The big CPAC conference was this last weekend and as usual the news media channels were talking all about it today...CPAC has been seen for many years as a stepping stone for those who wish to win the Republican Presidential Nomination but this year CPAC was just a little different...
Firstly, Sarah Palin was strangely absent from CPAC unlike most other Presidential wanna-bes. This cause a high ranking member at CPAC to remark that she might as well forget running for President in 2012. And while many have claimed Palin as the leader of the Tea Party movement she has made statements as of late that suggests she still doesn't see the need for a third party just yet...but her absence from CPAC does make one wonder...
Secondly, as per every CPAC, they hold a vote to whom the members believe should face Barack Obama in 2012 and al the usual suspects were on the list with a few oddballs including: Sarah Palin, Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, Tim Pawlenty, and Ron Paul. As per her absence one could guess fairly easily that Palin did not do well in the poll and you would be right. Mrs. Palin got a mere 7% of the vote, doing a little better than Huckabee at 4% and Tim Pawlenty at 4%..but who was the winner? Ron Paul!....Now let that soak in for a second...the winner of CPAC's big poll was none other than the Libertarian Anti-Tax King Ron Paul at 31%, beating Romney by 9%!
Now many of MSNBC's TV personalities have used Ron Paul's win (and the boos that ensued after he was annouced the winner) to show the Republicans are a scattered and confused bunch...and perhaps they are right but there is something that bothers me about how MSNBC reported this story...What's so wrong with Ron Paul? Most Liberals still treat Ron Paul like some crazy man because he thinks the IRS and Federal Reserve should be done away with and more fair and efficient tax system should be created...Radical ideas? Perhaps but I can't say that I blame him for the way he feels because we now see today how corrupt and dysfunctional our tax system really is...and more imporantly, I think Ron Paul should be remembered not for his radical ideas but for something very few members of Congress have today...integrity.
Ron Paul is one of the few members of Congress that actually votes how he believes and stands up for his beliefs instead of giving in to lobbyists and partisan fighting...and is one of the most consistent members of Congress. I have always considered Ron Paul to be a great American and while I may not agree with all of his ideas at least he doesn't just scream and hallow at the opposition and blatantly lie to the American people...he speaks his mind and he backs it up on the House floor and for that we should give him a freaking award!
Ron Paul, I salute you!
Votes how he believes? He jacks up the budget by adding more in earmarks for his district than any other Congressman in S.E. Texas. Then he votes against the budget to make it seem he's against government spending.
ReplyDeletePerhaps but when you look at all the bills he's sponsored/co-sponsored and his 700 votes against expansion of the Fed. Government his record beats the hell out of 90% of those in the House though I agree with you on the earmarks but today in politics it's political suicide (especially in the house) not to get earmarks for your district...as sad as that is.
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