Congressman Ron Paul of Texas ran for president in the Republican primaries this year, raising more than $34 million and receiving more than 1.3 million votes.
Ron PaulThat obviously wasn’t enough to get anywhere near the general election, but Paul became a rogue hero of many in his party (and beyond), even mounting his own counter-convention in Minneapolis while the Republican National Convention was happening across the river in St. Paul.
He has now launched a Campaign for Liberty, which is casting an eye toward the 2010 mid-term elections in the hopes of promoting “sound money, limited government, and a respect for the inherent rights of every individual.”
We thought that Paul might be an interesting person to hear from in the immediate aftermath of this most interesting election season, and he has agreed to field your questions. So please fire away, and we’ll post his answers in a few days.
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Even before the primaries you said you would not run in the general election. Why specifically did you not run? This has been bothering me for a long time. It would have been wonderful to have voted for you.
The world is apparently celebrating Obama’s victory ( http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/world/stories/110608dnintobamareax.4ac27e6.html ) – understandably so because the majority of the world is probably even more left than Obama. I am disappointed thinking that the only way to improve the reputation of the US is through leftist policy that I find not making very much economic sense. How do we do what is best for economic growth and expanding liberties while still maintaining a solid international reputation?
Would you run in 2012, and if so, who would you pick as a VP??
Do you still believe that the financial industry needs no regulation because markets are inherently stable and always act rationally?
Dan
Senator Paul
Do you think people that relate more towards the libertarian ideals of the Republican party have a role to play in the Republican party of the moment and do you see a role for them in the coming (hopeful) rebuilding of the Republican party? If so, how can that be reconciled given other parts of the party that embody the antithesis of those ideals?
If not, do you think the efforts of the libertarian-minded are better spent forming a third party or joining the actual Libertarian party?
With all the hidden contracts and contracts we sign and agree to,without the facts…do you think filing and Affidavit of Sovereignty is the way to go in this day and age???
Would such an action help us to avoid many of the issues we face???
First, Ron I have read through numerous works of yours and currently have “A Foreign Policy of Freedom” on my desk to read.
My question is what are your goals? What do you think we can accomplish? Both the electorate and and our politicians have shown when it comes down to action we don’t value the tough policies we need to get back on track. We never honestly discuss the War, fiscal policy, the Constitution etc. Our politicians only speak with rhetoric, and our voters just vote for change regardless of what that means. What can we accomplish?
What do you think are the most important steps to seeing greater access for third party candidates? Is the root of the bi-partisan problem more national or local in scope?