The two ads below will both run in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina, along with radio versions of both in all four states as well. The buy is in the “multi millions” of dollars. For Paul, who ended the third quarter with just $3.5 million, spending well over half your bank account on an ad campaign is a huge gamble.
October 20th, 2011 at 3:05 pm
A visionary is right. Who has been talking about problems for a long time is right. Who has been talking about America’s problems from his front row seat in Washington D.C. for the past decades, no less. Unable to pass meaningful legislative change or build a coalition of any sort. At least he bills himself accurately. Ron Paul’s role in this election cycle is to keep the other candidates honest. He himself does not have the skills to lead this country. God bless him.
October 20th, 2011 at 3:08 pm
You know…
If not for his “out there” foreign policy, I’d really give Paul a look.
October 20th, 2011 at 3:09 pm
In 2007 I was a truck driver in Vegas. I got really tired of Paul’s negative ads on the radio, especially because they were misleading. His essential message was “vote for me because everyone else sucks, and I’m awesome.”
I understand that this is how he’s branded himself to please his base, but he won’t win with it, and it won’t help him.
Go Romney.
October 20th, 2011 at 3:09 pm
Paul MAINLY targeting Romney and Perry works wonderful for Cain.
October 20th, 2011 at 3:09 pm
The adds comparing the candidates is actually pretty good. Too bad for Paul that he does not have a chance.
October 20th, 2011 at 3:12 pm
Craig, why don’t you man up and let everyone know who you are now? I know it must feel shameful to have changed your support again, and to Herman Cain nonetheless, but isn’t it more shameful to hide behind a screen name where nobody knows it’s you? Others have figured it out already anyway. Come on, be honest, man.
October 20th, 2011 at 3:12 pm
October 20th, 2011 at 3:17 pm
“For Paul, who ended the third quarter with just $3.5 million, spending well over half your bank account on an ad campaign is a huge gamble.”
He just raised over $2 million yesterday in another moneybomb.
October 20th, 2011 at 3:20 pm
2. I can’t believe I’m typing this – but…….
I actually agree 100% with you. I’ve said that same thing for the last 4 years. I just can’t get past the FP stuff – it automatically turns me off and then the rest turns to Charlie Brown’s Teacher speak. Too bad.
October 20th, 2011 at 3:21 pm
So I guess Rich Lowrie’s (cain’s) 999 plan has been out for a while, and now Steve Forbes’ (perry’s) flat tax plan will be coming out soon.
October 20th, 2011 at 3:23 pm
This is how libertarians flush their pot money down the toilet.
October 20th, 2011 at 3:24 pm
Predictions?
When do Romney and Perry get TV ads? Will they wait until December?
October 20th, 2011 at 3:25 pm
12 – Perry won’t wait. He needs to soften up Mitt…
October 20th, 2011 at 3:25 pm
9 – Do you think invading Iraq has been a mistake in terms of national security and economic cost?
October 20th, 2011 at 3:26 pm
I give it another three weeks, tops…
October 20th, 2011 at 3:27 pm
Has anyone tried this tack with Ron Paul supporters?
Q: You are for the free markets right?
A: Right
Q: The markets are better at picking the right course, over government or any other means, right?
A: Right
Q: Then why are you ignoring the markets when it comes to candidates? Mitt Romney’s intrade numbers are about 65%. Ron Paul’s are at about 1%. Isn’t this the free market speaking?
or
You could sum up my whole scenario with the question: Why isn’t the free-market predicting a Ron Paul win?
October 20th, 2011 at 3:28 pm
How many candidates have crash and burned as soon as “craig” has hitch his wagon to them? HHHHHMMMMM, I’m thinking the number is up to 5, soon to be 6 once Cain fizzles?? He has the opposite midas touch, We can only hope he supports Obama in the general
October 20th, 2011 at 3:28 pm
14 – Cost? Maybe. For national security I don’t see how…
October 20th, 2011 at 3:29 pm
7
Romney did go on the attack in 07, yes. During debates, and in ads with McCain, because they were the frontrunners. It wasn’t the core of his message, nor his oft-trumpeted tune. When negatives needed to be addressed, he addressed them. The rest of the time he was constructive, and that’s why I support him.
Because people don’t like to agree with jerks, unless they themselves already are. Make of that what you will.
October 20th, 2011 at 3:29 pm
On a side note – This Cain abortion thing could really hurt him unless he gets out in front of it.
“When you are a front-running candidate, Iowans expect you to know where you stand, and you better have firm footing,” said Tim Albrecht, Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad’s communications director. “Herman Cain says he ‘shouldn’t have to tell them what decision to make,’ but he does have to tell voters where he stands on the issue. This is going to leave a mark, and could cause irreparable harm to him in January.”
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2011/10/20/cains_abortion_comments_could_prove_damaging_in_iowa_111754.html
October 20th, 2011 at 3:29 pm
“End foreign wars and nation building”
Is code for:
“Pull back like a kid who’s just been slapped, retreat into our own little hole in the earth, and step aside to allow China and Russia to reshape global affairs and politics according to their own interests and vision”
Why doesn’t Paul just be honest? He doesn’t want America to be the most powerful nation on earth, and he’s perfectly content to step aside and let Communist China run the show.
US-as-world-police might not be ideal, but it’s a HELL of a lot better than any of the likely alternatives.
October 20th, 2011 at 3:30 pm
18 – You don’t think we’ve enraged any Iraqis whose lives may have been destroyed by collateral damage and have nothing to lose anymore except to seek revenge?
October 20th, 2011 at 3:30 pm
For the record, Craig for Losers is on his FOURTH candidate.
October 20th, 2011 at 3:30 pm
I wonder if Steve Forbes’ flat tax plan will help perry with his HUGE immigration problems that he can’t seem to hide from?
http://gop12.thehill.com/2011/10/forbes-perrys-flat-tax-is-my-labor-of.html
October 20th, 2011 at 3:31 pm
16 – Because Intrade is based on what people THINK will happen based on polling, not what they WISH would happen.
When you buy a television set you look at the specs and the brand and reviews and decide how it’s likely to perform. You’re making a value judgment on a product.
With In-Trade all you’re doing is guessing what other people will do in an election.
If you bought for Obama in 2008, does that mean you want Obama to win?
October 20th, 2011 at 3:33 pm
22 – Maybe we did. So? That doesn’t make it a mistake. Unless you think ANYTHING we do in the Middle East to anger a group of people is a mistake. Like cozying up to the Saudis for oil.
October 20th, 2011 at 3:34 pm
Kilburn, did we retreat from Vietnam? Why didn’t we keep the war going until we conquered the entire country? Again, I don’t see your implication that ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan means retreat. If so, then I guess all the other candidates want to retreat too. Romney supports Obama’s timetable of removing all troops from Iraq by the end of the year and he also supports removing our troops from Afghanistan as quickly as the generals on the ground would like.
October 20th, 2011 at 3:35 pm
25.
That’s actually a pretty good comeback. But I think THIS time americans aren’t going to vote based on emotion or guilt or making history. They want the best guy to fix the economy. They are looking at the specs like you said.
But I get your point, it’s who people think will get the most votes. Not necessarily who is the best candidate. But it’s the closest thing to the free market that I can point to. People putting money on something of their own free will.
October 20th, 2011 at 3:38 pm
26 – I think the unnecessary things we do in the Middle East that can potentially anger a group of radicals is a mistake. One example is us having troops in Saudi Arabia that angers a large group of radicals.
October 20th, 2011 at 3:39 pm
28 – You’re wrong that this time is different. Just look at how many flavors of the months we’ve had. The truth is that a great number of voters are politically uneducated and vote based on superficial reasons.
October 20th, 2011 at 3:42 pm
20
October 20th, 2011 at 3:43 pm
#23 Mass Conservative
“For the record, Craig for Losers is on his FOURTH candidate.”
Thanks for the clarification, So many I had lost count
October 20th, 2011 at 3:48 pm
31
Craig For Losers Who Hides His Name: Cain is ONLY personally pro-life. He clearly stated that he still believes in a person’s right to choose. Anybody with half a brain can see this.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20123284-503544.html
His tweet doesn’t clear this up at all, it just reinforces that he is okay with individuals making their own decision about abortion.
October 20th, 2011 at 3:48 pm
11 OK that was funny
October 20th, 2011 at 3:49 pm
#31 – Let’s hope for Cain’s sake all of those Iowa farmers are on Twitter. (insert sarcasm here)
October 20th, 2011 at 3:50 pm
Cain is where Romney used to be years ago. Because he has never been in a position of political leadership, he has not yet had the epiphany that anyone with a soul cannot in good conscience sign a pro-death document. Romney had that and has melded his conservative personal views with his public persona. It is truly a beautiful thing and I look forward to the day Cain has that same integral moment.
October 20th, 2011 at 3:52 pm
Perry is still scratchin’ his head wondering what the Gardasil problem was. I mean, he really hates cancer and he was only trying to help. Duh huh.
October 20th, 2011 at 3:53 pm
11 what do you think Paul should do with the money? A total makeover? Buy an island and start his own republic? Buy out Disney corporation? Start a line of marijuana laced goods to be marketed exclusively in CA?
October 20th, 2011 at 3:54 pm
Listen to the Cain/Stossel interview: Cain wants abortion to be illegal but doesn’t want the government involved or tell people what to do.
Can anyone explain how this makes sense?
I’m not sure what Paul believes either. I know he wants to change hearts and minds (don’t we all), but, being a libertarian, what does he say about abortion law?
October 20th, 2011 at 3:55 pm
Cain wants people to do it in the privacy of their own homes with a butter knife. Good heavens. Sweet man, very likeable, but as we learned this election cycle experience does matter.
October 20th, 2011 at 3:57 pm
So does judgment.
October 20th, 2011 at 3:57 pm
Intelligence and good instincts.
October 20th, 2011 at 3:58 pm
And most of all, values and integrity. The most elusive of all.
October 20th, 2011 at 3:58 pm
Personal dignity without excessive ego is also desireable. Gotta go now.
October 20th, 2011 at 3:58 pm
29. I think the word you used was very reflective of the difference in opinion. Nobody wants to have our troops over there if it isn’t necessary. But you make a judgement claim that what we do over there is “unnecessary”.
Is this based on your years of foreign travels and deep study of foreign affairs?
Last I checked Obama went in with similar stances (based on his debate answers re: FP) and he has done little to accomplish those things that he said were important to him (ie Gitmo, removing all troops very quickly, limit our involvement in other country issues) But yet here we are with him having to change his tune after being in the presidency and learning more about how the world works.
October 20th, 2011 at 4:00 pm
We must free the oppressed women in the Middle East. We could send elite all-female forces to do it if we really wanted to rub it in. Paul is a pacifist. Muslim extremism and sharia take a warrior, a She-Ra type.
October 20th, 2011 at 4:01 pm
IMO it’s not what a candidate PERSONALLY believes. It’s what he’s prepared to do legally. Mitt made his position clear on Huckabee: Appoint originalist judges, repeal Roe, send abortion law to the states.
Not a perfect solution by any means, admitted Mitt, but better than Roe.
We are never, ever, ever, ever not have legal abortion on this country–at least until the 2nd Coming. The only real question is what is a candidate’s legal stance?
October 20th, 2011 at 4:01 pm
Paul is a doctor, a healer. His type is good for after all the dirty work of keeping this republic free and solvent has been done. Then Paul types can heal the nation. We ain’t there yet.
October 20th, 2011 at 4:01 pm
“unnecessary things”
Like promoting freedom, democracy, etc. – that are the very things this nation stands for? Our foundational values?
Or were you referring to defending our economic interests?
October 20th, 2011 at 4:05 pm
Cain can bring the pizza, Paul the marijuana brownies, and we can all have a good laugh once we’re in the black again and Iran has been walked back down off the ledge. Once our friendships with England, Israel, and the little countries that live in fear of Putin are re-established. What a nightmare this peurile administration has been for all of us, individually and as a nation. I’m thinking the next president should press for reparations.
October 20th, 2011 at 4:06 pm
On our behalf.
October 20th, 2011 at 4:07 pm
45 – We all make our own judgments on what we think is necessary and not. What I do know is that we were sold the idea that Iraq was a threat to the United States because of weapons of mass destruction. That is a fact and not judgment. Since that was the basis of the war, I have made my own judgement that the Iraq war was unnecessary. Also, when and why does Romney support Obama’s plan of drawing down our troops in Iraq by the end of the year? What exactly has changed from four years ago when not one of the candidates would have supported this plan to today when nearly all the candidates are unanimously supporting drawing down by the end of the year? Since I am no foreign policy expert, please enlighten me with what specifically has changed in Iraq in these 4 years that has made this a position supported by everyone.
October 20th, 2011 at 4:07 pm
Puerile or peurile. Points for anyone who knows without looking it up.
Also, do you know of any hardcore supporters of Rick Perry besides Erick Erickson? Erickson actually thought Perry did well in the last debate. Yikes.
October 20th, 2011 at 4:09 pm
52
Is that a joke?
4 years ago, the battle in Iraq was RAGING. The war was still a mess at the time.
We won the Iraq was a couple of years ago, and it’s time to go home.
Back then, quitting would have been a disaster.
October 20th, 2011 at 4:09 pm
Eric, i am in favor of bringing home the troops whenever we have an incompetent commander in chief who is bankrupting the nation and who does not really care about the health and welfare of our troops. That is right now. If we had a competent CiC with American Values, good judgment, and good economic and financial skills, I say spread freedom and democracy strategically until the whole world is free.
October 20th, 2011 at 4:09 pm
It’s not time to beat our swords into plowshares quite yet. Humanity’s best instincts, good will toward all, prosperity for all, longing for Utopia get us in a lot of naive trouble in a dog-eat-dog world.
To every time there is a season. A lot of liberals and libertarians run amok trying to preempt the Millennium.
October 20th, 2011 at 4:09 pm
53
Puerile
October 20th, 2011 at 4:10 pm
25. That is insightful. Very good point about Intrade.
October 20th, 2011 at 4:10 pm
Ron Paul is into bringing about world-wide tyranny through American cowardice, little by little. Ughh. Like Patrick Henry said……
October 20th, 2011 at 4:11 pm
53
Eric Bolling (you know, that stupid empty suit on “The Five”) is a rabid supporter of Perry.
October 20th, 2011 at 4:11 pm
Amen K.G. That’s exactly what I’m trying to say.
I need to send Mass Cons a chocolate cake unless he/she cheated. Congrads.
October 20th, 2011 at 4:12 pm
Kilburn, everyone here wants to promote freedom and democracy. I would like to do it by being a clear example of the prosperity that a free and democratic society brings to us while you would like to do it through the barrel of a gun. Not everything needs to be promoted through government force.
October 20th, 2011 at 4:13 pm
19. I agree. The big difference, by the way, with Mitt’s neg ads vs McCain’s and Huck’s is that Mitt ALWAYS attacked positions, policies, and record. THEY attacked character.
Plus, he stayed truthful and they advertised lies and misrepresentations.
October 20th, 2011 at 4:13 pm
Liz, Romney supports drawing down from Iraq by the end of the year. Is he promoting American cowardice?
October 20th, 2011 at 4:13 pm
Very little needs to be promoted through government force. Except among the drugged, lunatics, and heathen terrorist types. The rest of the world can be left alone.
October 20th, 2011 at 4:15 pm
No. He understands that our current Commander in Chief is incompetent and it’s better not to spend blood and treasure when you don’t have the brainpower or courage at the top to pull out a success. I agree. I would not enlist in the military under this administration. I value my life too much to become a political pawn. Under Romney, I’d be honored.
October 20th, 2011 at 4:16 pm
4 years ago the republican candidates had a very similar concept which was to bring them home when they could but to not give time tables.
Perhaps they feel that it is safe and sufficient to move forward at this point. If I was privy to WH meetings I may have a better answer for you. I’m not looking for enlightenment – I’m just explaining that there is a reason for the difference in opinion between the foreign policy view of Ron P and his supporters vs the other republican candidates and their supporters – and that comes down to an opinion of “necessity” of involvement in other areas of the world.
I’m not trying to slight you. I appologize if it came off that way. I’m just saying that those of us that aren’t in those meeting may be quick to judge on what should and shouldn’t happen.
October 20th, 2011 at 4:17 pm
#59 On the other hand, spilling American blood and wasting American treasure handing the blessings of liberty to a people unable to hold it for themselves may be a fool’s errand.
Pure democracy doesn’t always end well. Considering the immoral, dishonorable, self-centered state of many Americans, it’s still up for debate how our own country ends.
Our problems are not in our politicians, but in ourselves.
October 20th, 2011 at 4:18 pm
64
DUDE, WE ALREADY WON.
It’s NOT inconsistent to support withdrawing when you won!
How stupid are you!?!?
October 20th, 2011 at 4:19 pm
I also trusted George Bush in terms of military endeavors. The guy cared, had solid American values, and seemed to understand that every troop is someone’s son or daughter. He stunk in terms of fiscal issues, but if i was going to have a president that could only do one thing well, that was definitely the era for a “fight terrorism” key. No attacks on American soil during Bush’s time in office. That’s huge.
Know how many troops have died on Obama’s watch? Way more than during George Bush’s time. Obama doesn’t care.
October 20th, 2011 at 4:21 pm
K.G. yep but I believe everyone deserves a chance. Especially the women and children. I’d be willing to fight for freedom for foreign nationals. It’s that important.
October 20th, 2011 at 4:22 pm
Wow…just Wow. You guys have got to be kidding me. No one on this site is a conservative are they? Ron Paul is RIGHT about foreign policy. He is for the christian doctrine of war. Which is essentially, leave everyone alone unless they attack you or your allies. Iraq has been a mistake. Afghanistan? Ron Paul voted to go into Afghanistan because they ATTACKED US. That’s what the christian doctrine of war is. Prepare for war…in order to maintain peace. Do not occupy foreign lands.
October 20th, 2011 at 4:23 pm
Ron Paul is great as an ideas guy, or a martyr type. Limited leadership skills if any, can’t or hasn’t governed, he’s something of a moral relativist and a pacifist, he doesn’t epitomize the basket of American values and ideals that the POTUS should possess. He is big on “freedom”, and light on the responsibility that must accompany it. he adds to the dialogue, but he’s not THE ONE.
October 20th, 2011 at 4:23 pm
“Kilburn, everyone here wants to promote freedom and democracy. I would like to do it by being a clear example of the prosperity that a free and democratic society brings to us while you would like to do it through the barrel of a gun”
So if we just pack our bags from everywhere else and cower here on our own little slice of Terra Firma, acting peaceful and democratic, thats going to take care of all the dictatorship, huh?
Absent US involvement, Saddam would still be in power. Absent US involvement, the Taliban would still control all of Afghanistan. Absent US involvement, Ghaddafi would alive and in charge in Libya. Need I go on?
Like it or not, sitting pretty on our own little hill doesn’t do much at all for the hundreds of millions of people trapped in dictatorship in this world.
====
Its not just that Ron Paul wants to leave Afghanistan and Iraq, its that he wants to leave Afghanistan and Iraq regardless of whether or not they are strong enough to stand as independent democratic states; its that he wants to drastically cut the military; its that he wants to close bases all over the world; its that he wants to make it virtually impossible to embark on any kind of long-term foreign military mission in the future.
Huntsman might be considered the “China candidate” – but so is Paul…because no nation on this earth will benefit more from a reduced USA than China will.
October 20th, 2011 at 4:24 pm
69 – Dude, you need to read what I was replying to. Kilburn was implying that because Ron Paul wants to end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, he wants to retreat. My point was that since all candidates support ending the war in Iraq, then they all want to retreat. You need to make it clear to Kilburn that we’ve already won and it’s time to come home, not me. I would like to come home as soon as possible.
October 20th, 2011 at 4:25 pm
#70 Much has been made the fact that Obama’s “coolness” is actually coldness. Have you EVER seen him tear up about anything? We don’t want a blubbering fool for a POTUS, but we don’t want the unfeeling sociopath we have now.
October 20th, 2011 at 4:25 pm
Wateredseeds, ever read the Bible? You know, the Christian handbook? It will force you to re-vamp your doctrine.
Either way, I prefer this country be lead on principles of decency and what’s in America’s best interest. Not on what drove Biblical militaristic endeavors. Yikes.
October 20th, 2011 at 4:27 pm
#76 – he never sent one red cent to his poverty stricken family members, reports say. He considers a baby a “punishment”. When he speaks, experts classify him as a code red Narcissist. If he doesn’t cry, it’s because he can’t. He’s all dried up with self-importance.
October 20th, 2011 at 4:28 pm
Check the crawl space in the White House. There are probably bodies in there.
October 20th, 2011 at 4:29 pm
“Which is essentially, leave everyone alone unless they attack you or your allies. Iraq has been a mistake. Afghanistan? Ron Paul voted to go into Afghanistan because they ATTACKED US. That’s what the christian doctrine of war is.”
No, in fact, that isn’t the Christian doctine of war. “Beat the hell out of someone because they hit you” isn’t exactly in keeping with the Christian ideal of forgiveness, is it? The theory of just war usually requires a desire to protect life, an existing evil, and noble goal, etc.
All of those conditions have been met by our last three military interventions, and the vast majority of the others in our history.
=====
You would much rather Saddam, Ghaddafi, Taliban, etc. be in power? You would much rather have China as the dominant global force?
Because those are the alternatives.
October 20th, 2011 at 4:30 pm
Kilburn, I agree with everything you just said. If we didn’t get involve, maybe Saddam and Ghaddafi would still be in power, but tell me how it was in our national security interest to get involved militarily in those two countries? There’s no democracy in North Korea. Should we be invading that country too? Also, remember that we had no military involvement in Tunisia and Egypt and those countries were able to dispose of their dictators on their own.
About China, they already are gaining worldwide influence by TRADING with all countries instead of BOMBING them.
October 20th, 2011 at 4:30 pm
I like Ron Paul as a person, but there is nothing in him that allows me to consider him as presidential. Clearly, most of the country shares that sentiment. If he wins, he wins by absolute default, and this cycle we really have to get it right. He’s been running for decades, and he probably suspects this is his last shot. He is weak on substance, but really solid on one or two things and he is an ideologue. He is rigid. That’s not right for this current crises.
October 20th, 2011 at 4:30 pm
We could change the name of our troops to the Lord’s Resistance Army.
October 20th, 2011 at 4:34 pm
“but tell me how it was in our national security interest to get involved militarily in those two countries?”
To an extent, yes…because terrorism is often driven by dictatorship. Is it a coincidence that many of the insurgents in Iraq came from Eastern Libya – the most beat-down region in the most oppressed Arab country? I think not.
There are only two conditions under which tyranny can be overthrown: 1) a refusal of domestic troops to fire on civilians (as was the case in Egypt, Tunisia, etc.)… or 2) Foreign intervention.
===
Sometimes you have to think beyond the question of “can X nation attack me within the next five years?” and look at the broader picture.
===
Keep in mind, AMERICA is the product of foreign intervention.
October 20th, 2011 at 4:35 pm
Liz,
I have read the bible. I own a christian bookstore, study the bible daily…teach adult Sunday School, am considered an expert in eschatology by many….and am very well versed in the word of God. The biggest exception to the biblical doctrine of war….is the purging of the middle east(by Joshua) of the seed of satan. Though most people have no idea what i’m talking about….this was still a just war because it was an end to the attacks of the nephilim and their descendents upon the people of the earth. The nephilim brought destruction upon the land…and upon people. The ending of the nephilim happened in David’s time starting with his battle against goliath.
October 20th, 2011 at 4:36 pm
71 Liz: I hear ya’. But should the POTUS commit blood and treasure on behalf of the American people for a quixotic attempt to bring freedom to a country were the odds are low they will be able to take advantage of it and there’s no compelling US national interest?
Look at the Arab Spring countries. Does their revolution just pave the way for the Muslim Brotherhood and things become worse instead of better? Trump (he could be wrong) claims that as soon as we move out of Iraq, Iran take over and takes their oil.
America is neither rich enough nor powerful enough to be the Great Liberator of the world.
I had mixed emotions when we went into Iraq. I thought if we could gift them with freedom that would be a wonderful thing. And the other hand, the best case against a successful Iraq could be summed up in one word: Mexico.
Somebody please tell me (maybe it’s too soon to tell): What good did we actually do for America in Iraq? This is a sincere question.
October 20th, 2011 at 4:36 pm
Ron Paul was a member of Congress in 1984. I know about massive bipartisan corruption in the government in 1984, and the 98th Congress blatantly violated the Constitution as part of it. Like every other member of Congress, Paul was not going to stick his neck out and expose it. Ron Paul, the alleged “Constitutional purist,” is a hypocrite.
October 20th, 2011 at 4:40 pm
Kilburn, IF we never invaded Iraq, do you think a terrorist attack would have been planned out of Iraq or have been carried out by an Iraqi?
October 20th, 2011 at 4:40 pm
86,
The answer is….no good has come from it. Blood has been shed and there is no freedom in iraq. One of the first things the new government in iraq did was outlaw christianity. Why have democracy if it doesn’t give you freedom? The fact is, no matter what type of government exists there, it will always be a tyrant government. I wanted to go to Iraq, but i was wrong…just like the other 86% of americans that were for it at the time.
October 20th, 2011 at 4:41 pm
87 – Care to cite some facts?
October 20th, 2011 at 4:43 pm
“America is neither rich enough nor powerful enough to be the Great Liberator of the world.”
The fact that we can’t do everything is hardly an excuse for not doing anything…
===
Does the Arab Spring pave the way for islamic governance, etc.?
Perhaps, and in the short term. But in the long term, the answer is almost surely no. Even Hamas couldn’t get re-elected in Gaza now. And if the Egyption people aren’t going to stand for a revolution hijacked by the Army, they certainly aren’t going to stand for a revolution hijacked by islamists.
October 20th, 2011 at 4:47 pm
Girls can go to school in Iraq now. Sadaam Hussein and his nasty boys don’t grab women off the street anymore to have them raped and devoured by dogs. Call me old fashioned, but that makes me feel better about the whole thing.
I fully supported the Iraq war. It was a success. I have nothing against Mexico. Yes, they have a corruption problem, but hee hee now we have a third world president, so do we!
I agree though, you have to figure if you have a legitimate shot at victory or if you’re just wasting ….blood and treasure. That’s why the Commander in Chief can’t be a rube – he/she usually ends up making the bulk of that call. That’s also why our country can’t be broke. That leads to WHY I support Mitt Romney for president this cycle. He gets it, he has skills, I trust his judgment in important matters.
October 20th, 2011 at 4:51 pm
91,
The problem with your logic is that those countries are predominantly muslim. They have no problem supporting muslim leadership…they just don’t want that leadership to be “oppresive”. Which is exactly why hamass was elected in the first place. They promised to provide education, healthcare etc. and anything else that the people thought they needed. They were seen as humanitarians by the people….and the people didn’t care that they were terrorists. The same is true of Egypt. They will vote for the people that are muslim, but not oppressive in an aggressive sense. And the fact is, Egypt, Jordan, Syria etc. will attack Israel again sooner rather than later. Most likely within the next 3 years. Which means they will be controlled by people that hate israel. Did you not see that the people of egypt tore down the wall of the israeli embassy and sent the israel ambassador home to israel? Egypt will rally behind the people that speak out again israel….they will rally around the people that talk like hitler did.
October 20th, 2011 at 4:52 pm
Here’s the problem with Cain not knowing anything about the Neocon Movement. GWB ran on building the economy and a “humble foreign policy.” Then people surrounding him convinced him he could go down in history as the Great Liberator. (And maybe make Christian inroads in the ME.) Heady stuff.
We need a POTUS with his head on straight. There is something to be said for a Pax Americana to keep the bad guys at bay.
Yes, a strong defense (Paul doesn’t disagree with a strong defense, BTW), but things have changed for America. We are a poor, debtor nation. We cannot be partying like it’s 1955.
October 20th, 2011 at 4:54 pm
92 – “That’s also why our country can’t be broke.” Great point. Our country is broke period. We are the largest debtor nation in the history of the world. We have $15 trillion of debt with a GDP of $15 trillion. Our debt/GDP ratio is 100%. We have unfunded liabilities of at least $50 trillion. We don’t have the resources to conduct all these military adventures anymore. Think about how the welfare recipients are going to react when we cut their benefits and their programs but increase our defense spending. You think the public will take that well? Greece is having violent protests right now because they are making essential cuts to government programs. Imagine if they were making those cuts while fighting a war in Iraq and spending more money on it. How much more violent will the riots be? What’s happening in Greece can happen here, regardless of who is President.
October 20th, 2011 at 5:00 pm
Sharia law is “oppressive”. Just the part about women being dogs or property and not people, or sumsuch.
Wateredseeds i”m glad you read the Bible a lot and sell Bibles. God would authorize war a lot in the Bible. Through a prophet. So…who fills the role of prophet in our country? See, that’s where the Biblical method for declaring war gets sticky. Because either God is telling obama to war with a lot of middle eastern countries, or….Obama’s incompetent and a bit crazy. And my guess is that God would fall just about silent i terms of war, if Ron Paul were president. Probably be a lot of “turn the other cheek” going on. So…I’m more in favor of using good old fashioned common sense, cost-benefit analysis, with intelligence input and military expert opinion..and i am pretty much a believer in the general consensus of the American people…and hopefully everyone is just reading and studying the Bible on their own, in the quiet of their own personal study. I’m comfortable with that.
October 20th, 2011 at 5:01 pm
My friend, a hard-core conservative, worked at the Pentagon. She said the wanton waste was enough to make you throw-up.
I thought I did hear Romney say one way to get the economy going was through more “defense spending.” Hmmm…….
I wish all the candidates had more of Ron Paul in them.
October 20th, 2011 at 5:04 pm
95 – but don’t be one-sided Eric. We have LOTS of untapped energy resources. We have the grand canyon and hollywood. We have a relatively educated work force. We have lots of federally owned but stagnant property that could be auctioned back into the private sector. We can charge more for movies and Levis. This country was the greatest economic engine the world has ever known, feeding the world, for decades and decades. It can be so again – with the right conducter up front. Paul has a vision of decline. Romney is talking big – he sees a brand new engine using cutting edge technology with very little overhead burdening it, fueled by freedom, powerful enough to FUEL THE WORLD! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHHAHAHAHH!!!!
October 20th, 2011 at 5:04 pm
Rick Perry hasn’t yet said how he is going to adapt the Texas job plan to fit the Country, but on Friday he will be putting out a Flat Tax plan with taxes everyone across the board a Value added tax of 23% on EVERYTHING…
Perry and Cain are so out of touch from the American people..Far reaching Tax schemes are the last things people care about right now.
October 20th, 2011 at 5:05 pm
They serve wantons in the Pentagon? I thought we didn’t like Chinese.
October 20th, 2011 at 5:05 pm
VAT? Flat tax yes, VAT and I say you are a Communist.
October 20th, 2011 at 5:06 pm
Texas has higher property tax than California. That’s why we didn’t move, even though the job is there. (Through a Chinese company.) That and the vast expanse of Toll Roads. $3.50 daily to commute to work. Multiply by 356…..
October 20th, 2011 at 5:07 pm
#95 -
I’m not saying we have to spend exactly what we spend now, do things exactly as we do now, and all that.
As McCain, and Romney have both supported…lets form a GLOBAL alliance of Democracies that can work to promote freedom…something beyond the scope of NATO, without having to get approval from dictatorships like we do at the UN.
Lets take some of that money we spend now on a largely incoherent foreign policy, and put it into funding, training, and probably arming supporters of democracy in other places.
October 20th, 2011 at 5:07 pm
#100 Ok, Liz, you busted me.
October 20th, 2011 at 5:11 pm
K.G. Would you privatize the military? That’s interesting. Don’t know that you could. But I would certainly look into it. I certainly trust Fed Ex more than I do TSA. I know our current president couldn’t get a top secret clearance under the old rules. Guess they just circumvented that requirement. Biden can’t keep a secret to save his soul. Why shouldn’t we privatize?
October 20th, 2011 at 5:11 pm
#103: There a good case to be made that everything needs rethinking and retooling. Leaner, smarter, more effective America. We are becoming an ungovernable, unsustainable country.
The problem is we need radical change at a time that we need stability and predictability. We kicked the can down the road and now the chickens have come home to roost–to mix a few metaphores.
October 20th, 2011 at 5:12 pm
Here’s my other question. Does Ron Paul have any, any fiscal or economic experience, at all? I noticed his campaign is running with no debt, as is Romney’s. Beyond that very positive indicator, has he ever handled money or run a business?
October 20th, 2011 at 5:13 pm
106 We are not ungovernable. That is a George Soros the anti-Semite talking point. But a leaner, smarter more effective America are Romney catch phrases. You just revealed your inner id.
October 20th, 2011 at 5:15 pm
We’ve been governing ourselves for 200+ now. No one else is even close. You mean, we are ill suited for dictatorships. I like that about us.
October 20th, 2011 at 5:17 pm
Kilburn, do you support Romney’s plan to increase our defense spending?
October 20th, 2011 at 5:18 pm
Because:
1) I can hear the air escaping from the Cain bubble.
2) Socons are so divided and demoralized.
Romney’s only threat in Iowa is now Ron Paul. I think Romney wins Iowa…if he wants to. I thought Santorum might have a chance in Iowa until the latest debate, but the guy just comes off as unlikable, negative and hostile. Romney is a real charmer compared to the two Ricks.
October 20th, 2011 at 5:19 pm
#105 A private military? Never considered it. Sounds scary. The military needs to be under control of the POTUS and the Congress. How to cut waste, fraud and abuse in government is a monumental task. Mitt ran on that last time but….I don’t know….it’s baked in the cake, I’m afraid.
Paul wants to cut and slash….entire departments. It sounds great but then you have a lot of people out of work. They lose their homes and the dominos start to fall.
Have you been to DC? Have you seen the Department of Agriculture? One building takes up several city blocks. What goes on in there?
October 20th, 2011 at 5:20 pm
#111 “Romney is a real charmer compared to the two Ricks.” Hilarious! Or sad.
October 20th, 2011 at 5:21 pm
Liz, I think Ron Paul may have ran his own medical practice as an OB/GYN before he entered Congress. I’m not 100% sure about that though. His investment portfolio is released every year for financial disclosure purposes and he’s always kept a large majority of his portfolio in gold since the 70s when gold was only $35 an ounce.
October 20th, 2011 at 5:29 pm
112 K.G. It never breaks my heart when government employees lose their unecessary jobs. And I was a fed employee once. They will find a renewed sense of worth in the private sector, will likely lose weight, and get off the anti-depressants.
October 20th, 2011 at 5:29 pm
PAUL, Ronald Ernest, (father of Rand Paul), M.D., Duke University Medical Center, Durham, N.C., 1961; internship and residency training, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Mich., 1961 and 1962; obstetrics and gynecology training, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa., 1965-1968; medical doctor; United States Air Force, 1963-1965.
October 20th, 2011 at 5:31 pm
Well I’m pretty solid on we need CEO experience, and Ma & Pop is cool but insufficient. Ron Paul is an ideas guy, not a leader.
October 20th, 2011 at 5:33 pm
The gold hoarding is intrigueing, but shows me Paul is risk averse to the point of being……let’s just say there are three groups of people generally speaking. Blue collar. Professional. And entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs make America possible. We can get blue collar and professionals from anywhere in the world, but without entrepreneurial DNA, America doesn’t go. Paul is a professional at best. Romney is pretty solid entrepreneur, and a conservative one at that. I know that, because he’s not broke, like Trump, who is a liberal entrepreneur. Am I clear? Hoarding gold is a sure sign of a non-entrepreneur.
October 20th, 2011 at 5:35 pm
K.G.
The government does not pay for anything, and the government does not pay the salaries of all those unnecessary employees. We, the people (those who pay taxes) pay them. Currently, the government borrows the money to pay them, and we, the people, have to pay it back.
It is time for the parasites to go out and get real jobs.
October 20th, 2011 at 5:36 pm
That’s why Ron Paul’s approach to governing is shut down shop, stop all spending, because the money could run out at anytime and we’re going to need our gold reserves and legal dope to get by.
For an entrepreneur, the future is always much rosier because they money doesn’t run out in their minds. The engine is just tweaked, revved, and production and ideas and technology is stepped up and so are revenues.
Liberals focus primarily on the spending side. Keep spending, the more the faster the better, until the cancer sucks the American body dry and it drops. Then the communist libs go slumming looking for another nation or group of wealthy, dumb people that they can convince need them to manage their wealth for them. Bloodsuckers.
October 20th, 2011 at 5:38 pm
#108 Liz: Have to disagree with you there. The Founders pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor to secure the blessings of liberty for themselves and their posterity.
Today, most Americans couldn’t begin to read much less understand the writers of the Founders or those who influenced them. Most Americans have no clue who the vice-president is. The education is a disaster in teaching First Principles to the rising generation.
Look how susceptible people are to being enticed into the OWS deception. And then FOX shows a bunch of hostile seniors (an AARP ad) standing in solidarity: We earned our entitlements; don’t you dare take them away. Grrrr……
Nobody is willing to have anything taken away; like a Charles Dickens’ orphan and Samuel Gompers they all want “more.” And most are willing to take to the streets to get it.
If anybody other than “Barack” wins the presidency, there might be blood in the streets. If the new POTUS were to start making “austerity cuts,” there would be blood in the streets for sure.
God, guns, gold, gardens and gluten (for you homemade bread). It’s a lot easier to see how this all comes down than how it doesn’t.
October 20th, 2011 at 5:39 pm
When America began to rise…..the communists from Europe began eyeballing increasing American wealth in the hands of dumb farmers and hicks, and they began salivating. If they couldn’t take the wealth by force…they would have to infiltrate, re-educate, and get the dumb Americans to hand it over voluntarily. You are seeing the culmination of that effort now, except with OCCUPY you can see they are smelling victory and losing their finesse and patience as they defecate in public places and scream for the money NOW!!!!
October 20th, 2011 at 5:39 pm
Having CEO experience does not mean someone understands the economy. Look at Cain. He said Alan Greenspan was the best Fed Chairman of the last 40 years. Any economist who believes in the free market understands that Greenspan kept rates too low for too long which precipitated the housing bubble and the greatest financial collapse since the Great Depression. Having known all that, Cain still praised Greenspan. CEO experience is not the same as understanding economics.
October 20th, 2011 at 5:43 pm
Politico noted that he had prepaid for a huge ad buy in its review of Ron Paul’s FEC report so I’m not sure this halves his cash on hand at that time.
In any event, Ron Paul took in another $2.3 million yesterday in another moneybomb, so he seems to be in decent shape.
October 20th, 2011 at 5:46 pm
119: I agree. Except right now there are no real jobs outside of government. In fact, governmenmt is where all new grads are trying to go.
This has always been my plan: There are counties in W.VA who have 3rd and 4th generational welfare. Get taxpayer money (I totally agree with you there) to help them move to Vegas, where 1000′s of illegals work as hotel maids and restaurant help. Send the illegals packing and put the welfare recipients to work in Vegas, etc.
As for 99ers on unemployment: Get them out in the San Joaquin valley picking lettuce. Get out of work lawyers picking lemons.
But you know this will never work. People will take to the streets and destroy the nation in a big fat tantrum before they will actually do menial work to feed themselves. When the nanny’s tah-tah runs dry, all hell will break loose.
The thought has occurred to me that we’re almost better off with Obama in office a second term than upsetting the apple cart sooner rather than later.
October 20th, 2011 at 5:46 pm
K.G. If you are saying many don’t govern themselves, OK. But they can, and would if it were required of them. We are in that process now. The economic and social pain is being cranked up substantially by those that want us to relinquish all our money and freedom to them and their causes, and people are starting to rub their eyes and say, oh no, we are going to have to educate ourselves and take back the country once again. And we will. If we elect the right leadership this round. Another mindless goof-up like last time, and I say we’re pretty close to cooked barring an act of God.
October 20th, 2011 at 5:49 pm
Having CEO experience does not mean someone understands the economy. But not having CEO experience means someone does not have any practical experience managing an economy, of any scale. Do you wanna risk it? I don’t.
October 20th, 2011 at 5:50 pm
Someone should look into whether the drug trade is fueling Ron Paul’s campaign directly or indirectly. All the Paulies I know have drug histories. Just saying.
October 20th, 2011 at 5:51 pm
126: Liz You are way more optimistic than I am. I hope you’re right; I’m going to act as if you’re right.
But, buy some guns, OK?
October 20th, 2011 at 5:53 pm
129 I have guns, I told you I was in federal law enforcement. I’m also risk averse like Ron Paul, but I don’t hoard gold because you can’t eat it or shoot it.
I’m also not running for president.
October 20th, 2011 at 5:54 pm
It’s not the politicians, it’s the people. You could have the best POTUS on earth, but if they people are rotten, the country will be rotten. And more and more of the people are rotten.
Why do we have all these horrible border wars and 50,000 people dead in MX? Because of American drug users. American drug users have destroyed MX and now the US.
October 20th, 2011 at 5:54 pm
I also hoard sardines and mandarin oranges, I think that will be the new currency if Romney does not get elected. But I am optimistically beginning to tap into the reserves because it is looking really good lately. Who know Rick Perry would be so…..special?
October 20th, 2011 at 5:56 pm
K.G. The people aren’t rotten!? Are you rotten? No. Am I rotten? No. I have lots of family and friends who are not rotten, likely you do to. All the rotten people are assembling at OCCUPY sites, and you see how sparse that has been. The majority of Americans are AWESOME, we have just been busy and sleepy and therefore have allowed ourselves to be co-opted. I feel pretty solid on this. It’s going to work out, just do the right thing in the voting booth.
October 20th, 2011 at 5:56 pm
#130 Ha, Liz. I didn’t know you were in law enforcement. I feel better now. And I feel the same way about gold.
October 20th, 2011 at 5:59 pm
#133: Are you from CA? It’s CA voters that make me realize how dumb otherwise smart people can be.
And I think people can get rotten real fast when things don’t go their way and the Cunning One gets them stirred up.
October 20th, 2011 at 6:07 pm
I lived in CA for 12 years. I’ts beautiful. San Diego is a conservative area that makes one see the possibilities for the whole state. It has a union-cancer and corruption problem now. Will it survive…..I hope so. I’m planning to return very soon.
October 20th, 2011 at 7:03 pm
Ron Paul convinced me I vote for Romney/Cain 2012, the men with the know how to WIN!!!!!
October 20th, 2011 at 7:05 pm
I think both of these are excellent. While my top three candidates are Johnson, Huntsman and Paul in that order, I think Johnson and Paul are the only two true Small Government republicans in this race. Everyone else is fighting to be mandator-in-chief or chameleon-in-chief or big brother-in-chief.
October 20th, 2011 at 7:10 pm
I think in the main Paul is right… sort of, but this country has lasted a long long time doing pretty much this.
The last few years have been awful, I think we are looking at the entire world through what happened in the last few years and we are more alarmed than we need to be.
We have faced down socialists and communists before. We can do this, and it doesn’t have to be the complete disertion of civilization that Ron Paul advocates.
I think there is a certain romance to the idea that our entire society is collapsing around us. How many books have been written, how many movies have followed that exact script? It is romantic, it is compelling. But it is not reality.
It is sort of like that game all children play when they are children that they are orphans and have to fend for themselves. For some reason that is a kind of universe idea that appeals to children. But I don’t know of any child who prefers that fantasy play to their own parents. It is a game.
Somehow I think some of the talkers out there are caught up in the adult version of that.
Yes, be prepared for the worst, but don’t let it become self-fulfilling prophecy. Don’t ditch our society because the idea that somehow it might happen plays with your mind.
October 20th, 2011 at 9:47 pm
Hahaha…..who is posting as K.G. now?
October 20th, 2011 at 11:45 pm
69. Based upon what criteria do you say we won?
October 20th, 2011 at 11:55 pm
72. I don’t know how to classify my view as conservative, or not, but…
I think think the intent of the Iran war was sound. The execution of it SUCKED.
Lots and lots of credible intel suggested they were working on nuclear capacity and had weapons of mass destruction.
How many months (was it over a year) was there multiple UN warnings?
How many times did UN inspectors get locked up for hours while Iran cleaned up anything they didn’t want the inspectors to see?
This was a very bad man with very bad intentions.
Well, we didn’t find the WMDs. But, they had MONTHS of obstruction to hide, move, or destroy them.
What drove me crazy was the shortsightedness of thinking everyone would praise US as liberators. They zoomed their initial trucks right by dozens of key villages without sending anyone in to explain what there plan was or to work on creating alliances. No flyers. Nothing.
They had no plan for dealing with all the chaos the shock and awe caused.
They gutted their military, which left how many thousands of trained fighters angry and rudderless and with no sources of income. How could you not consider that they might join the militants?
I absolutely agree with the concept of beating the enemy over “there” before they have a chance to come over “here”.
As for Obama, I think he really screwed up Libya. Yeah, we got rid of another really bad man, but what’s going to replace it? There’s no plan. Just hope.
October 20th, 2011 at 11:57 pm
74. Matthew, I’m with you 100% on that post.
October 21st, 2011 at 12:02 am
81. The primary purpose was not to bring democracy to Iran. Saddam was looking to become a clear and present danger.
I’m not convinced Libya was the right call, though.
The guy was not working to attack us. He was horrible to his own people and his own people rose up against him. I’m so so sure it was right for us to join that — especially without having a plan for what replaces the dictator and how their very dangerous weapons get protected from falling into enemy hands.
October 21st, 2011 at 12:04 am
BTW, I also agree with Trump that once we overthrew Saddam and his government that we absolutely should have TAKEN (or insisted to be GIVEN) enough oil to cover our costs of the initial attack and ESPECIALLY our ongoing peacekeeping efforts there.
October 21st, 2011 at 12:07 am
97. Romney has acknowledge there’s huge inefficiencies in military spending. He is an expert and finding such and getting rid of it. He wants to take the saved money from wasteful military spending and reinvest into effective military spending.
That helps our strength. It becomes an even better deterrent to attacks. AND it helps the economy through the spending.
October 21st, 2011 at 12:10 am
99. Just to note. A LOT of well respected conservative think tanks have been advocating replacing the graded income tax with either a flat income tax or with a national sales tax.
They have great conservative arguments for that, but I haven’t studied them.
What I DO know is that, regardless of merit, something that sweeping just won’t pass the general election for Prez.
A good president MIGHT be able to get support for sweeping changes like that, but only after getting elected and still not likely.
Again, if almost 50% of the voters pay no tax, how do you get them to vote for you if you’re going to create a tax that applies to them, equally?
October 21st, 2011 at 12:18 am
138. “mandator-in-chief”? Was that a dig against Romney?
After all the explanations of the differences between the two plans and how consistently Romney has declared he’s against ANY national plan, do you really believe that’s what Romney would do as President?
October 21st, 2011 at 9:33 am
Paul just raked in another $2.5 million in the past 38 hours. He makes his TV buys months in advance, that is why jis cash-on-hand seemed low, he has already bought air time that has not been used yet. Paul, unlike the other candidates, actually knows what his strategy is.
October 21st, 2011 at 5:21 pm
Fox news on “the five” just said that the ad was pulled because CNN was not okay with him using him using their footage.
December 20th, 2011 at 2:57 pm
wake up people RON Paul is the only hope everything he wants to do end the fed END the IRS income tax yes even bring home the troops all this is correct thing to do we have gone 7 trillion more in debt with this you have heard them state ” we are hording off a depression ) so print more money hand it out ??? we need to restore our republic , state rights , and end all those 1933 statue laws and end the fed the money first must be lawfully back under art 1 section 10
please roll over your party and become inlisted vote ron paul everyone join the republic party trash the party not the man
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