Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, has announced he will not run for his House seat that he has held for close to 24 years. This decision by the 75-year-old lawmaker will allow him to concentrate on his latest presidential run.
Paul has run for president three times, once on the Libertarian Party ticket. Which he has amazed a small and enthusiastic following, he regularly polls below most other Republicans such as Mitt Romney and Michele Bachmann. Virtually every political pundit gives him no chance to actually win the nomination, not to speak of the presidency.
Paul has earned his following through a strange combination of radical libertarianism in domestic and economic policy and even more radical isolationism (his followers prefer the less pungent term "non interventionism" in foreign and defense policy. His following has been enthusiastic, but has never been numerous enough to advance the Paulitinian message on a national level. Nevertheless he has been able to beat not only liberal Democrats but more hawkish Republicans in his Texas district election after election.
The best way to label Paul's political philosophy is that of an 18th century classical liberal. His views on small government go far beyond even the more fervent dreams of tea party activists and most conservative politicians. Paul would eliminate entire cabinet departments and government agencies, downsizing the federal government drastically. His criteria is that if the function is not specifically enumerated in the U.S. Constitution, it ought not to be a federal purview.
Paul's stance on foreign affairs and defense are even more controversial. Paul would essentially withdraw American forces from anywhere outside the United States they are stationed and would not be inclined to engage in any foreign wars, even ones that are demonstrably motivated by self defense. He uses the language of some radical liberals by "blaming American first," to quote former U.N. ambassador Jeane Kirkpatrick, by suggesting American actions motive Islamic terrorists. The theory, disputed by virtually every Middle Eastern and terrorism expert, is that should America withdraw from the Middle East, the terrorists would leave America alone.
Paul has also been a foe of the Federal Reserve, pushing for a return to the gold standard recently inciting Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke to retort that gold is not money.
After he loses the presidential race and retires from the Congress, Paul will no doubt make himself and his views heard outside of elected office with as much fervor as he has in it. He is often wrong, sometimes right, but always quite colorful and interesting to listen to.
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