The move is on to destroy Dr. Ron Paul - Petition for him to stay in the frey for the GOP nomination

[Ferret Annica]

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The chairman of the Michigan Republican Party, Saul Anuzis said he will try to bar Ron Paul from future GOP presidential debates because of remarks the Texas congressman made that suggested the Sept. 11 attacks were the fault of U.S. foreign policy.

Do something for free speech and go sign the petition to fight this neocon power play in the GOP. The GOP party hacks and neocon garbage will be pulling all the stops out to get Dr. Paul.

You don't have to be Republican to sign this petition. You just have to be an American who loves free speech and who is concerned about the sort of neocon filth we all need to scrub from government.

http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?RPRNC08&1

I am a Green, and I plan on voting Democrat and want to see a vibrant and empowered Democratic party with a much larger presence in the next Congress. There is not a thing wrong with helping the better GOP candidates gain strength to give them influence over those who want to preserve the status quo of war and making the rich richer. Even if they do not get the GOP nod, helping the Dr. Pauls is the right thing to do.

[Ganja Ninja]

1. I'd much rather see him drop out and run as an independent.

Split the GOP vote 3 ways between him, Bloomberg/Hagel and the nominee.

[OHdem10]

2. He stated at the Debate He will not run as Independent

I knew at the Debates the GOP would try to get him
out of the future debates.

No Dissenters Aloud.

[txaslftist]

16. He'd take a few of us with him, too though.

The libertarians have been looking for a party to hang with, and they've been increasingly going blue. If he goes independent, the democrats with a libertarian leaning may just go with him, too.

Not that anything is going to keep us out of the white house in '09, but it's a thought.

[Rosemary2205]

3. With all due respect

Why should any of us give a flying turd what the GOP does with Ron Paul? Keeping an anti-Iraq war voice in the GOP debates is meaningless to me, and as a Democrat, and as this is DEMOCRATIC Underground, I really do not understand why anything is being asked of me to help a REPUBLICAN politically.

Ask me to help him with a charity, or pray for his well being as a human being, no prob. -- But politically? Sorry. The only good puke is an out of work puke. Is Ron Paul going to be with us on single payer healthcare? Is he going to be with us energy policy? Is he going to be with us on strengthening social security? I highly doubt it.

[MH1]

9. Why? Because many republicans only listen to republicans.

And Ron Paul has something to say about Iraq that they need to hear.

He doesn't have a prayer of winning the nomination. But having him speaking his mind let's other republicans know that not only Democrats oppose the war - so maybe it's okay for them to oppose it, too. And if we want the war to end, we need republicans to hear voices like Ron Paul's.

[Rosemary2205]

13. I understand but

it's my very humble opinion that the republican citizens who still haven't come around on Iraq never will. I really don't see Ron Paul as having any particular value with the R's, and with the D's he's a token.

As for republican lawmakers, IMHO once the oil contracts are signed, sealed and delivered they'll be glad to join the Dems in getting out. I really don't think they care what their constituents have to say about it either way.

Just MHO.

[Ferret Annica]

10. I do not support Ron Paul for POTUS

And I am tired of the politics of divide and conquer the neocons like Smirk and Snarl promote.

All I ask is you or others consider being a good neighbor to those in the other side of this two party system.

I mean, just because the neocons are spiteful and hateful power junkies, there is no reason to not rise above how they would do things and give this man a helping hand in fighting the GOPers we all hate the worst.

In any event, thanks for your feedback.

[Rosemary2205]

17. I used to feel that way too.

I used to think politics was a collabortive effort. Each side stakes out their territory and then has to come to some sort of middle of the road consensus to get anything done.

Since being exposed to the internet - to more facts than main stream media provides - I have come to realize, over time, that politics has always been a "take no prisoners" contact sport. There was never a "kindler gentler" political landscape. Oh sure, prior to RW hate radio, the populace was more civil regarding politics, but in Washington the atmosphere, I think, was always kill or be killed.


Having said all that. I do appreciate the sentiment of wanting to reach across the aisle and work together to solve America's problems, and have honest civil discourse. I'm just skeptical as to whether a Democrat showing a civil side will be a benefit or a detriment.

[Ferret Annica]

20. I see them as winning if in the end we are just as vindictive as they are

Leading by example is a good thing. And it doesn't put one in a weak position if the positive and constructive example it creates attracts people to the right candidate and party in an election.

I love this country, but fear the government the Bushes and Cheneys give us. I not only want their modus operandi to go, I want the atmosphere of fear and loathing they infect people with to go too.

I do know one thing definitely for sure, I was once a Democratic Precinct Committee person in the Democratic Party in Oregon. Before I go back into the fold, I am going to have to see the Democratic Party work to unite people in the spirit of JFK's words in his inspiring and immortal inaugural address in January of 1961.

That is how I see it and essentially what I am getting at anyway.

Thanks for the feedback.

[txaslftist]

18. It's Democratic Underground, not Democrat Underground.

There are Libertarians, Greens, Reds, Socialists and even backsliding Republicans here, too.

I'd like to think that the GOP trying to squash one of its dissenters in an UN DEMOCRATIC way would concern folks who believe in, you know, democracy.

[TwilightGardener]

4. Well, then, why wouldn't we help Chuck Hagel? He's not a neocon--

and they're trying to oust him from the Senate in Nebraska--should we all send him money? Do you see how silly that would be? I am not interested in helping the Republican party "recover its senses" and become better and stronger--I want them to be defeated and disabled because of their idiot neocon ideology.

[dogday]

5. Could Ron Paul be the next Republican's Ralph Nader?

Split the Repulikan vote? Wouldn't that be something that we would want?

[Monk06]

31. No he's the next Ross Perot. That's why he freaks the GOP. If they were smart they would

shut their traps about him. If he goes indy
they are going to be in a world of shit.

[krispos42]

6. Over 1,400 so far

It went up by like a hundred while I was working on it.

He doesn't have a chance in hell of winning. But he has a strong chance of bringing actual dialogue up in debate instead more of this "they hate us for our freedoms" applause-line rhetorical bullshit.

[napi21]

7. I think Paul is the best of the bunch, but we all know he doesn't stand a chance

of winning the nomination. I think we all know he will have to drop out at some point, due to lack of money. I just would prefer he didn't drop out because of intimidation!

[Ferret Annica]

11. Even should he not get the nod...

... I would like to see him go to the convention with enough political capital to tweak neocon noses. Those criminals who gave us the chimp deserve all the convention headaches that can be mustered up to bedevil them.

[krispos42]

8. 5th Rec! WooHoo! n/t

[EC]

12. But, but, didn't he come in 2nd as the winner on Fox's own

poll vote on the debates? So they want to get rid of the 2nd most voted for? Hum, sounds like they are scared people may get the right idea that Republican policy is the reason for this war and for the attack...Bin Laden himself said it was because of our bases in the East...but noooo we aren't to believe him, he just did it because he hates our freedoms....Ha, ha, could they be any more childish?

[file83]

22. I heard Ron Paul came in FIRST place on the Fox poll...

http://claudiareiher.blogspot.com/2007/05/ron-paul-in-first-place-on-fox-news.html

[Ilsa]

14. Thank you,

I'm in his district. I've posted this link to a message board for people who support his honesty. Here's what the newspaper article reported from idiots who commented negatively on Dr. Paul's remarks. They don't understand his point:

snip

Eric Dondero, a former senior aide to Paul (1997-2003), said in a telephone interview from Angleton that he thought Paul's comments were "deplorable" and that he was embarrassed by Paul's statements, explaining that Paul no longer represented the views of South Texas. He called on Paul to resign.

snip

Otherwise, Dondero said, if Paul doesn't leave, then Congressional District 14 voters from Victoria to Galveston "will appear to be endorsing his treacherous, and near treasonous views on foreign policy."

snip

Marguerite Lauger of Victoria, a former campaign worker for Paul, said she was appalled by Paul's comments, pointing out that America's policies in the Middle East can't justify what happened on 9/11. She said her similarly annoyed granddaughter told her last night that Paul won't be getting her vote, either.

http://www.thevictoriaadvocate.com/428/story/57600.html

[TwilightGardener]

15. Here's a question for y'all--if anyone thought he had an actual

chance to win either the GOP nom or the general, would we be trying to help him stay in the race?

[BurtWorm]

19. Ron Paul is the best thing that ever happened to Rudy Giuliani

I can't believe he wants him off the stage.

[file83]

23. They want him off the stage because Ron Paul is controling the conversation...

...and his message is this: Bad U.S. foreign policy is main cause for hatred of the U.S. around the world.

The CIA has said this.

The 9/11 Commission Report said this.

They don't want Giuliani debating this issue for long, because in the end, Giuliani will lose that debate.

[BurtWorm]

25. That audience can't hear that message.

They're looking for an answer to that message that rocks their world.

[loudsue]

21. Dems should switch parties and vote for Ron Paul in the primary.

Just a thought. Repervs saddled us with LIEberman, and I think it's payback time.

:kick:

[Ferret Annica]

24. Interesting thought

But looking at how the radical rightwing wingnutz are whining about 'Paulheads' spamming Internet polls that would probably mand their heads explode.

[NuttyFluffers]

27. well, from my experience registered as such...

it'll take a miracle for him to actually be on the ballot come the primaries. it's a wonderful thought, but i've often found out GOP party doesn't run primaries. well, at least i've never got to vote in any primary that actually chooses a candidate. often it's all decided before even the primaries, let alone after the first few states.

[NuttyFluffers]

26. *sigh* see, this is what i have to go through being registered GOP

they snuff out any potential candidates that might be mildly better than full blooded evil. no sugar, no cream, just straight up evil. i wonder if he'll make it to the primaries for me to vote for him... it'll perhaps be the first time i would get a chance to vote for a better GOP candidate than the schlock that's chosen without seemingly any consent beforehand.

but i get great propaganda from the party! nice and glossy! wonderful for mildly obscene and humorous collages and decoupage...
:evilgrin:

[loudsue]

29. Well, fluffers, the Dems kind of have the same problem! n/t

:kick:

[Horse with no Name]

28. I'm planning on concentrating my efforts on my own candidates

and let the repubs deal with their own.

[ComerPerro]

30. Simple as this task is, I won't even do this for Ron Paul

[maine_raptor]

32. I understand your point.

This site is called the "Democratic Underground", and is here to support Democratic candidates and Democratic points of view. But perhaps, once in a while, we should de-capitalize the name and step back.

The chairman of the Michigan Republican Party, Saul Anuzis said he will try to bar Ron Paul from future GOP presidential debates because of remarks the Texas congressman made that suggested the Sept. 11 attacks were the fault of U.S. foreign policy.

Let's stop a moment here, and look at this issue from both the capitalized Democratic and un-capitalized democratic view.

Capitalized:
How would any of my fellow Dems feel if a state party chairman decided that he didn't like, say, Gravel's statement about his fellow contenders ("scare me") and then tried to get him kicked off the next debate?


Un-capitalized:
One individual is attempting to select the choices for one of the two political parties because he disagrees with something that was said.


Either way there is something particularly un-American about Mr. Anuzis attempts.

Now having said that, I'm not signing the petition, Ferret Mike, because 1) I'm a Dem, not a Rep, and 2) I'm damn glad it's not OUR party that's having this squabble.

Pass the :popcorn:

[krkaufman]

33. Ron Paul didn't realize that the Republican debate was not designated ...

... as a Free Speech Zone. I hope and pray that they *do* ban him from their debates, demonstrating their commitment to democracy.