The hawkish Giuliani who confronted Paul in 2008, and which, incidentally, catapulted Paul to the national scene, has now endorsed Mitt Romney. No, I am not shocked.<>
Ron Paul not Quitting
I know, I know. I should stop the pro-Paul rhetoric at this stage, but I can’t since the man is not quitting.<>
John Cusack Speaks Out Against Obama’s Imperial Presidency
One of my favorite actors speak out against Obama.<>
Neo-Conservatives and the Media
When Peter Steinfels wrote in 1979 about the power of the neo-conservatives, he writes:
Neoconservatives have frequently complained of a liberal “opposition” bias in the media. Their own position in the media, however, has never been weak, and now grows increasingly stronger (8).
I doubt Steinfels ever imagined a vast army of neo-conservatives in both left and right, in both conservative and liberal media, and these same neo-cons actually setting political, economic, and the war agenda of the most powerful country on earth.<>
Santorum, Compromise, Done Deal, and Ron Paul
The news is circulating quite rapidly that Romney is the inevitable GOP nominee. Gingrich and Paul still remain, with the first, stating that he is in it until the game is over. Ron Paul is conviction. He is in it to educate, but also to leave an impression in the party. His goal is nobler than power; it is equipping. His libertarianism may appear too radical to some, and thus unappealing to the masses, but at the same time it leaves the doors open to a third party run. Some call it insane, while others contemplate this scenario in dream-like fashion. Naturally, as some assume, this might make the Obama campaign quite pleased, since Paul holds a cult-like following of at least 10% of the GOP. 10% is worth a reasonable compromise with the Romney campaign. Is a compromise workable? Yes. Is it likely? It would be a shocker.
As Santorum exits, his delegates become an interesting bid. The idea of Santo’s delegates running to Gingrich’s hurting campaign seems strange. The idea of them running to Paul’s campaign also seems unlikely, though if Santo’s crowd despise Romney as much as it appears, there is always a potential that hurting him might prove fruitful.
Romney’s chances are increasing. He has practically sealed the deal. But will the deal go beyond Tampa? If not, Romney becomes another John McCain; moderate, hawkish, and defeated.<>
Intellectual Influence
Peter Steinfels, in his introduction to The Neo Conservatives, observes the vast influence of intellectuals in the public affair. Though not all change derives from the pens of intellectuals, he argues that it would be foolish “to forget the crucial role that thinkers and writers and artists have in defining, for practical men, just what is possible.”<>
Ron Paul Draws 10,000
Ron Paul spoke at UCLA last night with several thousand people showing up to create a scene that made Beatlemania seem tame. One would not think that this man is trailing in all the presidential race polls.
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