I received an enormous amount of hate emails when I suggested that Ron Paul was backing out of his Presidential campaign. But mixed messages are usually given when a candidate does not want to be forthright about his intentions. If you object to what is being said here, please click UNSUBSCRIBE. No need to send nasty emails.
Here is one article on the subject, A Revolution Betrayed by Justin Raymond.
“The reality is that for Ron Paul to rule out a third-party run is a tragic error. Paul’s presidential campaign galvanized so much energy and enthusiasm that, at times, it mimicked the dimensions and depth of a real mass movement, that is, of a serious effort to recapture the GOP from the neoconservatives and inaugurate a new era on the Right. The Paul campaign ignited interest at both ends of the political spectrum, and drew in a broad array of activists and supporters who, despite their ideological diversity, showed remarkable cohesion and an amazing degree of self-organization. As a grassroots phenomenon, it has outpaced anything seen in the libertarian movement—or, indeed, on the far right side of the political spectrum–since the storied days of Barry Goldwater. The field has never been more inviting for a third-party candidate of the Right, as the man conservatives love to hate takes his place as the GOP standard-bearer in 2008.”
“Thirdly, this business about saving his congressional seat is just a lot of malarkey: Representative Paul has millions in cash on hand, which he can readily use for his congressional campaign. Furthermore, his opponent in the GOP primary--no Democratic candidate has bothered to file--is a Republican town councilman who hasn’t raised much money outside his own family circle and has mainly loaned money to himself. Another candidate, one Andy Mann, a NASA contractor, has also filed, although I can’t quite figure out why he’s running. In short: Paul has never had much trouble getting re-elected to Congress. So that’s not what’s really going on here.”
In a book on the military that I am reading, it says that after millions of dollars of training and rigorous training, the military cannot determine who in actual combat is going to be the best fighter pilots. A large percent of the kills actually are done by relatively few of the pilots. You would think that those entering the race for President are actually motivated to pursue the Presidency with every ounce of energy. Not always so.
We have seen, Giuliani not enter the race until it was too late, Tancredo back out, Romney would have stayed in the race had he believed what he said he believed (but when the going got tough, Richie Rich went home), Fred Thompson never bowed in, much less bowed out.
Only Huckabee and McCain became the ultimate contenders. They really want to be President, not simply run for President.
Ron Paul seems to be pulling a Ross Perot. If you remember, billionaire Ross Perot dropped out of the 1992 race, “He explained his earlier withdrawal by claiming that Republican operatives had wanted to reveal compromising photos of his daughter, which would disrupt her wedding, and he wanted to spare her from embarrassment.” Apparently the dog also ate his homework.
After galvanizing the party, gaining strong support, unprecedented money, Ron Paul is now telling his supporters that it will be a great disaster if he is not re-elected to Congress.
Now is the time to attack for Paul supporters. Actively continue the campaign for the Presidency. Paul might give up his House seat. (Although there seems to be no real threat here.) A third party would give disaffected Republicans, a person to vote for. It could start a genuine third party based on the values Paul purports to support. It might not win in 2008, but it could be a basis for forming a strong national 3rd Party. Or a third party threat could move the Republican Party to Paul’s positions on immigration, free trade and foreign entanglements.
Clausewitz, author of On War, says that the prime determinant of who will win a battle is the will of the commander. At this point, the will of the Perot supporters seems much stronger than the will of their commander.
Napoleon once said that he wanted generals that marched to the sound of the cannon. Ron Paul (like Ross Perot) has heard the sound of the cannon, but seems to be marching in the opposite direction.
