I Vote for Ron Paul

After searching for a candidate who is conservative--and who didn't just figure out he was conservative in the last year or two--I've landed on an option I think is at least a far cry from a Hillary endorsement.

Dr. Ron Paul (obstetrician) is clearly the most conservative candidate running. He is against tax increases. He supports a flat tax and the abolition of the IRS. He also favors pulling out of the UN, NAFTA, CAFTA, GATT, WTO, the ICC and most other international organizations/treaties that threaten our national sovereignty (look at the threat the EU poses to the UK, for example).

On the home front, Dr. Paul believes in a smaller government, and is "tired of the federal government kicking its ball into his yard." He favors doing away with most of the huge, bloated federal agencies that continue to drain our tax revenue, stifle creativity, and smother independence.

And just to be clear, he has always supported the invasion of Afghanistan to defeat those who attacked us on 9/11. He did not support a pre-emptive strike against Iraq, because it was done without the Constitutionally required Congressional Declaration of War. I love Bush, but I have to say, when weighing a brand-new tactic dressed up with the fancy term "Bush Doctrine," versus the venerated Constitution, (drafted by the Founding Fathers, ratified by the States, credited by 200 years of court decisions from the USSC) I have to go with the Constitution.

For thirty years, Dr. Paul has hewn to a strict constructionist view of the Constitution that, frankly, makes him an anomoly in this age (or any age). On the other hand, here is one candidate who is committed to a clearly defined set of principles, not to his own power.

As I have told most of you before, please read some of his articles. You will have to admit they are refreshing in this age of television politicians who too often will say anything to get elected, and seem to understand so little about the principles that made this nation great. (Too many Republicans depart from GOP principles after they are elected. Again, I love Bush on several issues: great judicial nominees, good on security, but he has never been interested in shrinking government. "Compassionate Conservative" was always not-too-veiled code for "Republicans who will keep giving your wages to the poor, to the illegal aliens, to Africans dying of malaria who could be saved with DDT," etc.)

I don't expect Dr. Paul to become the president, not now or ever. But given his allegiance to the Constitution and the principles of the Founders, I want to do anything I can to see that his message gets out. In the sixties, the right-thinking Goldwater was defeated as well--but some believed he blazed a trail for the coming of Ronald Reagan. I think somewhere out there in America is a Ron Paul supporter who could be the next Gipper. You never know.

All I ask is that you read some of his short, well-written articles, and give his positions the thought they deserve. I also signed up as an endorser, so at some point I assume my name will come up here. More interestingly, you might want to consider the section called Acclaim for Ron Paul. The comments from people all over the spectrum are very interesting.