Congressman Paul Hits Another Home Run

I don't care if he is a republican, I LOVE this guy.

"HON. RON PAUL OF TEXAS
BEFORE THE US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 22, 2004

The Lessons of 9/11 . . . .

. . . . The neo-conservative defenders of our policy in Iraq speak of the benefits that we have brought to the Iraqi people: removal of a violent dictator, liberation, democracy, and prosperity. If all this were true, the resistance against our occupation would not be growing. We ought to admit we have not been welcomed as liberators as was promised by the proponents of the war . . . .

. . . . The proponents of the Iraqi war do not hesitate to impugn the character of those who point out the shortcomings of current policy, calling them unpatriotic and appeasers of terrorism. It is said that they are responsible for the growing armed resistance, and for the killing of American soldiers. It's conveniently ignored that if the opponents of the current policy had prevailed, not one single American would have died nor would tens of thousands of Iraqi civilians have suffered the same fate . . . .

. . . . Promoters of war too often fail to contemplate the unintended consequences of an aggressive foreign policy. So far, the anti-war forces have not been surprised with the chaos that has now become Iraq, or Iran's participation-- but even they cannot know all the long-term shortcomings of such a policy.

In an eagerness to march on Baghdad, the neo-cons gloated-- and I heard them-- of the "shock and awe" that was about to hit the Iraqi people. It turns out that the real shock and awe is that we're further from peace in Iraq than we were a year ago-- and Secretary Rumsfeld admits his own surprise . . . ."

http://www.house.gov/paul/congrec/congrec2004/cr042204.htm

Paul Again Returns Unused Office Funds to Treasury

Washington, DC- For the sixth year in a row, Congressman Ron Paul has returned a substantial portion of his annual office budget to taxpayers. Preliminary reports from the congressional Office of Finance indicate that Paul’s office had approximately $210,000 left in its operating account at the end of 2003, a figure representing more than 20% of the annual office budget. By contrast, nearly all federal departments, agencies, and programs spend every last penny (and more) of their yearly budgets.

Congressman Paul maintains an office in Washington and two district offices in Freeport and Victoria. The district offices provide critical personal services, helping constituents with everything from veterans’ issues and Social Security benefits to IRS and immigration problems. Paul maintains high-quality constituent service through low staff turnover, which keeps retraining costs to a minimum. His experienced district staff directors consistently receive high marks for providing excellent customer service, but they also operate their offices efficiently.

Paul introduced cost-cutting measures several years ago that included negotiating low office rents, reducing costly postage by using electronic mail, and using flexible part-time staff to help with overflow work. The result has been a steady savings of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Since returning to Congress in 1997, Paul’s office has returned nearly one million dollars to the federal Treasury.


http://www.house.gov/paul/press/press2004/pr032404.htm

Thats what a real conservative does.

One they don't deserve.

Remaining a Repuke by name provides support to the people he is criticizing for a monumental wrong - of biblical proportions - to put it in Christian fundie repuke language.

Makes me think he's just an opportunist who sees the writing on the wall.

He's just the real thing, a Republican in the grand tradition of statesmen like Barry Goldwater and Dwight D. Eisenhower. You may not agree with all of his political ideals, but Ron Paul is a true representative of what the Republican party was before it was hijacked by Nixon, Ford, Reagan, Bushes, et al. They were GOP politicians, NOT statesmen.

Without trying to work within the party, he couldn't have the same impact. I respect someone who at least tries to salvage what's left of what they believe in, rather than leaving it.

"Neo-Conned" is also a terrfic article! It's great to be able to dispute Bush fans using the words of respected Republicans. It's a lot harder for them to dismiss what a lefty says when lefty quotes one of their own!

. . destroy Democrats or the constitution.

My question remains. Remaining a Republican by name helps insure that the House will remain in Republican hands - and helps insure that the rank, vile policies he is criticizing and the House rules that keeps better policies from even getting a vote, will remain in effect.

It used to be that Republicans had a sense of honor about politics. They could disagree on the floor but remain friends. Now that the Gingrichs, Delays, Frists, et al, have taken over their party, he either needs to call them out personally, not just their policies, as the corrupt, anti-American, assholes they are. Or become an Independent.

Until he does that, I'll call him a rank opportunist who talks big when the breeze filling their sails starts to slacken, but would never give up any personal power for the sake of principle - just like the rest of the pukes that profit from that label being applied to their name.

That's my opinion.

. . . I wonder if he would have a problem getting on the ballot as an independent?

as long as they have an R or a D next to their name.

This is a bill he introduced:

"H.J.RES.15 : Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relative to abolishing personal income, estate, and gift taxes and prohibiting the United States Government from engaging in business in competition with its citizens.
Sponsor: Rep Paul, Ron (introduced 1/28/2003) Cosponsors: 2
Committees: House Judiciary
Latest Major Action: 1/28/2003 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary."

Goodbye IRS and the US Postal Service! Hmmm. Probably not a great idea.

But I can't friggin STAND "Libertarians". I put the second one in quotes referring to the ones who say that they're "Libertarians" (ala Boortz), but vote a straight Republican ticket every damn election. Ron Paul falls into this catagory in my book.

I have a friend who is a "Libertarian". When I confronted him to name a SINGLE Libertarian that he's ever actually voted for, he replied....


"Ross Perot"


Yep. That's what I thought too. :crazy:

Paul has supported Bush less than 50% of the time, much less than Edwards' 59%, Lieberman's 55%, and Kerry's 51% (numbers taken from vote-smart.org, average of presidential support over the last 2 years).

Thanks for that info, Victimerica!

I'd bet that almost every vote "against" had to do with appropriations. Still, that info makes me rank him slightly higher than I did 10 minutes ago. Thanks.