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July 09, 2007
Conversations with a Ron Paul Republican
So, my sister met a guy. "He's a republican," she said.
For the record, politically, my sister is not much like me, I think of her as a centrist, somewhere in the middle of the road. We had more than quite a few "discussions" during the 2004 election. She didn't like Bush, and she didn't like Kerry either. But, for the most part, we leave politics out of our conversations and, she worries about my activism, the street protests and what not. Although she denies it, I believe she thinks of me as a "right wing nut job." And if she does, well, she's probably right.
So, she meets this guy, and politics came up, and lo... he says he's a republican. Except... he's not really, he's a Ron Paultard. "Oh no," said I. "He's not a republican, he's a freak" and I could almost hear her thinking... "right wing nut job." and she said "I told him about you."
Next thing I know, he's writing me.
It started out normal enough, he visited this place, and wrote to say "Heard all about you from your sister Laura, interesting website." I said "I hope I didn't scare you," and off we went. We discussed Hannity, and Rush, and discovered that we had a common interest, investments and commodities, so we talked about that for an email or two.
I'm thinking, okay, this is not so bad, he sounds normal enough. and then somewhere in the middle of all that... he slips in "Basially I've been politically active since 1991, was born and raised a liberal Long Islander (20 years), staunch republican (15 years), realized that both parties are one in the same about 7 years ago." Uh oh.
and then he popped the question. "Had to ask you, what do you think of Ron Paul...or why are you not a fan? Inquiring minds want to know."
I was torn between the short answer, which begins with "Ron Paul is one brain cell shy of being a moron" and the long answer, which is a detailed explanation of why Ron Paul's political platform is an impossibility in this modern world, just facts, with no bad words, and no insults. When dealing with Paultards on the internet, I prefer to use the short answer because it discourages dialogue with them. If I've learned one thing about talking politics over the years, it is that you should only try to sway the uncommitted, and never try to sway the should be committed. Ron Paul supporters fall into the second category, and while its fun to poke them now and again, mostly, its just tedious.
Still, because my sister was kinda involved, I opted for the long answer, ending my email with...
"To return to those less complicated days of Monroe and Jackson is a lofty idea, but the world is much more complicated now then it was then. What worked then will not work now.
When thought through, Paul's platform and his goals are unsustainable in the modern world and as to foreign policy, they amount to national suicide. If he gets elected, that power vacuum will be filed by our enemies, who would then destroy us.
On a more basic level, I am deeply troubled by his "blame America" attitude. I simply do not believe that if we withdraw from the rest of the world, they won't come here looking to kill us.
I am also deeply troubled by his relationship with the truthers. It reflects an unsoundness of mind and thought process.
In my humble opinion, he is the republican version of kucinich, and if he had a chance to win, he would be a very dangerous man.
But, he has no chance to win. So, I anticipate that he will be nothing more than an amusement during this election cycle."
and as expected, I received in return a long ramble of Ron Paul talking points, which conveniently talk only about what should be, and never mention what the consequences would be if those ideas come to fruition.
So, losing patience, I cut to the chase and asked... "with all due respect, what you have written here has absolutely nothing to do with the reality of what a Ron Paul presidency would mean to this country. Talking points aside, really, do you believe the 9/11 truthers? Do you believe that if we withdraw from the international community, we will be safer? Do you believe that we should dismantle our military and trust our safety to a few surface to air missiles? I don't."
And in reply I received more talking points about the divide between the rich and the poor, and WMDs not in Iraq, and Ron Paul being a "put American first" patriot and his candidacy being about waking people up to the inconsistancy of both sides.
And mixed up in the middle was this little gem:
As far as the 9/11 truth movement, I absolutely agree with them, just as I agree that the 2 unexploded bombs pulled out of the Murah building Oklahoma City were put there by criminals inside our government at the time.
I immediately went into "Ack" mode, actually, I went into "Ack Ack Ack" mode and forwarded it to my sister... with sirens blaring. "Dump him! Dump him!" said I, and then sat back in my chair thinking... whew. I should have just used the Ron Paul short answer.
But, perhaps it was worth it, as my sister replied "OMG! What a yutz!"
Ah. I just love Yiddish, it's just so... expressive!
As for a Ron Paul Presidency... well... That's not going to happen. And I'd bet every cent in my pocket too!
and... this just in on a tip from DoubleU...
heh. I love Frank J.
Posted by LindaSoG at July 9, 2007 06:03 AM
Comments
She didn't like Bush, and she didn't like Kerry either.
What is wrong with that? :)
Ron Pualians, they are the wackiest people. It is almost cult like with them. When I see Ron Paul I think of this guy:
(If the is no image click this link)
http://www.unexplainedstuff.com/images/geuu_01_img0206.jpg
and his followers are just as nuts. They have no idea how absolutely crazy they sound. Ron Paul's biggest liability are his supporters.
Posted by: DoubleU at July 9, 2007 08:21 AM
ack! I LOVE YOU! You kill me.
Posted by: Laura at July 9, 2007 08:24 AM
Whew! Close call!
Posted by: Fred Jameson at July 9, 2007 08:43 AM
Well, he's up to 3rd place in the GOP race, so I imagine at some point the RP-haters will realize that their tactic of attacking what they perceive to be "Paultards" is not working.
Posted by: Chris at July 9, 2007 10:43 AM
and here come the delusional.
Third place? Bwahahahahahaha!
Oh my. What a yutz.
Posted by: LindaSoG at July 9, 2007 11:05 AM
RINO, he's been in politics for 36 years or more, everytime I see him I think Kucinich. The same vacuous thinking. He is consistent for sure, but so is Ted Kennedy, neither will get my vote.
Posted by: Jack at July 9, 2007 12:08 PM
THIRD PLACE?
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
In what, some blog's poll? HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
You Paultard clowns are so entertaining!
Posted by: Beth at July 9, 2007 12:19 PM
Y'know, this is why you need Technorati tags or categories, because the Paultards sit at Technorati all day searching for blog posts to troll. "Ron Paul" is always in the top three or four search terms.
'Cause, you know, you love being trolled by clowns.
;-)
Posted by: Beth at July 9, 2007 02:57 PM
Was this your first encounter with a Ron Paul Zombie? The reason I call them that is that it's like Night of the Living Dead -- they suddenly pop up all over and try to eat your brain.
Posted by: rightwingprof at July 9, 2007 03:21 PM
They found me even without the technorati tags. I've denied most of the comments, Beth. You know how that goes.
Posted by: LindaSoG at July 9, 2007 03:47 PM
Third from the bottom? Third place in the democrat choices? Third place as in who do you think has absolutely no chance?
Posted by: DoubleU at July 9, 2007 06:26 PM
Hey Linda, you might want to embed this: Ron Paul is the only one that can save us.
http://www.youtube.com/v/0p9NBi0DwQw
Posted by: DoubleU at July 9, 2007 06:43 PM
I should give credit where credit is due, that came from:
http://www.imao.us/archives/008099.html/
Posted by: DoubleU at July 9, 2007 07:20 PM
I linked it out front, thanks DoubleU.
Posted by: LindaSoG at July 9, 2007 07:56 PM
We don't hate Ron Paul, we just find his supporters absolutely farging insane.
Posted by: DoubleU at July 9, 2007 07:57 PM
Third place???
To all the Ron Paultards: A guy who isn't "officially" in the run is killing him. Stop listening to the voices in your head and take a deep breath of reality. He ain't gettin' the nomination. He ain't gettin' the Veep nod. He ain't even gettin' First Runner-Up or an honorable mention either.
Posted by: raz0r at July 10, 2007 02:45 PM
And you know why he isn't raz0r? Because he knows too much about 9/11!!!!!!!11!!!! (sound effect) DAAA-DAA-DAH-Nah-NA!
So Linda, did your sister dump him?
Posted by: DoubleU at July 10, 2007 06:53 PM
I learned an interesting lesson about Ron Paul supporters over the last few days, many of them hate Jews.
Posted by: LindaSoG at July 10, 2007 08:51 PM
uh... yeah DoubleU. She won't see him again.
My sister don't date no yutz.
Posted by: LindaSoG at July 10, 2007 08:58 PM
Hi everyone! Thanks for all of your concerns for my soul. It was just one date. Once the yutz factor came in to play I knew there would NOT be another. Heh, he hasn't called anyway! I'm no truther and no paultard! Cheers.
Posted by: laura at July 10, 2007 09:45 PM
I thought everyone might need a little clarification so for the record...
Saying someone is a yutz is similar to saying s/he [have to be egalitarian ...] is a jerk, and probably not a particularly smart one at that.
more yiddish cussin
A Putz is a dickhead; A Yutz is an asshole; A Schlemeil always spills his soup; A Schlmazel person who the soup is spilt on; Some who is Mishugena is a crazy person; Gayn Cacken Ofn yam - Go shit in the ocean. (I love Gayn Cacken - go shit. one of my favs)
Posted by: laura at July 10, 2007 10:06 PM
Gah. Laura!
You spelled it wrong!
Gai kakhen afenyam
Posted by: LindaSoG at July 10, 2007 10:13 PM
not according to the freakin google page i took it from! but you're probably right....
Posted by: laura at July 10, 2007 10:18 PM
I guess since its phonetic, it doesn't really matter, but... that's the way I'm used to seeing it.
Posted by: LindaSoG at July 10, 2007 10:21 PM