John Stewart on Ron Paul

[MasterOfMeatPuppets]

The guy who wants to limit the US government and let the free market do it's thing is going to tell corporations how to spend their hard-earned money?

[Dr J Jones]

The guy who wants to limit the US government and let the free market do it's thing is going to tell corporations how to spend their hard-earned money?

how do you figure?

Do you mean not allowing them to buy candidates and control elections?
That is what they are doing

[MasterOfMeatPuppets]

The guy who wants to limit the US government and let the free market do it's thing is going to tell corporations how to spend their hard-earned money?

how do you figure?

Do you mean not allowing them to buy candidates and control elections?
That is what they are doing

"Campaign finance reform" is a hot issue on Capitol Hill again in the wake of the Enron collapse. One very prominent Senator, who has championed the reform cause from the beginning, embarrassingly received thousands for his own campaign from the failed company. Oblivious to his hypocrisy, he recently appeared on national television lamenting that "Enron has tainted all of us. This shows why we need campaign finance reform."

If the Senator and so many others in Congress believe so strongly in campaign finance reform, why is money in politics such a big problem? In other words, why don't these politicians simply put their money where their mouth is, act with integrity, and do a better job of policing their own campaigns?

I agree with him that a big problem exists. Special interest money has a huge influence in Washington, and it has a tremendous effect on both foreign and domestic policy. Yet we ought to be asking ourselves why corporations and interest groups are willing to give politicians millions of dollars in the first place. Obviously their motives are not altruistic. Simply put, they do it because the stakes are so high. They know government controls virtually every aspect of our economy and our lives, and that they must influence government to protect their interests. Our federal government, which was intended to operate as a very limited constitutional republic, has instead become a virtually socialist leviathan that redistributes trillions of dollars. We can hardly be surprised when countless special interests fight for the money. The only true solution to the campaign money problem is a return to a proper constitutional government that does not control the economy. Big government and big campaign money go hand-in-hand.

The so-called reform legislation being proposed is clearly unconstitutional. The First amendment unquestionably grants individuals and businesses the free and unfettered right to advertise, lobby, and contribute to politicians as they choose. More importantly, the Constitution does not grant Congress the power to regulate campaigns. In fact, article II expressly authorizes the regulation of elections, so the omission of campaigns is glaring. While some in the media have raised First amendment questions, few seem to understand that Congress clearly lacks the constitutional power to regulate campaigns at all.

Campaign finance reform really means more regulations, more controls, more telling the American people how they can spend their money and how they can lobby Congress. Your freedoms should not be restricted because some politicians cannot control themselves. The problem is that there are members of Congress who yield to the temptation and influence of money, who effectively sell their votes to those who can give them money and keep them in office. If enough members did not yield to the temptation, they would not have to posture with phony campaign finance reform bills and they would not have to undermine the Constitution.

We need to get money out of government. Only then will money not be important in politics. Campaign finance laws will not make politicians more ethical, but they will make it harder for average Americans to influence Washington.

February 8, 2002

Dr. Ron Paul is a Republican member of Congress from Texas.

http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig/paul13.html

Any more questions?

[NickasInSaltLick]

Like I said before, if Ron Paul had any balls at all, he'd tell the Republican Party to go fuck themselves. Until he does, he's no better than the rest of them. He's just another Republican. He won't though. He needs their cash.

[Skate4RnR]

How will electing Ron Paul change anything? Gridlock will continue in Washington.

[cantstopthemusic]

Gridlock will continue in Washington.

One can only hope.

[Skate4RnR]

Ha ha. You're blind cantstop! Blind I tell ya, can't you see that Ron Paul trooof!?

[cantstopthemusic]

You do know that the size of the government i.e. the number of government employees has gone down since Obama became president, right?

Actually, it has gone UP by 136,500 since Obama took office.

[MasterOfMeatPuppets]

You do know that the size of the government i.e. the number of government employees has gone down since Obama became president, right?

Actually, it has gone UP by 136,500 since Obama took office.

Can either of you back this up?

[Skate4RnR]

Actually the jobs have stayed exactly the same!

[Dark80sChris]

Dr. Psul injects real issues into the debates. When I watch these corporate establishment Wall Street internationalist whores like Rick Perry and Mitt Romney talk, it's like diet politics. It's like eating a cheeseburger without the burger, you know?

Ron Paul speaks directly and often about the size of the federal government. He's also been talking about this financial crisis for about thirty years now and predicted it. Dr. Psul also mentions specific organizations like the Federal Reserve banking cartel that creates money and credit out of thin air, or the department of education. He even mentions the military industrial complex which President Eisenhower warned us about in his farewell speech. What other candidate has the temerity and the courage to speak against the establishment like Ron Paul?? None of 'em.

As for Iran getting a nuke- who fucking cares. Israel has enough nukes and missiles to bomb Iran back into the stone age. Shouldn't you be more concerned about North Korea? That guy is always shooting missiles all over the place. You're not concerned about NK because they don't have any oil or other resources the multinational corporations can plunder. Or how about Pakistan shooting one at India? What about Pol Pot who was responsible for 1,700,000–2,500,000 of his own people, or how about Mao killed 40-70 million of his own people? Where were the bleeding hearts for those people? Why didn't NATO go in there and save those souls? Eh?

We shouldn't be the policeman of the world. The crumbling American Empire is spreading itself too thin, just like the Roman Empire before it. The country is broke and our own infrastructure is rotting away.

“It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world.”- George Washington

If we had listened to the founding fathers and obeyed the constitution, our country would be prosperous and the world would be a more peaceful place. We would also have a lot more of our own freedoms. The corporate media is always saying: "They hate us for our freedoms." Well, they must not hate us too much anymore because for the past ten years we've been losing a lot of our freedom and liberty.

[Constantine]

A Paul/Palin ticket would easily destroy Obamas clown show in the election.

[crabfan]

A Paul/Palin ticket would easily destroy Obamas clown show in the election.

Palin??? I can't see RP picking her. She's a sellout like most of the GOP (and democrats too for that matter).

[Tommy2Tone84]

You do know that the size of the government i.e. the number of government employees has gone down since Obama became president, right?

Too many "czars" for my taste...

Anyone who thinks the federal government "knows best" is misinformed and probably living off the system.

The goverment fucks up, but if you think corporations don't fuck up, and wouldn't fuck up more if it weren't for laws and regulations the government inacted to protect you, you're misinformed, and probably an idiot.

You just described all of the Tea Party and most Republicans.

[Cyd]

Ron Paul: Close foreign military bases

Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul said Sunday that American military bases around the world should be closed.

"I think a submarine is a very worthwhile weapon. I believe we can defend ourselves with submarines and all our troops back at home. This whole idea that we have to be in 130 countries and 900 bases… is an old fashioned idea," the Texas congressman said on CBS's "Face the Nation." “It makes no sense at all. Besides, we're bankrupt - we can't afford it any longer."

Paul claimed that it would save money to close bases and bring the troops home, freeing up service members to spend money in the United States.

"It would save us a lot of money," he said. "All those troops would spend their money here at home. Besides, those troops overseas aggravate our enemies, motivate our enemies. I think it's a danger to our national defense."

American foreign policy, he said, had to put more emphasis on diplomacy, as opposed to military force.

"We have 12,000 diplomats. I'm suggesting that, maybe, we ought to use some of them," Paul said. "Just think of how we prevented a nuclear war with the Soviets when the Soviet missiles were in Cuba. We didn't say we're going to attack you. Kennedy and Khrushchev talked and made a deal."

Paul added that he opposed sanctions to Iran, because they represented "the initial step to war."


I'm lovin' this. Even if there is gridlock in congress he's saying what I wanna hear. He's putting it out there. Hot for Ron Paul here.

[Skate4RnR]

What a fucking nutcase!

[SeminiferousButtNoid]

That Bob Schieffer interview with Ron Paul on Face The Nation was ridiculous. Schieffer was gunning for a juicy out-of-context soundbite and was shut down hard. I loved Schieffer's backpedal when he said no one in the government said they would bomb Iran, even when Hilary Clinton, Panetta, and others said that it wasn't off the table. Of course he quickly retreated and tried to change the subject. Schieffer's Democrat statist warmongering bias was so transparent you could peel it off and use it for saran wrap. Fun Fact: According to Ron Paul's camp, he was supposed to have 20 minutes on Face The Nation, like he had with David Gregory last Sunday. Yet Schieffer cut him off after ten...

[MickeyG]

Anakin Skywalker was right, what we need is a dictatorship! None of this gridlock bullshit! One man, one decision maker!

[Cyd]

It was obvious to me too the way Schieffer rushed and cut off Ron Paul. But Ron Paul didn't give up and got it out there anyway without hesitation. Here's great ideas about the military and an even better way to get out of bankruptcy. Why "900 bases in 130 countries." Why? Alot of people have been screaming about "bring 'em all home" for decades. But you know, if they did that the Generals and and the rest of the lifers would be out of jobs or at least downsized. Who gives a shit what happens in those fucked up foreign countries. They HATE us and don't want us and I don't blame them. The U.S. has given enough blood and money. None of it concerns this country, they are all civil wars. China, Russia, and India never interfere in other countries. It's all been said a million times.

[MurrayFiend]

Actually the jobs have stayed exactly the same!

[cantstopthemusic]

That Bob Schieffer interview with Ron Paul on Face The Nation was ridiculous. Schieffer was gunning for a juicy out-of-context soundbite and was shut down hard. I loved Schieffer's backpedal when he said no one in the government said they would bomb Iran, even when Hilary Clinton, Panetta, and others said that it wasn't off the table. Of course he quickly retreated and tried to change the subject. Schieffer's Democrat statist warmongering bias was so transparent you could peel it off and use it for saran wrap. Fun Fact: According to Ron Paul's camp, he was supposed to have 20 minutes on Face The Nation, like he had with David Gregory last Sunday. Yet Schieffer cut him off after ten...

"Face The Nation" is a 30 minute show (minus commercials).

"Meet The Press" is an hour long show (minus commercials).

I HIGHLY, HIGHLY doubt he was promised "the entire show" (minus about 2 minutes).

Nobody gets that amount of time.

[Tommy2Tone84]

Anakin Skywalker was right, what we need is a dictatorship! None of this gridlock bullshit! One man, one decision maker!

Just the man for the job

[Tommy2Tone84]

It was obvious to me too the way Schieffer rushed and cut off Ron Paul. But Ron Paul didn't give up and got it out there anyway without hesitation. Here's great ideas about the military and an even better way to get out of bankruptcy. Why "900 bases in 130 countries." Why? Alot of people have been screaming about "bring 'em all home" for decades. But you know, if they did that the Generals and and the rest of the lifers would be out of jobs or at least downsized. Who gives a shit what happens in those fucked up foreign countries. They HATE us and don't want us and I don't blame them. The U.S. has given enough blood and money. None of it concerns this country, they are all civil wars. China, Russia, and India never interfere in other countries. It's all been said a million times.

Where the fuck are you getting your information from?

[Cyd]

Ron Paul: Close foreign military bases

Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul said Sunday that American military bases around the world should be closed.

"I think a submarine is a very worthwhile weapon. I believe we can defend ourselves with submarines and all our troops back at home. This whole idea that we have to be in 130 countries and 900 bases… is an old fashioned idea," the Texas congressman said on CBS's "Face the Nation." “It makes no sense at all. Besides, we're bankrupt - we can't afford it any longer."

Paul claimed that it would save money to close bases and bring the troops home, freeing up service members to spend money in the United States.

"It would save us a lot of money," he said. "All those troops would spend their money here at home. Besides, those troops overseas aggravate our enemies, motivate our enemies. I think it's a danger to our national defense."

American foreign policy, he said, had to put more emphasis on diplomacy, as opposed to military force.

"We have 12,000 diplomats. I'm suggesting that, maybe, we ought to use some of them," Paul said. "Just think of how we prevented a nuclear war with the Soviets when the Soviet missiles were in Cuba. We didn't say we're going to attack you. Kennedy and Khrushchev talked and made a deal."

Paul added that he opposed sanctions to Iran, because they represented "the initial step to war."


I'm lovin' this. Even if there is gridlock in congress he's saying what I wanna hear. He's putting it out there. Hot for Ron Paul here.

I got it from Face the Nation? I just posted that information above?