Ron Paul, seems like a good guy
Posted by timotheus on December 12th, 2007 filed in News ThingiesNow that it is actually nearing 2008, I am starting to follow the upcoming presidential election. I’ve been sort of listening half heartedly the past year or so to debates, but last night I spent several hours looking over candidates. The big surprise for me? Ron Paul. He’s a Republican, and I like the guy.
Taken from his site http://www.ronpaul2008.com
Brief Overview of Congressman Paul’s Record:
- He has never voted to raise taxes.
- He has never voted for an unbalanced budget.
- He has never voted for a federal restriction on gun ownership.
- He has never voted to raise congressional pay.
- He has never taken a government-paid junket.
- He has never voted to increase the power of the executive branch.
- He voted against the Patriot Act.
- He voted against regulating the Internet.
- He voted against the Iraq war.
- He does not participate in the lucrative congressional pension program.
- He returns a portion of his annual congressional office budget to the U.S. treasury every year.
- Congressman Paul introduces numerous pieces of substantive legislation each year, probably more than any single member of Congress.
At the Republican debate, most honest reason why 9/11 happened, blew me away:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=cQrwKr_b4Lg
Here is a youtube video that highlights a lot of his stands on issues:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=IWfIhFhelm8
There are some points on which I disagree with him (environment being one), but he comes across to me as a sane Republican. He wants small federal government, no IRS, no income tax, stop policing the world, military for just defensive use.. He’s a little bumbly, but it’s like I’ve been hearing slick politicians emit sound bytes forever, and this nice older gentlemen is standing in the middle, trying to say what he thinks is right.
Maybe I’m just a sucker. What do you guys think?
December 16th, 2007 at 18:25
Two things:
Firstly, yes, he seems like a pretty cool guy. I like a lot of his policies as well. Hard top believe he is a Republican, but then again, it is hard to think of that party being that party.
Secondly, I hate the way unordered lists are rendered in this theme. ^_^
December 16th, 2007 at 22:14
You and me both, brother. It is the one major annoyance in this theme.
December 29th, 2007 at 16:59
He does seem like a good candidate, and I agree with many of his platform points, but there are two in particular that I have problems with.
1) He is against abortion. Yes, he is a obgyn with many years of experience, and I can understand his viewpoint as I think abortion is quite a horrific thing. However, if abortion were to be outlawed it would just push it underground and thus endangering many lives. Now, I am skeptical that abortion even would ever be outlawed, but the basic principle of his view is unsettling to me and seems to even go against what he is campaigning for; a small government would stay out of the lives of individuals as much as possible. Regulating abortion is the government’s hand in the womb of every woman.
2) He wants the USA to pull out of the UN. While this seems like a good idea for this country so we can get ourselves together, it would have ramifications beyond what anyone could imagine. I would like to see the USA have less of a global presence, and perhaps not shouldering as much of the UN’s bills as now, but being part of the UN is important to keeping peace. Maybe I am an idealist still, but the UN seems to be the glue holding a few fragile ideas together, and I’ve still got hope for it.
So, those are my two main qualms with Ron Paul. Other than that, he seems like a pretty good guy.