The GOP Convention Doesn't Need a Ron Paul Sideshow

Paul won't allow the GOP to present the unified front it needs

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This is a romantic view of a national convention that was not common place during conventions prior to the 1990s. Challenges for the nomination were real and there was significant debate on issues. If there is an issue of presenting a unified front, format the convention to take place earlier in the year and stop preventing meaningful discussion from taking place.

Scott Camuto of MA 7:54PM August 30, 2012

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

The point of the RNC Convention is not to present a "unified front", but is a serious get together of elected delegates to conduct Party business on the national level.

Sorry, but it's not supposed to be a coronation ceremony for the RNC's anointed golden boy of the season, but rather a time for the party platform to be discussed, agreements and disagreements to be worked through, party rules to be altered and for a candidate to be NOMINATED and then VOTED on by the delegates for the Presidency. With all your experience, I'm amazed you don't seem to understand this.

Then again, you're a Republican insider. Well, some of my friends are also and I know for a fact that Romney was chosen 2 years ago by the RNC to be the pick for 2012. Yep, CHOSEN. Just ask Karl Rove, he'll tell you the same.

So, belief in the Constitution, Rule of Law and Republican Representative government looks like this now, eh?

Tom of CA 6:51PM August 24, 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

Conventions are not 4 day infomercials for the nominee. It is a culmination of an election process with rules. Rules that the whiners on the Romney Ryan ticket seem hell bent on violating at every turn. Alternate voices in the party have the right to be heard if they have earned it, which Paul has. Put your big boy pants on and let an exchange of ideas take place, and let the process of what a convention is supposed to be about according to it's rules, take place.

mitch Stein of IL 11:36AM 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

Romney supports the Project for the New American Century and the Foreign Policy Initiative, the think-tank which promotes: diplomatic, economic, and military engagement IN THE WORLD! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYEsfXqHeck. They are fighting wars, based off of lies, for global domination! They are MURDERING people in OUR names!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egqqCYSfV2k.

Romney even named his foreign policy plan An American Century: http://www.mittromney.com/collection/foreign-policy

Obama has been bombing: Yemen, Sudan, Uganda, Somalia, Pakistan, and Congo. He started an Unconstitutional war against Libya. The US is funding Al Qaeda, which was created by the US government, in Syria as the opposition: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcZKso_Z6M8. Obama is out-NeoConning the neocons: http://youtu.be/o_62LkfFf7I.

I am voting for Ron Paul! End the wars!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGVxmXBy9jQ.

Freedom is popular!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYc3LOu7Qoc

RonPaulKicksAss of CA 12:38PM August 22, 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

So you would rather pretend you have a unified front. Good luck with that.

Miss Taken of LA 9:45AM August 22, 2012

If the convention is just an infomercial, why is it being partially funded with $18 million dollars of taxpayers money? Isn't the RNC a private organization? If we are helping pay for it, all sides should have their voices heard, regardless of whether or not the establishment wants to hear it or not. Besides Dr. Paul did win the plurality of delegates from 5 states. He won Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, Louisiana, and Nevada. He had every right, according to the RNC rules to have his name placed into nomination and give a 15 minute speech. Ever since the RNC, GOP, and Romney camps realized this, they have been disqualifying his delegates via fraud. I don't want my tax dollars going to support any corrupt organization. So screw the GOP, I will be writing Dr. Paul's name come November. The only people the RNC, GOP, and Romney camps have to blame when Romney loses come November is themselves, for treating Dr. Paul and his delegates so badly.

Alex of NJ 8:07AM August 22, 2012

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