A Libertarian in the White House?

David Weigel | September 4, 2007

Here's Hugh Hewitt, movement man and proud Mitt Romney backer, interviewing Ron Paul at the Texas Straw Poll. (It happened over the weekend and Paul came in third place. You might not have been paying attention.)

Hewitt's got a distinctive, sometimes off-putting interview style: Pugnacious, heavy on questions that regular campaign reporters don't ask (especially about legal philosophy). He only follows up if he thinks he's uncovered something interesting. Here, it's the Paul's claim didn't support George W. Bush for president in 2000 and 2004. I double-checked it and it's true. Even in 2000, Paul was the only one of then 13 House Republicans from Texas who didn't officially endorse Bush. (I say "even" because Paul occasionally tips his hat to Bush for saying our foreign policy should be "humble" in his debates with Al Gore.) He was only serving his second term in the House since his 1996 comeback run, but by that point the Texas GOP had stopped seriously gunning for him. And the de facto leaders of the party were Bush and Rove, who had better things to worry about than rounding up one congressman's endorsement. You'd have to say that Paul's stature has increased since then. UPDATE: In the comments, Eric Dondero recalls Paul endorsing Bush in 2000, albeit after the rest of the GOP delegation had done so. I missed that when I checked old articles so I've struck that part of the post.

The answers on judicial review and the Osama bounty-hunt-plan are worth hearing, too.

Comments

JohnD|9.4.07 @ 8:42AM|#

A Libertarian in the White House?

It ain't gonna happen, people. Dream on.

miche|9.4.07 @ 9:03AM|#

I was at the Ft. Worth event as well as the fundraiser in Dallas this weekend. The support for Ron Paul was amazing. I think Ron Paul's third place finish was something to be proud of because only past Republican Party delegates were allowed to vote in the straw poll.

Like it or not, this campaign is gathering momentum. I don't agree with Congressman Paul on every issue, but you'd have to be a cold, dead person to listen to the message and not get it.

|9.4.07 @ 9:05AM|#

JohnD,

It's a reference to Hewitt's book A Mormon in the White House?, but someone who didn't even listen to the interview before commenting shouldn't be expected to know that, I guess.

|9.4.07 @ 9:11AM|#

A Libertarian in the White House?

It ain't gonna happen, people. Dream on.

It's too early in the morning to start the drinking game.

|9.4.07 @ 9:20AM|#

Where's Dondero to harp on how Ron Paul had Bush campaign for him in 2004? Huh?

|9.4.07 @ 9:29AM|#

What's more important? Supporting what's right? Or supporting your party?

Rich Paul|9.4.07 @ 9:32AM|#

He didn't say that Bush didn't campaign for him, he said he didn't campaign for (or support) Bush.

I would say that it's way too soon to say that a pro-freedom candidate cannot win an election in America. If that was my belief, I would already be in a state of armed revolt. Better to die free, then to live as a slave. Will Ron Paul win this election? I don't know. Ironically, much will hinge in whether people come to believe that Ron Paul can win this election. I believe that if people come to believe that Ron Paul can win this election, then Ron Paul can win this election. Is that enough to bake your noodle?

For some reason, people seem to think that they get points for "backing a winner" in an election. They want to be on the winning team. The most important thing that people can do to advance freedom in America is to remind people that if you vote for what you do not want, and you get it, you have not "won" anything.

chad|9.4.07 @ 9:36AM|#

Ron is totally the "Dave Wottle" of the 2008 race.

Watch this video and become inspired.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1967542557533346919&q=%22dave+wottle%22&total=4&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0

KipEsquire|9.4.07 @ 9:50AM|#

Ron Paul is not a libertarian.

If you need proof, just look at his website, where the word appears not once (not even lowercase), and his bio page makes no mention of his 1988 big-L Libertarian presidential candidacy.

dhex|9.4.07 @ 10:03AM|#

and yet he's still 3x better than everyone else on the important stuff.

what a fucked up world we live in.

The Extispicator|9.4.07 @ 10:13AM|#

Ron Paul is not a homo sapiens, either. I checked his whole website and the term is never mentioned.

Duckman|9.4.07 @ 10:36AM|#

Ron Paul knows he has to get Republicans to vote for him, so mentioning other past party affiliations isn't a good idea when trying to woo 'party line' Republicans. Libertarians already know who he is.

That being said, I agree that Ron Paul is NOT a true (100%) libertarian. I think he is a paleoconservative/libertarian, which is why he is in favor of tougher measures against illegal immigration (which is a major fault line between purist libertarians and conservatives). But he's much, much, much closer to the ideal libertarian candidate that anyone else running in a major party.

x,y|9.4.07 @ 10:44AM|#

Ron Paul doesn't have two legs. I know because it doesn't say he has two legs on his website.

Eric Dondero|9.4.07 @ 11:22AM|#

The Author of this article simply has his facts wrong.

I witnessed Ron Paul endorsing George W. Bush for President twice in 2000.

Once was at a well-attended (packed even) fundraiser in Corpus Christi sponsored by the local Republican Party, for Bush for President. Ron Paul introduced Bush and said words to the effect, "he'd make a great President."

Ditto for a Wharton County GOP Rally/Dinner for Bush that same year. Ron Paul introduced Bush again, and had the same sort of compliments for the Governor and good words for his campaign for President.

One could easily confirm these events with local GOPers.

The Corpus even was held at the home of a wealthy older lady - big GOP backer. I remember that our host for Ron was the local GOP Congressional candidate at the time. He ran for that same seat many years and is a top local Republican activist. So, he could easily be tracked down. (Sorry, his name slips me at the moment).

Practically any Republican who has been around for a few years in the Counties West of Houston could confirm the Wharton event. Start with Michael Franks - well-known Wharton/Katy GOP activist.

If Ron Paul did not endorse Bush in 2000 (I do believe the Author is correct about 2004 - Paul did stay out of the Presidential race that year), it would be huge news to GOP primary voters in TX CD-14.

Ron Paul faces two tough opponents in the primary for his seat. It would be rather interesting if the fact that Ron Paul did not endorse Bush in 2000 surfaced in the primary campaign. I dare say it would not be favorable for Paul among diehard GOP primary voters.

Eric Dondero, Fmr. Senior Aide
US Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX)
1997-2003

1996 Ron Paul for Congress Campaign Cdtr.

1992 Ron Paul for President Coordinator

1987/88 Ron Paul, Libertarian for President Travel Aide/Advance Man

|9.4.07 @ 11:22AM|#

Ron Paul is not actually named Ron Paul, because there is no mention...

Oh, wait...

|9.4.07 @ 11:22AM|#

how can he "not recall" if he supported bob dole for president?? i like paul but that's a little weird. it wasn't that long ago and i can understand not remembering every little senater/congressman you voted for over the years but i think one would remember who they voted for in most every presidential election (not remembering who the v/p would have been if they didn't win is a more understandable memory lapse for instance).

Eric Dondero|9.4.07 @ 11:27AM|#

Randolph,

Bush did not campaign for Ron Paul in 2004.

Actually, the year was 1996. And Bush did not appear for Ron Paul in the District. Rather the Governor (through Karl Rove) sent other prominent Republicans in the State down to District 14 to campaign and fundraise for Paul one after another.

They included:

Carol Keeton-Rylander, Kay Hutchison, Henry Bonilla, Dick Armey and Tom DeLay.

This very easily confirmed information. Even Paul himself would confirm these facts.

|9.4.07 @ 11:33AM|#

Sorry if this has already been mentioned, I missed a couple days.

Just west of Orlando, a Paul supporter cleverly got a bit of coverage for the Paul campaing. His town has an ordinance that states anyone who puts a political sign in their yard has to pay a $50 fee.

He sued the city, and called local news stations. A couple of them did stories about it, showing him picking up his Ron Paul '08 sign off his yard. The irony was, he got a lot more people to see the sign than if he'd been allowed to put the sign there to begin with.

Eric Dondero|9.4.07 @ 11:35AM|#

What's most amazing is that no enterprising reporter has dug deep into Ron Paul's past. Trust me, there's a lot to uncover.

Certainly his inconsistency demonstrated in these remarks with Hewitt about his non-support for GOP Presidential candidates from 1996 - 2004. GOP voters in Ron Paul's District will be real interested to know that he "doesn't recall" backing GOP Presidential candidates in those years.

But here's another one, that I'm amazed nobody has looked into.

Ron Paul has had some very inconsistent stances and statements over the years on the issue of Term Limits. During the 1996 race for Congress, Paul asserted many times that he was in favor of Term Limits, at debates, in newspaper interviews and such.

Than one day, USTL faxed a Pledge to our Campaign HQs for Ron to sign of an 8-year limit. Paul balked.

I remember that day. I even remember the moment the fax came through, when I brought it to Ron to sign. (Michael Quin Sullivan, then Press Secretary for the Campaign, now ED at the Texas Public Policy Found. can confirm everything I say here).

Ron squirmed, and deflected. He did everything to get out of signing the pledge.

I finally said to him in very strong terms, "Boss, they want an answer right away." He told me to make up some story like he was out of town or unreachable campaigning in the District or something. I did.

After a while the Term Limits people stopped calling.

Needless to say Paul Jacob, Pres. of Term Limits was very, very dissapointed. After all, Paul Jacob and Ron Paul were somewhat close and had worked together on numerous projects including Term Limits in the years proceeding that incident.

Eric Dondero|9.4.07 @ 11:38AM|#

Addendum:

You all must understand that back in 1996 Term Limits was a super hot topic.

In fact, one of our main GOP Primary opponents - Jim Deets of Blanco, was a diehard Term Limits supporter. In fact, this was Deets' Number One issue.

Deets almost kicked our asses in the primary. Ron had to undercut him somehow. And so he took a hard line on Term Limits.

This makes it all the more interesting that he utlimately did not sign the Term Limits pledge by USTL for the general election.

If I recall, our Dem opponent Lefty Morris took no stance on the issue, so it made it easier for Ron Paul to back away from his previous stance.

LibertyPlease|9.4.07 @ 11:47AM|#

"..You might not have been paying attention"

I was in Ft. Worth too for the Straw Poll and Paul's reception the night before. Was great to see such a huge amount of support for him, and his message was refreshing.

|9.4.07 @ 11:56AM|#

Dondeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrroooooooooooooooooooooooooo

|9.4.07 @ 12:17PM|#

DONDEROOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

I'd like to point out that I don't know how much of what you say is fact, because you have a history of being full of shit (how many languages do you speak again?).

You may be telling the truth about Paul and term limits, for example, but your claim is unverifiable and comes from an unreliable source.

So, in short, meh.

DONDEROOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

|9.4.07 @ 12:45PM|#

Hey Dondero,
I pretty much speak for the rest of the libertarians I have talked to when I tell you to go to Hell you sleazy troll.
You are going to loose your bid to unseat Dr. Paul, and there will be literally tens of thousands of people cheering when it happens.
Have a nice day.

love it|9.4.07 @ 12:46PM|#

I

|9.4.07 @ 12:47PM|#

Weigel,

Please tell me you did more fact checking before you updated your post than reading a DONDEROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO comment.

Eric Dondero|9.4.07 @ 12:50PM|#

Fuck you Boone-head. How in the fuck do you know my language skills?

I had a book in 2004 that sold over 10,000 copies, called Worldwide Multilingual Phrase Book: Survival Skills for over 40 languages. It was a bestseller at one point in one of the top book selling chains.

I've done over 100 radio interviews nationwide on my book, including the distinguished Dr. Barry Farber, another Multilinguist who speaks 16 languages. Farber endorsed my book. He quizzed me on-air in front of his vast NYC audience, and then pronounced me as one of the
most multilingual individuals he had ever met.

Oh, and incidentally, my book was also endorsed by Charles Heinlee, President of the Pimsleur Foundation.

How many languages do I speak? I honestly cannot tell you. On a good day 20 or so.

I can tell you this, as a fact. I am fluent in 5. I claim full fluency in 5 languages: English, Spanish, Italian, French and Portuguese.

Advanced in German.

I can also tell you I'm mid-level in Chinese, Japanese, and Filipino.

Why is the number of languages sort of up-in-the-air?

Simple. Cause I also speak Catalan. Almost fluently in fact. Now some linguists will tell you that Catalan is just a dialect of Euro-Spanish. But the Catalonians will argue strenously that it is an entirely separate language.

I don't take sides. Thus, I frequently makes statements like "I speak 15 to 20 languages."

But then again, your pea-sized monolinguist brain probably couldn't catch on to such a concept, so why am I wasting my time?

Eric Dondero|9.4.07 @ 12:54PM|#

MattB, I am no longer running for Ron Paul's Congressional seat. I have enthusiastically endorsed Chris Peden.

And Chris will win. May take a run-off. But he will beat Ron Paul.

Texas CD 14 voters are mighty pissed off at Ron Paul right now.

Just ask Ivonne Dewey, local GOP County Chair for our County of Brazoria, where Ron Paul and I live (Lake Jackson, Freeport, Angleton, Pearland).

Ivonnes who is a lifelong friend of the Pauls, was recently quoted in a major paper as saying that she's been hearing "major complaints" from local Republicans about Ron Paul's foreign policy views, and went on to chastise Paul as basically unRepublican.

We see Paul raising millions of dollars for his Presidential race. Don't be fooled. He needs that money to win back his Congressional seat. It's all a shell game.

Eric Dondero|9.4.07 @ 12:57PM|#

Jake Bonehead,

I gave you numerous sources to verify my story on term limits with. Don't take my word for it. Go to those sources.

Here's another one: Jim Deets of Blanco, TX.

And another one: Paul Jacob of US Term Limits.

And another one: Michael Quinn Sullivan of the TX Public Policy Found.

Ask away. My guess though, is that since the liberal and libertarian media wish only to give Ron Paul the Republican/Bush-basher a free ride, you won't see any reporters following up on this information.

|9.4.07 @ 12:58PM|#

Props to Eric for his multi-lingual status.

And his success as an author.

I did notice this review of his book on Amazon...

Awful Book, Author Tooting His Own Horn, May 9, 2005

I grew up speaking Korean and English, and am majoring in Spanish and Communications in College with 4 years of French underneath my belt. I also speak fairly fluent Portuguese. My father's side of the family was born in Japan, so I've got some of that going too.
With this many languages, it was inevitable that a language lover like me would become interested in a book such as this.
Simply put, this book is awful. The pronunciation guides are a joke (A Romanian would laugh at the poor gringo who, following Dondero's suggestion, might ask "Shineh este" as opposed to the correct "chineh este" (ch = English "ch")
Korean: The number "2" is sounds more like "tdool." As difficult as that might look, any way you try to pronounce that is better than his suggestion of "duur." I feel sorry for the chap that goes to Korea and asks retardedly for "duur beers." (duur duur!)

A complete waste of money. If I met Dondero on the street, I'd ask for a refund. It's highly unlikely that you're really going to go to 40 countries. Even if you were to visit several countries on one continent, there are several books that cover languages found on a continent, as opposed to this sad attempt to show off his "duur duur" skills.

|9.4.07 @ 1:00PM|#

Dondero said:
"I claim full fluency in 5 languages: English..."

Can't say I'd noticed.

|9.4.07 @ 1:18PM|#

It's nice to see that Dondero has actually been annoying people for many years.

http://www.ncc-1776.org/tle2004/tle275-20040613-04.html

|9.4.07 @ 1:30PM|#

Filipino? You mean Tagalog?

Is 10,000 copies really a "best-seller" in any meaningful sense of the word?

x,y|9.4.07 @ 1:35PM|#

I dare say it would not be favorable for Paul among diehard GOP primary voters.

Whooptiee friggin' doo. I'd consider it a plus if the religious (Christians only!), war-mongering wing of the GOP didn't support Paul.

What's most amazing is that no enterprising reporter has dug deep into Ron Paul's past. Trust me, there's a lot to uncover.

Until you provide specifics, I'll take this for what it's worth: Nothing.

Fuck you Boone-head. How in the fuck do you know my language skills?

I see now why you dropped out of the primary race. Perhaps Chris Peden's camp will be happy to know you eagerly support him while in almost the same breath you wrote the above.

Congrats Dondero, you've out-trolled Dan T.

x,y|9.4.07 @ 1:39PM|#

Oh, and Weigel, you corrected your post because Dondero said something? Did you notice he didn't provide any verifiable evidence to back up his claim? I'm not saying it's not true ... I don't know. But you shouldn't just take his word for it. I expect that from many media outlets. Reason is not one of them.

|9.4.07 @ 1:41PM|#

Texas CD 14 voters are mighty pissed off at Ron Paul right now.

I actually met some Brazoria voters last week on vacation. They were on vacation too, and we stumbled upon each other at a rest stop. They weren't hippy libertarians, or raving conspiracists, but ordinary folks in an ordinary RV. They love Ron Paul because he is a real human being and not a plastic shell politician. They said that he's is very popular in his district because he spends so much time working in the district.

p.s. Regarding term limits: Ron Paul may not like the rules of the game, but they are the rules he has to play by. If no one else is operating under voluntary term limits, why should he?

Jennifer|9.4.07 @ 2:03PM|#

My guess though, is that since the liberal and libertarian media wish only to give Ron Paul the Republican/Bush-basher a free ride, you won't see any reporters following up on this information.

As a reporter who likes her current job very much but wouldn't mind upgrading to something better if the right opportunity presented itself, PLEASE give me the names of these media outlets where reporters are expected, nay encouraged, to distort or ignore the truth in order to promote THE LIBERTARIAN AGENDA.

My boss tolerates the fact that I'm a libertarian, but he doesn't like it. And he sure as hell won't let me keep facts out of my stories to better promote THE LIBERTARIAN AGENDA.

It's not that I mind putting in an honest day's work but I figure a dishonest day's work would be much easier, especially if it can promote THE LIBERTARIAN AGENDA and I could maybe legally get stoned after work. Also, right now I'm researching a story that is an enormous time-consuming pain in the ass, and would love it if my boss walked in and said "Forget about it. Don't follow up on the information because we're all about giving folks a free ride, here." (Anyone who tells you journalists live to scoop the competition is wrong. It's all about freeridery.)

Is CNN part of this libertarian media? MSNBC? Time? Newsweek? The Nation? Who?

Please don't say "Us" and "People," though. I'd rather be a socialist.

Also: is the libertarian media a subsidiary of the Zionist-controlled media? I don't want the job if I can't eat bacon sandwiches at work. Bacon plays a vital role in my own personal LIBERTARIAN AGENDA.

|9.4.07 @ 2:43PM|#

So the issue at hand is whether Ron Paul supported George Bush when he campaigned in 2000 for smaller government and a humble foreign policy, but did not support him in 2004 after he had invaded iraq, trampled civil liberties, and run up massive deficits?

"There's an old saying in Tennessee -- I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee -- that says, fool me once, shame on -- shame on you. Fool me -- you can't get fooled again."

Eric Dondero|9.4.07 @ 2:49PM|#

Hah! You neglected to quote from the other 20 or so comments on the Amazon book review which liked the book. I think the last time I checked that Amazon comments section the book was rated 4 Stars out of 5.

Eric Dondero|9.4.07 @ 2:51PM|#

Jennifer, the liberal media is currently aligned with the Anti-War wing of the libertarian movement. They share a common agenda.

Witness Ron Paul constantly bashing Bush and Bush's foreign policy.

So long as he continues to do so, he gets a free pass from the media, with the exception of some conservative media like Hewitt and maybe National Review, who would be more motivated to call him to task.

Eric Dondero|9.4.07 @ 2:56PM|#

x,y

Please, please, please verify this story. There are shitloads of Corpus Christi area Republicans who were at that fundraiser. Believe me, they were packed into that poor lady's home on the beach like sardines, to hear Gov. Bush, and Cong. Ron Paul introduce him.

Plus, there are scores of Wharton County GOPers who could verify the Lincoln Day Dinner I believe in 2000, may have been 1999 where Ron introduced the Governor and endorsed him.

You know what? Someone please just ask Ron Paul himself. I'm sure he remembers these events, especially the Corpus Christi function.

Ask Ron Paul, did you or did you not publicly endorse Bush for President during your intro for the Governor at the 2000 fundraiser in Corpus in front of hundreds of Republicans?

Eric Dondero|9.4.07 @ 2:59PM|#

No Fabro, I mean Filipino, not Tagalog. There's a difference. A very slight difference indeed. But a diffence. Filipino is more expansive and includes more English and Spanish-based words.

BTW, I'm staring at a phrase book right now as a matter of fact, from Lonely Planet titled "Pilipino."

Eric Dondero|9.4.07 @ 3:05PM|#

I must say with all honesty that I'm thankful for David Weisgell correcting his article here.

Again, I fully stand by my statements. I would very much look forward to any reporter asking Ron Paul straight out:

Congressman Paul, you told Hugh Hewitt in a recent interview that you did not endorse George W. Bush for President in 2000. Your former Senior Aide disputes this, and points to at least two public occasions, Republican events in Corpus Christi and Wharton with then Gov. Bush, where you endorsed him for President.

Do you dispute the claims made by your former Senior Aide?

BTW, if anyone here, especially reporters, would like further details and info on these events, and further names of people who could back my story up on this, please feel free to call me direct on my cell phone at 832-896-9505.

I will be available all day today.

Jennifer|9.4.07 @ 3:31PM|#

Jennifer, the liberal media is currently aligned with the Anti-War wing of the libertarian movement. They share a common agenda. Witness Ron Paul constantly bashing Bush and Bush's foreign policy. So long as he continues to do so, he gets a free pass from the media

Would this be the same media conspiracy that all but ignored Ron Paul until a month or so ago, or is this a different media conspiracy?

|9.4.07 @ 3:43PM|#

Eric: Grab one of your numerous dictionaries, verify that it is of the English variety, then look up the word "endorse". There are a few definitions, but the
one most relevant says to approve publicly in a definitive manner. Saying in a private fundraiser that "he'd make a great President", doesn't necessarily count as definitive public approval.

|9.4.07 @ 3:48PM|#

Would this be the same media conspiracy that all but ignored Ron Paul until a month or so ago, or is this a different media conspiracy?

I hate to break the news to you Jennifer, but the mainstream media is STILL ignoring his candidacy. I don't know what Paul-promoting media the former staffer is referring to, but it doesn't seem to exist in reality I inhabit.

|9.4.07 @ 4:11PM|#

DONNNNNNNNNNDDDDDDDDDDDDDDEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

dhex|9.4.07 @ 4:24PM|#

don don don don der oh
don der ohhhh
ohhh donderoo
don der ohhhh
whoa ohhh ohhhhhh

rockin' and a rollin'
rockin' and a reelin'
dondero

(don don don don der oh)

How in the fuck do you know my language skills?

from now on you will be forced to podcast all of your postings so we can sample you for hot rap jams.

|9.4.07 @ 4:25PM|#

Every time I see a Dondero post, I chuckle because it's always insulting somebody or making accusations.

It's impossible to take seriously because it's so consistent and frequent.

|9.4.07 @ 4:29PM|#

...the Anti-War wing of the libertarian movement.

Oh, you mean actual libertarians?

Amazing how the Mesopotamian adventure sorted out the collectivist tribalists who want to take drugs and go to hookers from the people who are actually in favor indvidual liberty.

Any number of libertarians and libertarian leaners have had occasion to repent having leaned toward W in double-ought on account of his seductive talk about a "humble foreign policy" and a government that stayed out of our personal business.

|9.4.07 @ 4:39PM|#

Dondero comes here to rage, rage against the dying of the light.

I hope he sounds as pompous and assholish to the people he tries to recruit in real life, because anything that hurts Guliani's chances is gratifying. The funny thing is, I am less disinclined towards Guliani, but my hatred and loathing is restored by the great Dondero, speaker of many languages, author of many book, one of the great yes men of our age, truly a masterful servile gnome like man. His Ahab like determination to try and convince everyone that Guliani is our savior and Paul is evil incarnate reminds me of how fanatical some people can be. I'd love to watch his head explode if Guliani was elected only to end the war like NIxon did. Dondero is a true believer and like them, he will suffer a crushing demoralization when he finds a fatal flaw in Guliani's character. Until that time, his continual diatribe against Paul is both humorous and pointless, a wasted verbal assault against libertarians who have already made up their minds. But it also serves to alienate them later on when Guliani has to face the real competition of Huckabee and Romney, who might garner support later for the simple reason that they're not supported by Dondero. I'm not saying Reason votes would change whatever outcome there would be, but Dondero continues to undermine his case and fawn over an average politician.

Timothy|9.4.07 @ 4:43PM|#

DONDEROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

DUUR BRAINS! BRAINS DUUR!

DONDEROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

|9.4.07 @ 5:02PM|#

Eric,

I think you're missing something important here in all of your public discussion of Ron Paul, which I'd like to point out for you: Nobody cares.

Ron Paul is the best candidate for office and has the best positions almost all issues. He understands the economy better than any other candidate, foreign policy, healthcare, all of it. Is he perfect? No. He's certainly not the perfect candidate, but my God he sure is pretty damn close. Has he made mistakes and has his opinion shifted over times as have the opinions of all of us? Of course.

Ultimately, none of this petty discussion of Paul's history will change the way any of his supporters feel about him. People care about which candidate has the best positions and has demostrated those positions. We don't care about all this other petty crap.

Please take this to heart.

Jennifer|9.4.07 @ 6:17PM|#

Eric, knowing how to say "give me a beer" and "I'll pay double if you don't make me wear a condom" may be all YOU need for your foreign travels, but it doesn't count as actual fluency in a language.

Tristian Spier|9.4.07 @ 6:43PM|#

Eric Dondero is a disgruntled former staffer. I also have it on good sources that he's also being paid off to run against Ron Paul and spread crap.

http://www.lastfreevoice.com/2007/05/22/ron-paul-on-eric-dondero/

|9.4.07 @ 7:05PM|#

Fuck you Boone-head. How in the fuck do you know my language skills?

Well, we know now, Dondero. Thanks for clarifying!

Someone Who Doesn\'t Want to L|9.4.07 @ 7:17PM|#

Amazing how the Mesopotamian adventure sorted out the collectivist tribalists who want to take drugs and go to hookers from the people who are actually in favor indvidual liberty.

If I say I want the Iraq war to continue, you'll get me stoned and give me a hooker? Where do I sign up?

(I don't have to actually go to Iraq, do I?)

|9.4.07 @ 7:32PM|#

OMG, did Ron Paul actually *lie* about an embarrassing period of his life? Did he actually say he didn't endorse Bush in 2000 when in fact he did? Oh, I am so disillusioned! I don't think I can ever trust a politician again. Better for me to support a better politician, someone with an absolutely impeccable record of honesty.

Consider Giuliani. We know he's honest and into family values. Or Romney. We know that he always says exactly what he thinks . . . will get him elected.

Oh, I know! I'll support Hillary Clinton. Her name just *screams* integrity!

|9.4.07 @ 8:07PM|#

I'm not sure what putting Ron Paul in the White House has to do with putting a Libertarian in the White House. Years, ago Ron was relatively libertarian but he's only drifted further and further away into some sort of Right-wing loonyland where he attacks immigrants and invents secret conspiracies by bankers to build highways. Bonkers stuff that is humiliating to real libertarians.

The unfortunate thing about Dondero is he makes Ron Paul look good.

|9.4.07 @ 8:41PM|#

Wow, what a sad life you lead Dondero. You spend all your time combing articles and message boards just to get revenge on Ron Paul for being fired. Your rantings and ravings remind me of my two year old throwing a hissy fit because he didn't get his way. Now go sit in time out and think about how pathetic your life is.

|9.4.07 @ 8:42PM|#

Leave Dondero's linquistic skills alone. It only distracts from his other qualities. Besides, you can't spell repugnant polyglot douchebag without D-O-N-D-E-R-O. And it works even without polyglot.

Iconoclast421|9.4.07 @ 9:10PM|#

I dont see what the point is in obsessing over whether Ron Paul supported or endoresed Bush or Dole or my pet monkey. Bush as president bears no resemblance to Bush as a candidate. Nor would Giuliani, nor would Romney. (Who knows what the heck a Romney presidency would mean, I doubt even Romney knows.) Hell, even I supported Bush (somewhat) back in 2000. That's how thick the lies were. I knew he would be bad though, because of this little thing we call 'history'. His daddy was bad news, his grandfather was bad news, and it only made sense to assume he would be too.

|9.4.07 @ 10:48PM|#

Not only that Mo, but Dondero is actually a Catalan word for "riddled with errors." Just ask the people who reviewed his book that weren't paid shills or who didn't have their reviews erased by Amazon.

miche|9.4.07 @ 10:56PM|#

...invents secret conspiracies by bankers to build highways.

The Trans Texas Corridor is no longer secret and many of us in TX are very concerned about it and the way it was fast tracked.

|9.5.07 @ 12:51AM|#

The Trans Texas Corridor is no longer secret and many of us in TX are very concerned about it and the way it was fast tracked.

But it's not a conspiracy by bankers. http://www.thenation.com/doc/20070827/hayes

Fortunately, Ron Paul isn't a conspiracist. Unfortunately, he won't tell his conspiracist supporters to eff-off and go away.

|9.5.07 @ 1:19AM|#

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
Needs work, January 6, 2003
By Maria (UK) - See all my reviews
I purchased this book before traveling in Europe and found the most amusing thing was to get the locals to correct the mistakes in it! Out of the German, Italian, Spanish and French sections only the Spanish seemed correct!
There are spelling mistakes and grammatical errors, sometimes the wrong word (similar to the correct word) is used and the Italian section has Spanish mixed into it. Although I did not need them there seem very few words for some of the Asian languages. Dondero needs to get this proofed by native speakers. You will be mostly understood but do as I say and get a friendly local to correct their section. Your book will come away from your trip as changed as you are!
Good on Dondero for trying, it's a fabulous concept that seems to have simply been rushed to the publisher too soon.
Maria

...


13 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
Jack of all trades, master of none., August 9, 2004
By CJ (East Asia) - See all my reviews
Mr Dondero certainly likes to blow his own trumpet, describing himself as a multilingual language professional who sports a command of 20 languages! In his editorial review (which might undergo a hasty edit after Eric reads this!), Mr Dondero writes:

"I started off writing this book for myself. I needed a quick reference guide for all the languages that I spoke."

If he speaks all the 20 or so languages he boasts about so openly, so well, then why would he need a phrase book to remind himself of them? That, coupled with the extensive errors in the book, points to the fact that Eric is a mere dabbler in most of these languages, and not the multilingual genius he would like to have us believe! His Spanish seems to be OK, though, due more to an accident of birth I imagine, rather than to any real expertise in learning languages! With all those errors in the book, just imagine how flawed most of these languages he speaks must be!

A quick visit to Dondero's website, and it soon becomes clear that Eric's professional interest in language is more geared towards Mickey Mouse "communuication" language learning, rather than serious language study, his new offering being "Vacation Spanish". I don't intend to buy it, but I'll hazard a guess at more set phrases, rather than a solid book on language learning. More dabbling, less studying, eh Eric? It's Spanish, so who knows, maybe Eric will have gotten all the words and phrases right this time...or maybe not. If the quality of the "Worldwide multilingual phrasebook" is the best he can come up with, I feel very strongly that he should not be writing books that readers have to rely on, believeing that they are solid and correct educational materials, and pay good money for! Finally, I know it seems like a minor point, but I really hate the book's cover! The design looks so old and boring! Still, I'll give the cover atrist the benefit of the doubt and judge the book by its content, and not by its cover! Er...maybe I should stick with the cover after all!

...


8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
Poor execution of great idea., April 24, 2004
By golshani "golshani" (Greenbelt, MD) - See all my reviews
This book is fun and interesting... for a few minutes. But with a good editor, consultation of actual language speakers, and a professional formatting, it would really be a useful book. It definitely has its problems as is though. There is lots of filler, things to read once that probably won't help you at all and may be down right incorrect. For some languages words are written phonetically, for others, in their native orthography - this can be very confusing especially when few pronunciation hints are given.

The "cultural notes" given at the beginnings of sections are sometimes ill informed and author from time to time states his own opinions as important facts about the languages.

For the languages I am familiar with, here is what I can offer:
-Spanish is handled well - you could definitely have a conversation with what you have here.
-Arabic - a number of mistakes and very inconsistent transcription of pronunciation. Random apostrophes appear here and there (to give an authentic feel?) and it is hard to get over the fact that the first phrase given - "massa' ikheir" is not "good morning" as the author writes, but actually "good night" - this from someone who claims to speak Arabic?
-The Arabic is fantastic when compared to the Persian - this is abysmal. It is hard to believe that almost every word/phrase is flat out wrong - many places seemingly only due to typographical errors - how embarrassing!
-Problems in the Tibetan as well - I mean why include languages just for fun if the info is wrong?

And these are just the language I am familiar with, I would hate to see impressions of the other languages by people who actually speak them.

Unfortunately as well, the vocabulary from language to language is inconsistent. With a little research, the author could have chosen the most useful phrases and words and put these for all languages. It seems though, he rather picked what he could find on the internet and threw it together.

Once again, a neat little book you may browse through while in the bathroom, but worth $12? Maybe not.

Jeff|9.5.07 @ 7:19AM|#

"I am no longer running for Ron Paul's Congressional seat."

This Dondero guy sounds like a real horse's a$$. I suspect he stopped running when he realized that voters are generally turned off by frauds and pompous jerks.

His own mother probably wouldn't vote for him, lol.

Eric Dondero|9.5.07 @ 8:24AM|#

I can't believe I have to debate my book, which came out 4 years ago, on a political forum. But fine.

Some reviews:

"Get started on your language learning journey with basic phrases for over 40 languages! 4 Hearts" - Heartland Reviews

"Front Page Picks" - Small Press Reviews

"Just the thing for the world traveler" - JustSayGo.com

"A conventional alternative to traditional phrase books" - EuropeforVistors.com

"Dondero's Worldwide Multilingual Phrase Book... don't leave home without it." - Charles Heinle, Pres. Pimsleur International

"A useful companion for backpackers" -- The Detroit News

"Helps get the traveler food, shelter and almost anything around the world" -- Houston Chronicle

"I put it to the test on my recent trip to China... I recommend you go out and buy it" -- Carie Segal, ABC News Travel Show

Some radio shows I was a guest on:

KGO's Travel Show, San Francisco, KGB's Travel Show, San Diego, WOR and WBAB NYC.

Eric Dondero|9.5.07 @ 8:28AM|#

And note the "mistakes" that are mentioned in one of the Amazon reviews above are simply "Americanization" pronounciation guides and spellings of words meant to assist Americans with pronouncing the words.

Pretty damn stupid for the "reviewer" not to notice that. Tells me that "Maria" didn't take the time to read the intro to the book which explicitly states that.

Eric Dondero|9.5.07 @ 8:32AM|#

Hey prolefeed,

I choose to speak "American US Navy Sailor English." And that includes a variety of colorful cuss words. Being a former Navy guy, this is what is most comfortable to me. Sorry if it offends your virginal ears.

Perhaps I should switch over to Cowardly non-Military Serving Pussy-male Sissy-Boy English? Bet you'd comprehend that style much better, 'eh?

|9.5.07 @ 8:52AM|#

Earlier in the thread, I made the claim that Eric Dondero (excuse me, DONDEROOOOOOOOOOOO!!!) is an unreliable source of information. Looking over all that has transpired since that comment, it is clear that there's really only one thing left for me to say on the matter:

Q.E.D.

|9.5.07 @ 11:12AM|#

RP is a lot cooler than any of your lame candidates.

Awik Dunderoooo|9.5.07 @ 4:05PM|#

FLUENCY IN ALL THE MADE UP LANGUAGES IN MY HEAD. SOME OF THEM LOOK LIKE SOME MINOR VARIATION TO AMERICAN ENGLISH.

"LIBERTARIAN" IN MY LANGUAGE = PIECE OF SHIT AUTHORITARIAN ASSHOLE FUCKTARD WHO IS A LITTLE WHINING PUSSY AND LIKES TO GET BIATSCH SLAPPED ON HIT AND RUN

"FLUENCY" = WHAAAAA! WHAAAAA! moooooooooom!!! THE KIDS ARE BEING MEAN WHEN I MAKE SHIT UP.

Face it Dunderoo - you are to the world what last Saturday is to the Univ of Michigan.

So there.

PTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF.

|9.11.07 @ 4:17PM|#

Mr. Dondero,

Do you still assert that Gene Simmons's "Sex, Money, Kiss" is "Simply the best business book ever written."?

Very interesting considering Chaim Witz (aka Gene Simmons) comment while looking under the hood of his Lincoln SUV, Gene admits his ignorance of automobiles, by commenting - 'that's what we have Gentiles for.'

Seems like a little ticking time bomb waiting to go of in your candidacy, huh?

|9.11.07 @ 4:31PM|#

Eric Dondero is an disgruntled ex-employee of Ron Paul who acts very much like a jilted psycho ex-girlfriend. So take what he claims with a grain of salt. In fact, you should probably always assume he's lying about Ron Paul unless it can be verified by some third party source.