Watch Live: Second House Hearing on IRS Scandal

Watch: Rioters in London Clash With Police Over ‘Cleaver’ Terror Attack

Politics

Ron Paul is really starting to tick me off

Oct. 5, 2012 12:18pm Meredith Jessup

Warning: If you’re a die-hard Ron Paul supporter, you’re not going to like what you’re about to read.

First let me start off by saying that I know some of our readers are big-time Ron Paul supporters. I get that; I don’t agree with it, but I get it.

Second, let me just point out that Wednesday night’s debate between Mitt Romney and Barack Obama could not have made more clear the significant differences between the two potential trajectories for this country after the November election.

So it is with a heavy (and confused) heart, then, that I see a headline like this today:

In a Fox Business interview Wednesday, Rep. Ron Paul refused to say who he was planning on voting for — but ruled out voting for Mitt Romney or President Obama, leaving only one plausible option.

“I obviously haven’t announced in support for Romney, so that means that’s very unlikely,” Paul said. “And I don’t think anybody think’s I’m going to vote for Obama. So it’s back to that frustration level in not seeing a dramatic choice in how the system works.”

I appreciate that Ron Paul is a principled man, but he’s now crossing the fine line that distinguishes between principled and just plain stubborn.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I don’t know why anyone would toss their vote to a third-party candidate who has ZERO chance of winning (or abstain altogether) while pretending such a move doesn’t have serious consequences on the election.

You can’t tell me that four more years of Barack Obama would be better for this country than four years of a Mitt Romney presidency. You can’t tell me that a Romney presidency would be just as bad — or even close to being just as bad — as Obama.

Countless conservatives voting for Romney this fall didn’t support him in the primary election but are now throwing their support behind the best chance this country has right now to avoid driving off a fiscal cliff. Countless conservatives don’t agree with Romney on many issues, but see that they agree with Romney much more than they disagree with him. Countless conservatives realize that voting for Romney doesn’t represent a rousing endorsement for every policy position he has. And countless conservatives also know that a president is only capable of change with cooperation with Congress and if they want real change, it’s more important to elect conservatives from their local districts to represent them in Washington.

If Ron Paul and his supporters want to throw away their vote, they have every right to do that. But history has shown what happens when third party candidates stand on their “principles” and hand the election to their ideological opposites. (Ralph Nader’s 90,000 Florida votes in 2000, for example, were more than enough to secure a victory for President George W. Bush.) And with the two major candidates already locked in a dead tie, every vote counts.

Academic polls have recently shown Gary Johnson pulling around 5% of the national vote. ”If we just get 5 percent of the vote nationwide, it will be historic,” Johnson campaign manager Ron Nielsen says. ”It will be the beginning of the end of the two-party system.” Yeah, it will also be the beginning of a second term for Barack Obama — hardly a cause for celebration. ”It’s a protest we’re encouraging: We’re protesting the two-party system,” Nielsen says.

But the threat of four more years of Barack Obama apparently doesn’t matter to Paul, Johnson and their supporters who think the principle of their protest trumps the best interests of the country.

Finally, I might be able to understand Ron Paul’s support for a libertarian candidate… if both he and that candidate had not previously tried to run as Republicans and lost. If you’re a true libertarian, then run as one. Don’t borrow the Republican label to get yourself elected and then abandon the party that elected you when it — and the country — needs you most.

Benghazi, IRS, AP...What's next? Only TheBlaze TV offers the truth from Glenn Beck, Andrew Wilkow, and Real News from TheBlaze. Get instant access and a free trial here.

Back to The Blaze »

Comments (63)

recovereddemocrat
Posted on October 6, 2012 at 2:14pm
All you Paul supporters check out what Wayne Root is doing. He’s leaving the Libertarian Party because this election is too important. Maybe you should listen to what Romney said about the federal reserve. It was on Beck radio. Romney called Bernanke and asked him NOT to do QEforever.
Why not support someone who is on your side? Your ideas are getting into the Republican party. As long as we are vigilant after the election we have a chance with Romney. No way with Paul. Wake up before it’s too late.

Report this comment
- hoghead
  Posted on October 7, 2012 at 3:03pm
  Since when are these liars going to tell the truth. Romney is a trilateralist and wants a bigger armed forces which will further lead to a bankrupt government. I guess 900 bases in 114 countries is not good enough.
  
  Report this comment
- KevINtampa
  Posted on October 7, 2012 at 9:36pm
  The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again while expecting a different result.
  
  By that measure, electing party establishment candidates, either Republican or Democrat, and expecting less government, less wars, less debt, and more freedom is insane. Fact is we’ve been down this road so many times. Every time we have an election the brain washed like to tell third party or out of the establishment candidate supporters that they are “wasting their votes”.
  
  Actually, you know what Meredith, I changed my mind, you’re right. A vote for Johnson is indeed a wasted vote; and a Romney victory here will only make the slide to “Progressive Utopia” that much longer, harder, and enduring. I will not waste my vote in such a manner. Instead, I’ll vote for Obama as I think the Republican Party needs a wake up call. As to not waste our votes, the Paul supporters, in mass and in great fanfare and publicity, should show the Republican Party that their GOP maleficence during the 2011-2012 primaries was a mistake. Perhaps all of the Paul supporters can wake your party up by not wasting their votes, as you like to state it, and vote for Obama. This way in 2016, if there’s an election, the supporters of the GOP won’t be so damned maligned against liberty.
  
  The last time I was told not to waste my vote I voted for McCain. The time before that I voted for Bush. To vote GOP establishment a third time would be insane. Thank you Meredith.
  
  Report this comment
- Captainshays
  Posted on October 8, 2012 at 1:49am
  So the media ignores the Libertarian, Green, Constitution, Reformed, Justice Parties and the corporate controlled parties refuse to allow them into the debates and then they proudly proclaim “they don’t have a chance”. By all demographics the majority of the registered votes in this country are NOT registered as either Democrat o Republican but Independents. Here in New Jersey we literally have more registered Independents than Democrat and Republican COMBINED. There are 6 other states with that demographic. I just about every election the majority of eligible voters choose not to vote. We can come up with a lot of different reasons why. Some are too stupid. Some are apathetic. Some feel powerless. Some don’t want to be called for jury duty. Many just don’t like either of the two cporporate controlled candidates that the media shoves down our throats. WHatever the reason, the FACT is that in every election the majority of eligible voters don’t vote. Then there are those who do vote for third party candidates according to their conscience. What that really means folks, is that if the majority (51%) don’t vote and usually around 3%-5% vote for third party candidates that only leaves 45%-49% who vote for the establishment parties. SInce we would need to make some division between them 45% divided by 2 = 22.5% while the media reports that Candidate A won with 54% he didn’t. He only won with 54% of the votes cast for either a Dem or a Rep
  
  Report this comment
samuelwcordrey
Posted on October 6, 2012 at 4:44am
It’s not principles it’s pride. my agenda is more important than the country.

Report this comment
Young_Republican
Posted on October 5, 2012 at 6:58pm
If Obama wins, it will certainly be the end of America.

Therefore I believe strongly that Gary Johnson and Ron Paul are not only cowards but traitors.
They both started their political careers as Republicans, then when the american voter rejected them as nuts, they both threw a hissy fit, and in protest and to save their political a$$es changed their party affiliation.

That in my book is the very definition of a cowardly politician.

Report this comment
- Thane_Eichenauer
  Posted on October 6, 2012 at 3:57am
  Is Ron Paul nuts? Is Gary Johnson nuts? If so why are so many Romney supporters throwing fits because they decline to support a candidate they don’t feel is worthy of their support? I look forward to a day when a Republican candidate for president inspires me to vote for him. That day hasn’t arrived yet.
  
  Report this comment
- Captainshays
  Posted on October 8, 2012 at 1:53am
  You watch way too much TV. Get out and read
  
  Report this comment
Individualism
Posted on October 5, 2012 at 4:50pm
For Paul supporters in any position of power its best to insure a Romney loss and do what ever you can do to make that happen to advance the cause and get seekers of knowledge on our side when their folks fail.

Report this comment
Individualism
Posted on October 5, 2012 at 4:48pm
if you hate Obama so much and if the American people really do, they can show up in millions and march in and drag him out and do what ever with him, in Iceland they overthrew the goverment and put enemies in prison. the election is not the only way to get someone out. Romney and Obama are the same and are bad for this country because their puppets of the bankers and corporations. Gary Johnson has principle with a good record and decent platform. why pick up coal when you can pick up gold. if your saying nobody has a chance than your saying the election is rigged and fake so if were mad were best off overthrowing or destroying the funders. The big picture for the Paul folks is to be the phoenix reborn from the ashes of revolution.

Report this comment
- DIMITRIINPA
  Posted on October 6, 2012 at 3:21pm
  Let me get this straight; you are suggesting that you’d support a new Revolutionary War in order to feel justified that “your man” got in after the disaster that Obama II is going to yield?!?
  
  That sir, is insane and if that’s the feeling of most of the Paulies (and I hope it isn’t) you have no business with the levers of government.
  
  I am more Libertarian at heart than I am Republican, but the trouble with Libertarianism is that it requires a sense of responsibility that most of the US just doesn’t possess and really could be a recipe for a disaster almost as bad as Obama II.
  
  I respect your right to your opinion though I can’t say I agree.
  
  Report this comment
- Individualism
  Posted on October 6, 2012 at 10:34pm
  it worked for Iceland pretty good look it up.
  
  Report this comment
korper70
Posted on October 5, 2012 at 4:42pm
Die hard Ron Paul supporter here. I like men who stubbornly stick to their principles. On one side you have a lazy, incompetent, muslim-sympathizing, authoritarian communist. On the other you have a competent, corporatist, authoritarian socialist. I suppose Romney might be marginally better than Obama, but only just.

Report this comment
- Quigley
  Posted on October 8, 2012 at 4:54pm
  Romney cheated at the caucii/convention, when he already had it won. That makes him lower than whale spoo. I’ll not be bullied into voting for either him nor Obama. “beware the military/industrial complex’ we were once told….Now, beware of Romney.
  
  Sure, he said he’d fire Bernanke…..easy enough ‘said’, because Drunkle Ben doesn’t work for the POTUS. He works for the very private, very unFederal unReserve and has until 2014 on his hitch. Then, the POTUS of the day will given a short list from the Board of Governors from which to choose a Fed Chairman. Ya gotta know that Willard knows this, and thinks you’re a dumbass that doesn’t, and will buy that pandering lie.
  
  So if you think Willard Romney is the answer, you don’y even know what the question is.
  
  Report this comment
AmericaFirsterOnly
Posted on October 5, 2012 at 3:58pm
Obama and Romney are too pro_israel and not pro-America enough. Ron Paul is pro-America without a doubt. I don’t think those 2 above are capable of protecting Americas interests over Israel’s interests, because they rely on the Jewish lobby for money. I think after election, there will be another trillion dollar war with Iran, and we will get stuck with a bill so large that it will be the final nail in America’s coffin. Obama hasn’t gone to war for Israel yet in order to avoid it as a talking point in his campaign, but he will if re-elected. Romney is also too pro Israel, pro Jew, and blinded to America’s interests

Report this comment
- littlefish
  Posted on October 5, 2012 at 7:50pm
  wow . . .I didn’t know Ron Paul guys were anti-semetic . .!
  
  Report this comment
- Richard Shepard
  Posted on October 5, 2012 at 11:56pm
  Wow. An American putting America first and Israel second is being anti-semitic. Wow. I had no idea it was that bad.
  
  Report this comment
- Keep Your Skepticals On
  Posted on October 6, 2012 at 5:35pm
  It’s a dog eat dog world out there. Gotta look out for one’s self out there first.
  
  Until you realize maybe it is in self interest for form a stronger pack than those who would eat you.
  
  Perhaps thanks to US support of Israel over the years any Iranian conflict can be handled largely, if not strictly, by Israel. If the US can avoid getting directly involved that support is very well worth every penny.
  
  But then I guess the world would be a happy place if we just isolated ourselves thereby allowing everyone else to leave us alone like they tell us they want to. It would work more gooder, right?
  
  Report this comment
ABearsFan
Posted on October 5, 2012 at 3:57pm
You can’t really expect to say hey People don’t vote third party they have no chance. When all we want is to have our voices represented! If the Establishment does not want to represent us, they have no right to ask for our vote. I get it yuo think were better off with Dumbo A than Dumbo B; but many of us believe both Parties will continue thier rape of the middle class and total destruction of our liberties not to mention our country.
If you don’t want us to “Throw Away” our vote…step up to the plate and endorse and commit to us….otherwise HANDS OFF OUR VOTES!

Report this comment
hob3
Posted on October 5, 2012 at 3:50pm
I respectfully disagree with your premise that the differences “could not be more clear”. I saw two big government guys tinkering around the edges of our problems and debating about tiny nuances between tax rates and where my tax dollars should be spent. It was as if they both agreed on the ends (being a big welfare state that takes care of everyone) and were arguing merely about the tactics used to get there. In fact, I saw a Republican actually attacking a Democrat at times for wanting to make cuts to a broke entitlement like Medicare.

Report this comment
swakop
Posted on October 5, 2012 at 3:42pm
Don’t blame the Dr Paul supporters! Blame Romney! All Romney had to do is to embrace some of Dr Paul’s ideas and show him respect. If he had done that he would have the Youth vote and the Latino vote among all others.

Report this comment
- Thane_Eichenauer
  Posted on October 6, 2012 at 4:13am
  Indeed. Most Ron Paul supporters would consider voting for Romney if he were only willing to advocate for freedom. Sadly the Republican party was so afraid of Ron Paul that he was only offered a pre-recorded segment at the national convention. A wise man once said that “Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.” A Romney supporter shouldn’t need to resort to scolding Americans on who not to vote for. A Romney supporter that believed in her candidate would be promoting her candidate’s positions. I own my vote. If others choose to waste their vote on Mitt Romney I leave them to their own choices.
  
  Report this comment
Stehekin912
Posted on October 5, 2012 at 3:22pm
This election is not about me. It is not about my being right. It is about saving our country. If the patient is dead, all the perfect bandaging or talented surgery in the world is helpless to save or heal. Be a libertarian. Be a staunch conservative. Hold your elected officials’ feet to the fire for your cause. But this election, save the patient. Save our country. America first.

Report this comment
RagnarsRepoman
Posted on October 5, 2012 at 3:18pm
Warning: If you’re a die-hard Mitt Romney supporter, you‘re not going to like what you’re about to read.

Ask yourself these few questions:

Which candidate has forced people to buy health insurance because he doesn’t think they can make their own decisions regarding it?

Which candidate thinks social security is structurally sound?

Which candidate claims to honor the free market while supporting legislation like TARP?

Which candidate thinks the rich and big business are doing just fine in an economy that has seen the end of Borders, Mervyns, Kodak, and Circuit City?

The answer: Both Romney and Obama.

I’m amazed by people who keep saying that Gary Johnson is taking my vote away. Gary Johnson is not taking my vote away. Romney and the republicans never had my vote; they needed to earn it and they didn’t. I’ll vote for Johnson because I think he is well suited for the job ahead. He’s not perfect, but he’s good enough. If he was not running and the libertarian candidate was someone I could not support, then I still would not vote for Romney or Obama. I would find someone else to support.

Here’s the bottom line regarding Romney. In his acceptance speech at the Republican Convention, Romney said that, if elected, he would help you and your family. If you like the thought of a government official stepping in to help you, then vote for Romney. I, on the other hand, still think those are the most frightening words in the English language.

Report this comment
- Ddave333
  Posted on October 5, 2012 at 3:27pm
  NICE. You Nailed it.
  
  Seems The Blaze and Ms. Jessup must have needed more hits on the website today, so let’s do a SLAM RON PAUL piece today, and see how many we get… Must have been the theory behind this article. Hopefully some of the Romney supporters will read these remarks and see just how close the two candidates (Romney & Obama) views really are.
  
  Report this comment
- MichaelBruschini
  Posted on October 5, 2012 at 10:51pm
  You link Borders and Circuit City, among others, to Mitt Romney’s “rich” comment. Borders is an outdated business model and Circuit City was simply beaten by other companies. That’s what capitalism is, winners and losers. In those cases, look at who won. Richer companies, who will do fine either way. Amazon and McDonald’s will still be around in 2016 doing just fine, either way.
  
  Report this comment
Ron Paul Jefferson
Posted on October 5, 2012 at 3:11pm
I have only one vote to give. Since my state of Nevada doesn’t allow write-in votes, I will support Gary Johnson. He is the only one who understands, Peace, Liberty, and Sound money. I am voting for Liberty. Romney is a tool and plans to spend 2 trillion dollars more on militarism when we can’t afford the military we already have. Romney wants to raise minimum wage. Israel is not my problem. That entangling alliance has already cost America too much blood and treasure. Ron Paul is right and if that ticks off the author, I respond by saying that the failed 2-party system ticks me off. I’ll proudly give my informed vote to Johnson 2012. After what Romney did to Dr Paul at the RNC convention, I feel no loyalty to a party that obviously hates me and my values. Libertarian from here on out.

Report this comment
- samuelwcordrey
  Posted on October 6, 2012 at 4:40am
  the difference between the communist and the progressive. The progressive got his way while the communist got caught. step by step gentlemen . You’ve got to understand that this is world changing stuff here, and what happens if an aggresive comunist becomes an unstoppable second termer. Romney is a mush and wrong on several areas but is worlds apart from obama. take things steps at a time towards a goal. The liberals are all about intentions too. everything they push fails, but they pat them selves on the back because they meant well. Is it really sticking to your principles to cause the worse man to get elected just because your bitter. my fave got the door to and i would argue unfairly. he then got a five minuet no man’s slot at the convention even though he was the challenger with the most states. But this is not about me. This is about america going one step in the right direction: a better president and a few more conservatives. Then in 2014 another big step with more demacrats defeated and more mushed primaried. Then 2016 we try again to get an even better guy, but do not sacrifice me on the altar of your pride, because deep down in your heart of hearts you know two things Romney is better than obama no matter how slight you think that is, and gary won’t win a state so voting for him isn’t about results it’s about spite. If my guy ran third party in this election I’ld never vote for him again because he doesn’t get it and i mean that.
  
  Report this comment
- Anonymous_Love
  Posted on October 12, 2012 at 5:32pm
  Samuel, Romney is not better than Obama. You’re delusional.
  
  Report this comment
Ben
Posted on October 5, 2012 at 3:00pm
I beg to differ. The reason I will not vote for Romney is that I MUST TELL THE RNC/GOP TO WAKE UP AND RUN THE RIGHT CANDIDATES!!! I voted against McCain last time and I’ll vote against Romney this time. I will write in Ron Paul just so they know that the RNC cannot keep running the same old finger-in-the-wind career politicians and expect me to vote for them. I want change, the kind that comes from cleaning house (and senate). If you think 4 more years of Obama is so bad, then run a decent candidate that we actually think could make a difference and put a platform together that doesn’t cater to fat cat rich RINOs who will benefit from their government SERVICE?

Report this comment
AllAmericanGirl22
Posted on October 5, 2012 at 2:57pm
I completely agree, I know this gonna piss Ron Paulers off, but he is an idiot if he votes for Gary Johnson. Let;s face it” a vote for a third party is a vote for Obama.

Report this comment
- n1ck
  Posted on October 5, 2012 at 3:15pm
  If a vote for Gary Johnson is a vote for Obama, then all Obama supporters should just vote for Gary Johnson.
  
  Please stop using that argument, its old and makes you look bad. Voting based on policies and what a person agrees with is the correct way to vote. Voting for someone just so another guy doesn’t win, is just sad.
  
  Report this comment
ImaJWalker
Posted on October 5, 2012 at 2:52pm
I’m a Ron Paul follower and will remain so no matter what.
He’s been right for decades and everyone second guessed his thinking.. He’s always been ‘about the people’ and I don’t feel he’ll ever change that stance. I’ve always told my kids..
Behind everything I say…there’s a reason. You may not know it…and I may not have the time to tell you know.. but I ask you to ‘trust’ me.
I trust Ron Paul..

Report this comment
Ddave333
Posted on October 5, 2012 at 2:50pm
People that keep slamming Ron Paul after sticking to his principles for all these years are “REALLY STARTING TO TICK ME OFF” – An individual’s vote is THEIR BUISNESS… Educated people that follow their principles and know how politics in this two party system works will vote for THEIR CHOICE in this election. Vote for YOUR CHOICE on the candidate that best reflects what YOU BELIEVE, and on the principles that YOU think will best steer this country closest to what the founders gave us in our Republic. If you were one of those people that looked at Ron Paul as some nutjob that could never win, then STOP WORRYING ABOUT WHERE HIS SUPPORTERS GO! We are educated, and believe in this country. We will place our check in the box of the candidate that WE BELIEVE IN – not the one that a party, or Blogger, or union, or TV show chooses for us. I am not less of a Patriot if I follow MY PRINCIPLES and cast MY VOTE for whom I CHOOSE. Glenn stated that what this country needs is to return to the FOUNDERS PRINCIPLES and to GOD. Romney is a big boy, and held his own in the Debates. I respect him for not bowing to the King Obama, and really hitting him with his own record. I am confident that if Romney continues this action, he WILL WIN the election by using THE TRUTH against the Obama Machine. Leave Ron Paul and his supporters out of your BS looking for an excuse for the polls that are falsely showing that this race is close. Romney has this, and your Ron Paul drama is not needed. Thank You

Report this comment
knowa
Posted on October 5, 2012 at 2:45pm
Romney is not an exceptible choice from his death squad investor to his war mongering to his stance on cannabis to startwith even Obama is a better option. Gary Johnson might seem not able to win but he’s the best choice for now

Report this comment
n1ck
Posted on October 5, 2012 at 2:36pm
First off, if you think Obama’s policies are bad, then you can’t possibly think Romney’s are going to be any better. They agree on more issues than they disagree. Obamacare is just another version of Romneycare. They both can’t wait to attack Iran or Syria. Obama is for creating a population dependent on welfare and government handouts, while Romney is for creating companies based around corporate welfare. Neither of them have a problem with NDAA or the constant illegal use of drone attacks.

After how the GOP and the Romney campaign treated Ron Paul and his supporters, how can you even expect Ron Paul to vote for Romney? Its not stubborn, its the feeling of being betrayed by his own party. Gary Johnson and Ron Paul agree on many issues, much more so than Romney and Ron Paul. So he’s supposed to give up his values just to vote for a party who betrayed him and policies he doesn’t agree with? How does that make any sense?

The only reason he hasn’t come out and endorsed Gary Johnson is because he wants his son, Rand Paul, to have a chance in 2016. Rand Paul is the savvy politician that Ron Paul is not. Ron Paul is a brilliant man, but lets face it, he’s not the greatest speaker. Rand Paul is like his father but with the abilities of a good politician.

Having said this, I would much rather have 4 more years of Obama and have a chance at real change in 2016 with Rand Paul, than have 8 years of Romney doing the same things Obama is doing.

Report this comment
- Ddave333
  Posted on October 5, 2012 at 2:58pm
  great points… Vote YOUR VOTE. There is no way that voting YOUR values is “Throwing your vote away”. This was just an attempt to further slam the Ron Paul supporters into voting for Romney, because we make up much more of this country than the Polls or Primary numbers showed in this race. Bully tactics don’t work on Patriots with principles, they just make us more committed to the truth of those principles that founded this Republic.
  
  Report this comment
Aslan
Posted on October 5, 2012 at 2:30pm
You who still think voting makes a difference are amusing. Don’t you realize by now that if it did, it would have been outlawed?

Stop trying to get the principled to change our puny protest vote. It’s our vote not yours.

Report this comment
Richard Shepard
Posted on October 5, 2012 at 2:28pm
Well, we DO have our mind made up, don’t we? Your arrogance is only exceeded by your ignorance.
First, if you REALLY think that a Romney presidency will be that much different from an Obama presidency you live in a fantasy land. Sure, there will be changes to the window dressings, but the core philosophy of more war, more spending and less freedom will continue to prevail in both administrations. Under this scenario there are many, including myself, who think a vote for EITHER Romney or Obama is WASTED.
Second, your reliance on Duverger’s Law (look it up if you need to) is not the ace in the hole you think it is. Even though the mainstream media continues to play the top two game the ranks of voters who are fed up with forced choices have found other news sources to learn about and share the other options. In short, you are angry because you can’t rely on Duverger’s theorems any more.
Third, after the way the Paul supporters were treated at the RNC why would think for a minute they would be willing to kiss and make up? You are in fantasy land again.

Report this comment
- PopsRifle
  Posted on October 5, 2012 at 4:42pm
  George Allen, he’s a GOP poster boy, is running his campaign, in large part, through the freedomworks.org network. I find this to be interesting as freedomworks members are largely independent conservatives, tea-party conservatives and disappointed Republican conservatives. A number of Republican candidates seek support from organizations like the Tea-Party and freedomworks.org because these candidates know they may always rely on their party vote, but their winning vote will stay home if they do not embrace the freedom they are to provide us.
  
  Duverger’s Law cannot be relied on here, and you are correct, they cannot rely on it anymore; but isn’t it funny, a number of the Repubs are reaching out to the independent conservatives? There is a transition within the GOP, it’s just starting out. The Repubs know that if they do not embrace some ideas, like Ron Paul’s, that they will not win because their winning votes will stay home.
  
  Rather than be cast aside like the Whigs, the Repubs are changing. Karl Rove Republicans are becoming obsolete because of Republicans do not embrace conservativism, then they will be cast aside in time. If Romney wins, he will make cuts, not that many, you are right, but I would bet it’s a little more than window dressing.
  
  The weakness in my argument is that it’s one of degree- Romney will be a little better than Obama when we deserve far better, but I do see a change in the Republican tune. Correct me where I am wrong.
  
  Report this comment
- Richard Shepard
  Posted on October 6, 2012 at 12:19am
  PopsR – I also think the Rs are at a tipping point. Whether the party survives or goes the way of the Whigs, which is what Roger Stone thinks will happen, is still an open question in my view. And, interestingly enough, I think it will be the religious right that will determine the outcome because I simply cannot see how the neo-cons and the libertarians can reconcile themselves about anything.
  
  One thing is certain for me, however, that doing the same thing over and over is not going to bring about a different result. This is the 21st century and America is not the powerhouse it was after WWII. Our politics need to adjust to that fact. Perhaps there are more than window dressing differences between Obama and Romney, but that remains to be be seen in my book. While Obama is something of a known quantity Romney is a chameleon, shaking his Etch-a-Sketch every 17 days as new polls come out. Already we are seeing his moves to the center on the Obamacare question. How different are these guys, really? We’ll never know.
  
  What we can count on, regardless which of these two wins, is increased military activity in the middle east, with possibly an attack on Iran shortly after the new year. We can count on continued devaluation of the US Dollar through “quantitative easing”. And we can count on continued infringements of our freedoms and privacy. So, Romney may not take us to hell as fast as Obama, but he is still taking us to hell, and I can’t support that, ever.
  
  Report this comment
PopsRifle
Posted on October 5, 2012 at 2:26pm
We speak with our vote. I do find it unfortunate that Ron Paul is not supporting Romney, but I understand the sentiment. When he had no chance of winning, I voted for Alan Keyes over Bush.

The fact that conservative votes may go to other conservatives on the ballot is that voter’s expression of that voter’s opinion. We speak with our vote; it is a fundamental value we all hold with great esteem.

Report this comment
hawkguy
Posted on October 5, 2012 at 2:13pm
Liberty is right. RP supporters are not going to vote for Romney no matter what. As a Romney voter though. I dispute the Pauleesta’s voting for Paul will take votes away from Romney. I think he will take some. But Gary Johnson will get just as many Democrats and Independents. The issues base of the Libertarian party draws a variety of support. This is an issue that only serves to encourage the George Soros backed RP supporters, already messing up the Republican Party to keep up with their operation of Chaos.

Report this comment
Liberty_NC
Posted on October 5, 2012 at 2:07pm
Hello and thanks for the article. I can see your point from a some what limited point of view but what I believe you fail to understand is this. If Ron Paul came out today and encouraged all his supporters to vote Romney! Most still would not. Why you ask? Simply because they are way more educated than the rest of the electorate on the issues and the candidates and truly understand how little difference it will make… To them, advancing the role of a third party run in the next election is far more important. Most Americans do not even get involved until the 11th hour when the primaries and all the real work is over. Their lame choices have already been selected for them. In addition, If the Romney campaign had not tried to snuff out all the RP delegates in Tampa, he would have fared much better with RP supporters. If you ask me, if he misses their votes, it’s his own fault. Plain and simple.

Report this comment
Ronko
Posted on October 5, 2012 at 1:46pm
I completely 100% agree with you. As much as I respect where Ron Paul is coming from on these issues especially the fed as one example. I just think it’s dumb to vote for a 3rd party person that has absolutely no chance of winning. I don’t agree with Mitt Romney on everything, especially Romney care as that was a huge mistake in Mass but Romney is a much better long term option for this country then Obama who has failed us and will continue to fail us.

Report this comment
- Nobugginme
  Posted on October 5, 2012 at 2:26pm
  That’s the argument I seem to always hear. I’ve heard a lot about how terrible it would be to have Obama for another term, but no one has anything to say as far as why we should elect Romney.
  Voting for the lesser of two evils is not being a responsible citizen. It’s time for a change.
  
  Report this comment
- Keep Your Skepticals On
  Posted on October 6, 2012 at 5:45pm
  Just so I understand where you are coming from: What is the most responsible action?
  
  1. Use $1 to buy a lotto ticket for a near zero chance to be set for life.
  2. Use $1 to buy certified organic PETA approved zero carbon emmission stick of celery .
  3. Buy $1 of ramen noodles.
  
  Two of the choices feel real good, but one works real good.
  
  Report this comment

Comments are closed.

It appears that you have Javascript Disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser preferences for a better user experience on TheBlaze. You can not comment without Javascript enabled.

« Back to The Blaze