The GOP Convention Doesn't Need a Ron Paul Sideshow

It's too bad many people can't think of concepts like liberty and constitutionality in terms of degree and be content to make incremental progress. Many Libertarians seem to take a absolutist point of view - an all or nothing stance. Ron Paul and the libertarians have made huge strides in the last twenty five years and the movement is obviously growing. His supporters should be proud of what they have accomplished. When I registered Libertarian in 1981, no one knew what a Libertarian was. Ron Paul has moved Libertarian issues to the forefront of political discussion.

What I'm suggestion is that Libertarians go after "planks" in the Republican platform rather that take a "storm the convention at all costs" attitude. Constitutional Republics move slowly and that's a good thing. Comments on Libertarian boards proclaiming that we have never had liberty or a true market economy in the U.S. miss the point. In a free country liberty and market economics will always be a question of degree. Purity is unattainable. There will always be the ignorant and those who feel more comfortable being indentured.

Positions expressed in Barry Goldwater's famous quote: "Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice... and moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue", while theoretically true in the eyes of most Libertarians, are simply impractical in a free republic. Extremest positions, even when correct, threaten the "sensibilities" of those of alternate political viewpoints. God bless the gun collecting "militia members" and canned food squirreling "apocalyptic survivalists," but they make the Libertarian cause seem extreme and wacky to the uninitiated. Sure they have a point and should be free to express it, but as the Libertarian party grows, it's sensibilities must grow along with it. Any party in power must represent all Americans. If Libertarians are to evolve into a serious contender for national power, the party must "grow up" and understand that power accumulates incrementally in a free society.

Every serious student of history understands that the vast majority of "revolutions" only replace one brandy of tyranny with another. Serious adults prefer incremental change to the uncertainty of violent revolution.

Those with "alternate viewpoints" must always be respected and considered in a Republic. In many cases, what passes for an alternate viewpoint, is simply a lack of communication. At a basic level, all Americans want the same thing; we just disagree on how to get it. Even if Libertarians should achieve a small majority in the coming years, a small majority is no mandate. To "roll back" the myriad of liberty robbing regulations necessary to restore freedom and vitality to the U.S., Libertarians will need cooperation from the center and the left to pass the necessary legislation. Libertarians should focus on communicating the virtues of capitalism and personal freedom and strive for incremental change.

A starfish opens a clam by applying a small

Blane Jackson of GA 1:21PM August 27, 2012

Who are these guys kidding.

Mitt flop Romney is all the Republicans have left. Ron Paul's talk about cutting defense spending had him booted immediately!

Republicans are total fakes, especially Romney Republicans.

Please...the Republicans of today are the biggest fakes the world has ever known. Republicans don't really care about spending. Republicans only care about money that we spend on education and healthcare (things that actually improve society).....but spending three trillion dollars we borrow from China on unnecessary war in Iraq.....Halliburton, Karl Rove and Marx approved!!

4500 dead Americans and 100,000 innocent Iraqi civilians' deaths later and now Republicans care about "life"? I think not.....

They might be able to rouse the bigots and some religious zealots telling others who they can't marry but the Republican policies of lowering taxes and deregulating have unequivocally failed all but maybe 5% of Americans.

Republicans don't actually stand for anything, and funny thing is, no one asks them to. Especially their hacks in the payola media; the people who should be asking the hard questions but don't because they want those Republican election dollars!

OK all you Mormons and other self proclaimed profits. Your days of lies and deceit, your days for dividing people are dwindling.

What are you going to rejoice about when you get old?

That you stopped the gays from getting married or serving with honor in our military for a few years?

Well than; Mission Accomplished.

If only backpedaling was an Olympic sport, then Romney might actually win something he deserved.

daniel phelan of CA 1:27PM August 24, 2012

In 1996, the RNC convention went wild over Colin Powell, even as he inserted his pro-choice views into his prime-time speech. They were a little worried he would do just that, but not enough to keep him off the podium.

Ron Paul (who checks off all the right boxes on the social side of the GOP, btw) is scarier and worse than the proudly social liberal, Powell? Powell, whose following came nowhere close to approaching Dr. Paul's, was more worthy of respect and less likely to "muddle" the message?

Pro-choice? Big tents are great! Stand in the front and center.

Anti-imperialism? Get lost! Muddles the message.

Emilie of FL 12:10AM August 24, 2012

..."And why won't he concede and endorse the ticket like all the other Republicans?"

Because Ron Paul is a man of integrity and thinks for himself... which means you stick to your principles and don't cave in like a good little robot.

johngalt of FL 10:19AM August 22, 2012