Would You Vote for Ron Paul?
Over on the Main Feed, Tim Groseclose has started a great conversation headlined "Is Mitt Romney the Most “Electable” of the Potential Republican Nominees, and Should Republicans Vote for Him for that Reason?"
In the article Tim points out that some of his friends would vote for Ron Paul vs. Obama but that they would not vote for Romney vs. Obama.
This parallels what I am hearing as I talk to "normal" people. (As opposed to we Ricocheteers who breathe in politics and exhale Conservatism.) People I have spoken with lately have mentioned Ron Paul without having been prompted.
The main feeling I hear is a TOTAL frustration with standard politicians a la Romney, Gingrich, Obama, Reid, Boehner, and others. "A pox on all their houses" would sum up their sentiment. They see Ron Paul as "other". They don't see him as a "typical" politician.
Question: You are a loyal Ricochet subscriber (we hope). Assume Ron Paul did actually win the Republican nomination. Would you vote for him? Why? Why not?
- Comment (82)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (3)
Comments :
Jun '10
Re: Would You Vote for Ron Paul?
I would abstain. I simply could not mark a ballot in favor of a man who really believes that Iran means us, and our ally Israel, no harm. That position, whatever his other merits, is delusional.
Dec '10
Re: Would You Vote for Ron Paul?
My quick calculation is that yes, I would vote for Paul. Here's why. Paul is right on in many respects with domestic policy. He's bat guano crazy (to borrow Jonah's term) as far as foreign policy is concerned. However, another four years of Obama and our nation will be so weakened financially (perhaps even structurally) that our foreign policy will be about as important on the world stage as Liechtenstein's. Paul could possibly help restore our nation to the level of prosperity and influence in which his foreign policy ideas again become bat guano crazy.
I have friends who lambast me with Paul from time to time. It's always the domestic policy material. When I confront them with his FP insanity I get blank stares in return. His attraction comes from keeping his foreign ideas under wraps and the bit of isolationist tendencies that exhaustion on the world stage has been engendering in people.
Mar '11
Re: Would You Vote for Ron Paul?
I would not vote for Ron Paul. Before considering their views on the issues, there is a certain degree of simple competency and stability that any serious presidential candidate must demonstrate. A candidate must instill at least a minimum of trust that, when it comes to the critical life-or-death duties a president must carry out alone, that those decisions will be made soberly and responsibly. Ron Paul does not instill this confidence.
I doubt that many moderate voters would actually pull the lever for Paul in a general election after being exposed to him non-stop for half a year. Ron Paul is only attractive as long as he has no serious chance of becoming president.
Jun '10
Re: Would You Vote for Ron Paul?
Hmmm...trying to weigh the fiscal benefits that a Paul administration could provide and a stronger adherence to first principles against losing some urban centers and possibly millions of Americans to weapons of mass destruction from a determined group of terrorists. I'll get back to you.
May '10
Re: Would You Vote for Ron Paul?
No. Paul has a less rational foreign policy than Obama.
Aug '10
Re: Would You Vote for Ron Paul?
Between Obama and Paul? I'm with our reigning crustacean above: I'd choose Paul.
I've noticed Obama as president has been unable to keep many of the pacifistic promises he made as a candidate. I would pray that Paul would end up having to do the same thing.
You're probably right.
Mar '11
Re: Would You Vote for Ron Paul?
After listening to the last couple of debates, I can only surmise that Paul's is a foreign policy of cowardice. And I use that word specifically, because his FP argument basically came down to "Boy we'd better not make Arabs mad at us or they'll hurt us. We'd better do as they demand".
I said it elsewhere; Ron Paul is a big ole' fraidy cat.
Aug '10
Re: Would You Vote for Ron Paul?
Interesting question... How much, really, would having Ron Paul in the White House increase the likelihood of large-scale terrorist attacks succeeding?
Is US counterterrorism really so effective right now that the mere presence of Ron Paul as president could dramatically diminish the effectiveness? Or have we just been lucky since 9-11? Would a determined group of terrorists be likely to succeed no matter who was in the White House?
How much power does a president have to gut intelligence gathering, anyhow? Would Paul really gut intelligence gathering if given the chance (probably, it seems, but certainly?)?
Anyhow, fiscal ruin is more predictable than terrorist attacks.
Nov '11
Re: Would You Vote for Ron Paul?
I think about this occasionally, as a (hopefully) pointless intellectual exercise. Honestly, I'd wait to see how the campaign developed. Faced with a realistic chance of becoming president -- and wanting to get things through Congress -- Paul might start sounding more realistic. Also, one could hope that his foreign policy views might change somewhat when confronted with actual daily briefings about people who are trying to kill us. So I'd give him a fair chance to convince me that the Republic could survive a Paul presidency.
I don't like protest votes, but in that case I might vote for a third-party candidate (someone would probably run as a centrist). Or in utter desperation I might write-in someone like Paul Ryan.
Oct '10
Re: Would You Vote for Ron Paul?
All republicans should support the guy who wins the GOP nomination fair and square,
whether it's Ron Paul or Mitt Romney.
Jun '10
Re: Would You Vote for Ron Paul?
Midget Faded Rattlesnake
Interesting question... How much, really, would having Ron Paul in the White House increase the likelihood of large-scale terrorist attacks succeeding?
Is US counterterrorism really so effective right now that the mere presence of Ron Paul as president could dramatically diminish the effectiveness? Or have we just been lucky since 9-11? Would a determined group of terrorists be likely to succeed no matter who was in the White House?
How much power does a president have to gut intelligence gathering, anyhow? Would Paul really gut intelligence gathering if given the chance (probably, it seems, but certainly?)?
Anyhow, fiscal ruin is more predictable than terrorist attacks. · Nov 27 at 4:22pm
I was, of course, harkening back to Paul's response to Newt in the last debate regarding the Patriot Act and other measures to monitor those who would seek to do us harm...including Americans in league with al Qaeda. Perhaps the intelligence community will continue to uncover plots but given Paul's position that monitoring Americans is a threat to liberty one is left to speculate whether certain security tools will no longer be allowed.
Jun '10
Re: Would You Vote for Ron Paul?
Leigh: I think about this occasionally, as a (hopefully) pointless intellectual exercise. Honestly, I'd wait to see how the campaign developed. Faced with a realistic chance of becoming president -- and wanting to get things through Congress -- Paul might start sounding more realistic. Also, one could hope that his foreign policy views might change somewhat when confronted with actual daily briefings about people who are trying to kill us. So I'd give him a fair chance to convince me that the Republic could survive a Paul presidency.
I don't like protest votes, but in that case I might vote for a third-party candidate (someone would probably run as a centrist). Or in utter desperation I might write-in someone like Paul Ryan. · Nov 27 at 5:08pm
I think you're onto something here in your very first sentence. If Paul, by some otherworldly twist of bizarre fate, becomes the nominee then there won't be enough conservatives (or Paulist conspiracy theorists) to carry him to victory. Moderates, disillusioned Democrats and establishment Republicans may actually vote for Obama even while they vote for more Republican Senators and Congressional candidates.
Jun '10
Re: Would You Vote for Ron Paul?
John Marzan: All republicans should support the guy who wins the GOP nomination fair and square,
whether it's Ron Paul or Mitt Romney. · Nov 27 at 5:26pm
Well, there's "should" and there's reality. Given that there aren't enough Republicans even if they did vote for Paul to win the election then you're "should" would have to also apply to independents, moderates, and Democrats...otherwise Obama wins in a landslide if Paul is the nominee. Just saying.
Edited on Nov 27, 2011 at 6:00pmMay '11
Re: Would You Vote for Ron Paul?
Of course, if he were the republican nominee, I would vote for him. Hell, If we nominate a ficus, I'll vote for that.
Jun '10
Re: Would You Vote for Ron Paul?
Let's just hope that it's a ficus that thinks that Iran is a threat and that Israel is worth defending. I'd support that sort of ficus over Mr. Paul. Might even get the "green" vote without too much effort. :-)
Nov '10
Re: Would You Vote for Ron Paul?
Yeah, I would. But I'd feel Like an idiot.
Sep '10
Re: Would You Vote for Ron Paul?
John Marzan: All republicans should support the guy who wins the GOP nomination fair and square,
whether it's Ron Paul or Mitt Romney. · Nov 27 at 5:26pm
Exactly right. That's what the primary process is all about. If we expect Ron Paul to play by the rules of the game and not go third party if (when) he loses, then we need to promise to support him should he (unlikely) win the nomination.
Jan '11
Re: Would You Vote for Ron Paul?
No! In a primary election I could vote for Gary Johnson and not have to hold my nose. In a general election I could vote for Paul (while holding my nose) providing he's the candidate the GOP decides on. If he's a third-party guy, I wouldn't be having any of him. I have a feeling I'm going to be holding my nose no matter who the GOP puts out there -- Romney, Gingrich, Cain, Perry, Santorum, Hunstman, Bachmann...all deeply flawed in my eyes.
May '10
Re: Would You Vote for Ron Paul?
If he's the Republican nominee, I'll vote for him.
If he loses the nomination and runs on a third party ticket, will blame him for the disaster that follows.
Apr '11
Re: Would You Vote for Ron Paul?
I'd happily vote for Ron Paul. I'm a lot more worried that we will destroy our own country with debt than that any foreign power will destroy us militarily. The entire continent of Europe is in crisis and it's not because of terrorists, it's because of their own out-of-control spending. If we have a President Romney and the press starts bashing him for cutting spending, will he hang tough or will he capitulate? I've got more faith in Ron Paul standing up for our economic principles than any other candidate.
I don't agree with Paul's assessment of Iran, but he is right that we don't need to spend more on our military than the rest of the world combined.