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Debate Highlight: Brit Hume and Mitt Romney smack Ron Paul over Iran

posted at 10:41 pm on January 10, 2008 by Bryan
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The subject turns to Iran, and all the candidates but Paul express support for the restraint that the US commanders showed in dealing with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard patrol boats. But Ron Paul listens to the voices in his head rather than the candidates on the stage. Brit Hume gets a laugh out of it and Mitt Romney provides the coup de grace.

Update: Final score (according to me).

Winner — Fred Thompson. This was Fred’s best night by far. He concentrated his fire on Huckabee and found his target. He was animated, quick, witty and substantive. A more solid strike on McCain’s amnesty record would have made the night perfect.

Loser — Rudy. He can be good when he’s on camera, but he just doesn’t get beyond his talking points. He’s constantly chortling off-camera. He needs serious improvement as a debater. His “change” answer was great, though.

The others.

Mitt Romney had the second-best night of any of the candidates, but didn’t do what he needed to do tonight. Maybe it was the fact that the other candidates weren’t tearing into him, but he seemed more marginal than he has been in the recent debates. He seemed to be delivering his stump speeches most of the night and therefore didn’t make a solid impression. But he’s checking out of South Carolina after tonight to focus on Michigan anyway, and may benefit if Fred can knock out Huckabee, so not scoring big tonight may not hurt him.

Mike Huckabee. Got taken to task by Thompson, which may leave a mark. Did he really rip off a line about bridges not falling down in Arkansas? Overall, he went up against a bear and got mauled. Not a good night.

John McCain. I’m trying to remember anything he said and I’m coming up empty. He got the kid glove from Fred on amnesty, which makes me wonder if Fred just doesn’t want to go too hard on his old friend. He needs to.

Ron Paul. He needs to pay attention to what the other candidates are actually saying once in a while. For once, he agreed with them on Iran but ranted anyway and earned humiliation for it. Other than that, he offered up the usual weird mix of old-school odd with the occasional ray of small government sense. I wish the other candidates would adopt Paul’s small government ideals. I wish Paul would jettison everything but his small government ideals.

Update:

If only Thompson had been as tough on McCain as he was on Huckabee tonight.

Indeed. And if only he had been this energetic and engaged with potential supporters all along like he has started to lately.


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im surprised the newsletters were not brought up once, but 9/11 truthers were?

lorien1973 on January 10, 2008 at 10:42 PM

myea, that was sweet

Richard Bushnell on January 10, 2008 at 10:43 PM

Ron Paul was given a big, fat pass. Maybe the consensus was that it would be bad PR to beat up an insane person.

Laura on January 10, 2008 at 10:44 PM

5 small speedboats

All it takes is one, but ron has never allowed facts to get in the way.

TheEJS on January 10, 2008 at 10:46 PM

I really thought Brit was going to cuss him out…seriously. FUN!

SouthernGent on January 10, 2008 at 10:47 PM

Actually, it’s the National Intelligence Estimate.

Oh, and how many boats did it take to attack the U.S.S. Cole?

amerpundit on January 10, 2008 at 10:47 PM

Wait…wait.

I thought Iran didn’t have a Navy?

amerpundit on January 10, 2008 at 10:47 PM

Ron who?

OHHhhh! You mean the LOSER of ALL of the debates to date. /snark

Why even bring this topic up? That man embarasses himself better than anyone else ever could, IMHO.

DannoJyd on January 10, 2008 at 10:49 PM

Ron Paul is a tin foil wearing moron who speaks with an annoying voice talking about things he knows nothing about. He shouldn’t be included in these debates.

katieanne on January 10, 2008 at 10:50 PM

Why even bring this topic up? That man embarasses himself better than anyone else ever could, IMHO.

DannoJyd on January 10, 2008 at 10:49 PM

It’s fun!

Keljeck on January 10, 2008 at 10:50 PM

In Bedlam you could pay a shilling an be issued a stick to poke Ron Paul Types.

BL@KBIRD on January 10, 2008 at 10:51 PM

I thought Iran didn’t have a Navy?

There is none. Just like there was no wehrmacht in 1939. It was those damn neo-cons trying to stop joe kennedy from having peace in his time like they are trying to stop paul from saving the world.

TheEJS on January 10, 2008 at 10:51 PM

This guy is sad. How in the world could he be so out of it and stay on in these debates. He’s a distraction and a
case for the mental health people.

Not funny. . . Just sad

Texyank on January 10, 2008 at 10:51 PM

Paul looked like a Little Leaguer trying to play in the majors right there.

ReubenJCogburn on January 10, 2008 at 10:51 PM

The look on McCain’s face is priceless…

JetBoy on January 10, 2008 at 10:52 PM

Yeah, I can’t believe no one mentioned the Cole.

They need to completely attack and throw this nut job Paul out the door.

Mr. Bingley on January 10, 2008 at 10:53 PM

Not a big McCain fan here, but his expression was priceless.

NickTx on January 10, 2008 at 10:53 PM

Ron Paul was given a big, fat pass. Maybe the consensus was that it would be bad PR to beat up an insane person.

Laura on January 10, 2008 at 10:44 PM

ROFLMAO!

Dave R. on January 10, 2008 at 10:53 PM

It was kind of an Admiral Stockdale moment, except Admiral Stockdale was a patriot and a great man.

see-dubya on January 10, 2008 at 10:53 PM

Yeah, I can’t believe no one mentioned the Cole.

They need to completely attack and throw this nut job Paul out the door.

Mr. Bingley on January 10, 2008 at 10:53 PM

Ditto that.

Texyank on January 10, 2008 at 10:54 PM

he misrepresented “Mr. Republican, Robert Taft” again also. Paul is trying to re-write history and redefine the GOP

jp on January 10, 2008 at 10:54 PM

To be be fair, I thought Ron Paul had a lot of good points tonight. Especially the one about us going into Iraq to promote freedom and then allowing Pervez Musharraf to run a dictatorship in Pakistan and give him 10 billion dollars.

froghat on January 10, 2008 at 10:54 PM

See, you’re all basing this on no facts whatsoever. Can you prove that that was actually Ron Paul on the stage tonight? How do you know it wasn’t a member of the Israeli lobby or war-mongering neo-cons dressed like him, trying to bring down America’s Greatest Patriot?

Did you know his newsletter reached 100,000 people?

/s

amerpundit on January 10, 2008 at 10:54 PM

Darn, somebody beat me to the USS Cole reference.
_
Does it scare anybody else that there are actually people who think this guy should be President?
_
I wouldn’t want him in charge of a convenience store much less be President.

woodythesingingcowboy on January 10, 2008 at 10:55 PM

I thought Carl Cameron’s electability question was even better.

boomer on January 10, 2008 at 10:55 PM

I’m calling again tonight…for Ron Paul to be committed.

Why has this not happened yet. MENTAL

NickTx on January 10, 2008 at 10:55 PM

What a nut case. Bad thing is 10% of the population agree with him….

unseen on January 10, 2008 at 10:55 PM

I think a candidate for POTUS should at least be from this planet….

d1carter on January 10, 2008 at 10:55 PM

I loved McCain’s face as he listened to that…

Pam on January 10, 2008 at 10:56 PM

he misrepresented “Mr. Republican, Robert Taft” again also. Paul is trying to re-write history and redefine the GOP

jp on January 10, 2008 at 10:54 PM

jp,

Was Robert Taft even alive when NATO was proposed?. LOL-I think he was taking the eternal celestial dirt nap by then.

Dave R. on January 10, 2008 at 10:56 PM

Was Robert Taft even alive when NATO was proposed?. LOL-I think he was taking the eternal celestial dirt nap by then.

Dave R. on January 10, 2008 at 10:56 PM

He was alive, and he did.

He was against getting into foreign entanglements. But he was for a strong military and fighting back.

Keljeck on January 10, 2008 at 10:59 PM

For a candidate that has “no chance” and is “completely wrong” you guys spend an awful lot of time covering him. If I might say so, Hot Air seems very threatened by the Paul campaign.

BlackCapitalist on January 10, 2008 at 10:59 PM

boomer on January 10, 2008 at 10:55 PM

It was funny, but Paul is an elected official, so deserves some sort of respect. A better question would have been to mention his lack of oversight of those newsletters and ask how that qualifies him to run for office; if he can’t even manage a small group putting out his -own- newsletter.

lorien1973 on January 10, 2008 at 11:00 PM

GOOGLE GULF OF TONKIN!!!!!1111!!!

Good night fellas.

MarkoMancuso on January 10, 2008 at 11:00 PM

Was Robert Taft even alive when NATO was proposed?. LOL-I think he was taking the eternal celestial dirt nap by then.

Dave R. on January 10, 2008 at 10:56 PM

You might be thinking of his dad, the President. Robert Taft lived until 1953, and he did oppose the founding of NATO in 1947.

ReubenJCogburn on January 10, 2008 at 11:01 PM

Hahaha, Ron Paul is winning the text-in vote. Only thing sadder than Ron Paul are the Paulbots spamming polls.

Wineaholic on January 10, 2008 at 11:01 PM

It’s fun!

Keljeck on January 10, 2008 at 10:50 PM

Perhaps, but it is definitely in bad taste, IMHO. Better to take the high road than beat on a suicidal jacka$$ horse.

DannoJyd on January 10, 2008 at 11:01 PM

For a candidate that has “no chance” and is “completely wrong” you guys spend an awful lot of time covering him. If I might say so, Hot Air seems very threatened by the Paul campaign.

BlackCapitalist on January 10, 2008 at 10:59 PM

We cover serious politics and also entertainment.

Ron Paul falls under the latter category. The only time Paul hits double digits is in internet polls.

BKennedy on January 10, 2008 at 11:01 PM

For a candidate that has “no chance” and is “completely wrong” you guys spend an awful lot of time covering him. If I might say so, Hot Air seems very threatened by the Paul campaign.

BlackCapitalist on January 10, 2008 at 10:59 PM

Paul spends a lot of time talking about Iran, does that mean he’s threatened?

Paul is fun to talk about. And he says a lot of dumb stuff. And does a lot of dumb things.

Like not listen in a presidential debate.

Keljeck on January 10, 2008 at 11:02 PM

Wait a second…..where did all the new ronulans go??

They should be along shortly I would imagine.

Iran does NOT HAVE A NAVY!!!!!!!!

And just like Ron DID NOT write those nasty things in the newsletter with HIS name on it, those were NOT the voices of the non-existent commanders of the non-existent Iranian naval vessels.

Talon on January 10, 2008 at 11:02 PM

Totally inattentive, utterly incompetent. That was just another example of Cloud 9 passing by his ankles and only the Paulians spend so much time breathing the ozone.

Really this guy would be dangerous as President; because of the nature of current world events in the short term future, he could get lots of Americans killed because of his tendency to not be interested in paying attention to things going on here on this planet.

It’s times like this that make me think he was being truthful in saying he didn’t know what was going into his newsletter for a whole 20 years.

Dusty on January 10, 2008 at 11:02 PM

Wait…wait.

I thought Iran didn’t have a Navy?

amerpundit on January 10, 2008 at 10:47 PM

amerpundit, if Fred gets elected POTUS, they won’t have one for very long, and Akmhedinadinnerjacket will then have to conduct his naval inspections in a glass-bottomed boat.

Just like that Kadafi guy.

Dave R. on January 10, 2008 at 11:02 PM

Yeah, the whipping boy of tonight’s debate “won”. Sure, he did, Ronulans. FOX and the phone company loved your money in spamming the debate poll, though.

ReubenJCogburn on January 10, 2008 at 11:04 PM

You might be thinking of his dad, the President. Robert Taft lived until 1953, and he did oppose the founding of NATO in 1947.

ReubenJCogburn on January 10, 2008 at 11:01 PM

Thanks, Reuben.

Guess I missed that one. Sheesh. LOL.

Dave R. on January 10, 2008 at 11:04 PM

where’s the vid of Huck responding to the famous submissive wives scripture mis-interpretation by the media?

jediwebdude on January 10, 2008 at 11:05 PM

The Paulbots are paulverizing the FOX poll.

abinitioadinfinitum on January 10, 2008 at 11:05 PM

In the final analysis, the main reason I could never vote for Ron Paul is because he’s a whiny, sniveling little weasel. I mean, I’m sure he was the kind of kid who hated going to the beach with his family because every ninety-pound weakling there kicked sand in his face. Sheesh!

sondiehl on January 10, 2008 at 11:06 PM

Thanks, Reuben.

Guess I missed that one. Sheesh. LOL.

Dave R. on January 10, 2008 at 11:04 PM

It’s been a busy night. And I had to look it up to be sure.

ReubenJCogburn on January 10, 2008 at 11:06 PM

We gonna have a HotAir poll so we can see the Paulnuts do the ONLY thing they’re good at…. bombing a non-scientific online poll to make it look like he has a real support base?

I can just hear the orders coming down from Soros Paul Headquarters: Paulnuts attack! Quick, rush to Digg and digg like you’ve never dugg before! Go to YouTube and post “Ron Paul 2008!” anywhere you can! Then text Fox News until the buttons on your phone stick! Seriously guys, you really matter… people care what you think! This one is for all the racists and conspiracy theorists constitutionalists out there!

RightWinged on January 10, 2008 at 11:08 PM

according to Jonah Goldberg, he oppossed NATO only because he thought it would undercut the United Nations at the time.

Taft supported the Marshall Plan and many other “Foreign Entanglements” that Paul is ideologically oppossed to.

jp on January 10, 2008 at 11:08 PM

Paul has an occasional lucid moment. He did make a valid point about our supporting Israel and also arming their enemies. IIRC, we just sent Fatah some money and small arms, which were promptly captured by Hamas. Egypt and Saudi Arabia also come to mind.
I also think Fred missed a point when he went after Huckabee on Pakistan. Huck mentioned the lack of accountability of the money wwe had sent, and that it went to build up their military rather than fighting terrorism. Fred said that is why they spent it on the military, but his answer wasn’t a slam dunk. Lots of places it could have gone in the military wwhich have nothing to do with fighting the jihadis.

a capella on January 10, 2008 at 11:09 PM

Yeah, the whipping boy of tonight’s debate “won”. Sure, he did, Ronulans. FOX and the phone company loved your money in spamming the debate poll, though.

ReubenJCogburn on January 10, 2008 at 11:04 PM

You may have just discovered the reason FOX invited Paul to this debate. Money coffers.

BKennedy on January 10, 2008 at 11:09 PM

I can’t beleive they are just letting Paul get away with his newsletter thing.

jp on January 10, 2008 at 11:09 PM

Wasnt his strongest part of the debate. Looks like he didnt hear the question properly. Not suprised HotAir piled on with the attacks though.

offroadaz on January 10, 2008 at 11:10 PM

according to Jonah Goldberg, he oppossed NATO only because he thought it would undercut the United Nations at the time.

Taft supported the Marshall Plan and many other “Foreign Entanglements” that Paul is ideologically oppossed to.

jp on January 10, 2008 at 11:08 PM

Thanks for the correction!

Keljeck on January 10, 2008 at 11:11 PM

I was waiting for him to pull out a chart, ala Perot.

efears on January 10, 2008 at 11:12 PM

Paul just got on Russert not long ago claiming Iran doesn’t have a NAVY or any military. Why didn’t someone call him on that?

jp on January 10, 2008 at 11:12 PM

Members of the USS Cole were unavailable for comment

HarryStar on January 10, 2008 at 11:13 PM

lorien1973 on January 10, 2008 at 11:00 PM

It had good shock value. I was shocked he phrased it that way.

boomer on January 10, 2008 at 11:14 PM

the rEVOLution will not be televised…ron paul won’t be invited to attend another debate after his evisceration tonight.

wonder how many Troofers wil cry themselves to sleep tonight with Mr. Paul’s repudiation of their holy grail ringing in their ears?

DrW on January 10, 2008 at 11:14 PM

Uh Oh Thompson is gaining ground in the poll.

boomer on January 10, 2008 at 11:16 PM

Why didn’t someone call him on that?

jp on January 10, 2008 at 11:12 PM

‘Cause Russert (and everyone else) understands it was a figure of speech.

Spirit of 1776 on January 10, 2008 at 11:18 PM

offroadaz on January 10, 2008 at 11:10 PM

Welcome back!

So…..who won the debate?

Talon on January 10, 2008 at 11:19 PM

Keljeck on January 10, 2008 at 11:11 PM

I’m not an expert on Taft history or anything, but from what Goldberg is saying is that Paul is spinning and misrepresenting “Mr. Republican” in his attempt to re-shape the party into something its never been. Taft did warn against some stuff I think…there was alot of paultard thinking that came out of the 1930’s(America First period)…America pulled its head out of the sand after Pearl Harbor though

jp on January 10, 2008 at 11:19 PM

So…..who won the debate?

Heh. Fred by a length!

Spirit of 1776 on January 10, 2008 at 11:20 PM

To all of you who thouht of the USS Cole:

This was the one area where I did not agree with any of the candidates present. I, too, was thinking of the Cole at this point, and wondering what the reaction would have been had any of our ships been damaged by the dune-monkey flotilla.

Had I been in command, when the first threat of being blown up came over the radio, I would have ordered those boats to be converted into splinters.

Once again, we have shown weakness to our enemy, an enemy that has been perfecting the exploitation of weakness for 1400 years.

I fear we will pay a price for this, somewhere down the road.

Dave R. on January 10, 2008 at 11:21 PM

Is Dr Paul deaf, or clueless, or both? He didn’t seem to get the point even after Brit Hume made it crystal clear.

Very Presidential showing, there. Better run right out and write a check and get my tin foil hat. What does it take to believe that an oil-based regime is pursuing uranium enrichment for electricity? To be oblivious to the history of small speedboats and our navy?

I swear New York could blow up in a mushroom cloud and the guy would still be on about the “rush to judgment” if anyone hinted at retaliation. Possibly because he didn’t hear about it, busy with more important things like protesting fiat currency.

Look, I’m all for freedom and smaller government, but this guy is setting back the libertarian movement by about 25 years.

Splunge on January 10, 2008 at 11:26 PM

Had I been in command, when the first threat of being blown up came over the radio, I would have ordered those boats to be converted into splinters.

Once again, we have shown weakness to our enemy, an enemy that has been perfecting the exploitation of weakness for 1400 years.

I fear we will pay a price for this, somewhere down the road.

Dave R. on January 10, 2008 at 11:21 PM

Most important quote of the whole discussion.

emailnuevo on January 10, 2008 at 11:26 PM

P.S. I mean I agree completely.

emailnuevo on January 10, 2008 at 11:27 PM

Welcome back!

So…..who won the debate?

Talon on January 10, 2008 at 11:19 PM

Fred had the most soundbites, but that was due to him putting down Huckabee alot.

I can understand why people are confused by Paul and his message. If their only exposure to what he believes in is these debates it is no wonder they are confused.

Pauls beliefs and values are very simple but sound completely foreign to anyone who has not heard them before.

The most I can do is encourage you to take time to seriously evaluate his positions on his site. Even Bryan from HotAir.com says he agrees with Paul on some things.

If you took time to read and understand Pauls message then you will find out that you actually have alot in common with him.

It is sad that the newsletter problem came up. It distracts from the overall message of personal liberty, economic reform, smaller government and a new/old way to look at foreign affairs.

www.ronpaul2008.com/issues
www.ronpaullibrary.org

Im sure most of you will dismiss any idea he has because it is alot easier to pile on and go with the status quo. The most I can do is implore you to take time and carefully evaluate where our country is headed.

offroadaz on January 10, 2008 at 11:28 PM

Taft did warn against some stuff I think…there was alot of paultard thinking that came out of the 1930’s(America First period)…America pulled its head out of the sand after Pearl Harbor though

jp on January 10, 2008 at 11:19 PM

Ron Paul is from the Old Right. I’m sure he wouldn’t be aware that Taft’s views grew.

Keljeck on January 10, 2008 at 11:29 PM

Is Dr Paul deaf, or clueless, or both? He didn’t seem to get the point even after Brit Hume made it crystal clear.

maybe he was trying to imitate Reagan, who did this regularly with Sam Donaldson. Difference being Reagan did it to annoy the libs and their stupid questions, paul would in this case because he made a fool of himself.

jp on January 10, 2008 at 11:31 PM

Even Bryan from HotAir.com says he agrees with Paul on some things.

Even a stopped clock is right twice a day. And by that I mean Paul, not Bryan. The problem is that Ron Paul is a lunatic the entire rest of the time.

Laura on January 10, 2008 at 11:32 PM

Tonight’s Host - Britt Hume

Filling in for Juan Willians — Ron Paul.

EJDolbow on January 10, 2008 at 11:34 PM

offroadaz on January 10, 2008 at 11:28 PM

Ok….thanks.

Who won the debate?

One last question.

How do you feel about your fellow RP supporters spamming on line polls?

Wait….one more.

Do you ever intend to post to any thread on this site that does not concern RP?

Cuz’ I have been watching and you and a bunch of the other RP supporters are noticeably absent on every other topic thread.

Talon on January 10, 2008 at 11:34 PM

Even a stopped clock is right twice a day. And by that I mean Paul, not Bryan

I guess its too much to ask from the staff at Hot Air to list out the pros and cons of what they agree and disagree with in Pauls message.

C’mon Bryan, why not start a new post, list out what you like about Pauls views and give reasons why. Then list out what you don’t like and give reasons why. It would help alot of Paul supporters in their belief that you are at least trying to be objective in your coverage.

offroadaz on January 10, 2008 at 11:36 PM

offroadz, the primary thing people care about here is war or potential war with Iraq, Iran, and God knows what new muslim country afterwards.

Things like our budget, inflation, and monetary crisis and the inevitable run in with Social Security and Medicare, where every American household now owes over $400k each to even pay it off, are all pushed to the side. Almost all the candidates refuse to bring it up. Time and time again.

BlackCapitalist on January 10, 2008 at 11:38 PM

Ok….thanks.

Who won the debate?

One last question.

How do you feel about your fellow RP supporters spamming on line polls?

Wait….one more.

Do you ever intend to post to any thread on this site that does not concern RP?

Cuz’ I have been watching and you and a bunch of the other RP supporters are noticeably absent on every other topic thread.

Talon on January 10, 2008 at 11:34 PM

Ive posted to other threads. Paul threads just interest me more then others. Try putting this in your yahoo search offroadaz site:hotair.com

I thought Fred “won” the debate in the sense that he seemed to articulate his message the best.

I do not agree with the tactic that some Paul supporters use with spamming polls and email floods. I appreciate their enthusiasm but ultimately I think it hurts Pauls message.

offroadaz on January 10, 2008 at 11:40 PM

Most important quote of the whole discussion.

emailnuevo on January 10, 2008 at 11:26 PM

Thanks, emailnuevo.

I just think the bulk of Western Society, which pretty much constitutes what remains of the “civilized world,” hasn’t the foggiest clue of what it is really up against in this war.

The Islamo-supremecists haven’t survived fourteen centuries by being stupid.

My fear is that their patience will outlast ours.

Dave R. on January 10, 2008 at 11:42 PM

offroadaz on January 10, 2008 at 11:40 PM

Thank you for your answers.

Talon on January 10, 2008 at 11:44 PM

offroadaz on January 10, 2008 at 11:36 PM

Less government, less spending, less taxes — Paul is right. Slash away.

Foreign policy — he’s naive and living in the wrong century, wrong to term the US overseas military presence an “empire” when it’s actually a defensive perimeter and guarantor of free commerce, too quick to cite Tonkin and neglects to mention the Cole on Iran, etc etc. I just don’t think he knows what he’s talking about in foreign affairs. He does in fact blame America first as his instinctive response. Sometimes we are to blame, but most of the time we’re not. He seems unable to distinguish the two.

Associations — takes donations from Stormfront, courts the Truthers, the newsletters and whoever wrote them if he didn’t. He’s either a very bad character or a very poor judge of character. Either way, I don’t want him in the presidency given the kind of people he would bring to power with him.

Bryan on January 10, 2008 at 11:45 PM

I kept waiting for the question about the Ron Paul newsletters. What happened to that? I know he’s not really a viable candidate, but I was really looking forward to seeing how he would dodge,squirm, and prevaricate. Good entertainment value, if nothing else.

CrusaderMom on January 10, 2008 at 11:46 PM

offroadz, the primary thing people care about here is war or potential war with Iraq, Iran, and God knows what new muslim country afterwards.

Things like our budget, inflation, and monetary crisis and the inevitable run in with Social Security and Medicare, where every American household now owes over $400k each to even pay it off, are all pushed to the side. Almost all the candidates refuse to bring it up. Time and time again.

BlackCapitalist on January 10, 2008 at 11:38 PM

I agree. I used to be like the majority of people here on hotair. It wasn’t until recently that I sat down, researched and evaluated my positions that I came to the conclusion that the current policy of our adminstration is wrong.

I’ve always wondered why “muslims hate us” I used to go with everyone else and think it is because of freedoms, way of life and personal beliefs. I no longer believe that is the case.

I realize that position is vastly different then almost everyone here. I think alot of our problems at home are a result of our foreign policy of nation building and our involvement in other countries.

One of my favorite quotes is by John Quincy Adams, the 6th president of the United States

“She well knows that by once enlisting under other banners than her own, were they even the banners of foreign independence, she would involve herself beyond the power of extrication, in all the wars of interest and intrigue, of individual avarice, envy, and ambition, which assume the colors and usurp the standard of freedom.

The fundamental maxims of her policy would insensibly change from liberty to force….

She might become the dictatress of the world. She would be no longer the ruler of her own spirit….

America ’s glory is not dominion, but liberty. Her march is the march of the mind. She has a spear and a shield: but the motto upon her shield is, Freedom, Independence , Peace. This has been her Declaration: this has been, as far as her necessary intercourse with the rest of mankind would permit, her practice. ”

offroadaz on January 10, 2008 at 11:47 PM

What is the point in smacking Ron Paul?

That would be like FDR during WWII concentrating on smacking the axis country of Bulgaria.

MB4 on January 10, 2008 at 11:49 PM

What is the point in smacking Ron Paul?

That would be like FDR during WWII concentrating on smacking the axis country of Bulgaria.

MB4 on January 10, 2008 at 11:49 PM

Dude, it’s obvious. Hot Air is afraid that Ron Paul’s ideas of non-interventionist foreign policy, small federal government, states rights, and reduction of our huge debt will catch on. So major time is spent trying to discredit him. We can’t having candidates getting out of line and breaking the status quo now do we?

BlackCapitalist on January 11, 2008 at 12:01 AM

“5 small speedboats”? Whaaaaaaat?

Uncle Ronnie seems to forget that one small zodiac carried enough explosives to kill a whole bunch of sailors aboard a big honkin’ US warship in Aden, Yemen.

So spare me the pavlovian “Gulf of Tonkin” reaction and have Ron Paul take enough meds to remember the USS Cole…

And then the fat headed pundits all wonder why the small candidates are not given enough airtime. After Paul and Kucinich, there should be some kind of psych test required to become a candidate.

DonKermit on January 11, 2008 at 12:02 AM

BlackCapitalist on January 11, 2008 at 12:01 AM

Dude. Read my comment above, especially the first and last paragraphs. I’ll put them here to help out.

Less government, less spending, less taxes — Paul is right. Slash away.

Associations — takes donations from Stormfront, courts the Truthers, the newsletters and whoever wrote them if he didn’t. He’s either a very bad character or a very poor judge of character. Either way, I don’t want him in the presidency given the kind of people he would bring to power with him.

I’m from Texas. I like small government. I don’t fear Paul, but I do think he’s tainting his good ideas by association with the bad actors that he allows himself to be surrounded with and promoted by. And make no mistake about it, he has made a conscious choice in allowing those associations to take root. That choice is becoming and ought to be his downfall. Hopefully he won’t take his good ideas down to the bottom with him.

The problem for you guys who still support him after these disclosures is that, in your loyalty to the good ideas, you don’t see your messenger’s fatal flaws and why they’re a serious problem. As a result, you are helping delegitimize the good ideas that Paul does have.

Bryan on January 11, 2008 at 12:13 AM

Bryan on January 11, 2008 at 12:13 AM

Spot on.

They will not listen.

Talon on January 11, 2008 at 12:17 AM

offroadaz,

I appreciate your making the effort to represent your candidate’s views, and to do so in a pleasant manner. Thanks.

mikeyboss on January 11, 2008 at 12:19 AM

Was that Rudy breaking down with laughter?

Also, Fred said, “I don’t know if that was passive,” at 1:35/-0:42

I don’t fear Paul

Bryan on January 11, 2008 at 12:13 AM

But you fear the blimp! Don’t you? Fear the blimp?

I know I certainly don’t want that thing flying over my house on a windy day.

- The Cat

MirCat on January 11, 2008 at 12:19 AM

Ladies and gentleman: Mr. Britt Hume, bane of the crazy ranters everywhere.

Remember when he scotched Chuck Hagel’s exploratory madness with one well-chosen sentence? It was beautiful.

Think this is at least the second time that the good Dr. has feigned deafness after a damaging question. Am I recalling correctly?

Uncle Pinky on January 11, 2008 at 12:42 AM

Spot on.

They will not listen.

Talon on January 11, 2008 at 12:17 AM

I’m listening. But I am sickened that the candidates, other than Paul, refuse to acknowledge the magnitude of spending problems here at home.

Blowing up third world countries and rebuilding them is secondary to our problems here at home. If there is a candidate who can atleast do both at the same time, please show him to me.

BlackCapitalist on January 11, 2008 at 12:43 AM

Ouch! Mitt definitely delivered a good one-liner there. I got a laugh out of McCain’s expressions when they split-screened it as well. Like, “What’s the oddball going on about now?”

OneGyT on January 11, 2008 at 12:46 AM

Fox News allowing Ron Paul to ramble about Iran was pure genious. That buffoon did more damage to himself than all other candidates combined. Brit’s and Mitt’s replies were golden.

Rode Werk on January 11, 2008 at 12:51 AM

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