- Has this been a hectic and encouraging time! First we
got almost 17% in the Texas straw poll, an event set-up to represent the
establishment, with very restrictive voting rules. That 17% of the Republican
hierarchy would support our views, after a full day of pro-war propaganda,
is good news. Then we won the more open Maryland Republican straw poll
with 28%. In both cases, as usual, hard-working, well-organized volunteers
made all the difference.
-
- The Fox debate was a lot of fun as well. It's true that
a few of the network people are not exactly with us on foreign or domestic
policy (though one famous guy whispered to me that he is a libertarian),
but the audience-with lots of students from the University of New Hampshire-was
definitely fair and balanced, as their enthusiastic reaction showed.
-
- My opponents called for more war, more torture, more
secret prisons, more eavesdropping, more presidential power. Some seemed
to identify the government and the people as if they were one entity. But
you and I know that once the government moves beyond its very limited constitutional
mandate, it is an opponent of the people, a rip-off operation that takes
our money and our freedom and our social peace, and gives us a mess of
statist pottage in return.
-
- The government failed miserably on 911 to protect us,
despite spending trillions. So the answer was supposed to be the giant,
socialist Department of Homeland Security, protecting you and me from taking
our toothpaste on the airplane. I was ridiculed for saying that the airlines,
which know best how to protect their property, should have been allowed
to arm their pilots. But then, you and I really believe in the Second Amendment.
It is not just a political slogan for us.
-
- When I discussed the blowback that came from us intervening
on the Arabian peninsula, Chris Wallace asked me if I wanted to follow
the marching orders of al-Qaeda. I responded that I wanted to follow the
marching orders of the Constitution, and not wage undeclared, aggressive
wars that cause us only trouble. This is a mystifying to some, of course,
but not to more and more Americans.
-
- There was much talk of taxes, and a pledge not to raise
rates. But as usual, I was not allowed to discuss my lifelong pledge to
abolish the income tax. Just holding the line, when the government takes
such vast sums through an illegitimate guilty-until-proven-innocent system,
is hardly enough. We need to slash taxes and spending if we are to have
a future of prosperity for ourselves and our families.
-
- After the debate, many young people gathered around the
stage to discuss our ideas and ask questions about them (and to have me
sign their badges). My colleagues got no such response, and after a few
moments, "security" ordered me off the stage. Can't have any
such demonstration of interest in liberty.
-
- But the young are with us, and so are Americans of every
stripe. Even party officials. When one of my opponent said it was OK to
lose elections through supporting the Iraq war, that set party people's
teeth on edge, and rightly so. The Republican party is shrinking. We need
new people. It's either our ideas or President Hillary, and more and more
people recognize it.
-
- But the media, and everyone else, will be looking at
fundraising totals at the end of this month. They'll judge us by how we
do. And we need help to wage what we hope will be a full-scale, 50-state
campaign. Please help me head into the next quarter fully armed to do battle
for freedom, peace and prosperity. Make your most generous contribution
https://www.ronpaul2008.com/donate/. This Revolution is on the move, but
it very much needs your support.
-
- Sincerely,
-
- Ron
|