Possible Ron Paul Upsets in Alaska and North Dakota?
Texas Congressman Ron Paul has won zero states this go-round in the Republican nomination process, but has placed 2nd in four: Maine, Minnesota, New Hampshire, and Washington. Robert C. O'Brien, writing at The Daily Caller, suggests that Alaska and North Dakota might be Paul's chance to finally win one or two outright.
This could be good for the GOP for two reasons:
1. Paul has a solid base of support, somewhere between 5-10%, with late-comers adding another 5% or so. He can peak around 20% under certain conditions. Paul's numbers over time are remarkably similar to Newt Gingrich's standing, aside from the former speaker's brief surge in November and December. As Chris Cillizza has argued, we ignore Paul at our peril.
2. Mitt Romney and Ron Paul represent two distinct views of both Republican conservatism and governance. We see this at multiple levels: taxes, regulation, foreign intervention, and so on. This is an important conversation for the party to have, and it is a conversation that the base has been having amongst itself for several years.
What do you all think? Should we be rooting for Ron Paul up north on Super Tuesday? Would a couple solid wins by him be healthy for the party?
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Comments:
Sep '11
Re: Possible Ron Paul Upsets in Alaska and North Dakota?
Lee has a point: many of our soldiers are very young, and they are not necessarily experts in foreign policy; I am definitely not an expert in foreign policy, but I am very disappointed in younger conservative intellectual men who are not willing to fight in the wars that they support. If these wars are really as crucial as conservative intellectuals say they are, then why are so few conservative intellectuals willing to fight in them?
Apr '11
Re: Possible Ron Paul Upsets in Alaska and North Dakota?
Do you have specific conservative intellectuals in mind? ( I ask seriously, it's hard to answer a blanket statement like that)
Edited on March 6, 2012 at 5:14pmApr '11
Re: Possible Ron Paul Upsets in Alaska and North Dakota?
I seriously doubt it too which is why I didn't actually say that.
Sep '11
Re: Possible Ron Paul Upsets in Alaska and North Dakota?
I don't want to single people out, but put it this way: I haven't researched it, but if a poll was done with young men, 20% or 30% of them probably support the war. Only 1% of them are willing to enlist in the military. Young men who support the war seem to be saying that it is a good cause for someone else to fight for; I personally know and love some of the young kids who are taking that attitude. They aren't bad kids, but they aren't as smart as they think they are.
Sep '11
Re: Possible Ron Paul Upsets in Alaska and North Dakota?
Lee
I seriously doubt it too which is why I didn't actually say that. · 15 minutes ago
I am sorry; I am a little bit defensive when it comes to the military.
Apr '11
Re: Possible Ron Paul Upsets in Alaska and North Dakota?
I think this could be true and it's a concern I've seen voiced by military families, the idea that the sacrifice isn't shared nearly enough. I'm sympathetic to the argument, but it's easy to tip over into the "chickenhawk" accusation where those who advocate but don't serve should sit down and shut up (note, I'm not accusing you of this).
I'll always be impressed with someone who supports a war in both word and deed, but there are a lot of reasons why one may not serve in the military: not having a family history of military service (it's just not something they'd ever think of doing), health reasons, concerns about how and when troops are deployed etc. I think too that many people say they support the war as a shorthand way of showing support for the troops, not because they feel all that strongly about the cause itself.
So, I take your point but I'd note that, if supporting a war required one to sign up, women as well as men should do this, and presumably the infirm and elderly wouldn't have a say.
Apr '11
Re: Possible Ron Paul Upsets in Alaska and North Dakota?
Judithann Campbell
Lee
I seriously doubt it too which is why I didn't actually say that. · 15 minutes ago
I am sorry; I am a little bit defensive when it comes to the military. · 22 minutes ago
I completely understand.
Apr '11
Re: Possible Ron Paul Upsets in Alaska and North Dakota?
Heh! They're never as smart as they think.
Sep '11
Re: Possible Ron Paul Upsets in Alaska and North Dakota?
The point you bring up is a tricky one. If soldiers are the only ones who have any say, then that is a military dictatorship, and no one wants that. I would argue that everyone has a say at the ballot box. I am totally against women in combat, and as long as the military entertains the idea of putting women in combat, I would strongly discourage women from entering the military. As a woman who never had any intention of joining the military, I don't think it is my place to tell young men that they should or shouldn't support a war, but if they are going to support a war, their case will be much stronger if they back their words up with actions.
Everyone has a say at the ballot box, but young men have a unique power in our society. civilization really is in their hands, and they should be made aware of that. But I am getting into a whole different discussion here. :)
Apr '11
Re: Possible Ron Paul Upsets in Alaska and North Dakota?
Yes to all of the above. It's certainly a complicated issue. As a woman, I too hesitate to advocate strongly for military action when I can't be forced to join up, which is why I explored the possibility of volunteering, but I was always ambivalent about it.
Since we don't fill the ranks with a draft, I consider the idea of "advocating but not serving" less important when those who do serve are volunteers, but I'd definitely like to see military service honored throughout society. There are plenty of people who respect it on a theoretical level but who would never consider it for themselves or their children. I don't know if that's because of the very real concerns about being injured or killed, or because it's not viewed as important enough to sacrifice for.
Sep '11
Re: Possible Ron Paul Upsets in Alaska and North Dakota?
Well said. :)