This page has been archived and commenting is disabled.
Where the Heck is Ron Paul?
By Wolf Richter www.testosteronepit.com
It struck me this morning (well, it struck me many times before, but this morning it was just too much). I was listening to NPR's Morning Edition. The report (listen here) on tonight's GOP debate covered just about everything you can cover in four-and-a-half minutes: The debate's focus on the economy, deficit, tax reform, and entitlements; Sarah Palin's and Chris Christie's exit from the race; Herman Cain's from-the-outside strategy; Mitt Romney's 25% ceiling; and of course his “Mormon problem” as raised by Rick Perry—“this is something we're watching,” said Mara Liasson, NPR's national political correspondent. I mean, come on. She also spent some time on how Perry is preparing for the debate to make up ground he lost in the last three debates. OK, great, we need to know this.
But where the heck is Ron Paul?
He is the one who did well in those debates. He won the most recent straw poll. He raised $8 million in the last three months from over 100,000 supporters. He is not some Tom, Dick, and Harry. He is a real candidate, unlike Palin, who dropped out, but he doesn't even get mentioned as a participant.
You don't need to be a supporter of him to be outraged. Even a Perry supporter or an ardent Democrat who listened to this report would want to know that there is a legitimate candidate named Ron Paul who will participate in the debate, and who will, if past record is any indication, do well. A democracy needs accurate news coverage to function properly. And when coverage fails so miserably time and again, we need to ... do more research.
So the Wall Street Journal ran a longish front-page piece this morning, “Debates Take Candidates for a Bumpy Ride.” But Paul is not mentioned. Not even in a side bar. He just doesn't exist.
And the New York Times? Well, it ran a front-page article, “Five Things to Watch for in the G.O.P. Debate.” And only towards the bottom, it forces itself to mention Paul, but in a parenthetical remark between dashes: "Mrs. Bachmann is likely to be joined by the others on the stage — Ron Paul, Newt Gingrich, and Rick Santorum — in assailing Mr. Obama's administration...."
In yesterday's article on the debate, the NYT doesn't mention Paul at all in the text. He is relegated to an info box on the left sidebar under “Participants.”
And when the NYT does mention Paul prominently, it's because there is no way of avoiding it without giving up any pretense of impartiality: “Ron Paul Wins Conference Straw Poll, to No One's Surprise” (article). But rather than discussing his ideas, it describes how that victory was contrived by busing in tons of college students.
And a shocker. On October 5, the NYT reported on the fund-raising status in a fairly long article, published at 9:33 am. It discusses Perry's $17-million haul, other candidates, and even President Obama. Missing? You guessed it.
Somebody must have raised a ruckus. And so at 1:52 pm, four hours and twenty minutes after the original article, the NYT ran a short article on Paul's $8 million he raised from over 100,000 donors. A forced after-thought that must have left the editors a bitter taste in their collective mouths for the rest of the day.
The WSJ and NYT are the largest newspapers in the country, but the list goes on ad infinitum. Why can't they report on Paul's ideas? They report on the ideas of just about all other candidates. Why can't they at least include him in their coverage of our democratic processes? They don't have to praise him or agree with him. Or are they afraid of his ideas?
His opposition to the Fed might be part of it. The heavily leveraged companies that own the status-quo media outlets—Fed-billions recipient GE, Murdoch's News Corporation, the New York Times Company, etc.—must have access to unlimited flows of essentially free money to keep their empires afloat. Whatever their reasons, their boycott further tarnishes what little remains of their reputations as reliable new sources.
Which is a shame. In a democracy that wants to be vibrant, all major candidates deserve the attention of the news media, and not just of the blogosphere.
Running up deficits and printing trillions to monetize them can't create a healthy economy. Yet, inexplicably, it's what the status-quo media continue to propagate: When False Premises Become Economic Policy.
Wolf Richter www.testosteronepit.com
»
- advertisements -
----The one project he picked that cannot be done since technically the FED is outside the government. (audit the fed)----
The congress can audit anything they choose.
You skipped past low grade moron and moron and went straight to useless idiot.
anony and christophe2 shooting down Ron Paul, and yet no names about who is preferable. We get such scintillating commentary like "an independent outside of the mainstream that the mainstream media hasn't covered so I don't know who he/she is".
Blow it out your ass.
I would vote for Cynthia McKinney (now in the Green party), although I am not certain she is running for president. She speaks the truth about 9/11, and goets SLAMED for it on the MSM, the rare times she ever gets mentioned.
Look: how is it possible that there is ZERO coverage of politicians who are not in the mainstream parties?! I am actively looking for news on other candidates and I can't find it, but regardless I still think that grabbing a random person off the streets would get us better results than anything we see out of congress, the senate or our presidents.
Above all, I will never vote Republican or Democrat again, no matter what: those are the twin seals of the establishment. So long as we keep voting them in, nothing will change for the better.
There's a list here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_legislation_sponsored_by_Ron_Paul#Taxes
Have you listened to him? Have you read any of his books? Or his articles? Do you know the reasons for any of his positions? No? I didn't think so.
Also...WTF have you done?
A hypocrite to put it mildly.
Have YOU listened to him?? He or you have ADD. He cannot keep his thought on one track for ten seconds, he jumps all over the place, he's like a vomitorium things that are wrong and yet, he will not propose something as simple as restoring Glass-Steagall that he could get thru.
WHY????
Because he isn't interested in changing what can be.
I don't need him to tell me what needs to be done, I need him TO DO IT because he has the power of mine THAT I GAVE him, you ninny!
What Ron Paul advocates is 100.0000000% obvious to any honest human being who has spent more than 0.01% of their life thinking about these issues. The reason Ron Paul hops from topic to topic to topic is to attempt to get more lazy morons to realize how EVERYTHING that matters is made worse by collectivism and authoritarianism, and made better by individualism and liberty. ALL those topics are connected and unified by the topic of individualism. And that is simply a FACT.
When a person understands something wholly and completely their neural pathways all grow together and one achieves a holistic view of that subject. It can be hard to come from a perspective of total understanding of something as complex as liberty and dumb it down for the sheep, like you, into a 30 second sound bite. You should maybe start with one of his many books to get clued in as to why ROn is in your best interest too.
You are an idiot. Sorry to drop all of this here but seriously...
Foreign policy [edit]Nonintervention- Kosovo, 1999–2000: Prohibits the Department of Defense from using troops in Kosovo unless specifically authorized by law.[2]
- Constitutional War Powers Resolution of 2001. H.J.Res. 27, 2001-03-06. Repeals the 1973 War Powers Resolution entirely, prohibiting presidents from initiating a war without a formal declaration of war by Congress.[3]
- Iraq Resolution declaration of war. Motion in re H.J.Res. 114, 2002-10-02. In order to prevent Congress from yielding its Constitutional authority to declare war to the executive branch, which does not Constitutionally hold that power, gives Congress the opportunity to declare war on Iraq, rather than merely "authorizing" the president to deploy forces without a declaration of war.[4] Paul said that he would not vote for his own motion, but that if his fellow members of Congress wished to go to war in Iraq, they should follow the Constitution and declare war.
- Iran and Syria: H.Con.Res. 43, 2007-01-23. Expressing the sense of Congress that the President should implement Recommendation 9 of the Iraq Study Group Report. Urges the President to implement Recommendation 9 of the Iraq Study Group Report, recommending direct engagement with Iran and Syriatoward constructive results.
- Sunset of Public Law 107-243 Act of 2007. H.R. 2605, 2007-06-07. Establishes a sunset clause for the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against IraqResolution of 2002. As one of six Republicans to vote against the Iraq Resolution (which authorized military force for stated purposes without declaring war), Paul also inspired the founding of a group called the National Peace Lobby Project to promote a resolution he and Oregon representative Peter DeFaziosponsored to repeal the war authorization in February 2003. His speech, 35 "Questions That Won't Be Asked About Iraq",[5] was translated and published in German, French, Russian, Italian, and Swiss periodicals before the Iraq War began.[6]
- Constitutional War Powers Amendments of 2007. H.J.Res. 53, 2007-09-25 (cosponsor). Replaces the 1973 War Powers Resolution with law ensuring the "collective judgment of both the Congress and the President" in use of war powers.
[edit]International organizations Further information: United States withdrawal from the United NationsThe American Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2009 (ASRA) is U.S. House of Representatives bill 1146 (H.R. 1146) of the first session of the 111th Congress, "to end membership of the United States in the United Nations" (U.N.). The bill was first introduced on March 20, 1997, as H.R. 1146, to the first session of the105th Congress (the American Sovereignty Restoration Act of 1997); it was a legislative effort to remove the U.S. from the UN.[7] Paul reintroduced the bill on February 24, 2009[8]
The bill was authored by Ron Paul to effect U.S. withdrawal from the United Nations. It would repeal various laws pertaining to the U.N., terminate authorization for funds to be spent on the U.N., terminate U.N. presence on U.S. property, and withdraw diplomatic immunity for U.N. employees.[9] It would provide up to two years for the U.S. to withdraw.[10] The Yale Law Journal cited the Act as proof that "the United States’s complaints against the United Nations have intensified."[11]
In a letter to Majority Leader Tom DeLay of April 16, 2003,[12] and in a speech to Congress on April 29, Paul requested the repeatedly-bottlenecked issue be voted on, because "Americans deserve to know how their representatives stand on the critical issue of American sovereignty."[13] Though he did not foresee passage in the near future, Paul believed a vote would be good for "those who don't want to get out of the United Nations but want to tone down" support; cosponsor Roscoe Bartlett's spokeswoman similarly said Bartlett "would welcome any action that would begin the debate".[12]
It had 54 supporters in the House in its first year.[7] It was referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and was never released for a vote.
National Review cited the ASRA as an example of grassroots effort "to educate the American people about the efforts of foreign tyrants to disarm them".[14]Supporters approved of its intent to end financial ties to the UN, its peace-keeping missions, and its building in New York City.[15] A report by Herbert W. Titus, Senior Legal Advisor of the Liberty Committee, concluded that "the American Sovereignty Restoration Act is the only viable solution to the continued abuses of the United Nations."[16]
On its front page, the Victoria, Texas, Advocate, a newspaper in Paul's district, expressed pride for the Act in the face of what it called several undeclared "United Nations wars".[17]
Henry Lamb considers it "the only way to be sure that the U.S. will win the showdown at the U.N. Corral", considering that without withdrawal, U.N. claims of diplomatic immunity and Congressional subpoena power threaten each other, as in the oil-for-food scandal.[10]
Critics say it "undoubtedly paints a bull's-eye across the entire country".[18] Tim Wirth, president of the United Nations Foundation, finds the bill contrary to United States interests: "This piece of legislation has been brought by Ron Paul every year over the last 20 [sic] years and it never goes anywhere."[12]
A policy review of U.S.–Canada relations describes the Act as reflecting "extreme views," but indicative of a majority pro-sovereignty view in Congress, expressed in tighter border and immigration policy, unilateralism in foreign policy, and increased national security focus.[19]
Similar U.S. legislation includes Ron Paul's proposal to end U.S. contributions to the United Nations and affiliated agencies, which had Republican support but failed as an appropriations amendment by a vote of 74;[20] and Roscoe Bartlett's proposal to cut a $100 million payment to the U.N., based on General Accounting Office claims that the U.S. has overpaid by $3.5 billion (the UN claimed that it was owed $1.3 billion).[21]
The 2002 Republican Party of Texas platform explicitly urged passage of the ASRA; withdrawal from the U.N. had been on the platform at least since 1998.[22]
Both houses of the Arizona legislature introduced legislation petitioning Congress to pass the ASRA (HCM 2009 in 2004, SCM 1002 in 2006);[23][24] in 2007 similar legislation passed the Arizona Senate (SCM 1002 in 2007), but with the focus changed from the ASRA to Virgil Goode's Congressional resolution not to engage in a NAFTA Superhighway or a North American Union (H.Con.Res. 487, now H.Con.Res. 40).[25][26]
The John Birch Society recognizes the ASRA as a reflection of its efforts since 1962 toward U.S. withdrawal.[7] Their publication New American sees Nathan Tabor's anti-U.N. book, The Beast on the East River, as a building block toward ASRA passage,[27] which it advocates because "the U.S. military is currently being used as the enforcement arm of the United Nations."[28]
In 2000, Tom DeWeese's American Policy Center said it delivered to Congress more than 300,000 signatures from petitions in support of the Act.[29]
An organization calling itself the Liberty Committee also organized a nationwide petition drive asking Majority Leader Tom DeLay to schedule the bill for a vote.[30]
[edit]Borders and immigration- Terror Immigration Elimination Act of 2007. H.R. 3217, 2007-07-27, originally H.R. 488, 2003-01-29. Limits the issuance of student and diversity immigrant visas in relation to Saudi Arabia, countries that support terrorism, and countries not cooperating fully with United States antiterrorism efforts.
- Birthright citizenship: H.J.Res. 46, 2007-06-13, originally H.J.Res. 46, 2005-04-28. Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to deny United States citizenship to individuals born in the United States to parents who are neither United States citizens nor persons who owe permanent allegiance to the United States. Clarifies the Fourteenth Amendment in accord with Paul's opposition to birthright citizenship.
- Trans-Texas Corridor: H.R. 5191, 2008-01-29. To prohibit the use of Federal funds to carry out the highway project known as the "Trans-Texas Corridor".
[edit]Terrorism- Police Security Protection Act. H.R. 3304, 2007-08-01, originally H.R. 1410, 1997-04-23 (Law Officer's Armor Vest Tax Credit Act of 1997). Creates tax credit for law enforcement officers who purchase armor vests.
- Anti-Terrorism Act of 2007. H.R. 3305, 2007-08-01, originally H.R. 2896, 2001-09-14. Proposed immediately after the September 11, 2001, attacks, permits pilots and navigators of aircraft, and law enforcement personnel detailed to aircraft, to carry firearms.
- Marque and Reprisal Act of 2007. H.R. 3216, 2007-07-27. To authorize the President to issue letters of marque and reprisal with respect to certain acts of air piracy upon the United States on September 11, 2001, and other similar acts of war planned for the future.
[edit]Economy [edit]Taxes- Tax Free Tips Act of 2009. H.R. 779, 2009-01-28, originally H.R. 4408, 1998-08-05. Provides that tips shall not be subject to income or employment taxes.
- Public Safety Tax Cut Act. H.R. 3303, 2007-08-01, originally H.R. 3124, 1999-10-21. Creates tax credit for police officers and professional firefighters, and makes public safety volunteer benefits nontaxable.
- Cost of Government Awareness Act of 2007. H.R. 3601, 2007-09-19, originally H.R. 4855, 2000-07-13. Eliminates employer withholding tax and replaces it with monthly installment payment of income tax by employees, finding that withholding taxes are inherently deceptive and unfair and that they "hide the true cost of government from taxpayers, making tax increases more feasible".
- Taxpayers' Freedom of Conscience Act of 2009. H.R. 1233, 2009-02-26, originally H.R. 1548, 2003-04-01. To prohibit any Federal official from expending any Federal funds for any population control or population planning program or any family planning activity.
- Property tax: H.R. 4293, 2007-12-05, originally H.R. 5860, 2006-07-20. Creates income tax deduction for real property taxes.
- Abolition of income tax: H.J.Res. 23, 2007-02-07. Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relative to abolishing personal income, estate, and gift taxes and prohibiting the United States Government from engaging in business in competition with its citizens. Repeals the Sixteenth Amendment, income tax, estate tax, and gift tax, and limits the government only to Constitutionally authorized enterprises. Paul had proposed similar legislation in 1999-2000 and in 2001.[2]
- Lutetium oxide: H.R. 962, 2009-02-10, originally H.R. 3731, 2007-10-02. To suspend temporarily the duty on lutetium oxide, an ingredient in laser crystals.
- Tax Relief for Transportation Workers Act. H.R. 1097, 2009-02-13, originally H.R. 5991, 2008-05-07. To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax relief for obtaining transportation worker identification credentials.
[edit]Inflation- Affordable Gas Price Act. H.R. 2415, 2007-05-21, originally H.R. 4004, 2005-10-06. To reduce the price of gasoline by allowing for offshore drilling, eliminating Federal obstacles to constructing refineries and providing incentives for investment in refineries, suspending Federal fuel taxes when gasoline prices reach a benchmark amount, and promoting free trade.
- Make No Cents Until It Makes Sense Act. H.R. 4127, 2007-11-08. To amend title 31, United States Code, to prohibit the further minting of 1-cent coins until the Secretary of the Treasury and the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System certify in writing that there is not a surplus of 1-cent coins already available for use in transactions, and for other purposes. The U.S. Mint currently spends $.014, which is more than the face value, for each copper-clad zinc U.S. cent it produces.[31] Paul joked, "We can't even afford a zinc standard anymore."[32]
[edit]Sound money/Federal ReserveSignificant advocacy for the Transparency Act has ensued. At a rally in Bloomington, Indiana, outside the office of Baron Hill (D-IN), a Young Americans for Liberty petition encouraging Hill to vote in favor of the bill circulated among a crowd of 200; Hill did not comment to YAL, according to member Meredith Milton.[42]The advocacy group Campaign for Liberty (CFL) encourages members to petition representatives to cosponsor the Transparency Act,[43] sponsoring hundreds of pro-bill rallies in cities like Boone, North Carolina;[44] Peoria, Illinois;[45] Philadelphia, Pennsylvania;[46] and (CFL regional conference) St. Louis, Missouri.[47]
Glenn Beck of Fox News mentioned the Transparency Act while discussing ways for the average person to remind Congress, "Hey, you work for me".[48] During Beck's April 15 show from his rally at the Alamo in San Antonio, Pat Gray interviewed a local supporter of the Transparency Act, drawing cheers from the crowd.[49] A blogger on The Motley Fool website called the bill "the first attempt at a true audit of the Federal Reserve since its inception in 1913" and affirmed Paul's Congressionally published column describing his legislation.[50][51]
- Federal Reserve Sunshine Act of 2009. H.R. 1348, 2009-03-05. Requires the Federal Reserve to publish information on financial assistance provided to various entities during the bailout of 2008; creates a website listing all banks that have borrowed from the Fed since March 24, 2008, and the amount, terms, and "specific rationale" of the loans. U.S. Senate sponsor Bernie Sanders (I-VT) commented, "I have a hard time understanding how you have put $2.2 trillion at risk without making those names available." Fed chair Ben Bernanke had told Sanders that publishing the names would make the banks feel stigmatized and potentially reluctant to borrow further.[36]
[edit]Social Security- Social Security earnings limit repeal (cosponsor): Repealed the earnings limitation on Social Security. Seniors now continue working after retirement without being penalized.
- Social Security Beneficiary Tax Reduction Act. H.R. 161, 2009-01-06, originally H.R. 2723, 1997-10-23. Repeals the 1993 increase in taxes on Social Security benefits.
- Social Security Preservation Act of 2009. H.R. 219, 2009-01-06, originally H.R. 219, 1999-01-06, cosponsored since H.R. 857, 1997-02-27. Invests the Social Security surplus "trust funds" in marketable interest-bearing obligations and certificates of deposit, essentially insuring the integrity of the surplus.[2]
- Senior Citizens Tax Elimination Act. H.R. 162, 2009-01-06, originally H.R. 4790, 2002-05-22, cosponsored since H.R. 761, 1999-02-12. Makes Social Security and Railroad Retirement Board payments nontaxable.
- Social Security for Americans Only Act of 2009. H.R. 160, 2009-01-06, originally H.R. 489, 2003-01-29. Limits Social Security benefits to U.S. citizens and nationals.
[edit]Constitutional rights [edit]Freedom of religion- Religious Freedom Amendment. H.J.Res. 78, 1997-05-08 (cosponsor). Clarifies the "right to acknowledge God according to the dictates of conscience" to include the right of prayer in public schools and other public property, and to prohibit state establishment of religion or requirements to participate in prayer.
- Hostettler amendment (Ten Commandments display): H.Amdt. 278, 2005-06-15 (voted in favor), amending H.R. 2862, 2005-06-10. Defunds the southernIndiana U.S. District Court judgment Russelburg v. Gibson County, which had directed the removal of a Ten Commandments display on the county courthouse lawn.[52] The district judge later reversed himself, holding that the Indiana display met the Supreme Court of the United States's test described in Van Orden v. Perry, handed down two weeks after the Hostettler amendment.[53]
- See We the People Act.
[edit]Freedom of association- National ID (amendment): Prohibited funding for national identification numbers.[2]
- Identity Theft Prevention Act of 2009. H.R. 220, 2009-01-06, originally H.R. 220, 1999-01-06 (Freedom and Privacy Restoration Act). Protects Social Security number confidentiality, prohibits uniform national identifying numbers, and prohibits imposition of federal identification standards.
- TV Consumer Freedom Act. H.R. 3602, 2007-09-19, originally H.R. 1078, 1999-03-11. Requires consent for signal retransmission, eliminates must-carry requirements, terminates Federal Communications Commission (FCC) mandates for television features and functions, and clarifies retransmission rights of satellite carriers.
- Freedom to Bank Act. H.R. 1419, 2009-03-10, originally H.R. 6297, 2006-09-29. Ends laws and regulations which deny decision-making opportunities and communication control to bank account holders. States in its long title that such laws "treat the American people like children".
[edit]Right to keep and bear arms- Second Amendment Protection Act of 2007. H.R. 1096, 2007-02-15, originally H.R. 2721, 1997-10-23. Defends law-abiding citizens' Second Amendmentrights to own firearms.
- National Park Second Amendment Restoration and Personal Protection Act of 2007. H.R. 1897, 2007-04-17. Prohibits firearm regulation within the National Park System. Based on 2006 legislation by Senator George Allen.
- Citizens Protection Act of 2007. H.R. 2424, 2007-05-22. Repeals the Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990 as amended.
- See also the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2007.
[edit]Habeas corpus- See American Freedom Agenda Act.
[edit]Limited government- Term limits, 1970s: Paul was the first member of Congress to propose term limits legislation in the House,[54] one of several bills considered "ahead of their time" by Texas Monthly magazine.[2]
- Market Process Restoration Act of 1999. H.R. 1789, 1999-05-13. Repeals United States antitrust law (which limits cartels and monopolies), with intent to restore market economy benefits.
- To repeal the Military Selective Service Act. H.R. 424, 2007-01-11, originally H.R. 1597, 2001-04-26, cosponsored since H.R. 2421, 1997-09-05.Abolishes the Selective Service System, prohibits reestablishment of the draft, and forbids denial of rights due to failure to register.
- Eminent domain: Prevented the Department of Housing and Urban Development from seizing a church in New York through eminent domain.[2]
- International Criminal Court (ICC): Barred ICC jurisdiction over the U.S. military (2002 amendment).[55]
- Global tax: Barred American participation in any U.N. "global tax" (2005 amendment).[55]
- Surveillance: Barred surveillance on peaceful First Amendment activities by citizens (2006 amendment).[55] Individual privacy may be an area of Paul's greatest influence, and he has long worked tirelessly against forms of what he considers to be federal snooping.[2]
- Sunlight Rule. H.Res. 216, 2009-03-05, originally H.Res. 709, 2006-03-02. Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to ensure that Members have a reasonable amount of time to read legislation that will be voted upon. Prohibits votes on legislation from occurring until ten days after its introduction, with the intent of giving lawmakers enough time to read bills before voting on them; allots 72 hours for House members and staff to examine the contents of amendments. Paul charged his fellow legislators with voting for the Patriot Act in 2001 without reading it first; more than 300 pages long, it was enacted into law less than 24 hours after being introduced.[56]
- Congressional Responsibility and Accountability Act. H.R. 3302, 2007-08-01. Prohibits federal rules and regulations not enacted into law by Congress, if they result in job loss or exceed specified costs to individuals, corporations, or all persons in aggregate.
- American Freedom Agenda Act of 2007. H.R. 3835, 2007-10-15. To restore the Constitution's checks and balances and protections against government abuses as envisioned by the Founding Fathers. Proposes to "bar the use of evidence obtained through torture; require that federal intelligence gathering is conducted in accordance with the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA); create a mechanism for challenging presidential signing statements; repeal the Military Commissions Act, which, among other things, denies habeas corpus to certain detainees; prohibit kidnapping, detentions, and torture abroad; protect journalists who publish information received from the executive branch; and ensure that secret evidence is not used to designate individuals or organizations with a presence in the U.S. as foreign terrorists."[57]
- See also the limited government and income tax abolition amendment.
[edit]States' rights [edit]We the People ActBecause it forbids federal courts from adjudicating "any claim involving the laws, regulations, or policies of any State or unit of local government relating to the free exercise or establishment of religion", secularists have criticized the bill as removing federal remedy for allegations of state violation of religious freedom.[59] As an example of potential for violation,[citation needed] Article 1 of the Texas Constitution provides the (currently unenforced) requirement that office-holders "acknowledge the existence of a Supreme Being". The Democratic Underground online community published the holding that the bill would give state sexual-orientation laws special immunity.[60] The bill is comparable to other jurisdiction stripping legislation such as the Constitution Restoration Act.[61]
Paul told Congress, "The best guarantor of true liberty is decentralized political institutions, while the greatest threat to liberty is concentrated power."[61] In April 2006 the Traditional Values Coalition encouraged its contacts to lobby their representatives for passage;[62] the bill was also endorsed by columnist Rev. Chuck Baldwin,[61] and cosponsors include Roscoe Bartlett, Tom Tancredo, Sam Johnson, Walter Jones, Jr., John A. Sullivan, John Duncan, Jr., and Ted Poe.
[edit]Abortion- Sanctity of Life Act of 2007. H.R. 2597, 2007-06-06, originally H.R. 776, 2005-02-10. For the purposes of statutory construction over the jurisdictional limitation imposed, declares that "human life shall be deemed to exist from conception". Removes federal court jurisdiction over abortion cases arising from state laws and effectively negates Roe v. Wade as binding legal precedent.[63] Such a law returns to each state the power to decide whether or not abortion should be allowed, banned, or regulated.
- See also Taxpayers' Freedom of Conscience Act of 2007.
[edit]Stem-cell research- Cures Can Be Found Act of 2009. H.R. 1654, 2009-03-19, originally H.R. 3444, 2005-07-26. Provides tax credits for qualified stem-cell research or storage and for donation of umbilical cord blood.
[edit]Capital punishment- Opposes federal use of capital punishment.[64][65]
[edit]Education- Teacher certification (amendment): Prohibited funding of federal teacher certification.[2]
- Family Education Freedom Act of 2009. H.R. 1951, 2009-04-02, originally H.R. 1816, 1997-06-05.[66] Provides tax credits to families towards spending on any type of children's education–related expenses, public, private, or homeschool.
- Education Improvement Tax Cut Act. H.R. 1952, 2009-04-02, originally H.R. 936, 1999-03-02. Applies a $5,000 tax credit per child for donations to any school in support of scholarships or academic or extracurricular programs.[67]
- Teacher Tax Cut Act of 2009. H.R. 1949, 2009-04-02, originally H.R. 937, 1999-03-02. Provides all elementary and secondary school teachers with a $1,000 tax cut.
- Hope Plus Scholarship Act of 2009. H.R. 1953, 2009-04-02, originally H.R. 2410, 2001-06-28. Includes qualified education expenses within the Hope Scholarship Credit.
- Professional Educators Tax Relief Act of 2009. H.R. 1950, 2009-04-02, originally H.R. 2411, 2001-06-28. Gives all K–12 school librarians, counselors, and other personnel the same $1,000 tax credit as the Teacher Tax Cut Act.[68]
- Make College Affordable Act of 2009. H.R. 1954, 2009-04-02, originally H.R. 401, 2005-01-26, cosponsored since H.R. 1631, 1999-04-29. Creates full tax deduction for higher education expenses and interest on student loans.
- Education Professional Development Tax Credit Act of 2007. H.R. 4078, 2007-11-05. To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow elementary and secondary school teachers a credit against income tax for professional development and training expenses.
[edit]Sexual orientation legislation- Marriage Protection Act of 2007. H.R. 724, 2007-01-30, originally H.R. 3313, 2003-10-16 (cosponsor). To limit Federal court jurisdiction over questions under the Defense of Marriage Act. Explicitly permits states to continue making a public-policy exception when deciding the status of same-sex relationshipsindependently of the decisions of other states, as states have in fact been permitted to do in the case of incestuous marriages.[69]
[edit]Environment- A bill to repeal the Soil and Water Conservation Act of 1977. H.R. 7079, 1980-04-16.
- Dredging: H.R. 7245, 1980-05-01. Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to remove federal jurisdiction from dumping in private (non-navigable) waters, and from state dumping permit programs; permits applicants, rather than the Secretary of the Army, to specify disposal sites when requesting permission to discharge dredged or fill material into interstate navigable waters.
- Fisheries: H.R. 3735, 1998-04-28. To disapprove a rule requiring the use of bycatch reduction devices in the shrimp fishery of the Gulf of Mexico. Annuls federal mandates that require private fisheries to reduce catches of non-targeted species at their own cost.
- Environmental Protection Agency: H.J.Res. 104, 2000-07-13. Disapproves an EPA rule published on 2000-07-13, relating to proposed revisions to its pollutant discharge reduction program, federal antidegradation policy, and water quality planning and management regulations.
- Lake Texana dam: Transferred ownership of the Lake Texana dam project from the federal government to Texas.[2]
- San Jacinto disposal area: H.R. 4829, 2007-12-18. To authorize the Secretary of the Army to convey the surface estate of the San Jacinto Disposal Area to the city of Galveston, Texas.
- To provide for the transfer of certain Federal Property to the Galveston Historical Foundation. H.R. 2121, 2009-04-27, originally H.R. 6440, 2008-07-08.
- Energy Efficient and Environmentally Friendly Automobile Tax Credit Act of 2009. H.R. 1768, 2009-03-26, originally H.R. 6441, 2008-07-08.
[edit]Health [edit]Health reform- Quality Health Care Coalition Act of 2009. H.R. 1493, 2009-03-12, originally H.R. 1247, 2003-03-12. Exempts health care professionals from antitrust laws in their negotiations with health plans and health insurance issuers.
- Comprehensive Health Care Reform Act of 2009. H.R. 1495, 2009-03-12, originally H.R. 1287, 2003-03-13. Strengthens health savings accounts and credit for health care costs, carries forward unused health benefits, and repeals threshold on medical expenses deduction.
- Seniors' Health Care Freedom Act of 2009. H.R. 164, 2009-01-06, originally H.R. 580, 2005-02-02, cosponsored since H.R. 2867, 1999-09-14. Facilitates private contracts under Medicare.
- Nursing Home Emergency Assistance Act. H.R. 1494, 2009-03-12, originally H.R. 4002, 2005-10-06.
- Treat Physicians Fairly Act of 2009. H.R. 1497, 2009-03-12, originally H.R. 4872, 2006-03-02. Creates tax credit to medical care providers against income tax for uncompensated emergency medical care, and deduction to hospitals for such care.
- Enhanced Options for Rural Health Care Act of 2007. H.R. 1899, 2007-04-17, originally H.R. 6154, 2006-09-21. Gives specific permission for rural healthfacilities designated as critical access hospitals to offer assisted living services without losing their designation.
[edit]Tax cuts- Prescription Drug Affordability Act. H.R. 163, 2009-01-06, originally H.R. 3636, 2000-02-10 (Pharmaceutical Freedom Act). Creates prescription drug tax credit and facilitates import and Internet sale of such drugs.
- Cancer and Terminal Illness Patient Health Care Act. H.R. 4684, 2007-12-13, originally H.R. 4265, 2000-04-13. Assists those suffering from cancer and other life-threatening illnesses by waiving the employee portion of Social Security taxes.
- Child Health Care Affordability Act. H.R. 1496, 2009-03-12, originally H.R. 4799, 2000-06-29 (Family Health Tax Cut Act). Creates income tax credit for medical expenses for dependents.
- Freedom From Unnecessary Litigation Act of 2009. H.R. 1498, 2009-03-12, originally H.R. 1249, 2003-03-12. Creates tax credit for the cost of insurance against negative outcomes from surgery, such as against malpractice of a physician.
- Evacuees Tax Relief Act of 2008. H.R. 7055, 2008-09-24, originally H.R. 4066, 2005-10-17.
- Phosphoric acid: H.R. 961, 2009-02-10, originally H.R. 3732, 2007-10-02. To suspend temporarily the duty on phosphoric acid, lanthanum salt, ceriumterbium-doped, compounds which have medical uses.
[edit]Alternative Health- Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act. H.R. 5842, 2008-04-17, cosponsored since H.R. 2592, 2001-07-23 (States' Rights to Medical Marijuana Act).Protects authorized medical marijuana patients and protects state-legal farmers against federal raids. Lets states choose their own stances on medical marijuana regulations, and permits further study, regulation, and use by reclassifying the plant medically.
- Parental Consent Act of 2007. H.R. 2387, 2007-05-17, originally H.R. 5236, 2004-10-06 (Let Parents Raise Their Kids Act). To prohibit the use of Federal funds for any universal or mandatory mental health screening program.
- Health Freedom Protection Act. H.R. 2117, 2007-05-02, originally H.R. 4282, 2005-11-09. Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act regarding health claims of foods and dietary supplements. Authorizes specific health claims to be made about saw palmetto, omega-3 fatty acids, glucosamine,chondroitin sulfate, and calcium. Establishes government burden of proof in false advertising cases.
- Act to Remove Federal Penalties for the Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults. H.R. 5843, 2008-04-17 (cosponsor).
[edit]Agriculture@anony
RP supporters are smarter than you . Do not fuck with us unless you want your stupid ass showing. Baaah haaa haaa haa.
Hank, the list that was posted demonstrates as nothing else can that he is all over the map, and hasn't DONE ONE GODDAMNED Thing!
You who are enamored of his gestures deserve to be defeated.
Smarter than me? Maybe, but you'll have to do more than post a fake laugh on the internet to prove you are. As it is, you've been taken in by a total loser.
You obviously didn't read what you replied to, or bother to understand it: we all know he has proposed lots of nice stuff, but little-to-none of it has ever gone through.
Let's say I believed Osama Bin Laden was indeed our enemy #1, and that he wasn't a CIA plant (or long-since dead from illness), would you laud me for sitting on my lawn and shooting bullets up in the air in the hopes that one might kill him, on the other side of the planet?
How about you filter that long-ass list down to only those things that PASSED? The guy you replied to said RP was "all show and no go": proposing bills that won't pass, or not doing the work required to get your bills to actually pass, is a SHOW.
Piss on Paul because the cowards around him won't help him do what's right? Give us a break. What can one congressman do?
1. Speak relentlessly about the Constitution and the importance of actually respecting it. Check
2. Propose legislation consistent with that and prod others to help. Check
3. Take the message directly to the people in the most visible forum possible. Check.
So someone can propose all the right things, exhort endlessly about them, and when that fails, try to capture the highest office in the land so he can -make- the cowards follow - and you're still not satisfied?
Here's some advice: Get a gun and load it. Go into the bathroom and take a long look in the mirror. If you like what you see, go back to eating cheetos and jerking off. If you don't like it, pen a very cogent goodbye letter, saying that you can't live in a world run by corporate whores whose corporate whore media will ignore good men like Ron Paul, purposely and consistently. Maybe that will help the cause. Nothing else you can do is likely to matter. You're no Ron Paul.
(seriously, don't kill yourself. At least not until you pen the note. I don't want a senseless death on my conscience.)
Look, I agree that the guy looks good on many fronts, but I've learned my lesson from the Obama deception - and frankly, Obama also said lots of very good things when he was running for office. Furthermore, I distrust anyone who won't speak the truth about 9/11, who won't speak of our wars in the proper terms (war crimes), isn't nearly tough enough on Israel (they are no friend of ours), and who's efforts in congress just haven't amounted to nearly enough.
But don't worry, I won't kill myself on your mean account, for all that the world certainly fills me with quite a bit of despair. I wish you Ron Paul supporters would chill out a bit: I'm not questioning him to annoy you, but to get to the truth. Just because I don't share your religious fervor, just because I point out the inconsistencies I notice, you guys have turned to nasty personal attacks? That's not cool.
Another idiot... He has been fighting the cartel for decades. More so than anyone else. Learn how to read douche. The poster said,
That is a list of legislation he has moved, authored and fought for.
Let's try this again.
We live in a Judgeo-corpocracy. The corporations control the executive, legislative and judicial branches and through that mechanism can control/destroy the republic through legislative action. They control the fiat. They write their own laws (Super Congress, assassination of citizens without due process) and enforce their own laws (SCOTUS does not care about the Super Congress or Obama's kill list). They also own the media.
Do you see why Ron has had a wee bit of trouble passing some of this stuff?
When you fire that round in your yard, aim straight up and make sure there is no wind.
Why would TPTB fear or worry about what Ron Paul does or says? It never amounts to anything. It is just talk, just a show.
Presenting daring bills that never come close to passing is not indicative of "steel". Ron Paul failed to get the Fed audited, but Bernie Sanders (*independent*) was able to do so - who's the one with the steel balls and the know-how to get shit done?
A centrally planned global military empire is as doomed to failure as a centrally planned economy. After 20+ years of war in Iraq and 10+ years of war in Afghanistan, how have our national security and national interests improved?
It's all about being in right place at right time. He's finally in the right place at right time. Congressman roll eyes think he nuts, don't want to support him...but guess what he's not nuts!!! He was right all along.
We need more of us to run for office, really change status quo so when Paul elected President he will have Senator and Congresman to back him up.
Run for office in your district, get started now.
No kidding. And ZH, which purports to be non-mainstream, or to go where the mainstream won't go, never dares to talk about independent or non-Repub/Dem candidates. Ron Paul certainly looks better than Obama, Bachmann, Romney, Gingrich or the rest, but frankly, that isn't good enough!
I'd be a'ight with a libertarian, if he wasn't a stinking Republican or a free mason! Isn't there a Libertarian party in the US? (Surely there must be.) Why aren't we hearing from their candidates on ZH? Oops, that's right: they are actually *really* being ignored and boycotted!
I was watching one Ron Paul ad where they lauded his role in helping make Ronald Reagan president - just how freakin' connected was Ron Paul that he had a role in deciding who would ultimately be the next president? None of that happened by chance or by regular 'democratic vote': as usual, there was a massive psy-ops campaign in the MSM to make Reagan popular, and thus people voted for him.
And as for the idea constantly propagated by the MSM and ZH that RP is being 'ignored by the MSM': Jon Stewart IS THE MAINSTREAM! When he invites RP to talk about how RP is being ignored, it's like someone using sock puppets to tell you they aren't talking to you. Enough with the Orwellian doublespeak!
Paul can't do shit, but you want everyone focused on the fringe candidates that even ZH readers have not heard of? You are a lackwit moron with a penchant for proving it at every possible turn. Sorry, but someone had to tell you (for the billionth time).
I think that most people are more than ready and willing to look outside of the 2 mainstream parties, but in order to do so they need to find a good information source that is willing to look there. Regardless, voting in another deception like Obama is not going to help us any.
I'm not someone who willingly settles for less: I will continue to aim far higher than the average and to expect the best. Is America the land of settling for less? Is that what makes America great, in your opinion? People who expect more are 'morons'?
Why am I lacking wit? Because I ask hard questions about your saint Paul? I'm sorry, but he deserves tough questions, just like any other politician, and I am not seeing satisfactory answers. One thing you should notice about me is that I am fully willing and capable of admitting my faults and mistakes - I would love nothing more than to 'believe' in RP, but before I do I want my concerns addressed. Him looking better than Gingrich or Obama is not good enough!
<---- he just talks big (christophe2)
<-----the real deal
-------iI'm not someone who willingly settles for less: I will continue to aim far higher than the average and to expect the best. Is America the land of settling for less? Is that what makes America great, in your opinion? People who expect more are 'morons'?------
I am sure that such a go getter has started your own website devoted to this noble cause..... Want to share it with us?????
I think you just talk big. Or do you just settle for less from yourself?
I do have a website / blog (betterinfos.com), I was involved with OccupyBoston ('till I got sick of the COINTELPRO BS that cripples the movement) and in fact I am working on a non-profit open-source platform that may well help with this particular problem of corporate-controlled news and information.
Since seeing the banned movie "Conspiracy of Silence" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggxiBWv4xYE ) I quit my job to focus entirely on these problems that beset us, since I just can't sit by and ignore pervasive and purposeful child abuse/molestation (ex. 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enctLi051cU ). Our country is terribly ill, it is a monstrosity that does terrible harm the world over, and I am fighting this with everything I have. Part of that is fighting to dispel what looks like BS to me from Ron Paul.
I am more that ready to change my mind about Ron Paul, but I need to see my points properly countered. I am presenting cogent arguments and I need coherent, pointed counter-arguments to be swayed, not personal attacks or 'counter-arguments' that sidestep the questions I raise. Honestly: I want nothing more than to find a candidate I can believe in who also has a good shot of winning!
You're fucking idiot. Where were you when we have debate here on the possible good candidates.
ZH came out to endorse Ron Paul. The ZH blog endorsed Ron Paul for president, so of course they cover story of Ron Paul.
Well I would admire and appreciate ZH a lot more if they did more than put out BS fluff pieces on RP. The guy is not being ignored by the mainstream - it is the mainstream (along with ZH) that constantly comes out with the message that RP is being ignored by the mainstream... How hard is that to see through?
ZH is obviously a mainstream source if it will only cover the mainstream parties. Who's the idiot if you can't put 2 and 2 together? We have a half-dozen sold-out Republican pukes 'debating' each other, and you think that's worth covering?
And just because ZH has decided to endorse a candidate, does that mean we are all supposed to stop asking questions?
whstlblwr is correct, you are a fucking idiot.
And by MSM discussing him, you mean John Stewart and ZH? Those TWO? And lets be honest, how main stream is ZH?
So really, you are working with one example.
Use google's news aggregator to see for yourself if Ron Paul is being ignored by the mainstream... For example, here's a search for news about Ron Paul in the last week:
http://www.google.com/search?q=news&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozil...
=> it looks like there are hundreds of articles on Ron Paul in just a week, coming from places like CNN, Washington Post, Huff Post, Washington Times, Fox News, etc. etc. etc.
Ergo: I don't think he's being ignored.
P.S.: and I didn't say ZH was mainstream, I said it was supposed to be non-mainstream, hence why I expect more from it.
Name one bill that he has moved, authored, fought for that would demonstrate his steel?
LOL... that, to you, demonstrates steel? Wow...
RP stood ALONE for decades, taking arrows for standing on his principles. THAT is steel, not trading favors with Washington vermin.
Politics: " A battle of monied interests masquerading as a fight of principles."
I'm all for the interests, monied or not, who will not cede to politicians and bureaucrats the position of being our final arbiters of winning and losing at the game of life.
Did Yo Mama drop you on your head as a child?
H.R. 1207
Ron Pauls Audit The Fed Bill
http://www.ronpaul.com/congress/legislation/111th-congress-200910/audit-the-federal-reserve-hr-1207/
The Federal Reserve is the chief culprit behind the economic crisis.
Its unchecked power to create endless amounts of money out of thin air brought us the boom and bust cycle and causes one financial bubble after another. Since the Fed’s creation in 1913 the dollar has lost more than 96% of its value, and by recklessly inflating the money supply the Fed continues to distort interest rates and intentionally erodes the value of the dollar.
For the past 30 years, Congressman Ron Paul has worked tirelessly to bring much-needed transparency and accountability to the secretive bank. And in 2009 and 2010 his unfaltering dedication showed astonishing results: HR 1207, the bill to audit the Federal Reserve, swept the country and made the central bankers shudder at their desks.
Uh, sorry: RP 'tried' to audit the Fed and failed, as he always does. It was the *independent* Bernie Sanders who managed to get the Fed audited...
RP is all about quixotically 'trying' and, evidently, failing. Is that who you want for president?
June 2009:"The feisty congressman from Texas, whose insurgent "Ron Paul Revolution" presidential campaign rankled Republican leaders last year, now has the GOP House leadership on his side -- backing a measure that generated paltry support when he first introduced it 26 years ago.
Paul, as of Tuesday, has won 245 co-sponsors to a bill that would require a full-fledged audit of the Federal Reserve by the end of 2010.
Paul attracted just 18 co-sponsors when he authored a similar bill, which died, in 1983. While the impact Fed policies have on inflation is once again a concern, fears about loose monetary policy and excessive federal spending appear even more widespread in 2009.
"In the past, I never got much support, but I think it's the financial crisis obviously that's drawing so much attention to it, and people want to know more about the Federal Reserve," Paul told FOXNews.com.
With the Federal Reserve holding interest rates at rock-bottom levels, pumping trillions into the economy and now poised to have new powers to oversee the financial system under President Obama's proposed regulatory overhaul, Paul said lawmakers want transparency.
"If they give them a lot more power and there's no more transparency, that'll be a disaster," he said.
The bill would call for the comptroller general in the Government Accountability Office to audit the Fed and report those findings to Congress. The GAO's ability to conduct such audits now is severely restricted.
A slew of top Republicans are backing the bill, as are many Democrats.
"Ron Paul has the right idea on this," said Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., who supports similar legislation in the Senate. "I'm just hoping we can get a clear audit. ... We need to know what they're up to."
Unfortunately for Paul, the bill appears to be idling in the House Financial Services Committee, which is chaired by Barney Frank, D-Mass. The bill has been sitting there, gathering co-sponsors, since Paul introduced it in late February.
"You've kind of got to rely on the Democratic leadership (to move the bill along)," a Boehner aide said. "I haven't heard a lot of support from Chairman Frank."
Sanders succeeded in watering it down.
If trying and succeeding with their policies like Clinton/Bush/Obama have with Wall Street Casino banking, deregulation, banking bailouts and endless foreign wars of conquest for their buddies...
Yes... I'll gladly take him for President.
So just who do you think would make a good President in this pack?
the problem is that while every other serious candidate has proposed some kind of economic plan (except perry but he's just an idiot), ron paul hasn't proposed anything. nothing! what would he do as president?! nobody has any idea. all of his proposals are based in some hypothetical fantasy world. that is why, as much as i agree with him on many issues, i cannot support him for president. he has not proposed any realistic plans, economic or not. WHERE IS HIS ECONOMIC PLAN?! closing down the entire government is not a plan!!
What?! Your expectations are so low that you would take someone who accomplishes nothing? Our problems are far too huge for a 'do-nothing' to be OK.
I've been saying all along that there is no one in the Republican or Democratic party that I would vote for: their whole purpose is to look legitimate (although not too legitimate, lest they teach us to expect too much, or offer a message that truly unites us).
So what if RP looks better than Romney, Gingrich or Obama? I'm looking for a true outsider, and I'm very disappointed in ZH that it will not discuss non-mainstream politicians.
Why do you allow them to limit your options? Why are you ONLY looking at the Repub/Dem candidates? Why does ZH play along?
You are a plastic dispenser filled with vinegar and water.
He doesn't look better, he is better, as evidenced by his voting record. Since you were irked I posted the long list of legislation he has been involved with I'll let you google his record.
As far as I know he has only voted once against the constitution and that was to authorize MLK Day as a holiday.
Ron has said many times he runs on the GOP ticket as playing the 2 party game is the only way to get anywhere. Again, because the cartel picks the hired help.
Yes though, do enlighten us as to who the 3rd party candidate we should be supporting is?
Christophe2 launches his campaign for the US presidency in 4, 3, 2...
LOL. I'm too truthful, too 'anti-manipulation' to be a successful politician, and regardless I can't run for president, since I wasn't born in the US. I'm a nobody anyway: who's going to vote for me, especially when I tend to say hard truths that most don't want to hear?
Christophe2 - re. born outside the US. No worries. I have one word for you. Photoshop. Look into it.
Well, I can say for certain that I would never vote for you, regardless of country, so, there's some validation for something you said.
Let's hear it. Who are YOU supporting. What's your idea?
It's hard for me to say who, since I've yet to find any site that discusses anyone in the other parties, and indeed I would probably prefer an independent. Furthermore, how should I know about anyone when even the 'non-mainstream' news sites won't cover anyone but the mainstream candidates? I'm not a magician or an oracle...
I can tell you what I expect from my candidate though:
- truth about 9/11: it was an inside job
- truth about our wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya: they are war crimes, so let's indict the Bush and Obama administrations
- truth about our criminal financial sector: those pigs need to go to jail for fraud!
- end the Fed, end fractioanl reserve banking, return to a gold standard
- end nafta and other 'free trade' initiatives that cost us our jobs and industry
- stop this 'mason nation': no more pukes from secret societies, with their secret agendas and secret loyalties, in elected or appointed office, in the judiciary, army or police
... I could go on for a while, but do you get a sense for how Ron Paul falls damned short of my expectations? You could pick a random person off the street and they would likely agree with all of this, but no politician ever would.
=> elect the guy off the street! It is almost sure to be someone better than what's in the mainstream... :P
You are proving yourself completely clueless. Ron has addressed every one of these issues. You obviously were not around when Ron was talking that way about 911... not good for a campaign.
Here is Ron in 1988 addressing most of these issues.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0I2fRcFPzu4
Good objectives. This may be disheartening but the only guy out there with the base to move the objectives you listed forward is Ron Paul. The whole thing is rigged though. In 2008 when it came down to conventions the mccain folks resorted to outright thuggery to get that loser the nomination. This time around, we'll see who the thugs are.
I suspect that Obama will win a second term if the media continues to snub Ron Paul. His followers are a force to be reckoned with. Alienate them, and they will head to the Libertarians or some of the other parties out there---or they might just say "F it". If they give Paul a fair shot and he fairly wins or loses, then Obama loses.
The media wants another 4 years of Obama. It looks like they will get it.
I'll tell you this: if Ron Paul does not win the Republican nomination, which after all is controlled by the Diebold vote fraud machines rather than by people's votes, then I will owe you all here a big apology.
He has never been a part of the retirement plan. Do you not understand how to use Google? Or do you like disseminating misinformation?
As for demonstrating his steel, your comment lays it out clearly. He is not one of them.