What is the appeal of Ron Paul?

[Fountain79]

Maybe I am mistaken but it seems that for the most part, Ron Paul's philosophy is not congruent with "progressive" ideals yet i have seen him on such shows like the Rachel Maddow show and he is greeted warmly. While he opposed the Iraq War and many of Bush's policies he is hardly a progressive or liberal. Thoughts?

[FLAprogressive]

1. Liberals/progressives are tricked into believing that he's not a racist , homophobic, anti-choice

prick.

[HopeHoops]

2. He is one hot sexy man-god beast!

:hide:

[bunnies]

3. Legal drugs. nt

[ZombieHorde]

4. Sexual prowess. nt

[TwilightGardener]

5. People are always drawn to extremists--they seem pure and unconflicted.

Paul is an extremist. He didn't support Iraq for the reason that war is something undesirable in and of itself, he didn't support it because as far as he's concerned, the entire rest of the world outside the US border can go fuck itself.

[jobycom]

14. I think that's it. They confuse his extremism for integrity.

He won't compromise on his issues, and some folk think that means he has integrity. I lived in his district, and can say he has no integrity. He's mean, he's racist, and he's a jerk, but he expresses himself in such absolutes that some are drawn to him as having all the answers.

Since he was sort of on the same side as us concerning the war, some on our side think that means he's really like us deep down. They overlook things like his opposition to aid after Katrina and Ike (which hit his district), or his anti-abortion stance, or the rest of it. There's no compassion in him, his opposition to the Iraq invasion was purely selfish--he didn't want to spend the money.

[FSogol]

6. Plus Rachel is polite and respectful of everyone.

No idea why dozens of flannel-shirt wearing white men standing outside of the Post Office think Paul is a deep thinker. Maybe Paul is a deep thinker only when compared to his supporters.

[YOY]

7. The "South Park Libertarians"

Smart guys (mostly guys) that are very socially inept but condition to think like him through the humorous but ultimately Randian messages they get. Being a gamer I know a shitload of them. THey're really kind of sad in their little "too cool for school" attitude.

They see the Neocons for what they are: corrupt war mongering wastrells....but they see us as the people who rejected them. Ultimately they're a bunch of social retards who have no idea just what the fuck they are asking for.

[HughBeaumont]

11. Sadly, they exist in roller derby too.

Except they're more along the lines of economically Republican fascist with Trey Parker masks on.

Oh, and they have no excuse for why they've been mysteriously quiet for 28 years, but NOW decide to speak up. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm :think:

[Enrique]

8. it's his libertarianism

anti-war, anti-free-trade, anti-Drug war, and a populist anti-elite anti-establishment message.

[pnutbutr]

9. small government libertarian

His views are very extreme and would fail if ever implemented as he wants them but they lean right so people support the general idea of his views.

[anonymous171]

10. He's anti-war, so the hippy left likes him.

Nothing against the DFHs but sometimes they can get a bit too focused on the whole military wing of the MIC and forget about the financial wing, of which Ron Paul is most certainly a member.

[Fumesucker]

13. Paul also wants to get rid of the Federal Reserve..

Which isn't really "Federal" at all..

IMO, the Fed is part of our financial problems and not part of the solution.

Oh and DFHs generally don't much care for the drug war also, which Paul is nearly alone in wishing to get rid of (with Kucinich being one of the very few exceptions).

[Mz Pip]

12. The enemy of my enemy is my friend

Paul is a good spokesperson for the one or two issues he has in common with progressives. So it is useful to have him on expressing his views.

THere are times when progressive and libertarian ideals intersect - perhaps for different reason but it does occasionally happen.

[billyoc]

15. What is the appeal of astrology?

People are fucking stupid.

[Zywiec]

16. Greeted warmly on shows?

That's horrible. Let's treat everyone who has a different opinion than ours with complete contempt!

[Blue_Tires]

17. he touches a nerve with almost every single voting bloc

and his minion play up his "renegade outsider" image...never mind the fact how incompatible his policies are if they were to all be implemented:

anti-taxers like him because he wants to abolish the IRS

anti-government types like him for his wanting to eliminate government for everything except border defense and protection of business interests

black helicopter conspiracy nuts like him because he pledges to investigate 9-11 and pull out of the U.N.

liberals like him because he wants to end the iraq invasion and he has often been critical of GOP policies

hippies and civil libertarians like him because he is against the drug war and patriot act

business likes him because he would eliminate taxes and ALL environmental/legal/ethical regulations

racists like him for the racial codewords in his old newsletters, and his harsh immigration policies

fundies and social conservatives like him for his anti-choice stance and belief in a unifying christian nation

gun owners love him for obvious reasons

teabaggers, so-called 'freedom-lovers', 'liberty tree' adherents and masturbatory wannabe insurrectionists LOVE him for any combination of the above reasons


so you see, in a way, he truly is all things to all people (who don't have brains)...every major voting block is accounted for, save environmentalists, women, and minorities....

[yellowcanine]

18. Outsider underdog image - just like Ross Perot - and equally as fake.

Perot was no underdog outsider - he was/is a multimillionaire. Ron Paul is no underdog outsider either. He is a congressman.

Americans just love the "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" theme - which was of course a Hollywood production.