Comments on: Threatening http://larison.org/2007/11/06/threatening/ n. the principle of good order "Observe the strange inversion of all order and sense! Dignity debased; how vilely is the function of a consul prostituted!" ~The Craftsman Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:31:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: Koz http://larison.org/2007/11/06/threatening/#comment-8049 Sat, 10 Nov 2007 03:22:21 +0000 http://larison.org/2007/11/06/threatening/#comment-8049 Daniel, the problem with RP isn't about (entirely) about policy, it's about temperment. According to substantial scholarship from Raoul Berger, most of the welfare state as we know it is unconstitutional. I don't know exactly if I believe that, but I'm sympathetic. But if I were President, what would I (or Ron Paul) do? How would relate to certain facts of life that are bigger than he is, eg, the war, the welfare state, floating currencies? There are a substantial number of people who disagree with Giuliani who nonetheless feel they can trust him anyway (I disagree with that judgment, btw). By contrast, a substantial number of people who might agree with Ron Paul (at least as far as the war is concerned) will never even consider voting for him because his flake quotient is completely off the charts. Daniel, the problem with RP isn’t about (entirely) about policy, it’s about temperment. According to substantial scholarship from Raoul Berger, most of the welfare state as we know it is unconstitutional. I don’t know exactly if I believe that, but I’m sympathetic.

But if I were President, what would I (or Ron Paul) do? How would relate to certain facts of life that are bigger than he is, eg, the war, the welfare state, floating currencies?

There are a substantial number of people who disagree with Giuliani who nonetheless feel they can trust him anyway (I disagree with that judgment, btw). By contrast, a substantial number of people who might agree with Ron Paul (at least as far as the war is concerned) will never even consider voting for him because his flake quotient is completely off the charts.

]]> by: Daniel Larison http://larison.org/2007/11/06/threatening/#comment-8042 Fri, 09 Nov 2007 03:11:38 +0000 http://larison.org/2007/11/06/threatening/#comment-8042 I take your point, Koz. His speeches tend to focus on foreign policy and civil liberties, and as right as I think he is I also know that most people do not vote on foreign policy and civil liberties, and they are also less likely to vote for someone who is an absolutist in both areas. He has also worked in some references to national debt, spending and health care, but that has not been his main appeal. Nonetheless, he has generated a lot of enthusiasm, as Lisa's comment shows, and I think the breadth of his support may yet surprise us. I take your point, Koz. His speeches tend to focus on foreign policy and civil liberties, and as right as I think he is I also know that most people do not vote on foreign policy and civil liberties, and they are also less likely to vote for someone who is an absolutist in both areas. He has also worked in some references to national debt, spending and health care, but that has not been his main appeal. Nonetheless, he has generated a lot of enthusiasm, as Lisa’s comment shows, and I think the breadth of his support may yet surprise us.

]]> by: lakelly http://larison.org/2007/11/06/threatening/#comment-8039 Thu, 08 Nov 2007 18:27:04 +0000 http://larison.org/2007/11/06/threatening/#comment-8039 Koz, I hear you but I think you underestimate both his message and his grassroots movement. As a lifelong Democrat who thought I would sooner die than vote Republican, I would never vote for anyone other than Ron Paul. Not only did I join a local meetup group (he has more than 1000 of them across the country) I started my own website at www.redheads4ronpaul.net. Writing that he is "naderizing" the election is also an understatement given Monday's record online fundraising haul. The movement is infectious. His followers don't just like him --we are passionately active in his campaign. We're all looking forward to early primaries. ~Lisa Koz, I hear you but I think you underestimate both his message and his grassroots movement. As a lifelong Democrat who thought I would sooner die than vote Republican, I would never vote for anyone other than Ron Paul. Not only did I join a local meetup group (he has more than 1000 of them across the country) I started my own website at www.redheads4ronpaul.net. Writing that he is “naderizing” the election is also an understatement given Monday’s record online fundraising haul. The movement is infectious. His followers don’t just like him –we are passionately active in his campaign. We’re all looking forward to early primaries. ~Lisa

]]> by: Koz http://larison.org/2007/11/06/threatening/#comment-8037 Thu, 08 Nov 2007 07:01:08 +0000 http://larison.org/2007/11/06/threatening/#comment-8037 Daniel, if the mountain won't come to Mohammed, Mohammed must come to the mountain. Whether it's 99% or 98% or even 70%, clearly the vast majority of Republicans (and the vast majority of voters) don't believe "blowback" is a sufficient answer to life, the universe, and everything. Clearly, not everyone is going to agree with RP. But if he's not even going to engage the rest of the body politic, he will stay in fringe-flake land. Daniel, if the mountain won’t come to Mohammed, Mohammed must come to the mountain. Whether it’s 99% or 98% or even 70%, clearly the vast majority of Republicans (and the vast majority of voters) don’t believe “blowback” is a sufficient answer to life, the universe, and everything. Clearly, not everyone is going to agree with RP. But if he’s not even going to engage the rest of the body politic, he will stay in fringe-flake land.

]]> by: Daniel Larison http://larison.org/2007/11/06/threatening/#comment-8033 Wed, 07 Nov 2007 22:45:04 +0000 http://larison.org/2007/11/06/threatening/#comment-8033 None of them is supporting him yet. Maybe they never will, in which case they deserve the bad leadership they get. My point is that it is still conceivable that he will become a factor in New Hampshire. If Ron Paul is "bitter" and engaged in "invective," descriptions that seem as inapt as can be, I don't know anyone who is not. None of them is supporting him yet. Maybe they never will, in which case they deserve the bad leadership they get. My point is that it is still conceivable that he will become a factor in New Hampshire. If Ron Paul is “bitter” and engaged in “invective,” descriptions that seem as inapt as can be, I don’t know anyone who is not.

]]> by: Koz http://larison.org/2007/11/06/threatening/#comment-8032 Wed, 07 Nov 2007 22:37:06 +0000 http://larison.org/2007/11/06/threatening/#comment-8032 This is easy. If there are 30% of GOP primary voters who want to bring the troops home yesterday, _still_ none of them are supporting Ron Paul. I think some of it is because his bitterness and invective breeds distrust among voters who oppose the war, but nonetheless accept it as a reality and are looking for the best option, whatever that may be. But that's only a partial explanation. He ought to be able to get 5% of something, somewhere. Frankly, it's inexplicable to me. This is easy. If there are 30% of GOP primary voters who want to bring the troops home yesterday, _still_ none of them are supporting Ron Paul.

I think some of it is because his bitterness and invective breeds distrust among voters who oppose the war, but nonetheless accept it as a reality and are looking for the best option, whatever that may be. But that’s only a partial explanation. He ought to be able to get 5% of something, somewhere. Frankly, it’s inexplicable to me.

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