Ron Paul: "They're determined to have martial law"

Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas), the most reliably libertarian member of Congress, went on the Alex Jones radio show last week. Some of his quotes, according to the show's website:

"If we don't change our ways we will go the way of Rome and I see that as rather sad…..the worst things happen when you get the so-called Republican conservatives in charge from Nixon on down, big government flourishes under Republicans."

"It's really hard to believe it's happening right in front of us. Whether it's the torture or the process of denying habeas corpus to an American citizen." […]

Paul responded to President Bush's announcement last week that he would order the use of military assets to police America in the event of an avian flu outbreak.

"To me it's so strange that the President can make these proposals and it's even plausible. When he talks about martial law dealing with some epidemic that might come later on and having forced quarantines, doing away with Posse Comitatus in order to deal with natural disasters, and hardly anybody says anything. People must be scared to death."

Paul, himself a medical doctor, agreed that the bird flu threat was empty fearmongering.

"I believe it is the President hyping this and Rumsfeld, but it has to be in combination with the people being fearful enough that they will accept the man on the white horse."

Much more here.

Reason named Paul one of its "35 Heroes of Freedom" back in December 2003.