summary to this point the "Scientific "polls of people that can answer a phone that probably like Bush's direction still has Paul at anywhere from 4-8%, the new Republicans (the ones that go to the straw polls, send in record breaking money and such, the ones that do not get polled, the ones that will flood the polls and not sit at home waiting for a phone call...I wonder what % they give Paul?
Another "scientific" poll fact ...Kerry was at 4% in Iowa the day before the primary....pretty sure he took iowa...or am I wrong?
Add the online polling to the mix and seems to me that Paul is doing a wee bit better than even most of his people think.
Remember 70% of Americans want out of Iraq and only 1 man in the republican party is saying NOW!!
I won't go into Policy as nathan seems to have that summed up nicely.
In Summary......you watch too much CNN or Fox me thinks.
Picking this unapprised article apart is going to be rather fun! Let us begin:
[Paul] first caught the world's attention when, at the South Carolina primary debate earlier this year, he blamed U.S. foreign policy for the 9/11 attacks.
--Yes and conservative pundit, Pat Buchanan, entirely agrees with Congressman Paul's statements concerning U.S. foreign policy. World Net Daily article http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=55763
You could practically see the swell in Giuliani's pants.
--He must have been looking at the 5th or 6th Mrs. Rudy Giuliani. Besides he and McCain wouldn't know history if a two inch text book smashed into their absence of forehead.
Yet curiously enough, Paul's gone on to forge a zealous, generous coalition of disaffected Republicans, disenfranchised libertarians and, less flatteringly, white supremacists and conspiracy theorists.
--Yeah I am not to sure about white supremacists but you try and back that up as I am sure you probably got it from such Neo-con sites as LGF or perhaps the ever trustworthy AP. Conspiracy theorists, I seriously doubt it! More like authentic conservatives that applaud Paul's stance on removing the U.S. from corrupt, non sovereign governing bodies, such as the UN, WTO, NAFTA, CAFTA, world criminal courts that seek to prosecute our troops moreso than George Bush etc...
After all, Paul's campaign is a mirror image of the Ronald Reagan campaigns (by the way Reagan thought the world of Paul) throughout the 60's, 70's, and 80's. Disaffected Republicans? Yes, that's me, no North American Union supporter here.
He wants to bring back the gold standard, stick to a strict reading of the Constitution, and challenge the power of the Federal Reserve
--Gold and silver only to honor the Constitution. You fail to mention, or are probably ignorant of the fact, that he supports most of our monies being backed by Hard Assets. The Fed spends trillions supporting our foreign policy. The money becomes thin, the Fed prints more! Therefore, we have currency backed by only paper with outstanding inflation! The higher the deficit, the worse the inflation. The more inflation, the less peoples equity in their homes, etc. is worth. From that we get an unrealistically low interest rate set by the Fed. One thing leads to another and we've got Billionaire Elites suggesting that we need to drop the dollar, accept the godless Amero under a North American Union with no American Sovereignty left... http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=58877
Are these really the issues driving "the revolution?" Are students actually clamoring for what Paul stands for?
--Yes, Ron Paul is not endorsed by special interest groups- much less the Council on Foreign Relations, Trilateral Commission, and the Bilderberg Group which endorse both GOP and Democrats that forward their world government (for ridiculous profit on the part of the members) agenda. Aside from that, the $10.6 million and counting that he has raised ($12 million in goal) comes from grassroots support just like me. Remember, when the media truly fears your message, they illegitimize you by not even giving you the floor and engage in doublespeak during interviews... obviously there is something in his message!
Our Social Security-collecting hero is caught up in something he probably doesn't understand.
--He is afforded the absolute best retirement plan an American can get by being a member of the Washington Congress. However, since it is taxpayer subsidized, he freely refuses it. When have you ever heard of a politician not accepting tax funds, especially for personal use? That would insist that he's honest!
Supporting Ron Paul isn't cool.
--No, you're not cool. I mean really the cool thing is to stick to the Neo-cons who forward their socialist agenda through National Security measures coupled with Big Government spending while preaching good Christian values... hahaha their currency of choice doesn't even say In God We Trust. What's more socialist than supporting a National ID... Romney, Huckabee, Giuliani, McCain, Thompson care to answer?
Or you could be extra cool and support a racist, socialist cause on the Democrat side through the idea of nationalized healthcare which is nothing more than a catalyst for communism in America. Remember, the only folks that get healthcare in socialism are the ones that can work... forget about the elderly!
--So by all means preach on! Ignorance must be bliss!
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