Washington Times on the Rise of Paul

Brian Doherty | July 10, 2007

Washington's right-wing daily notices that Ron Paul's star keeps rising, however slowly: "Buzz Builds for Longshot Ron Paul." [UPDATE: Link and headline changed since yesterday. Story can now be found as  "Paul Rises from GOP Unknown to 'Sleeper.' ] Excerpt:

Mr. Paul has more campaign cash available than former Republican front-runner Sen. John McCain of Arizona, Federal Election Commission records show, and the antiwar conservative has become an Internet sensation.

Though political pros say Mr. Paul's chances of moving into the White House are somewhere between slim and none, some expect him to have an impact on the 2008 Republican campaign.

"I watched the Republican presidential debates with neighbors, and two of the five people in the room said, ‘Who is that guy? I really like him,'" said Republican media consultant Tom Edmonds. "My gut tells me he's a sleeper and will indeed have an impact on the Republican race."

The Texas obstetrician — whose habit of opposing measures he deems unconstitutional won him the sobriquet "Dr. No" — is admired as a man of principle by many conservative leaders and has already won attention from voters across the land, including Democrats.

Iowan Alex Gabis, for example, attended an event for Sen. Barack Obama, Illinois Democrat, in the Fairfield town square last week, but another candidate was on his mind.

"There is a Republican I like — he's from Texas," volunteered Mr. Gabis. "I don't look at the label. I listen to what he says. I think his name is Ron Paul. I like him. I'd vote for him."

My essay from a few weeks back on why Paul might--and might not--appeal to Democrats.

Comments

|7.10.07 @ 5:03PM|#

Go, Ron!

|7.10.07 @ 5:04PM|#

The Washington Times, eh? Can a Rev. Sun Myung Moon endorsement be far behind? That's when the dough will really start rolling in.

|7.10.07 @ 5:13PM|#

So why do you writers always leave out information.This last Saturday Ron Paul won the CNHT straw poll by 65%,Gulliani with 8%.I would say that was a landslide.

|7.10.07 @ 5:16PM|#

Ron Paul doesn't have a slim chance to win, he can go all the way, if you just believe in his ability to win. There is nobody America needs more right now than Ron Paul, WE CAN DO THIS!

x,y|7.10.07 @ 5:23PM|#

Dondero in ....

|7.10.07 @ 5:31PM|#

paul had 0% in the latest poll of republicans and leaners.

|7.10.07 @ 5:32PM|#

I too have drank the Ron Paul brand Kool Aide, delicious, with a hint of Libertarian goodness.

|7.10.07 @ 5:46PM|#

Speaking as one who was perfectly happy to watch Tinkerbell snuff it,

I BELIEVE
RON PAUL in 08

Gene Berkman|7.10.07 @ 6:04PM|#

Ron Paul has carried the message of liberty, limited government and peace into the homes of millions of people viewing the Republican debates on CNN and Fox. That is the value of the Ron Paul campaign.

In many cases, news profiles of him have mentioned his 1988 campaign on the Libertarian Party ticket. Certainly the Libertarian movement is benefitting from such a high profile insurgent effort.

Randolph Carter|7.10.07 @ 6:29PM|#

Funny story about weirdos supporting Ron Paul (not that this disqualifies him in any way, he still is teh r0xxorz):
Apparently Scientologists love him because of his consistent votes against required psych screening in public schools. A woman I know runs a nonprofit to prevent these tests, and has been getting all kinds of Scientology cred for it.
There's something in the Ron Paul bag for everyone!

Randolph Carter|7.10.07 @ 6:31PM|#

Oh yeah, i was at that NH straw poll as well. Hi-larious. The only reason Guiliani had 8% was because the 2 college kids he paid to go there bought 225 dollars worth of tickets equaling 15 votes. He got 22 total votes. What a winner!

ktc2|7.10.07 @ 6:35PM|#

That is unless you are one of the 29%ers for whom nothing seems to matter besides killing all the muslims.

http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=56177

|7.10.07 @ 7:19PM|#

The Texas obstetrician - whose habit of opposing measures he deems unconstitutional won him the sobriquet "Dr. No" -

Left wing trash!!!

every time a libertarian lifts his head past media safe guards all they can do is say he stops progress and is an obstetrician!

Robert|7.10.07 @ 7:47PM|#

I'm hoping Ron Paul makes a good enough showing before this year ends that he'll be thought to be a good addition to a ticket, and that he then drops out, while various other contenders go on to beat each other up in close primaries. Then Romney (or somebody) gets the presidential nomination and decides he wants Ron Paul for VP. Then they get elected and Ron Paul puts himself into much more credible position to be a future prez.

|7.10.07 @ 7:57PM|#

Speaking of "Dr. No", does anyone have the numbers on how often Ron Paul has been the sole 'no' vote? He must hold the all-time record by far.

|7.10.07 @ 7:58PM|#

Robert,
Ron Paul is in his 70s, and his message is gather ing wide support RIGHT NOW.

A VP run won't happen.

|7.10.07 @ 8:21PM|#

That is unless you are one of the 29%ers for whom nothing seems to matter besides killing all the muslims.

Yeah we got lured into democracy for Iraq because we want to kill all the muslins....that makes a fuck load of sense.

Idiot

Edward|7.10.07 @ 10:47PM|#

The key phrase is "however slowly."

|7.10.07 @ 11:15PM|#

I have to underhandedly agree with Corning. We got into Iraq because neocons are colossally stupid, arrogant and naively idealistic with no sense of history, not because they want to kill all the muslims.

ktc2|7.10.07 @ 11:29PM|#

Democracy for Iraq was never more than a talking point for the theocons.

Jerry|7.10.07 @ 11:46PM|#

With the all the buzz going on, which will not evaporate until November 2008 or so, what is going to happy after that? What are the long-term prospects of the grassroots activity that is going on right now?

|7.11.07 @ 2:47AM|#

What are the long-term prospects of the grassroots activity that is going on right now?

I'm not sure about most of the supporters, but I do expect that we will see four years of nutters screaming about the conspiracy that stole the election from Ron Paul.

Mark|7.11.07 @ 3:34AM|#

Article appears to have disappeared from the Washington Times' site; not even returned via their search.

|7.11.07 @ 4:27AM|#

Jeff Flake is younger, and is a fairly principled Republican/conservative. I don't know if he has such ambitions, although I imagine he's not really interested in being President. He's also Mormon, although Romney's showing that maybe America isn't too bothered by that anymore.

Anyway, I wish Dr Paul all the best, and would definitely vote for him if he somehow gets the nomination (the first time I can actually vote anything other than Libertarian since maybe the first time I could vote). Flake is simply one other voice of sanity in legislative branch...too bad we don't have more like 'em.

|7.11.07 @ 9:06AM|#

I'd be on cloud 9 if Paul won the nomination, but this is a little strained:

"I watched the Republican presidential debates with neighbors, and two of the five people in the room said, 'Who is that guy? I really like him,'"

Proves there's a real groundswell of support out there, don't it?

|7.11.07 @ 9:33AM|#

There are Ron Paul signs on bridges over I-75 near I-696 just outside of Detroit. Go RON!

|7.11.07 @ 9:46AM|#

I'd bet money that his third quarter fundraising amounts will trump his second quarter fundraising. That'll be enough for me to believe that he'll make it to the primaries way ahead of Mike freakin Huckafuck and Sam Brownback, and all those other dickwads. I'm giving money to him and so are some friends of mine whom I convinced to donate.

Go Ron Paul!

|7.11.07 @ 2:21PM|#

They cant stop or even slow his rise!

RON PAUL ALL THE WAY!!!

Robert|7.11.07 @ 2:35PM|#

"Ron Paul is in his 70s, and his message is gather ing wide support RIGHT NOW. A VP run won't happen."

How often does someone go directly from the House of Representatives to the White House? He needs the stepping stone of a higher office, and 2008 is a good time for that.