Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Ron Paul Declares

The Republicans will have at least one legitimate conservative vying for the '08 ticket.

U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, a Texas Republican known for his libertarian views, today announced he will vie for the GOP presidential nomination next year.

"We have lost our way and strayed from the free society our Founders secured for us in the Constitution, but there's no reason the principles that made us the greatest nation ever can't be restored," he said.

"We merely need to respect and follow the rule of law – the U.S. Constitution – and elect leaders determined to stand firm in its defense," he said.

He won't win, of course, but I'm glad to see that someone with principles is actually running. If we could get the brain dead Republicans off of the real-conservatives-can't-win bandwagon, Paul could pull some sizable numbers. Remember that Pat Buchanan was leading the polls until the party opted for the "electable" Robert Dole. That worked out well now, didn't it?

The man already has my ear, if not my endorsement:

"My concerns for the future of our country are deeply held. The Republican Party has floundered in its effort to shrink the size of government and restore our constitutional republic," he said. "Instead, in recent years our deficits have exploded, entitlements are out of control and our personal liberties are threatened. We have embarked on a dangerous and expensive foreign policy, acting as the world's policeman and nation builder."

"Liberty once again must become more important to us than the desire for security and material comfort. Personal safety and economic prosperity can only come as the consequence of liberty. They cannot be provided by an authoritarian government. To expect the government to take care of us from cradle to grave undermines the principles of liberty," he said.

There's some words I can get behind. I know people are leery of the dreaded l-word, but we libertarians aren't so bad when you take the time to get to know us.

I wish good luck to Mr. Paul. He's going to need it.

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