Time Not Right for Third Ron Paul Presidential Run
'If at First You Don't Succeed,' Refer to Einstein's Definition of 'Insanity'
COMMENTARY | Either oblivious of the date's foreboding history or intentionally committing what may be his last act of defiance, Texas Congressman Ron Paul chose Friday the 13th to officially announce his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination. Appearing on ABC's Good Morning America, he explained his decision to run for a third time, saying "the time is right" because "more people" agree with his positions, reports CNN. Unfortunately for Paul, when it comes to some of those positions, recent polls say otherwise.
A new Washington Post-ABC News poll revealed that Americans prefer to keep Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security programs just the way they are. Regardless of the fact that most Americans oppose even modest reductions to these benefits, Paul said if he were elected president he would eliminate them completely. Whether or not you personally agree that "the time is right" for this change, if Paul insists on maintaining his plans of taking away these popular entitlement programs, he must overcome the formidable challenge of convincing an unwilling majority to let him.
Just prior to the first Republican presidential debate, Paul held first place among GOP candidate hopefuls with an impressive 30 percent of the votes. Following the debate, a Zogby poll placed Paul third behind New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (who isn't even running) and a new kid on the political block from Georgia by the name of Herman Cain. A CNN poll puts Paul at fifth.
One possible contributor to Paul's poll struggles may be his opinion that drugs should be legalized across America. In an utterly awkward presentation, Paul argued that using heroin is equivalent to the freedom to pray and practice religion and that liberty must be defended "across the board," according to the Washington Post. In a country where the majority still lean toward conservative social values, according to Gallup, perception of Paul's idea for an American narcotics free-for-all will do his present presidential aspirations considerably more harm than good.
The third strike against Paul is his campaign to close Guantanamo Bay. While presidencies are rarely won or lost based upon a candidate's positions on foreign policy, the fear that trying Guantanamo terrorists on American soil will invite more attacks "over here" makes this a domestic concern. While his altruistic promise is favored by some, a recent poll by Rassmussen shows that 58 percent of Americans believe the facility should remain open.
While Paul insists the detainees should be tried for war crimes in civil court, 60 percent of American voters prefer they be tried by military tribunal. Against Paul's claims, it is wrong for the United States to continue to detain known terrorists when there is insufficient evidence to convict them; 49 percent of voters disagree.
While threatening to shut down the entitlement programs that fund the majority of current nursing home services, Paul has yet to explain how those dependent elderly and their families are supposed to economically accommodate and survive that drastic change. Of Paul's plans to close Guantanamo and bring terrorists to America for civil trials, he has yet to explain its feasibility. Obama promised the same things during his presidential campaign. Two and a half years into his presidency, after learning what he did not know as a candidate, despite the signing of an executive order, Obama has curiously abandoned enforcement of that promise.
Where the three-time presidential candidate believes "more" Americans support his positions, just as it has proved detrimental to the aspirations of previous political candidates, Ron Paul's continued denial of where the majority of Americans stand on economic, domestic and social concerns may ultimately be his final undoing.
A new Washington Post-ABC News poll revealed that Americans prefer to keep Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security programs just the way they are. Regardless of the fact that most Americans oppose even modest reductions to these benefits, Paul said if he were elected president he would eliminate them completely. Whether or not you personally agree that "the time is right" for this change, if Paul insists on maintaining his plans of taking away these popular entitlement programs, he must overcome the formidable challenge of convincing an unwilling majority to let him.
Just prior to the first Republican presidential debate, Paul held first place among GOP candidate hopefuls with an impressive 30 percent of the votes. Following the debate, a Zogby poll placed Paul third behind New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (who isn't even running) and a new kid on the political block from Georgia by the name of Herman Cain. A CNN poll puts Paul at fifth.
One possible contributor to Paul's poll struggles may be his opinion that drugs should be legalized across America. In an utterly awkward presentation, Paul argued that using heroin is equivalent to the freedom to pray and practice religion and that liberty must be defended "across the board," according to the Washington Post. In a country where the majority still lean toward conservative social values, according to Gallup, perception of Paul's idea for an American narcotics free-for-all will do his present presidential aspirations considerably more harm than good.
The third strike against Paul is his campaign to close Guantanamo Bay. While presidencies are rarely won or lost based upon a candidate's positions on foreign policy, the fear that trying Guantanamo terrorists on American soil will invite more attacks "over here" makes this a domestic concern. While his altruistic promise is favored by some, a recent poll by Rassmussen shows that 58 percent of Americans believe the facility should remain open.
While Paul insists the detainees should be tried for war crimes in civil court, 60 percent of American voters prefer they be tried by military tribunal. Against Paul's claims, it is wrong for the United States to continue to detain known terrorists when there is insufficient evidence to convict them; 49 percent of voters disagree.
While threatening to shut down the entitlement programs that fund the majority of current nursing home services, Paul has yet to explain how those dependent elderly and their families are supposed to economically accommodate and survive that drastic change. Of Paul's plans to close Guantanamo and bring terrorists to America for civil trials, he has yet to explain its feasibility. Obama promised the same things during his presidential campaign. Two and a half years into his presidency, after learning what he did not know as a candidate, despite the signing of an executive order, Obama has curiously abandoned enforcement of that promise.
Where the three-time presidential candidate believes "more" Americans support his positions, just as it has proved detrimental to the aspirations of previous political candidates, Ron Paul's continued denial of where the majority of Americans stand on economic, domestic and social concerns may ultimately be his final undoing.
Published by Patricia Campion - Featured Contributor in Politics
Patricia Campion is a Featured Contributor in politics for Yahoo Voices and Yahoo US News. In less than four months she became the first contributor in Yahoo! history to be honored simultaneously with a Risi... View profile
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25 Comments
Post a CommentProves?
Proves you have mud in your face as the Iowa Caucus sends you a hearty rebuke
D.K.,
I agree entirely. Just because a poll says the majority feel one way or the other does not make what they feel "right". My assignment as a Featured Political Contributor was to write an article addressing three negatives faced by Ron Paul as a presidential candidate. That is what I did. As for the... enthusiastic drubbing I have received in reporting these negatives it is simply a "shoot the messenger" moment. In the end, when the smoke clears, the truth still remains.
Less than 20 negative responses by Ron Paul supporters. Over twice as many hit the "I Like This" button... Thus proving my point that the majority do NOT support Ron Paul in his 3rd bid to become president. MAN that was easy!
Patricia, that you would write misinformation and outright lies reduces your credibility to zero. That you would remove posts that make clear your misinfo and lies, because you could not refute them factually reduced your credibility to negative numbers. It is a shame when one can not make money doing something constructive and honest, and reduces oneself to making money doing things that are nonconstructive and dishonest.
Regarding the April 5th CNN poll: Taken directly from the article itself -
"CNN, which buried this most interesting facet of the poll’s results halfway into its story, itself given the bland headline “CNN Poll: Still no front-runner in the battle for the GOP nomination,†still hastened to add that such hypothetical match-ups are meaningless. CNN Polling Director Keating Holland remarked, “It should be obvious to any political observer that hypothetical general election match-ups at this stage of the game have relatively little predictive value.â€
While siting this CNN poll as a reference to prove Ron Paul's chances of beating Barack Obama in 2012, some seem to have missed the key words, "meaningless" and "relatively little predictive value"
I would like to thank all of those who are taking the time to write such passionate responses to my article and, that I get paid every time you hit this page, I would also like to thank you for your financial support.
Worthless hit piece article. Even Juan Williams admits this is the "Age of Ron Paul". I would love to see sources, because Ron Paul only has 8 books and 25 years of consistency on the congressional record that proves you are incorrect in more than one of your "facts".
Candidate Paul distinguishes himself politically by setting an example to strive for virtue, good will and self-discipline. Likewise, a leader is often ahead of public trends
Awkward presentation? Mr Pauls explanation of why he would leave drugs up to the states got the BIGGEST applause of all answers at the debate.
Perhaps it is awkward because you fail to see the repercussions of our drug war, because you fail to see that personal choice is a part of personal liberty, and you fail to understand that if heroin were legal tomorrow, you likely would not use it anyway (a point Ron Paul made, actually.)
I hope you have trouble falling asleep every single night until you apologize for the disservice you have done.
The author of this column is an American, and can vote for--and campaign for--whomever she likes! She can support Barack Obama, she can support Mitt Romney, Hillary Clinton, or even Mickey Mouse for all I care! Before questioning Ron Paul, I think that she should consider the alternatives!
She is utterly mistaken if she thinks that this country, its people, or the people of the world, given the misbegotten imperialistic and meddlesome policies of the US government, would be better off if she prefers the standard model of politician to Ron Paul!
"Entitlement" programs are going out of business, whether people "want to keep them the way they are" or not! Ron Paul, and libertarians like him, have been warning us for decades about this! They have been ignored or ridiculed! Economic reality has, however, caught up with us!
The United States doesn't have the material wherewithall, and with our current 14 TRILLION dollar debt load, will NEVER have the means,