Ron Paul Shapes Up As A Spoiler

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(December 20, 2007)--It wasn't long ago that U.S. Representative Ron Paul was an anti-war asterisk in the race for the Republican presidential nomination.

Then the 72-year-old physician's campaign raised a record $6 million in a single day.

Now the libertarian-leaning Texas congressman is looking like a possible spoiler.

The Associated Press reports Paul has an eclectic, tech-savvy following and an astounding 18 million dollars in donations raised in less than three months.

AP reports polls give no indication that Paul can win any primaries or caucuses.

But his appeal to independents could make a difference in contests in New Hampshire, which votes on Jan. 8, or in Michigan one week later.

The attention is going to Paul, who pursued an interest in free-market economics and a career in politics.

Paul was noncommittal when asked how he intended to spend his surprisingly large treasury, answering he's getting ready to compete in primaries in 20 states on Feb. 5.

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Posted by: Todd Location: Denham Springs, LA on Dec 23, 2007 at 08:19 AM
If other politicians and those that support them had the character of Ron Paul, America would not be in her last throws as a free nation. I'll accept neither a fascist or communist state dictating the affairs of a free society. My vote is to restore the constitution to its rightful place. I will be voting Ron Paul. Liberal Democrat voting for Ron Paul

Posted by: Trans-Mutant Location: California on Dec 23, 2007 at 04:32 AM
This anonymous "article" must be a paid can of mud from some campaign. Don't buy it. See these links below for the probable reason for such ****: http://www.nolanchart.com/article615.html http://www.usadaily.com/article.cfm?articleID=207908

Posted by: hatefalseweight Location: Milwaukee on Dec 22, 2007 at 10:16 PM
Of course, he will never actually get less than 10 pct anywhere as anyone with common sense would gather just on his antiwar stance alone, even though they claim he's in single digits (on completely irrelevant national name recognition polls) so the polls are manifestly nothing but brainwashing tools by the media lackeys of the ruling oligarchy. Still hanging onto the last vestiges of propoganda and brainwashing to try to hold down the bump from top 3 finishes in Iowa and NH. Gotta' love free press.

Posted by: Joseph Location: Falmouth, MA on Dec 22, 2007 at 05:31 AM
The worst part of this story is the clear fact you haven't any reporters of your own with the two minutes to spare to write your own story. You may wish to check with your legal department concerning the legitimacy of regurgitating AP stories. Indeed, your credibility is shot. All of you... you corporate denizens of halls of power. We are in the midst of reclaiming the republic Franklin admonished us to hold onto. Get on board, or get out of the way.

Posted by: John Location: Warren, MI on Dec 21, 2007 at 03:35 PM
Spoiler? Yes -- spoiler for those who suck up the torrent of government spending and use the proceeds to buy more influence, muscling the rest of us out of the political process. 'The rest of us' are going to be heard on primary day. Hope it doesn't spoil your fun too much!

Posted by: Meg Location: Pennsylvania on Dec 21, 2007 at 02:56 PM
The Ron Paul supporters are laughing all the way to the White House! The best antidote for Sheeple Syndrome: Ron Paul 2008!

Posted by: Alan Location: Michigan on Dec 21, 2007 at 03:00 AM
I'm voting for Ron Paul, if he's not nominated, I'm leaving the Republican Party, never to return.

Posted by: MikeRidgway Location: Salt Lake City, Utah on Dec 21, 2007 at 02:39 AM
The high number of winner-take-all Republican primary states is what creates the spoiler prospect. If each candidate earned his/her percentage of delegates based on his/her percentage of the each state's primary vote, there wouldn't be any spoilers--each candidate would have at the convention the number of delegates he/she had earned. The RNC put forward a proposal to improve the presidential primary process immensely in 2000. It would have easily been ratified by the delegates to the convention had George W. Bush let the grassroots representatives of the party have the final say. But W. and Karl Rove were apparently shocked at the prospect that a free and fair Republican primary system might actually encourage opposition after W. first four years in office. So they put out the signal for the delegates to vote down the proposal. Which is the reason we have such a hopelessl failed system for choosing our Republican nominee in 2008. Blame Karl Rove and President Bush. Not Ron Paul.

Posted by: Matt Location: Pasadena on Dec 20, 2007 at 11:21 PM
What Ron Paul has taken on is like pushing a pregnant elephant up the back side of Mt Everest on a 3 wheeled skateboard. # With that fund raising last week, $6 million in one day in mostly $50 donations CASH. I'll be darned if Paul hasn't just scooted on through advanced base camp pulling that pachyderm and her three new babies. I'm sure I even saw one waving big friendly ears at me as he was pulled up the rope. # I think that "spoiler" may be a myopic word. Even a minority at a convention has better than spoiling to do, minority delegations can crown the nominee: The one that comes around to common sense and hears the cry of freedom. # That's politics American style. Every vote from every delegate for Ron Paul doesn't go to the convention to spoil but to unite. Every delegate is a delegate for liberty. They back a brilliant, riteous, and wise Texan who is beating all the odds. # Wouldn't it be something though, if when they get to the top,that elephant really could fly?

Posted by: laszlo horvath Location: puerto vallarta on Dec 20, 2007 at 10:57 PM
you are full of **** but of course you are forced to write article like this otherwise no paychek, anyhow after the election dont forget to change your huggies because you will stink badly...

Posted by: James Moore Location: Toledo, Ohio on Dec 20, 2007 at 09:50 PM
(Sigh.) Get it straight, you brainwashed hacks. No one OWNS my VOTE before it is CAST!! Therefore EVERYONE is a spoiler, or NO ONE is. Anti-Brainwashing Prescription: Please repeat ad nauseum. "The democratic process is NOT determined by the media!" "The democratic process is NOT determined by the media!" "The democratic process is NOT determined by the media!" There, doesn't that feel better? Do you feel your brain cells coming back on-line yet? No? Better up the prescription, you appear to have overdosed on the tired old way of selecting American presidents! "The democratic process is NOT determined by the media!" "The democratic process is NOT determined by the media!" "The democratic process is NOT determined by the media!"....oh, I give up. You people are hopelessly doomed. "May posterity forget ye were our countrymen..."

Posted by: Kyle Location: Houston on Dec 20, 2007 at 08:54 PM
CORRECTION: The attention is going to Paul, who pursued an interest in free-market economics and a career in politics. SHOULD READ: The attention is going to Paul, who was a Vietnam flight surgeon, is a practicing OBGYN who's delivered more than 4,000 children, and is currently in his 10th term as a Representative from Texas.

Posted by: Ryan Location: in Philly on Dec 20, 2007 at 07:44 PM
The media is doing so much damage to themselves. I cannot trust you ... anymore for facts. FASCISTS.. Go to **** you Fascists ....

Posted by: Charles Location: AK on Dec 20, 2007 at 07:14 PM
Yes, a man who exudes both honesty and integrity (He gave up his own fat congressional pension because he did not want to burden the American taxpayer) would seem like a spoiler - especially if he wins.

Posted by: john Location: NC on Dec 20, 2007 at 07:12 PM
Totally agree with the post by akak- we are in desperate need of a Paul Presidency to restore the Constitution and world opinion of the US. Frankly, Dr. Paul is the only hope the Republicans have against the Democrats as well, and is the only candidate who isn't a corporate puppet.

Posted by: Wesley Location: Moscow, ID on Dec 20, 2007 at 07:10 PM
Exactly how would Ron Paul spoil the primaries? By taking votes away from the other anti-war, anti-torture, anti-War-On-Drugs, anti-foreign-aid-to-our-enemies, pro-sound-money, pro-Constitution, pro-REAL-limited-government Republicans?

Posted by: Alex Location: Reno, NV on Dec 20, 2007 at 07:02 PM
Its simple. They say who they want to be the spoiler, or the front-runner, or the fringe candidate. There's nothing else taken into account except what they want. There's one good thing. There's so many Paulites that now the media is doing more harm to itself than good as they consistently discredit themselves. You won't be able to stop this revolution, and will be destroyed by its end.

Posted by: Harry Location: El Paso on Dec 20, 2007 at 07:01 PM
I guess the winner does spoil it for the other losers. Funny, I have never heard Giuliani or Romney called a spoiler. That must mean they have no chance at winning.

Posted by: PVK Location: The North on Dec 20, 2007 at 06:51 PM
"reports polls give no indication that Paul can win any primaries or caucuses." Wrong, currently Paul is polling first in Alaska and seeing how he has plenty of money he could last until the Febuary 5th Primary date and take Alaska.

Posted by: akak Location: AK on Dec 20, 2007 at 06:40 PM
No, you have it backward: Huckabee, Romney, McCain, Thompson, Hunter and Giuliani are the spoilers for Ron Paul! I never cease to wonder at just how the annointed media high priests of politics decide who is the "spoiler"? Isn't everyone a spoiler for everyone else? Oh, I forgot --- that viewpoint assumes an ojectivity that is dead in the corporate, corrupt "mainstream" media.

Posted by: Jim Location: Temple on Dec 20, 2007 at 06:34 PM
I hope he does well in the primaries. He sure has a lot of integrity.

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