McTastic!

Fox News is calling New Hampshire for John McCain. Bill Kristol, very unconvincingly, is attributing both McCain's initial tailspin and his stirring comeback to "the war." (I don't think McCain's support for the war hurt him more than a percentage point or two, if that -- it's a GOP primary, fer chrissakes.)

Anyway, three cheers from here for an impressively volatile election thus far. Huckabee, with no money, comes out of nowhere to win in Iowa. McCain, left for dead, wins in New Hampshire. South Carolina is anyone's guess, Romney will end the evening with the most delegates, and Stupor Tuesday might yet work for the currently forgotten Rudy Giuliani. It's an unprecedentedly compressed election schedule, both parties are up for grabs, and nobody really knows what the hell is going on. Sounds like a win-win-win to me. I mean, minus the candidates.

Update: McCain's victory speech was among his most classic National Greatness/cause-greater blasts he's uncorked all campaign. Plenty of "I always told you the truth" palate-cleansers, leading to grandiloquent stuff about how he and his competitors have been working for a "cause greater than … self-interest," that that "greater cause has always been my country," that "America is our cause, yesterday, today and tomorrow," that "her greatness is our hope," that "her goodness" is the "hope of mankind," that "serving only oneself" is "petty," that sacrifice is "sublime," and on, and on, and on. Get used to it. And don't say you weren't warned.

There was also much more limited-government rhetoric than usual, so hoo-ray for that.

Best lines: "We will never surrender; they will!" And: "We are the makers of history, not it's victims!" Why, it's almost as if we're the underdog!

Update II: Here's a 10-minute podcast about McCain I recorded earlier today with Cato's Caleb Brown.

Comments

[Derek]

... And it looks like Paul will be lucky to break 10 percent in a state that was his best hope for a top three finish.

What a disappointment. This is getting depressing.

[NP]

Congrats to the McCain campaign. Man, can anyone predict how the whole Republican field is gonna turn out?

[Eric Dondero]

Hmmn, so far Rudy Giuliani is leading Ron Paul. Not by much. But he's ahead of Paul.

If he does come ahead of Paul there will be a lot of red faces at Reason.com, particularly here at H&R.

[Bingo]

Hey Dondero, who was the ghost writer?

[Brandybuck]

Punditing: Romney's finished if he can't win in a New England state. Thompson looks like he never bothered to campaign. McCain gets support from centrists, but most core Republicans don't like. If people get tired of 9/11 rants and don't pay attention to the TNR/FOX smearmongers, then Giuliani may have to lend his choirboy halo to Paul.

[charlie]

Yeah Dondero, can you shed some light?

I'm surprised you weren't here all day gloating about the TNR article... what gives?

[joe]

Give it up, Dondero. We want a name. We want a name!

[boston]

ive never seen HnR so pumped about seeing Dondero. This is a weird day indeed

[SIV]

The election season has been great so far. I hope it gets more "interesting" in a Chinese proverb sense.

Tonight I'm rooting for two things.....

Hilary to lose to Obama

Ron Paul beats Giuliani

[dbcooper]

Looks like HillBeast is making a comeback. ~ 4% lead over Obama with ~ 16% reporting.

[joe]

This is a very impressive comeback for McCain.

[Eric Dondero]

The ghost writer was 80% Lew Rockwell.

There were a few others like Gary North from time to time. And even some super RP insiders like Nadia Hayes, Jean McCiver and Marc Elam contributed, and also did some heavy editing out of the Nasa Blvd. 1 office in South Houston and Elam's office on Fuqua.

But I'd say 80% Rockwell.

When I say Rockwell, that also included his interns and helpers like Jeff Tucker, Mark Thornton, and such.

But I remember the faxes of the Newsletter drafts always came from Lew.

[Nutter]

Yeah, what's with Eric Dondero?

[Bingo]

Well, damn.

That is pretty damning.

[Otter]

Hmmm, so Dondero was around for some of this stuff and didn't make any objection? Sounds like complicity.

[Eric Dondero]

I'm sorry. I'm a little tied up in another completely different effort right now.

Steve Maloney of PA and I are raising funds to "Send Adam Brickley to Alaska." Adam is the young Republican from Colorado who started the Draft Sarah Palin for VP effort. Our groups just got in the NY Times, WAshington Post and tons of other media last week.

So, most of my time has been spent with that these past few days.

I literally read the TNR piece only an hour ago.

For info on Draft Palin for VP http://www.mainstreamlibertarian.com

[joe]

They do read sort of like Rockwell, don't they?

[dcpotts]

If he does come ahead of Paul there will be a lot of red faces at Reason.com, particularly here at H&R.

No there won't. Giuliani is still a neocon tool who's dead wrong on foreign policy and civil liberties. Ron Paul still trumps any other candidate in either party on those two issues regardless of how many dipshits try and make people believe Rudy leans libertarian.

"Freedom is about the willingness of every single human being to cede to lawful authority a great deal of discretion about what you do."
-Rudy Giuliani

[Bingo]

Okay Draft Palin isn't a bad idea...

[Joseph Smith]

Romney is so enthusiastic in conceding you'd think the Prophet just gave him a half dozen 14y/o wives.

[Bingo]

Actually I take that back, reading over Palin's Wikipedia entry she really doesn't sound that great... why do you want to draft her Dondero?

[Eric Dondero]

My first thoughts on the TNR article. Pretty tame.

Kirchik was very cautious in what he reported on. He only scratched the surface.

The Austin media explosed far more on Ron Paul in the 1996 campaign. As did the Texas Democrats.

Good article. Quite accurate and consistent with what I personally observed in my 12 years working for Ron Paul.

But not as in-depth as it could have been. A bit superficial.

[joe]

Romney's toast.

Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH) was the national chair of his campaign, and he still lost New Hampshire.

You don't name a New Hampshire politician head of your national campaign unless you make winning New Hampshire a central part of your strategy. And for Judd Gregg not to be able to deliver New Hampshire is devastating.

[Jonathan Hohensee]

I've been loving the Clusterfuck ballet that is this election season. Was it this exciting in past years? I don't remember.

[Eric Dondero]

Bingo, Sarah was endorsed by the Libertarian Party of Alaska the last 3 days of the 2006 election.

She attended 2 LP meetings in Anchorage. She is a friend of Alaska LP Chair Jason Dowell.

Sarah has long been regarded as from the "libertarian wing" og the Alaska GOP.

[Francisco Torres]

They do read sort of like Rockwell, don't they?

Actually, Joe, they don't - Dondero is either jesting, or guessing.

Have you read anything in LRC?

[Francisco Torres]

The Austin media explosed far more on Ron Paul in the 1996 campaign. As did the Texas Democrats.

... which did not put even a small dent on his campaign. People in the end were smarter than that, and saw the muckraking for what it was.

[Bingo]

joe: Bad news for the GOP establishment. National Review endorsed Romney but Huckabee wins Iowa and McCain wins NH. Rush has been pointing the finger at Thompson, but he's doing even worse than Paul.

[joe]

I have, Francisco.

I meant the writing style, not the positions he took. Those columns have a very distinct voice.

[joe]

The Austin media explosed far more on Ron Paul in the 1996 campaign. As did the Texas Democrats.

... which did not put even a small dent on his campaign.

Gotta love Texas. Yee-haw!

Those newsletters probably helped in a Republican primary in rural Texas.

[Nutter]

I guess if my projected Congressional campaign was a web-wide joke and the candidates I frothed over before the primaries were knee-deep in shit, I'd be looking for an excuse to spend time in Alaska.

[TLB]

Regarding the TNR piece, there's an interview with the author here:

youtube.com/watch?v=Whqtv9D9g-Y

Listen to the first part, the one where he puts a bright smiley face on various very powerful groups.

I'm not going to say the first word that popped into my head, just that he's a complete establishment suck-up, meaning that he fits right in with the Reason-style libertarians.

[joe]

Bingo, I'm not sure the GOP will have an establishment after this election. They're going to be like the Democrats, with a bunch of competing establishments.

[Jonathan Hohensee]

McCain is giving the speech with the same passion I give for my oral assignments.

[EZE]

some interesting results from CNN's exit polls:

36% of Republicans disapprove of Iraq War, but for some reason of this group, 44% voted for McCain. Paul came in second in this category with only 19%.

10% of Republicans in exit poll thought economy was poor, and amongst those Paul captured 34% to McCain's 30%.

10% of Republicans in exit poll reported not having a religion. Amongst those: 37% for McCain; 22 for Paul; and 20 for Romney.

Of 40% who reported favorable opinion of Paul, only 24% of those voted for Paul. 38% went for McCain and 20% for Romney.

Paul did best amongst respondents 18-24 (alas only 8% of respondents) - capturing 24% and losing only to McCain who had 28%. Worst performance was amongst those over 65 (15% of exit poll) for whom only 3% claimed to vote for Paul.

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/epolls/index.html#NHREP

[joe]

Jason Hohensee,

Whoa. TMI.

[Jonathan Hohensee]

Jason Hohensee,

Whoa. TMI.

My name is Jonathan. Do you know someone called Jason Hohensee? Because that's my brother's name.

[Eric Dondero]

Funny, Bingo disses the Great State of Wyoming.

MITT ROMNEY WON WYOMING ON SATUDAY, NOT ONLY WON, BUT CRUSHED HIS OPPONENTS 8 TO 2.

He is set to win Nevada next week.

[joe]

No, but I once knew a guy named Jason Woodmansee. That' probably where my brain fart came from.

Years later, he put up the "Stop Heath Shuler" website.

Point? Uhhhhhh...no. Not really.

[joe]

He is set to win Nevada next week.

Three days ago, he was set to win New Hampshire.

[Jonathan Hohensee]

You know what I'm pulling for? The Republican candidate being chosen on the floor of the convention like on The West Wing.

[Eric Dondero]

On Lew Rockwell, please note that Rockwell is explicitly identified as "Ron Paul's longtime ghost writer" in the 1988 post-Election November issue of American Libertarian. AL existed for 5 years. It was edited by former LP News Editor Mike Holmes of Houston.

The phrase appears on page 2, in a front page article about Nadia Hayes and the Embezzlement scandal that engulfed Ron Paul and the Libertarian Presidential campaign the last few weeks of Election '88.

Hayes eventually went to jail for 6 months and had to pay $150,000 in restitution.

[TrickyVic]

"Freedom is about the willingness of every single human being to cede to lawful authority a great deal of discretion about what you do."
-Rudy Giuliani

"Simply put, freedom is the absence of government coercion."
-Ron Paul

I like RP's definition better.

[Lost_In_Translation]

Damnit, I want my Pyrrhic victory. Beat Giuliani Paul!!!

[Franklin Harris]

Paul did best amongst respondents 18-24 (alas only 8% of respondents) - capturing 24% and losing only to McCain who had 28%. Worst performance was amongst those over 65 (15% of exit poll) for whom only 3% claimed to vote for Paul.

That's the silver lining. The key, once this presidential season is over, is to take Ron Paul's donor and volunteer lists and try to keep this group of young people together. This is a young, tech-savvy group that joined the Revolution for all the right reasons: anti-war, limited government, and, yes, sound money, which has really hit home with the dollar's recent slide. They don't share Ron Paul's perceived baggage.

[Anonymoose.]

I wonder if the Ron Paul movement can be re-focused to get state governors, congressmen, and senators of similar political beliefs elected.

[Jonathan Hohensee]

I wonder if the Ron Paul movement can be re-focused to get state governors, congressmen, and senators of similar political beliefs elected.
Nope!

[Eric Dondero]

The Ron Paul movement should be refocused towards DRAFT SARAH PALIN FOR VP!!

The sooner, the better.

The Alaska Libertarians are already on board.

[alan]

That's the silver lining. The key, once this presidential season is over, is to take Ron Paul's donor and volunteer lists and try to keep this group of young people together.

I agree. It is only the day of the '08 New Hampshire Primary, so it is not too early to think about the 2012 election season.

Do I hear a Justin Raimondo '12, anyone?

[NP]

You know, I wouldn't be surprised if Lew Rockwell had a hand(ful) in those newsletters, given the nonsense he's written over the years (including that pathetic response to the TNR piece that Matt Welch included in his earlier post). I know some of you guys just ignore Dondero as a comedian, but he sounds pretty credible here.

[Cesar]

Matt Welch-

Congratulations. I was totally wrong on calling McCain "irrelevant" a few months ago. Should be good for your book sales.

[Franklin Harris]

I was totally wrong on calling McCain "irrelevant" a few months ago. Should be good for your book sales.

McCain better get some money fast, then. The buzz I've heard is that he may resort to matching funds, which means he'd get creamed by the Democrats in November. But that's probably a good thing.

[John]

The whole cult of personality that has arisen around Ron Paul is damn creepy. The rants against TNR, the inveitable "neocons can't take it" BS is all just bizzare. AT some point the libertarians are going to have to ask themselves if they want to be a fringe party or something more serious. If they want to be more serious, the neo confederate, war of Northern agression Lew Rockwell types need to go. It is no wonder the neoNazis were following Paul around. Paul was close with Rockwell. The neo Nazis probably thought Paul was one of them. Hell they had the same friends.

[rural Texan]

Those newsletters probably helped in a Republican primary in rural Texas.

Stereotype much, Joe?

[Fluffy]

Well, John, one great thing about that cult of personality is that it's currently attracting 8% of the Republican primary electorate vote in NH, and attracted about 10% in IA, and without those voters the Republican party general election nominee absolutely cannot win the White House.

Dondero wants libertarianism to prove it's relevant by sucking up to the Republican party establishment. I want it to prove its worth by spitefully working to frustrate the wishes of a party establishment that spits on our issues at every turn. Which of us do you think the Paul campaign is better helping to get our wish?

Is someone really going to go from voting for Paul in the primary to voting for Huckabee or McCain or Giuliani in the general? Does anyone really think that?

[Ken Shultz]

"greater cause has always been my country," that "America is our cause, yesterday, today and tomorrow," that "her greatness is our hope," that "her goodness" is the "hope of mankind," that "serving only oneself" is "petty," that sacrifice is "sublime," and on, and on, and on.

Amerika ?ber alles!

[Anonymoose.]

I'm so sick of John Edwards talking about Natalie Sarkisian.

[Vermont Gun Owners]

Texan, it's not racism if you are stereotyping white people.

[NP]

John,

I can't believe I'm saying this, but you're saying what the whole Reason staff should have said a long time ago before this newsletter scandal broke out. Don't forget, Brian Doherty briefly touched on this in one of his earlier articles on Paul, but this rather unattractive aspect of the congressman was casually brushed aside because there was no level of buzz back then that it's creating right now.

[Fluffy]

McCain stole that speech from Mussolini. Get the guys who cracked the case on Biden's plagiarism on this one right away. The doddering old fool should start talking about how singly, we are weak and helpless, but if we work together, or maybe bind ourselves to one another like a bunch of sticks tied together, we cannot be broken. And we will show the terrorists that!

[alan]

Dondero wants libertarianism to prove it's relevant by sucking up to the Republican party establishment. I want it to prove its worth by spitefully working to frustrate the wishes of a party establishment that spits on our issues at every turn. Which of us do you think the Paul campaign is better helping to get our wish?

Agreed. If Paul doesn't pull a Lazarus, or if turns out Kirchick pulled a Rather, we could throw our weight behind Hillary. What could she offer that is worse than one hundred years in Iraq?

[joe]

rural Texan,

No, I save it for special occasions. Don't snag pappy's shotgun on your oversized belt buckle. I hate to see one of your hound dogs get hurt.

So, based on votes so far, and assuming that %precincts reporting equates to % of voters, 54.5% of New Hampshire voters voted for a Democrat, and 45.5% voted for a Republican.

[smartass sob]

What could she offer that is worse than one hundred years in Iraq?

One hundred and one years in Iraq?

[Bill Cooke]

The bitch won and Rudy beat Ron. I need another drink. I'm giving up on politics.

[alan]

One hundred and one years in Iraq?

Hope that never comes out of her or any other candidates mouth because McCain will top it.

[SIV]

Tonight I'm rooting for two things.....

Hilary to lose to Obama

Ron Paul beats Giuliani

0 for 2

[Fluffy]

McCain will offer 100 years in Iraq and 100 years in Iran, sillies.

[Vermont Gun Owner]

One hundred and one years in Iraq?

Hope that never comes out of her or any other candidates mouth because McCain will top it.

I bid one hundred and two years, Bob.

[Wilkes&Freedom]

rock the casbah

[Edward]

Fifth place just like I said. But, Jesus, that's the least of Ron Paul's worries now.

[joe]

The % of precincts reporting for the Dems is under 64%, and Hillary's lead is under 3%. The lead keeps moving between 2% and 3%, where earlier in the night is was moving between 3% and 4%. It's going to be a long night.

[Fluffy]

I just tried to go to Kos to check out the carnage and I can't get through.

Does Hill roll from here, or do the knives now really come out on the Dem side?

[Ben]

How does Ron manage to do better in Iowa than NH?

[joe]

Only a big Obama victory tonight would have finished things, Fluffy. Both contests are still wide open.

[Fluffy]

Richardson got fewer votes, Ed.

Remind me again why it was reasonable for you to think at one point that Richardson had a chance to win?

[Bingo]

Ben:

McCain

[joe]

OK, 67% in, Hillary's lead is back up to 3%.

Th-th-th-th-th-th-that's all, folks.

[bruce]

As an Alaskan, several issues come to mind with Governor Palin.

1) Why do we use first names for the women in power, but not the men?

2) Palin is a freshman governor, whose previous political experience was as mayor of a small town. Not yet ready for prime time.

3) Her main claim to fame is NOT being part of the good ol boy network and a reputation for honesty, since she resigned a commission when the republican chair was doing unethical things while on the same commission.

4) There should be a photo spread of her in February's Vogue magazine.

[Fluffy]

Ben, I think that McCain is picking up votes not only from people who approve of his desire for eternal war and for making sure that no CIA agents guilty of torture can ever be punished, but also from New Hampshirites who still consider a vote for him to be an anti-Bush vote.

2008 McCain is getting votes that were left over in a bag 2000 McCain left behind in the lost and found. Despite the fact that 2008 McCain is a douchebag.

[rural Texan]

No, I save it for special occasions. Don't snag pappy's shotgun on your oversized belt buckle. I hate to see one of your hound dogs get hurt.

Somehow I doubt the sincerity of your felicity for my dogs. Face it, Joe, you're as much a bigot, in your own way, as you are so quick to suspect everyone else of being. You're a hypocrite.

[joe]

McCain pulled a lot of independents. That hurt Obama and Paul.

In Iowa, Hillary actually won among Democrats, with Obama's victory coming from independents.

[joe]

And you, sir, are really quite sensitive.

[Wilkes&Freedom]

whole thing 'minds me of John Wilkes phenomenon inversed: mod-day libs (symp to Wilkes's libertinism) in support of straight-laced Christian RP (Luth'ran-turned-Ba'tist vis-a-vis straight-laced (jus' guessin') American revolutionaries, cryin' "Wilkes&Freedom" in support of a man whose libertinism most (back then, maybe because they were in a closet that also included heteros) would've found appalling.

[joe]

Oh, btw Mr. Sensitive: Ron Paul won in Texas after those newsletters came out. That doesn't happen up here. So, no, I'm not going to stay awake tonight worrying that I've been unfair to Texas. You don't like the fact that people with that type of crap on their resumes win elections in your state? You don't like the fact that people notice?

Do something about it.

[alan]

1) Why do we use first names for the women in power, but not the men?

Because 'Hillary' sounds better than 'Clinton'.

[LarryA]

The New York Daily News is reporting a rumor that Mayor Bloomberg will enter the race. "New York Republicans are thinking about abandoning Rudy Giuliani and his 'tanking' presidential campaign and jumping on 'the Bloomberg bandwagon,' the Daily News reports."

Talk about hubris. Rudy is tanking, so Super-Rudy will do better?

Of course, it is the Daily News.

[Fluffy]

Well, Hillary voted for the war and for the Patriot Act, and she just won an election in the northeast, Joe.

As bad as the newsletters admittedly are, you know what? Nobody got blown up or put in a concentration camp because they were written.

Texas, as much as I despise it, may be a place where you can win an election even after newsletters come out, but the northeast is apparently a place where you can win elections even though you helped blow children into bloody piles of crap.

[rah62]

It's all downhill from here for the Ron Paul campaign. He'll be lucky to see 5% from now until he withdraws.

At least the Paul campaign ran into the ditch early enough that LP folks who defected can come back, save face, and work for a *real* Libertarian candidate now. It's not too late for the LP to salvage some good out of this.

[Bingo]

joe have another drink and maybe a valium, Ron Paul's letters being outed isn't the great evil whitey losing to the little guy and now minorities are free from horrible atrocities and negative speech.

Stuff like this gives individual liberty a nasty taste and anyone celebrating should examine their fucking values.

[alan]

That doesn't happen up here.

Excuse me, I'm stuck at the bottom of this lake here, with my oxygen running out . . .

I've never mentioned my state Joe 'cause you would have a field day 😉

[Bingo]

Alan: also because we've already spent 8 years referring to Bill as "Clinton"

[joe]

Why do we use first names for the women in power, but not the men?

We're dealing with a sample of one, and her last name is already shorthand for someone else.

Fluffy,

She won the election two years after denouncing her support for the war.

Ever look at how state delegations voted on the war? A whole lot more Texans voted for this war than New Englanders. I'll stand pat with Massachusetts vs Texas, thanks.

[Ken Shultz]

Actually, if for some reason you don't want to vote for Ron Paul (a wacky libertarian) or Giuliani (a wacky divorced guy who hangs out with gay people), McCain's kinda the default not too wacky choice.

...if you're freaked out by Mormonism or the prospect of having a former Baptist Minister as President.

[Tagore Smith]

It doesn't really matter, politically, whether or not RP approved that message. Stick a fork in him. He wasn't going to win, but he could have had an exemplary effect on the Republican party if he had won enough of the vote to shake them up. That he didn't hit this preemptively before the season began in earnest does not reflect well on him as a pol. Everyone who gave him money should feel cheated, even if he had nothing to do with writing that stuff.

[joe]

Bingo,

You really shouldn't adopt the neoconservative habit of pretending not to know the difference between "notice" and "celebrate."

[Bingo]

joe: what about "harping"?

[Vermont Gun Owner]

rah62,

Well, good luck getting me to donate any money to the LP. But first, they are going to have to:

1)admit that libertarianism is neutral on abortion

2) admit that you can be a "real libertarian" without being a LP member

3) excommunicate Dondero

4) prove that they are actually able to educate people about the movement

Well, maybe 3 isn't necessary, but a press release would be nice (or a reference to a good shrink).

[Wilkes&Freedom]

I support RP (even gave $$) 'cause he still prioritizes in best order of all candidates MY priorities (fuck y'all, I am still an individual.) They are: 1) END IRAQ WAR & WITHDRAW TROOPS from all the other MCFs (Rosetta Stone: Mongolian Cluster Fuck) past presidents have felt the need to keep 'em year after year. 2) END WAR ON DRUGS. That got my ass kidnapped so many years ago in Colombia by a bunch off assholes called the FARC. 3) END, END, END... Dr. No has got it! Tell your dumbass child...NO!NO!NO! When their brain develops they'll thank you!

[joe]

Bingo,

joe: what about "harping"?

Please, I have enough trouble with the bass.

[Bingo]

Speaking of harpies, Ol' Hill is making the victory speech. Still holding out for a Huckabee vs. Edwards general election.

[SIV]

Damn that bitch creeps me out

[Calidore]

I will be so glad when the primary season is over.

[Tagore Smith]

I persist, perhaps foolishly, in thinking that the Rs are a bit more likely to stay out of my day to day affairs than the Ds, and a bit more likely to be spanked for illiberal nonsense than are the D's. Unfortunately, we've now come down to the "Great Pink Hope", McCain... I'd be willing to have a small amount of enthusiasm for Fred if he weren't so somnambulant, but, while it may be possible for the dead to win state elections, the Presidency is another thing.

I was planning on writing Ron Paul in, at the general election, even though I think he understands economics less well than the average 5 year old, just to send a message. Now, I guess I won't break my unbroken streak of not voting since '92. If we have to have a terrible president, it seems like a good opportunity to let a (somewhat) black man win... it's certainly time for that, and who knows- even if he is a lousy Pres he might help race relations a bit... I'm at a loss to find anything else worth salvaging in this train-wreck of a season... maybe in a few days I will come round to McCain.

[sage]

I'm with you wilkes, with one addition: preserve and protect the second amendment. I loves my guns.

[rural Texan]

And you, sir, are really quite sensitive.

And you, Joe, are really quite presumptuous. Sir!? Have I given some intimation of my gender, or are you additionally a male chauvinist?

[joe]

OMG. Get a LIFE.

[joe]

People only like Hillary Clinton when she's a little vulnerable, and you can't be vulnerable and victorious at the same time.

She was robot Hillary in that victory speech.

[Bingo]

im a girl too joe you chauvinist pig!

[joe]

Now, girls, there's plenty of joe to go around...

[Wilkes&Freedom]

Hey all you state-baiting asswipes,

I've lived in Texas for 17 years. I was born in Hawaii (a decidely more racist state than Texas at least) and have lived in Nevada (elementary school yrs.), California (Jr. HS yrs.) and Idaho (High School yrs.) My people are from California. If you have a pin-point on me you either disgustingly work for that HUGE FEDERAL AGENCY or you are a clairvoyant (which is not possible because I don't believe in you.)

[dodsworth]

Ken Shultz:

Huh? You think that McCain is less wacky than RP eh? Let's say McCain called then Vietnamese gooks (more recently than the old newsletters), then, unlike RP, issues a swarmy non-apology, jokes about bombing Iran via a beach boys song, never met a war he didn't like. Need I go on?

Anything RP pales beside any of the following though, for some reason, you choose to give McCain's unrecanted racism and looniness a pass.

[joe\'s wife]

Now, girls, there's plenty of joe to go around...

Bullshit!!! There's barely enough of him for just me.

[joe]

Yes, dear...

[alan]

People only like Hillary Clinton when she's a little vulnerable, and you can't be vulnerable and victorious at the same time.

Truth is, unlike one of the Reason staff contributers, I didn't roll my eyes at her choking up performance at all. I thought she was hot. She was a cutie pie in the '92 race, but soon turned matronly when she and Bill entered the White House.

Speaking of hot grannies what about that Streisand in Meet The Fokkers? Wow!

[Tagore Smith]

dods: much as it pains me to take Joe's side (well, what would be his side if he favored McCain) .. and trust me, it pains me... one of these things is not like the other.

I have little problem with soldiers objectifying the enemy in an all-out war. If it's your job to kill someone it makes it easier to do it if you can make them a "slanty-eyed little gook" beforehand- the biggest problem in managing that sort of war is getting your soldiers to actually kill people when the time comes. I say that as someone who speaks two East Asian languages, and has a lot of affection for the cultures and people that attach, respectively, to them, even if both nation's nationalist's want blood.

We are not, overtly, waging war against blacks in this country. We are, theoretically, doing our best to overcome a terrible history, with as little bloodshed as possible.

[Pepe]

I didn't realize we were still fighting the Vietnam war in 2000

[Wilkes&Freedom]

It's sad to say that bigotted ideas are associated with RP. As I can't climb into his head (unlike others, presumably) I can only go by his track record: voting (choose your fav) and speaking record (CSPAN I, II, III....LVI.)

I don't speak on behalf of RP I only relay MY (individual) takings. RP's current policy is the most group-free thinking out there. Challenges?

[NH Real Scoop]

Alright you god damn maniacs, here's the scoop on why McCain took this state from an actual resident here who reads newspapers and such. See, McCain has been immensely popular here for over 8 years now. New Hampshire has the highest per capita population of veterans in the entire union, and you practically cannot spit out your car window on a rural highway without hitting a white "V" license plate. Here's the thing about these toughguy veterans: they are largely part of a wave of gentlemen ranging from Vietnam-era (sympathy for the War Hero vote) up to modern day chickenshit Reagan Era and Gulf War I boys playing with big toys. The older segment of this very influential demographic have voting-age children.

So, the political climate is not quite as simple as all these jaggovs talking about how this state has a "libertarian streak". There is a very real Cult of McCain up here, and all these retired toughguys from the 80s and 90s don't give a shit about endless war because they are all set with their service and have a pension for basically playing with big toys or maybe burning down some arabs.

[dodsworth]

You're acting this was forty years ago. It wasn't. McCain used the term "gook" in 2000 and refused to issue a clear apology. What does that say about his presidential qualifications? Just google "gook" and "mccain" and follow the links.

If anyone is "waging war" on blacks today, it is politicians like McCain who support the drug war and federal death penalty. Ron Paul, by every action and word, has run the most anti-racist campaign with regard to these and other issues...but some reason McCain is held to a lower standard than RP. Why?

[James]

Wow...didn't expect that HRC win...all the poll had Obama up, some by double digits!

[Cesar]

Hillary Clinton has just won the Democratic nomination de facto.

[joe]

Good post, NH Real Scoop.

New Hampshire also has a TON of independents. Obama won Iowa with indepedents.

[alan]

jaggovs

Woah!! Tough guy there, easy with the language.

[Tagore Smith]

Well- that's one of the problems with war- once you train a man to say gooks, and kill them, and then they actually capture him and torture him for a few years... he's likely to keep saying it in private moments, even if he has (and I don't know if McCain does or does not) no real burning animosity for Asians.

The thing is that whether or not McCain is or is not a bit racist when it comes to East Asians is not all that important in these here United States. Anglo-Asian relations are not a huge problem at the moment.

I do agree, entirely, with you about the drug war- that is the covert war we are waging against blacks in the US today, and that is what I meant when I said I sided with Joe on this one- even a stopped clock is occasionally right. I just don't think McCain's gook comments are all that relevant to that one... if he were willing to step up and argue for the end of the drug war I would forgive him a few off the record slurs against people of the same ethnicity he fought and was tortured by.

[NH Real Scoop]

joe: I would be very hesitant about attributing McCain's victory to political savvy in general with independents, if you were to ask me about this. You will remember that McCain crashed and burned fast after NH 8 years ago. I happen to personally think McCain is a terrible communicator and is going to eat shit in a trend similar to 8 years ago. NH is a fluke if you were to ask me. McCain has much less appeal with toughguy conservatives in states where "they-dook-'our-jobs" is more of a factor. I am very curious to see if he will be defeated in his home State. I did notice the last time I was out there very recently, every fifth house in the suburbs seems to have a "For Sale" sign in front of it, gas is expensive, and the Mexicans will be more likely to vote for fat Bill Richardson than anyone else.

[Kolohe]

I've lived in Texas for 17 years. I was born in Hawaii (a decidely more racist state than Texas at least)

Uh, no.

[joe]

NH Real Scoop,

I agree, New Hampshire independents are not a good stand-in for independents nationally.

I suspect tonight will turn out to be a fluke as well, in both races.

But McCain is slightly more popular than free beer in AZ.

[Eric Dondero]

I just posted the exact paragraph from American Libertarian, Nov. 1988 which names Lew Rockwell as Ron Paul's "ghostwriter" up at http://www.libertarianrepublican.blogspot.com

[Wilkes&Freedom]

I will continue to support RP until the "conspiracy theorists" expose that he is the Trojan Horse for White-Supremists and plans to stack his cabinet with David Dukes and Mark Fuhrmans (FYI in the unlikely event of a Dr. Paul nomination and ensuing victory does anyone think he'd survive such cabinet-packing without a summary ousting via impeachment and removal????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Does anyone remember Gov. Evans of AZ?)

If anything, I see the Reason staff running away from Paul for survival reasons (fair enough although this is a hypocrisy in that voted-for pols are held by this staff to an arguably higher standard than themselves.)

I still applaud the Reason staff (because disclosure is always the high road.) Honestly, if freedom-loving Americans cannot see through this (and sadly that will be the story because next-to-few will) than we all deserve what we get, though admittedly the 2% that falls outside the bellcurve will always be in misery.

A note to the weary: I spend almost a fifth of my life each year in France. MATCH THAT BULLSHIT! (Yes, I could change jobs. Believe me, I'm working on that!)

[NH Real Scoop]

But McCain is slightly more popular than free beer in AZ.

Seems to be the case. They have real nice big highways too. Have any idea if he is planning on passing the baton any time soon to somebody a little bit less off their rocker?

[NH Real Scoop]

For what it's worth, I'm simply elated to see that fucking suit Romney was not able to purchase the NH majority GOP vote. Vapid creep, I want to punch his face every time I see his botox face on the television (rarely watch TV) or snapshots of him out and about with his square-headed transsexual wife.

[Wilkes&Freedom]

Kolohe,

I will retract that statement because I've never heard a (non-Polynesian) Hawaiian claim the reverse. It is certainly NOT unbelievable on face (contrarily, it is quite believable.) Please, go on. I probably became a Libertarian because I knew what it was like, as a haole male I would be unlikely to be given the time of day in Hawaii by the average keone. I think you should be given the time of day in Texas because Texas is a state formed by Mexicans disgruntled by an authoritarian Mexican gov't. I speak fluent Spanish and disagree with Paul's stance on immigration, so bring it on, en verdad pienso que somos amigos.

[Tagore Smith]

Wilkes: it's over man... come home. Have some chicken pot-pie and sleep it off man... it doesn't matter if Paul wrote that shit or not. He is done as a politician in the US. And he's exactly the sort of idiot I always thought he was. I just didn't expect it to be this dramatic.

He knew about this before he ran. If he'd called a press conference at the beginning and disposed of it then... who knows. But now? Go ahead and defend him as a person- I have no beef with that. But as a candidate? Over, 100%. Compare this with Lott, who I believe was more stupid than racist... RP is much deeper in the shit.

Man, the whole point to any sensible libertarianism, contra Rand, is a remarkably Christian message (I'm an atheist btw)- the flesh is weak, so don't cult over some guy... he will screw you, blue you, and tattoo you. Y'all just got, predictably, schooled- I wonder if any lessons will be learned.

[Wilkes&Freedom]

So what have been your experiences in Texas? My ultimate experience in Hawaii was Non-admission to Punahou for my brother based on his five-year-old feelings (leading to my family seeking a better place). Tapped phone-lines from the Patsy Mink machine when my dad chose to oppose the political machine? Honestly, I do believe in small minds; my parents taught me at a young age. Purportedly my first words were: "You hate me! You call me Humphrey!" (used effectively, evidently, when I didn't get my way. btw Hubert Humphrey was an appalling candidate. Goddam I was a quick study!)

Shall we go on. Racial ID is bullshit. Been there, dealt with that. So what are you saying?

[NH Real Scoop]

Y'all just got, predictably, schooled- I wonder if any lessons will be learned.

Nah, my $2.3k was well-spent. I would have never before dreamed that I would walk the streets of Manchester, NH only to encounter hundreds of zealous 20-somethings seething about the dying U.S. Constitution at a street corner. Let's hope that most of them have made an effort to read the document.

I must confess that with all the time I spend in city streets, specifically Boston, I have never seen a gang of white, asian, and black youths walking shoulder to shoulder with old men smoking cigarettes, preaching the virtues of white collar values and corporate welfare or a 100 Years War.

[Tagore Smith]

Dunno about that last of yours, Wilksie... I'm not renowned for being coherent, but I think you're pushing things with that post- I lost my decoder ring.

Anyway, there is one really good litmus test of libertarianism around these days- drugs. That issue also has the virtue of attracting a lot of people who aren't very libertarian- I'd be willing to say that it's a litmus test for who is or is not on crack, figuratively. This is a case where even the most grasping, controlling, evil local pols have to recognize that harm is being done- of course they have to balance that against how useful the drug war is in the next re-election campaign.

I'd go so far as to say that the problems with our criminal justice system are so severe as to make all other libertarian concerns unimportant- you have to deal with the jackboot first. Paul never talked about that shit. So fuck him- just another opportunist.

Paul got a lot of money, and he pissed it all away, predictably. What could that money have done in lobbying for a more sensible drug policy, one that didn't continue to brutalize our cities, and our citizens. A lot. So think about it Wilksie... RP is over. How could you mobilize those funds in favor of positions, rather than cult figures?

[Irritated Tonight]

"A note to the weary: I spend almost a fifth of my life each year in France."

Actually, trying to make my way through your horribly constructed posts, I think you spend about a fifth of your life inside parentheses.

[Brandybuck]

I discovered I was a libertarian twenty five years ago. Free markets, free trade, free individuals. But the LP was running weirdos for office. I was in California and the LP was running a prostitute for governor. Having grown up in a conservative Christian household, this was unnerving. All around me were "lifestyle libertarians". I didn't want to legalize [insert-vice-here] because I wanted to be an indulgent libertine, I wanted to legalize [insert-vice-here] because it was none of the government's damned business! My morality comes from God, not government or the lack thereof.

Were there any straight Christian libertarians out there? I was starting to wonder. Then Ron Paul ran for president. He's the reason I'm still a libertarian. He got me into Mises, Hayek and Hazlitt. For twenty years he has been a consistant defender of individual liberty.

So pardon me for sticking by my man. He may not be the perfect, but he is the good, and that's worth voting for.

[Tagore Smith]

Brandy: yeah, and that's why you will never get fuck all done. I've had Easter Dinner with the Yaliest of the Yalies (who I love, btw), and been taken to a Crown Heights coke speakeasy (gun at my head at one point) that same night. Maybe I was the first white-boy, ever, to see that shit... call me a journalist without a publisher on that one.

Ron Paul is not important. Ideas are important. If RP fucks up you better toss him if you ever want to get something done.

[Wilkes&Freedom]

I am against the DRUG WAR. I tell my colleagues that I am a one-issue candidate for Marijuana in all its uses both rec & med. I wish more of my colleagues would use it to calm them down.

I was kidnapped in Colombia in the late 90s by FARC Rebels who used the US Drug War to hold me indefinitely. I repudiate the 'War on Drugs'. The FARC is an idiotic marxist group, but so is the Colombian gov't and our infusion of cash to its efforts.

[Wilkes&Freedom]

Irritated,

Thanx,

Wondered what was dragging me down. paretheses...those useless devices that tell the reader that the following is unimportant to the irritatible. (go see a therapist-personal advice), at least I warned you.

what I really gather is that the content of my message 'irritated' you. Fair enough. Attack the message. Disguising your disgust in the delivery exposes your own bias.

[J sub D]

My crystal ball is more in tune with LEO malfeasnce predictions than political prognositcation, but I thought I'd give her a shot this AM.

Crysty indicates that Rudy's Chernobyl imitation continues, Ron Paul is finished, and McCain wins the nomination, handily beating the soulless Romney. Crysty doesn't even know Fred Thompson is in the race. She refuse to predict the eventual Dem nominee but assures me that it won't be John Edwards.

[JasonL]

Dammit joe, get your people in line! I at least I thought I would see salty ham tears from HRC as the lone bright spot on this whole election. Now look what you've done ...

[joe]

Gimme a break, JasonL. YOU try getting guys who wear plaid flannel in a non-ironic manner to vote for a fat Mexican.

[Vincent Gigante]

"I wonder if the Ron Paul movement can be re-focused to get state governors, congressmen, and senators of similar political beliefs elected."
yes it can it already is http://ronpaulsacrossamerica.com/

still needs work but once we get past the primaries I think a large segment of the meet up groups, forums etc. will be geared towards electing these people and reelecting Paul!

[NoStar]

"Bullshit!!! There's barely enough of him for just me."

joe,
Have you seen those late night ads for EXTENZ?
If those pills work, they could be the answer to your wife's prayers.

[Kolohe]

Texas is a state formed by Mexicans disgruntled by an authoritarian Mexican gov't.

Uh, no.

[Mark Thornton]

Contrary to Eric Dondero, I Mark Thornton, never wrote anything for any Ron Paul newsletter. It just a factual error on his part. This story is just old news that just seems to become less factual and more fantasy over time.

[khmyzszs]

yuuyu http://khmyzszs.com [url=http://khmyzszs.com]yuuyu[/url]