General Discussion

Laelth

(32,017 posts)

28. Well, yes and no.

Wed Dec 21, 2011, 06:46 PM

Dec 2011

Indeed, Paul is an enabler of the very rich on most issues, and his Presidency would be a disaster for the poor. Let me iterate that I am not advocating for the man and that I would never vote for the man.

That said, I am trying to answer the question posed by the OP. I sense that Paul is getting attention because at least two of his stated positions pose a serious threat to the establishment (the powers that be or whatever you want to call them). His call for reducing the American military is unprecedented in the last 40 years. His call to decriminalize marijuana is also unprecedented for a major political figure in the United States. Both these positions are a threat to serious, entrenched interests here. That, I think, is why he's garnering both support and the negative attention of the establishment. No other serious contender is a threat to the establishment in any way, and I am including Barack Obama in that assessment.

-Laelth

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Why so much concern with Ron Paul? [View all] Astrad Dec 2011 OP

Ron Paul is not a Democrat so why the concern with the criticism? livetohike Dec 2011 #1

Probably because on the scale of nuts to fucking nuts sharp_stick Dec 2011 #2

Because, people here promote the clown. n/t FSogol Dec 2011 #3

Exactly. HappyMe Dec 2011 #6

My theory? People around here like populists. So, when a populist FSogol Dec 2011 #8

Oy. I have a hard time wrapping my brain around single issue voters. HappyMe Dec 2011 #12

There was in influx of short-lived posters defending and supporting Ron Paul in the last few days... SidDithers Dec 2011 #4

True, but people have been supporting him here (well, at DU2) for a while. n/t FSogol Dec 2011 #9

He's a lunatic. MjolnirTime Dec 2011 #5

And when the POTUS CALMLY whips out his wintersolstice Dec 2011 #25

Ah, a disgruntled Paul fan. great white snark Dec 2011 #30

He's a different kind of crazy than the Republicrats. That's all. saras Dec 2011 #7

Wish more people my age would realize that. rep the dems Dec 2011 #37

Thanks for your concern SecularMotion Dec 2011 #10

There is a very vocal cult of personality developing around him on the internet cowcommander Dec 2011 #11

Ron Paul is the only semi-credible candidate on the ballot who is ... Laelth Dec 2011 #13

you don't need to be compromised if your principles naturally align with the powers that be... renegade000 Dec 2011 #15

I'm not advocating for the guy. I would never vote for the guy. Laelth Dec 2011 #16

in those two sectors sure... renegade000 Dec 2011 #17

I think I hear you correctly. Laelth Dec 2011 #20

Decriminalization of pot sharp_stick Dec 2011 #18

I forgot to mention the prison industry. You're right about that. Laelth Dec 2011 #19

I think you've made some important observations markpkessinger Dec 2011 #29

I can't claim to understand what's motivating younger voters. Laelth Dec 2011 #31

Spot-on. Just wanted you to know that. n/t Zalatix Dec 2011 #36

He's not really much of a threat to the powers that be LeftishBrit Dec 2011 #26

Well, yes and no. Laelth Dec 2011 #28

Not peel off Democrats... peel off potential Obama voters cthulu2016 Dec 2011 #14

Because some people can't see past his anti-war and anti-drug war rhetoric... MicaelS Dec 2011 #21

It's anti-troll bulwarking. iris27 Dec 2011 #22

Post removed Post removed Dec 2011 #23

"Cupcake"? Excuse you? WTF? iris27 Dec 2011 #27

As someone who has been concerned about this issue for 4 years, despite not living in America... LeftishBrit Dec 2011 #24

Singled out? ProudToBeBlueInRhody Dec 2011 #32

And just when I was thinking that the inordinate number of postings here these days musette_sf Dec 2011 #33

Isn't is better to have at least one Republican candidate who wants to cut military spending? think Dec 2011 #34

I think they are concerned he pulls liberals mmonk Dec 2011 #35

You're wrong. Iggo Dec 2011 #38