Posted under Conservatism & Interventionism & Ron Paul & TEA Parties
Judson Phillips of Tea Party Nation gives us his take on the winners and losers of last night’s debate. (You have to sign up for Tea Party Nation, a social networking site, to see it.) He uses the oportunity to takes some shots at Ron Paul, who he clearly doesn’t like and likely doesn’t understand. Here are some excerpts. My thoughts follow.
Ron Paul. It is hard to lump Ron Paul as a winner or a loser. He did his usual ranting around the stage, like a demented old uncle, talking about militarism and war mongering. He basically said no other nation is a threat to America. He is nuts but he has his following. It does not matter what Ron Paul would say, they would be there to stuff a straw poll for him.
The references to mental illness or dementia or whatever are really getting tired. Perhaps Paul’s critics would actually like to make an intelligent argument instead of resorting to name calling like some playground bully. Paul’s critics need to grow up.
As far as other nations being a threat to America, perhaps Mr. Phillips (no relation as far as I know) could enlighten us with some plausible scenarios whereby America is invaded or otherwise attacked by another nation. Is Russian planning to paratroop in Red Dawn style? Does Canada have its eye on Maine? I anxiously await his reply.
Ron Paul will win the straw poll, as winning straw polls is the only thing Ron Paul does well. By winning the straw poll he will pretty much invalidate it.
Oh really? Well isn’t that convenient? (Said in my best Church Lady imitation.) Phillips has apparently been reading George Will. If you don’t like the results, just dismiss them.
These sort of hand waving dismissals of Paul and his supporters are so 2007. The playing field has changed since then. A lot of people have converted to Paulism and even those who haven’t have been exposed to it enough to realize that it is a substantial position and not just lone eccentricity or flakery. Those who are at all informed, whether they agree or not, understand that the Fed, Gold, Constitutionalism, non-intervention, etc. are all part of an integrated whole. So dismissive unsubstantial rant’s like Phillips’ amount to whistling past the grave yard and cater to the lowest element (those who just don’t get it instead of those who know enough to disagree intelligently) and/or are just mean spirited.
Jared on 12 Aug 2011 at 8:58 pm #
I don’t think Ron Paul has ever said “no other nation threatens America”, but what he has been saying is that there is no threat to justify the level of US imperialism in action all across the planet. The domestic economy is on the brink of collapse, but the neocons won’t even consider the possibility of cutting back US imperialism overseas.
And I’m also really tired of the word “defense” being used to describe all US military activity. If you don’t believe in 900 military bases in 130 countries and perpetual outright occupation of Afghanistan/Iraq, then you will be branded as someone who is “weak on defense” or “doesn’t believe in a strong defense”. Utter nonsense.
Brock Townsend on 12 Aug 2011 at 10:09 pm #
Well said and posted.
Kirt Higdon on 13 Aug 2011 at 1:11 pm #
I notice that InTrade Prediction Futures has shifted radically in the last couple of days to reflect that Ron Paul now has slightly better than 50% betting odds of winning the Ames straw poll. And the LA Times just published a very favorable article on him this morning.
C Bowen on 13 Aug 2011 at 10:40 pm #
He remains the rock they break themselves against.
roho on 13 Aug 2011 at 11:33 pm #
Ignorance still abounds in America, and neocons actually nurture it. A young man of about 18 today, mentioned in an informal business gathering that he was considering joining the Armed Forces?………….I asked him if he was the kind of person that would respect the oppinion of the only soldier in America to have won two different Congressional Medals Of Honor? All perked up including another man that had just re-inlisted in the National Gaurd for OCS. I told him to read the book written by General Smedley Butler……………………..All was excited untill they asked the title? “WAR IS A RACKET”…………………….I pointed out that we fight for Coca Cola, Exxon/Mobile, GE, Ratheon, McDonalds, Halliburton, etc, etc, etc…………………….The OCS guy pointed out that we fight them to have the corporations that provide our FREEDOM?
And ofcourse I laughed, and said that never in my life has the Taliban held me at gunpoint between me and my “Big Mac”!
You can’t fix stupid, and before someone thinks I’m a liberal, I’m an old style PALEO.
Run Ron Run!