Charles Krauthammer has a great column today on Ron Paul. He notices what not enough people have noticed about the New Hampshire primary, which is that Paul came in second. He earned 21 percent of the vote in Iowa and 23 percent in New Hampshire. I think it's safe to say that Krauthammer is not an admirer of Paul. But his analytical conclusions mirror my own.
The first observation is that this election is not really about Paul himself but about his son. He wants to establish a family dynasty. And, to a remarkable extent, he appears to be succeeding. His son Rand, a senator from Kentucky, is being groomed to lead the avid disciples that his father is cultivating. Come 2016, a more suave Paul will champion the fight for the libertarian cause of shrinking big government. And, if Obama is elected, there probably will be more to shrink, at least in theory (in practice, of course, it never happens. Neither the GOP nor the Democrats have the stomach to cut back entitlements or restrain spending). But put that aside for one moment.
Krauthammer's related point is that Paul could upend the Republican convention. If he keeps campaigning, and there's no cogent reason he should not, then Paul could demand a prime-time slot. Krauthammer observes,
The Republican convention could conceivably feature a major address by Paul calling for the abolition of the Fed, FEMA and the CIA; American withdrawal from everywhere; acquiescence to the Iranian bomb—and perhaps even Paul’s opposition to a border fence lest it be used to keep Americans in. Not exactly the steady, measured, reassuring message a Republican convention might wish to convey. For libertarianism, however, it would be a historic moment: mainstream recognition at last.
Put aside your own view of libertarianism or of Paul himself. I see libertarianism as an important critique of the Leviathan state, not a governing philosophy. As for Paul himself, I find him a principled, somewhat wacky, highly engaging eccentric. But regardless of my feelings or yours, the plain fact is that Paul is nurturing his movement toward visibility and legitimacy.
It would be difficult to disagree. Paul has, by and large, weathered the accusations that have been leveled at him about the farrago of newsletters that appeared under his name. He's simply dismissed them, and his dismissiveness appears to have relegated them to the status of a curiosity. Paul's ambition is to inject liberatarianism into the bloodstream of the GOP. He's pure Tea Party. He's been tea partying before the party itself ever emerged. The rest of the primary season will offer further clues to the depth of the popularity for his twin calls for abolishing the Federal Reserve and for retreating from the rest of the world. Even as Iran threatens to shut down the Persian Gulf, Paul is, essentially, saying that America is at fault.
If Paul can win a substantial vote in South Carolina and other states, it would suggest that the GOP is in greater ferment than anyone predicted.
Image: Gage Skidmore
Comments
Hi Jacob, Glenn from Pittsburgh here. I love when you post about Ron Paul, a fellow Pittsburgh native. Thanks for that. Robert Reich beat you to the punch in 2012, though, with a positive article on RP just yesterday. FYI - did you know that Ron Paul ALSO CAME IN SECOND in the Democratic primary. Over 2K people drove to the Democrat primary to write him in. That is a direct statement from these folks saying that even though they are Democrats, they will vote for Ron Paul in the general if possible. And if Romney gets the nomination, Obama has it in the bag. Just ask any Ron Paul supporter if they would even consider voting for Mittens, Newty, or that fun loving ball of joy, Rick S. and you will get a big 'hell no' back atcha. We don't care about speeches at the Neo-Con convention either. Options you ask? Gary Johnson maybe, Write in Ron Paul maybe, or just stay home and listen to Kelly Clarkson.
MSM will get over 1 billion in ad campaign money this year. Where is the investation of how Perry has for profit prisons donating? How does he get a 3.75% 100,000$+ student loan for his son. Where's the investigation into Bain Capitol/JP Morgan running Romneys Super pac AND the MF Global scandal? Where's the Gingrich Fubar statements of stupidity on racial problems Where's The Huntsman-Obama tie in and Huntsman's company misdirecting 1-200 million that is being fined and continued legal entanglements Wheres the Obama-40% poverty in America?NDAA?SOPA? Oh that's right, don't endanger PAC money advertisements. Don't actually spend money on a story.... at least Prostitutes don't lie about their career choice. youtube.com/watch?v=g_lYGyIaK80
Jacob,"Even as Iran threatens to shut down the Persian Gulf, Paul is, essentially, saying that America is at fault"This is a bit of a misleading statement. Paul has never said the US was responsible for this (or how many in the MSM wish to state that Ron Paul believes 9/11 was America's fault). Ron Paul has always stated that US foreign policy, military interventionism and economic sanctions have consequences. Until we recognize that our actions can and do cause REactions, we won't be able to change course. Ron Paul does NOT blame America - he simply states that our supposed foreign adversaries might have reason to attack us. Until we understand their POV (point of view) how can we expect to get different results by using the same US Foreign Policy, Military Interventionism and Economic Sanctions? This my dear fellow is the definition of insanity. Bottomline is that the US Foreign Policy should be one of strong national defense. No more economic sanctions (allow our countryment to trade with anyone in the world). Stop invading other nations and acting like the U.N. World Police Force. America is the greatest nation on Earth. We should lead by Example. Not through the barrel of a gun.