Thursday, December 29, 2011

Kumbaya Ron Paul, Kumbaya

The independent variable in American politics is Ron Paul. If he goes third party, Obama will be re-elected and America as we knew her and loved her, is dead and gone. Bye bye exceptionalism.

If this happens, Ron Paul supporters will be pummelled and scapegoated but the fingers should be pointed elsewhere. Ron Paul has brought in hundreds of thousands of fiscal conservatives to the Republican Party. It is a strained relationship, but this is politics. You embrace the newbies and co-opt their movement if you have to, but you never alienate them.

Ron Paul was instrumental in restoring fiscal conservatism to the Republican Party. His supporters also played a role in starting the Tea Party movement. Does any sane person believe 2010 would have happened without the Tea Party? Apparently, old line Republicans believe just that. They learned nothing from 2006, 2008, or even 2010.

If the third party run happens, I blame Romney, Gingrich, talk radio, Dick Morris, Karl Rove, Fox News and all of the usual suspects. This can be avoided though. When Gingrich or Bachmann or Santorum is asked about Ron Paul, they should reflexively reply: "Ron Paul is a great man and I think he would make an excellent Federal Reserve Chairman."

I don't think Ron Paul could walk away from a Fed Chairmanship. He could audit to his heart's content and he could torture sacred cows. Not everyone would be happy but mostly bad things would happen to bad people and good things would happen to good people. Hope and change would arrive at last.

Yes we can!

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