So the whole affair is looking a bit like a WWF event...and reporters are making their notes on it all.
They do tend to concentrate on the most way out contestants, rather than the well paced and sensible.
But the New York Times did mention Ron Paul again yesterday, if only to briefly note that he took exception to Michele Bachman's legislative record. What legislative record?
Michael Cooper of the NYT caught her out on a couple mistakes - sad, again, that press goes to candidates for making mistakes...such as the foot-in-mouth moment of Mitt Romney, who gave Ashley Parker a lengthy column in the paper to scourge him for his 'coporations are people' remark. No they are not; people pay taxes. Corporations do not. OK, I misspoke a bit; some corporations pay taxes.
So this is like the first couple of rounds here, with the novices coming out swinging and girating wildy while the older, more experienced fighters wear them down and bide their time to step in.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Friday, August 12, 2011
Ron Paul in Iowa
Michael D. Shear in the New York Times gave Dr Paul a nice write-up yesterday (11 Aug.) -
he noted that Paul is now better known than when he first ran for POTUS, and is on track for what could be a top-three finish at the Iowa Straw Poll in Ames on Saturday. Rival campaigns suggest they believe Paul might actually win the poll, given the strength of his support among libertarians, college students and an increasing number of traditional Republicans who are now beginning to agree with his longstanding criticism of the government spending and the federal debt.
Asked whether he felt a sense of vindication after preaching for years that the country was headed for a debt crisis, he said he wasn't raised to gloat.
So we shall see...Dr Paul brings to the table the fact that he has been proven right about things; this alone sets him above the others. And the fact that he is not making so much noise about it shows a sense of dignity necessary for a head-of-state.
he noted that Paul is now better known than when he first ran for POTUS, and is on track for what could be a top-three finish at the Iowa Straw Poll in Ames on Saturday. Rival campaigns suggest they believe Paul might actually win the poll, given the strength of his support among libertarians, college students and an increasing number of traditional Republicans who are now beginning to agree with his longstanding criticism of the government spending and the federal debt.
Asked whether he felt a sense of vindication after preaching for years that the country was headed for a debt crisis, he said he wasn't raised to gloat.
So we shall see...Dr Paul brings to the table the fact that he has been proven right about things; this alone sets him above the others. And the fact that he is not making so much noise about it shows a sense of dignity necessary for a head-of-state.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Politics and Religion
Ever notice that Ron Paul does not play the religion card? Not that he isn't a Christian, just that he does not blow a trumpet when he prays...and does not pray in a stadium so 30,000 people can hear it. Yesterday in the New York Times there was an article about Tim Pawlenty, who is going after the religious vote in Iowa. Or what is left of it after that other candidate from Minnesota takes it.
It was pointed out in the Spanish press that the US is in a war to keep religious fundamentalists from taking over Afghanistan, and, um, using large stadiums for their religious meetings...
I guess since the governor of Texas did not fight in a war he did not take that into account. But he might have read the Gospel in which Christ tells people not to sound a trumpet when they pray or do alms. He commands things to be done in secret that God the Father might reward people openly.
So, if you are religious, by all means pray for Ron Paul, but do it in silence - your prayers need to be effective - the US needs all it can get.
It was pointed out in the Spanish press that the US is in a war to keep religious fundamentalists from taking over Afghanistan, and, um, using large stadiums for their religious meetings...
I guess since the governor of Texas did not fight in a war he did not take that into account. But he might have read the Gospel in which Christ tells people not to sound a trumpet when they pray or do alms. He commands things to be done in secret that God the Father might reward people openly.
So, if you are religious, by all means pray for Ron Paul, but do it in silence - your prayers need to be effective - the US needs all it can get.
Monday, August 8, 2011
Big Week in Iowa
Jeff Zeleny casts an eye on the GOP antics in Iowa this week. The town of Tiffin is full of the biggies, all waiting to debate on Thursday...which I will miss. The circus may be free but it is not for me.
Although, of course, I am working to get Ron Paul to the White House...it's just that I am not the typical GOP person, and this is not about me supporting the GOP. As Zeleny notes in his article (7 August, New York Times, "Republican Jockey as a Big Week Begins in Iowa"), Dr Paul has 'wide appeal among voters with a libertarian strain...' He then notes the candidate's 'deep support of his core followers', who have been 'encouraged to send the party a message.'
The GOP cannot be unaware of the fact that many of the candidate here are hard core Republicans, too hard core, and cannot win any votes outside of that base. Not that Paul is soft on the major issues - he is anti-immigration, pro-America, and, unlike his GOP contenders, did military time - as an officer in the medical corps.
On the other hand, Paul is more centrist on other issues, such as gay marriage, which he is not out promoting, but has always considered something that ought to be allowed. A non-issue really. And of course the hemp issue seems to put him in the left, or in the Greens - as so many Democrats are MIA on this one, mistaking it for a 'dope' issue - they ought to read. But Paul is an environmentalist, opposed to nuclear power. But against abortion. Some call him a centrist.
Whatever the label, he has the widest base of support of any of the GOPers. So I am not going to watch Bachmann tell me that the White House 'fears my candidacy more than any other' - no, Michele, it probably supports yours as yours has the narrowest support base of any, and you have the least experience of any. Your main issue was gay rights, or the denial thereof.
So it should be interesting, and hopefully we will be hearing more about Dr Paul in the press as the debate turns to real issues. Such as, the economy.
Although, of course, I am working to get Ron Paul to the White House...it's just that I am not the typical GOP person, and this is not about me supporting the GOP. As Zeleny notes in his article (7 August, New York Times, "Republican Jockey as a Big Week Begins in Iowa"), Dr Paul has 'wide appeal among voters with a libertarian strain...' He then notes the candidate's 'deep support of his core followers', who have been 'encouraged to send the party a message.'
The GOP cannot be unaware of the fact that many of the candidate here are hard core Republicans, too hard core, and cannot win any votes outside of that base. Not that Paul is soft on the major issues - he is anti-immigration, pro-America, and, unlike his GOP contenders, did military time - as an officer in the medical corps.
On the other hand, Paul is more centrist on other issues, such as gay marriage, which he is not out promoting, but has always considered something that ought to be allowed. A non-issue really. And of course the hemp issue seems to put him in the left, or in the Greens - as so many Democrats are MIA on this one, mistaking it for a 'dope' issue - they ought to read. But Paul is an environmentalist, opposed to nuclear power. But against abortion. Some call him a centrist.
Whatever the label, he has the widest base of support of any of the GOPers. So I am not going to watch Bachmann tell me that the White House 'fears my candidacy more than any other' - no, Michele, it probably supports yours as yours has the narrowest support base of any, and you have the least experience of any. Your main issue was gay rights, or the denial thereof.
So it should be interesting, and hopefully we will be hearing more about Dr Paul in the press as the debate turns to real issues. Such as, the economy.
Friday, August 5, 2011
512 and falling fast
These last two weeks have brought about a string of bad news on the market, with the Dow Jones falling 512 points yesterday...much of this has been psychological, though on top of real problems like a loss of industries to other countries.
The budget deal was reached, with both parties looking bad. This does not inspire confidence. Bad news causes more bad news and few are betting on a rally.
Ron Paul voted no on the compromise, which was a sensible move. But he is not in with the GOP hardliners who just wanted a tax break. He has real ideas about cutting silly things like the government borrowing from the government which is a big part of the debt...common sense does not prevail, why not?
He barely gets mention in the press. What does get mention is the warmongering scare tactics of Arthur Herman and Peter Brookes, who tell us in the Post that we need more money for the Pentagon...which lost $2.4 trillion - not million, not billion - trillion - by 10 September, 2001. Find the money lads and we can balance the budget; why ask for more money for an institution that cannot account for such sums? And that was before billions more got 'lost' in Iraq...
Michael Barone, in the same Murdoch rag, tells us that the GOP has no one with the high-level experience in foreign or fiscal matters that some contenders in the Democratic fields of 1968 and 1972 had. This clever wording avoid mention of Ron Paul - who is both on the House Banking Committee, and the House Foreign Affairs Committee...Barone makes it sound like none of the candidates have such experience, who really remembers the CV of the '68 and '72 Dem candidates?
With this much self-serving and selective information, or disinformation in the press, it is possible that a candidate WITH financial and foreign experience will be overlooked. The very tone of the Post's rants add to the gloom. But might that not be part of a Murdoch strategy? Kick the people when they are down, and then buy up shares cheap?
With or without help from the press, we are in for more selloffs on Wall Street, the summer is usually a time of slow trading and losses, so we have another month of this. Not that the usual September rally is a given either, so we may be in for many months of it all. The best thing for the economy would be to get some good news, and having a candidate with the experience of Ron Paul, however he does not, in Mr Barone's opinion - measure up to the unnamed and long-forgotten Dem candidates of yore, who by the way both lost to Nixon - would possibly bring a measure of confidence; both in his ability, and in his honesty. That last a rare trait in a politician these days. Actually both seem to be rare traits; ones we need, and can get in with Ron Paul.
The budget deal was reached, with both parties looking bad. This does not inspire confidence. Bad news causes more bad news and few are betting on a rally.
Ron Paul voted no on the compromise, which was a sensible move. But he is not in with the GOP hardliners who just wanted a tax break. He has real ideas about cutting silly things like the government borrowing from the government which is a big part of the debt...common sense does not prevail, why not?
He barely gets mention in the press. What does get mention is the warmongering scare tactics of Arthur Herman and Peter Brookes, who tell us in the Post that we need more money for the Pentagon...which lost $2.4 trillion - not million, not billion - trillion - by 10 September, 2001. Find the money lads and we can balance the budget; why ask for more money for an institution that cannot account for such sums? And that was before billions more got 'lost' in Iraq...
Michael Barone, in the same Murdoch rag, tells us that the GOP has no one with the high-level experience in foreign or fiscal matters that some contenders in the Democratic fields of 1968 and 1972 had. This clever wording avoid mention of Ron Paul - who is both on the House Banking Committee, and the House Foreign Affairs Committee...Barone makes it sound like none of the candidates have such experience, who really remembers the CV of the '68 and '72 Dem candidates?
With this much self-serving and selective information, or disinformation in the press, it is possible that a candidate WITH financial and foreign experience will be overlooked. The very tone of the Post's rants add to the gloom. But might that not be part of a Murdoch strategy? Kick the people when they are down, and then buy up shares cheap?
With or without help from the press, we are in for more selloffs on Wall Street, the summer is usually a time of slow trading and losses, so we have another month of this. Not that the usual September rally is a given either, so we may be in for many months of it all. The best thing for the economy would be to get some good news, and having a candidate with the experience of Ron Paul, however he does not, in Mr Barone's opinion - measure up to the unnamed and long-forgotten Dem candidates of yore, who by the way both lost to Nixon - would possibly bring a measure of confidence; both in his ability, and in his honesty. That last a rare trait in a politician these days. Actually both seem to be rare traits; ones we need, and can get in with Ron Paul.
Talk in NY about Ron Paul
New York, New York...some think this is the capital of the world. In some areas, though, it certainly is not without a say. Such as finance and politics. Two topics of discussion best not brought up at a summer garden party...right? Well, somehow it is hard these days not to talk about them...after all, Wednesday on Wall Street there was a bare market...50 people demanding transparency got in front of the big banks and stripped starkers.
Later that day I was at a charity event for the St George's Society of New York held at the Union Theological Seminary, which is in the Columbia University complex (fully dressed I might add...). Fine examples of architecture they were! Grey cathedrals on a wet, grey day... which meant the garden party was held indoors.
The speaker was the new General Consul from the UK, Danny Lopez, a finance man with former experience at Barclays (here in NY) and a former interim CEO of the London Development Agency. He will be promoting the 2012 Olympics. Of course there was a long queue to meet and greet, and then another long queue as we went back to our T&Ts and beef sandwiches and talked about, well, you know, finance and politics...and me, being the guy from Texas with an interest in Ron Paul, I was just a wee bit curious to see which way the wind was blowing among a well heeled well educated NY crowd...full of Churchillians, Pilgrims, etc. etc. I was pleased to find support for Ron Paul; the other candidates just seemed to leave a void, right or left. And there was just one other bloke from the Lone Star State - attired in a kilt. A fellow Celt. And a fellow Ron Paul supporter...
So it was a good party after all, despite the rain. Which of course blew in from London!
A warm welcome to Mr Lopez, who, on account of his role as HM Consul to NY, has a solid excuse to avoid at least the subject of politics...
One day I hope he will meet the Texan Congressman and future President of the United States.
And as to finance and politics? I am sure they will find better things to talk about...
(that's me in the middle...holding a T&T and dressed like a banker).
Image courtesy of John Shannon, our long-suffering director of the St. George's Society of New York.
Later that day I was at a charity event for the St George's Society of New York held at the Union Theological Seminary, which is in the Columbia University complex (fully dressed I might add...). Fine examples of architecture they were! Grey cathedrals on a wet, grey day... which meant the garden party was held indoors.
The speaker was the new General Consul from the UK, Danny Lopez, a finance man with former experience at Barclays (here in NY) and a former interim CEO of the London Development Agency. He will be promoting the 2012 Olympics. Of course there was a long queue to meet and greet, and then another long queue as we went back to our T&Ts and beef sandwiches and talked about, well, you know, finance and politics...and me, being the guy from Texas with an interest in Ron Paul, I was just a wee bit curious to see which way the wind was blowing among a well heeled well educated NY crowd...full of Churchillians, Pilgrims, etc. etc. I was pleased to find support for Ron Paul; the other candidates just seemed to leave a void, right or left. And there was just one other bloke from the Lone Star State - attired in a kilt. A fellow Celt. And a fellow Ron Paul supporter...
So it was a good party after all, despite the rain. Which of course blew in from London!
A warm welcome to Mr Lopez, who, on account of his role as HM Consul to NY, has a solid excuse to avoid at least the subject of politics...
One day I hope he will meet the Texan Congressman and future President of the United States.
And as to finance and politics? I am sure they will find better things to talk about...
(that's me in the middle...holding a T&T and dressed like a banker).
Image courtesy of John Shannon, our long-suffering director of the St. George's Society of New York.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Official Ron Paul for President blog started today!
I just found out the official Ron Paul blogspot has started today...so this is the, or one of the, unofficial ones...and one of the first too! But I am happy to send people to the official one - and would do a link if there had been one on bradenton - so I just cut and pasted as is with a bradenton link to it at the bottom...navigate as you can, and I will do a link when the URL is made public.
The Ron Paul 2012 presidential campaign committee has announced the kick-off of the official campaign blog. The blog, provided by columnist Jack Hunter, will serve as a direct link to voters.
“It is a genuine privilege to be a part of the Ron Paul 2012 presidential campaign, and I am excited to get this blog going,” said Hunter.
Hunter, a long-time radio host and The American Conservative Magazine columnist, is a prominent figure on the conservative political scene. He has worked for WTMA 1250 AM talk radio in Charleston, South Carolina, and writes a column for the Charleston City Paper. Jack also produces widely popular weekly video podcasts.
Read more: http://www.bradenton.com/2011/08/01/3389779/ron-paul-2012-kicks-off-official.html#ixzz1TtOAXnlU
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