Go vote in this poll - Should Ron Paul run for President in 2012?

[Iris]

http://www.ronpaul.com/

[Imajika]

1. Oh God, are we back to Ron Paul love on DU..

..because he supported wikileaks?

Ron Paul is a Republican. He is not a Democrat, he is not a progressive.

Why would anyone on Democratic Underground be in any way supportive of Ron Paul?

[Iris]

24. Um. No. I was thinking people would vote "No"

and I thought that might be funny because it's his own website.

[Imajika]

29. Okay, sorry about my post then...

It's just that, believe it or not, from time to time a lot DUers start finding reasons to like Ron Paul.

[Greybnk48]

2. Ron Paul is a crack pot, as is his spawn. n/t

[polichick]

3. Sure, I hope he runs. Why not - the more, the merrier! Besides...

...Dems might not have an anti-war candidate and it would be a shame not to have one at all.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

4. Are you serious? Do you know what Ron Paul stands for other than the war and perhaps

legalizing drugs?

He is not pro-choice.
He is not for gay rights.
And he's a racist fuck just like his son.

Be careful what you wish for.

Better yet, please go and study his record. Hopefully doing so will change your mind.

[avaistheone1]

6. The number of Democrats supporting legalizing drugs has grown

significantly.

I am not suggesting that Democrats should flock to Ron Paul and vote for him for president.

However in my mind the only time bipartisanship makes sense is when we find people in opposing parties who have issues that are in common with our own, and that advance Democratic principles and are good for ordinary Americans. Ron Paul does have some of those regarding the wars, and his stand on certain liberties like the fourth amendment. I think as Dems we should come out strong and support him on those issues (not on his other issues) if we are going to make progress in this country. mo

[polichick]

9. I agree that it's helpful when policy positions overlap...

I also like his stance on the Federal Reserve.

[avaistheone1]

15. Yes

Ron Paul has done a good job on that issue as well. He has shone a much needed light there, and I hope he keeps an eye/pressure on them.

I know Bernie Sanders has worked together with Ron Paul on a number of issues and I think the Federal Reserve was one of them.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

20. Fine. But don't support bigots. That's what this thread is about. It asks

whether you would support him. Though he has a lot of good ideas, could you support him in light of the many more views that are unacceptable?

[polichick]

23. This thread doesn't ask whether you support him, it asks if he should run...

There's quite a difference - jeez, read more carefully.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

12. I'm sorry. His racist views I cannot tolerate. His bigotry should be a deal breaker.

And his assault on choice is unforgivable, not to mention his wanting to change the U.S. Constitution to take away rights. And he supports NO government regulation. NONE! No gun control. No regulation of the big banks and Wall Street.

What are you, smoking crack?

How is that acceptable to you? How is being a bigot acceptable to you?

[Ter]

32. No gun-control would be beautiful

Ron Paul does not support wanting to change the US Constitution to take away rights. He opposes Constitutional Amendments banning gay marriage and abortion, he wants to leave it to the states to decide. I also don't buy that he's a racist. He marched with MLK, no?

[polichick]

7. Who cares how many run on the other side? nt

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

13. So, let me get this straight. You like his because of his stance on the war, drugs, and the Fed.

Yet, you have no problem with his bigoted views?

Are you a racist yourself? How can you support someone who associated himself with a white supremacist group and who seeks to destroy Roe v. Wade?

I don't get that at all.

Surely there are other candidates out there who support Ron Paul's position who aren't racist. There's Dennis Kucinich, no?

[polichick]

14. Read more carefully - I said nothing of the kind. nt

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

17. You support Ron Paul. That's enough for me. It's disgusting and you should be ashamed of yourself!

Take that peace train off your avatar! Supporting Ron Paul is antithetical to anything peaceful!

Off to ignore you go...

[polichick]

18. LOL - Where does it say I support Ron Paul? nt

[avaistheone1]

16. I think you are unfairly jumping to conclusions.

:wtf:

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

21. Answer the question. Would you support a bigot even though he has some good ideas?

[avaistheone1]

22. No

but I strongly support his positions against the war, in favor of no tax cuts for the rich, getting the Federal Reserve under control, ending the drug war, upholding the rule of law, protecting the Constitution and his advocacy for the fourth amendment. I believe his positions are solid in those instances.

However I could not vote for him because I do have serious concerns that he may be a racist, and I think he is terrible on social programs. That said the Democrats should be working with him in areas where we do have agreement.

Updated to add: Maybe he should run for office though to push the Dems be stronger on the issues where he does show strength, and to get the conversation going on those issues where he has strength. (I am sure his significant weaknesses will show as well).

[Milo_Bloom]

19. +1000

[avaistheone1]

5. The good, the bad and the ugly on Ron Paul

Ron Paul is a mixed bag.

He is good on his Anti-War stance, and he can be strong on civil liberties. I think he was brilliant on his position re the TSA and his speech on the congressional floor in that regard was excellent.

However on most social issues Ron Paul pretty much sucks.

The kind of bipartisanship I would like to see is our Dems working with Ron Paul on his AntiWar positions, and also supporting Ron Paul's stands on protecting the fourth amendment etc. I understand Ron Paul also is not for extending the tax cuts to the wealthy as well. When we reach across the aisle it should be when someone like Ron Paul is for an issue that upholds our Democratic ideals and values.

[Zen Democrat]

8. Ron Paul is an unreconstructed racist ... and against ALL social programs.

Beware Ron Paul.

[Iris]

25. Right! So vote "No" on his poll.

It will be funny because it's a poll on his own website.

[ZombieHorde]

10. Ron Paul is on the wrong side of most issues. nt

[calimary]

11. Oh great. Another one for the anarchy crowd.

:eyes:

[Iris]

26. Um... No! I assumed people would vote no. And I thougth it would be funny to see a lot of "no"

votes on his own web page.

[calimary]

28. There are too many yes votes. The anarchy crowd raises its ugly head again.

No wish to be a scold to you, though. A feeble attempt at weary cynicism. Whenever I hear a "paul for President", and knowing it can now refer to more than one paul, it just makes me shake my head. What do they want? Frickin' anarchy? They REALLY think that's gonna work? Amazing.

:banghead:

[Iris]

31. yeah - I have been in and out here at DU over the past 10 years or so

(Could it be that long?) and I forget that the vibe has changed a bit here.

[calimary]

34. No kidding.

I thought after bush we were going to have a friend in the White House.

[cowcommander]

27. Even republicans think Ron Paul is nuts

His obsession with the gold standard is pretty much the deal breaker for him, not even Palin is that crazy.

[GSLevel9]

30. he mostly draws Pub support...so I'm ALL in favor of any third party

candidate who leeches votes from the right.

[NoPasaran]

33. Get back to me when they run the "Should Ron Paul step on a rusty nail" poll

[Ter]

35. Why would anyone vote no?

Are you afraid Obama will lose to a 77 year old? Don't you want the debates to be interesting? Hell, I hope Alan Keyes runs too. When they're in there, I watch the debates with popcorn.