Ron Paul Republicans
Now that Ron Paul is essentially out of the presidential race, what will happen to the moment? One sentiment I've seen repeatedly is that Ron Paul supporters will leave the Republican Party and do something else - the libertarians, some other 3rd party, or just withdrawing from politics entirely.
I hope, instead, that most will stay with the Republican Party. This "Revolution" has created the potential for a Ron Paul faction within the GOP. If it's only 5% of the party, that's not huge but it can be meaningful. But if we do it right then maybe we can build the faction to maybe 25%, and that can not only be meaningful but in many cases controlling.
Please understand that I'm not a big fan of political parties, and I'm not alone. George Washington's farewell address was quite critical of partisanship as well, going on for several paragraphs. Consistent with those concerns, I am not suggesting that Ron Paul supporters become "rah-rah" Republicans who blindly support the GOP candidate in every race. A good Republican can work within the party to promote the kind of candidates he supports, and then vote for someone outside the party in the general election - and the same goes for Democrats.
Especially now where the establishment of the Republican Party has strayed so far from its moorings (as Ron Paul frequently points out), a Republican voting for "other" is perfectly sensible. Republicans used to be against big government. Under the current President Bush, and especially when Republicans controlled Congress, spending went through the roof. A Ron Paul faction within the GOP can push for small government, lower spending, and so on. This is true not only in presidential elections, but at every level of government.
I understand dissatisfaction with the Republican Party. I have dabbled myself in the Libertarian Party. In the end, the third party or independent route is less likely to accomplish meaningful change. If we want to restore small government, respect for the Constitution, and avoid foolish wars like the current one in Iraq, our best odds of doing so are by building a Ron Paul wing of the GOP.
I hope, instead, that most will stay with the Republican Party. This "Revolution" has created the potential for a Ron Paul faction within the GOP. If it's only 5% of the party, that's not huge but it can be meaningful. But if we do it right then maybe we can build the faction to maybe 25%, and that can not only be meaningful but in many cases controlling.
Please understand that I'm not a big fan of political parties, and I'm not alone. George Washington's farewell address was quite critical of partisanship as well, going on for several paragraphs. Consistent with those concerns, I am not suggesting that Ron Paul supporters become "rah-rah" Republicans who blindly support the GOP candidate in every race. A good Republican can work within the party to promote the kind of candidates he supports, and then vote for someone outside the party in the general election - and the same goes for Democrats.
Especially now where the establishment of the Republican Party has strayed so far from its moorings (as Ron Paul frequently points out), a Republican voting for "other" is perfectly sensible. Republicans used to be against big government. Under the current President Bush, and especially when Republicans controlled Congress, spending went through the roof. A Ron Paul faction within the GOP can push for small government, lower spending, and so on. This is true not only in presidential elections, but at every level of government.
I understand dissatisfaction with the Republican Party. I have dabbled myself in the Libertarian Party. In the end, the third party or independent route is less likely to accomplish meaningful change. If we want to restore small government, respect for the Constitution, and avoid foolish wars like the current one in Iraq, our best odds of doing so are by building a Ron Paul wing of the GOP.
Labels: republicans, ron paul
posted by Albany Lawyer at 11:43 AM
1 Comments:
We haven't agreed in the past, Warren, but I am 100% in agreement with you about the partisanship issue. I'm so tired of hearing "I will never vote for _____ because he/she is a Republican/Democrat." Vote for the person, not for the party. Preferring a party is fine, but I would never ever say that I would never vote for the other party under any circumstance. I will split a ticket and I don't think that makes me a moderate, it makes me a non-lemming.
I'm so tired of hearing about "red states" and "blue states." Honestly, I think Bush was more radical than anyone realized, and once he's gone politics will be a little less bloody than they have been.
-Nick Cassaro
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