Breaking! Many Ron Paul Supporters Aren’t Republicans!

This is news?
Politics • Views: 31,098

Byron York seems to believe it’s news that not all of Ron Paul’s supporters are Republicans, but come on; that’s been incredibly obvious for years. Ron Paul lives out on the fringes where extreme right and extreme left wrap around and meet.

It’s incorrect to call these people “mischief voters,” as York’s headline does, or to imply that they’re Democratic operatives trying to skew the election to help Barack Obama.

This is Ron Paul’s deeply committed base of supporters (otherwise known as “kooks”), and there’s nothing “mischievous” about them.

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56 comments
1 theheat  Tue, Dec 27, 2011 1:20:44pm

Where the freak and Confederate flags meet and live happily ever after.

2 Fat Bastard Vegetarian  Tue, Dec 27, 2011 1:21:54pm

They're nuts!
-Barney Fife

3 SanFranciscoZionist  Tue, Dec 27, 2011 1:24:11pm

re: #1 theheat

Where the freak and Confederate flags meet and live happily ever after.

They've gone where the goblins go,
They're not coming back...

4 S'latch  Tue, Dec 27, 2011 1:24:54pm

Nothing mischievous about them except that they actually want to see the mischief that Ron Paul would do as president.

5 Mostly sane, most of the time.  Tue, Dec 27, 2011 1:25:15pm

How does one sign up to the Loonie toonie party?

6 Slumbering Behemoth Stinks  Tue, Dec 27, 2011 1:28:50pm

re: #5 EmmmieG

How does one sign up to the Loonie toonie party?

Um, Emmmie? The polite term is "Libertarian".
/

7 engineer cat  Tue, Dec 27, 2011 1:32:04pm

it turns out that there's no actual legal requirement for morons to register as republicans

8 nines09  Tue, Dec 27, 2011 1:39:38pm

Who's spookier, Luap Nor or the mixed bag of nuts who believe in him?

9 EdDantes  Tue, Dec 27, 2011 1:41:45pm

re: #6 Slumbering Behemoth

I'm sympathetic toward "libertarians", but" loonetarians" are another matter.

10 lawhawk  Tue, Dec 27, 2011 1:42:26pm

Not surprising that Paul has crossover appeal to the fringe, and the lunatic fringe at that. He's proffered extremist positions for years on end, and they've appealed to a cross section of voters that extends beyond the Democratic or Republican party label.

Paul is first and foremost a libertarian, and his appeal spews from that point. The Republican label is secondary.

But in no way are his supporters usurpers or merely Democratic operatives looking to make mischief for the GOP. They're libertarian supporters who have found a fellow traveler espousing the same kinds of extremist positions they find appealing.

11 Eclectic Infidel  Tue, Dec 27, 2011 1:45:42pm

re: #5 EmmmieG

How does one sign up to the Loonie toonie party?

Back in the day when I wanted to rebel against the status quo (early 20s) I joined the Libertarian Party. They seemed harmless enough and were definitely different than the two dominant parties. However, attending a few meetings in SF quickly exposed the kooks at point blank range. Thanks to the LP, I've been "decline to state" ever since.

12 Mostly sane, most of the time.  Tue, Dec 27, 2011 1:46:50pm

re: #11 eclectic infidel

Back in the day when I wanted to rebel against the status quo (early 20s) I joined the Libertarian Party. They seemed harmless enough and were definitely different than the two dominant parties. However, attending a few meetings in SF quickly exposed the kooks at point blank range. Thanks to the LP, I've been "decline to state" ever since.

You know, a "None of the Above" party would have a lot of followers.

13 bluecheese  Tue, Dec 27, 2011 1:47:23pm

this post make me LOL.

In any case, I can't help but think that there will be a lot of folks that will crossover, and vote on the R side of the ballot. Folks that voted for Obama back in 2007.

We have a wealth of clowns to chose from.

Such a shame that Cain imploded so spectacularly.

14 Slumbering Behemoth Stinks  Tue, Dec 27, 2011 1:49:20pm

And Trump may run as an Independent. This is like the 90's all over again, except Perot was at least amusing.

15 Inconsequential Consequence  Tue, Dec 27, 2011 1:49:54pm

Did you know that when you're ill, you can fall asleep anywhere and anywhen without anyone complaining?

I think that statement can also be applied to politics.

16 The Questionable Timing of a Flea  Tue, Dec 27, 2011 1:51:47pm

The memes of "Ron Paul and his supporters are no true Scotsman Republicans" and "Ron Paul has lots of liberal sympathizers" immediately started cropping up on forums and threads that posted material about his newsletter debacle (Gawker, Mediaite, TPM). I think I noted this in a thread here awhile ago.

I suspect the "why is it being noticed now?" is that calling this out is an efficient method of damage control: Luap Nor hasn't successfully distanced himself from the controversy, so someone has to create optics to explain why he's got consistent support in the Republican primary cycle. And it's the best kind of tactic: one that starts with a half-truth...Paul does have loon supporters that aren't designated with an (R), who are libertarian, are liberal but only know/care about his anti-war or legalization positions, or out in the conspiracy fringe that transcends normal policy divides.

Proposing that his rise is due to wreckers* ends-runs around the possibility that his particular brand of crazy has found more traction this cycle.

* [Hey Sergey..."wreckers" is what is used as a translation in Solezhnitsyn for those accused of disrupting Soviet productivity because of White sympathies. What was the original Russian word that ends up translated as such?]

17 Ben G. Hazi  Tue, Dec 27, 2011 1:54:34pm

re: #2 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

They're nuts!
-Barney Fife

Nip it, nip it in the bud!

18 Wozza Matter?  Tue, Dec 27, 2011 1:58:11pm

I have several Paulians on my facebook - none of whom are partisan in any way or shape.

These people have nothing in common with the Republican party and are in favour of drug legalisation, gay rights & personal responsibility.

They would not be allowed to vote in the GOP primary in their state as I believe they are mostly registered independent.

I would wager most of my possessions that is true across a massive percentage of Pauls supporters.

19 Randall Gross  Tue, Dec 27, 2011 1:59:03pm

Yes it's true -- those orange jump suit Kucinich troofers also pimp Ron Paul!

20 WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.]  Tue, Dec 27, 2011 2:00:07pm

for no reason, Shooby Taylor, the human horn

21 WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.]  Tue, Dec 27, 2011 2:01:08pm

re: #18 wozzablog

I have several Paulians on my facebook - none of whom are partisan in any way or shape.

Are they self-employed or in IT? All the paulians I know are one or the other

22 WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.]  Tue, Dec 27, 2011 2:01:40pm

re: #18 wozzablog

also, they're ALL WHITE MEN

all of them

23 Wozza Matter?  Tue, Dec 27, 2011 2:01:57pm

re: #21 WindUpBird

Are they self-employed or in IT? All the paulians I know are one or the other

Couple of low earners, but yeah - mostly self employed.

24 Mostly sane, most of the time.  Tue, Dec 27, 2011 2:04:06pm

re: #22 WindUpBird

also, they're ALL WHITE MEN

all of them

No, at least two of the Paulians I know are most distinctly women.

25 zora  Tue, Dec 27, 2011 2:05:48pm

do these people not remember that ron paul held his own convention last go round? his supporters are truthers, bigots, people afraid of flouride, black helicopters, and the bilderburgs, weed growers and smokers, birchers, assorted useful idiots, moonbats, teabaggers, a few republicans, and andrew sullivan.

26 Wozza Matter?  Tue, Dec 27, 2011 2:19:55pm

re: #25 zora

do these people not remember that ron paul held his own convention last go round? his supporters are truthers, bigots, people afraid of flouride, black helicopters, and the bilderburgs, weed growers and smokers, birchers, assorted useful idiots, moonbats, teabaggers, a few republicans, and andrew sullivan.

Apparently they do not.

Same old story - I would be amazed if Paul's support holds up in a closed primary state of any size.

27 EdDantes  Tue, Dec 27, 2011 2:21:27pm

I got booted off LGF and had trouble getting back on (server busy). Anyone else?

28 Slumbering Behemoth Stinks  Tue, Dec 27, 2011 2:21:44pm

re: #24 EmmmieG

I lead a charmed life. I don't know a single, solitary Paulbot.

29 engineer cat  Tue, Dec 27, 2011 2:22:56pm

re: #27 EdDantes

I got booted off LGF and had trouble getting back on (server busy). Anyone else?

me too

musta been onna them denial of slurpees attacks

30 Stinky Beaumont  Tue, Dec 27, 2011 2:23:47pm

Apache web server was cranky for a few minutes; a log file got too freakin' big. Fixed now.

31 Mostly sane, most of the time.  Tue, Dec 27, 2011 2:24:21pm

re: #28 Slumbering Behemoth

I lead a charmed life. I don't know a single, solitary Paulbot.

Actually, there are probably people who have heard one or two things they agree with, without digging too deep, and like those one or two things, but know enough not to say anything publicly.

32 funky chicken  Tue, Dec 27, 2011 2:25:19pm

re: #25 zora

do these people not remember that ron paul held his own convention last go round? his supporters are truthers, bigots, people afraid of flouride, black helicopters, and the bilderburgs, weed growers and smokers, birchers, assorted useful idiots, moonbats, teabaggers, a few republicans, and andrew sullivan.

who have been made to feel welcome by many mainstream republicans for years...thus the panic in gop circles now

33 Wozza Matter?  Tue, Dec 27, 2011 2:27:41pm

re: #31 EmmmieG

Actually, there are probably people who have heard one or two things they agree with, without digging too deep, and like those one or two things, but know enough not to say anything publicly.

Eugene Robinson has a great line -
His isolationism appeals, his drug stance appeals, his stuff on personal responsibility appeals - but once people attend a few meetings and discover they will be carrying around their money to go shopping as gold bullion in wheel barrows.....the novelty starts to wear off.

34 engineer cat  Tue, Dec 27, 2011 2:29:53pm

i wonder if when the democratic primary is open in four years it will also be fatally infected by a bunch of self promoters clearly more interested in their speaking fees and book sales than becoming president

35 zora  Tue, Dec 27, 2011 2:30:52pm

re: #27 EdDantes

me too.

36 William Barnett-Lewis  Tue, Dec 27, 2011 2:31:03pm

re: #33 wozzablog

Eugene Robinson has a great line -
His isolationism appeals, his drug stance appeals, his stuff on persona responsibility appeals - but once people attend a few meetings and discover they will be carrying around their money to go shopping as gold bullion in wheel barrows...the novelty starts to wear off.

Except that people like them won't have to worry. The'll be taking the script that the bosses pretend to pay them with to the company store where they'll learn the real meaning of the song "16 tons":

"another day older and deeper in debt"

37 Sol Berdinowitz  Tue, Dec 27, 2011 2:32:17pm

Ron Paul fans are "mischevious" in the sense that they are no longer suportive of the GOP's goal of fielding a candidate who can beat Obama.

38 Wozza Matter?  Tue, Dec 27, 2011 2:33:31pm

re: #37 ralphieboy

Ron Paul fans are "mischevious" in that they are no longer suportive of the GOP's goal of fielding a candidate who can beat Obama.

Well, to be fair, so are Bachmanns, Perry's, Googleboy's & Gingrich's.

39 Mattand  Tue, Dec 27, 2011 2:36:58pm

re: #31 EmmmieG

Actually, there are probably people who have heard one or two things they agree with, without digging too deep, and like those one or two things, but know enough not to say anything publicly.

My brief interest in dear old Dr. Paul was similar to that. Then I found out he was an evolution denier. Hopped off that train right quick.

Something about the fact that a doctor whose career is built around medical/biological science, yet had issues with a cornerstone scientific theory, concerned me. A lot.

40 Sol Berdinowitz  Tue, Dec 27, 2011 2:37:10pm

re: #38 wozzablog

Well, to be fair, so are Bachmanns, Perry's, Googleboy's & Gingrich's.

Whereas lazer gazer, cannot-count-to-three, frothy foam by-product and the passionate patriot all trip over each other to come across as the most "true conservative", RP does not hesitate to think outside the (litter) box.

41 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Tue, Dec 27, 2011 2:38:21pm

wassup, folks?

42 austin_blue  Tue, Dec 27, 2011 2:38:56pm

I cannot tell you how many times I have seen a "911 was an inside job" and a "Ron Paul Revolution- 2012" sticker on the same car in Austin.

Fifty two degrees in Bedfordshire, UK today. Warmest Christmas season since 1920. Colder in Athens and Barcelona. It's just weather, but I'll take it! Going to Bletchley Park tomorrow. Alan Turing, code breakers, Enigma, and Ultra messages. Shortened WW2 by two to three years, depending on your historian. Neat stuff.

Good evening all! Hope you are well.

43 wrenchwench  Tue, Dec 27, 2011 2:39:31pm

From the linked article:

What's true in New Hampshire is also the case in South Carolina, where Paul is 28 points behind Gingrich in the most recent Palmetto Poll. "The economic positions of libertarians are popular here, but Paul's positions on gay marriage, abortion, illegal immigration, and national defense are all antithetical to South Carolina's conservative culture," says Woodard [David Woodard, who runs the Palmetto Poll at Clemson University]. "About 13 percent of the GOP primary electorate are military veterans, and they don't want to bring everyone home. We have a strong pro-life network, and it is knit into the Republican Party at its roots, and the amendment declaring marriage to be something between a man and a woman won with over 70 percent of the vote in South Carolina."

David Woodard doesn't know what he's talking about.

44 allegro  Tue, Dec 27, 2011 2:40:05pm

Oh dear. I just had a really nice conversation with the guy next door who is here with the crew installing 150 miles of natural gas pipeline up the road. Lives in Pennsylvania. Heckuva nice guy. So we were just having a nice talk and he told me how he went exploring the city on Christmas Day but all he saw were homeless people everywhere. He was really shocked by the numbers. I said "welcome to Texas - not a good place to be poor." He kinda nodded. I said it didn't used to be this way, we can thank Rick and his predecessor for much of it.

He agreed that Perry is an idiot and said he was supporting our other guy, Ron Paul. I about did a *thud*. I'm afraid I expressed my true opinion about the nutso guy without reservation. Sure ended that conversation. LOL

45 Wozza Matter?  Tue, Dec 27, 2011 2:40:20pm

re: #42 austin_blue

I cannot tell you how many times I have seen a "911 was an inside job" and a "Ron Paul Revolution- 2012" sticker on the same car in Austin.

Fifty two degrees in Bedfordshire, UK today. Warmest Christmas season since 1920. Colder in Athens and Barcelona. It's just weather, but I'll take it! Going to Bletchley Park tomorrow. Alan Turing, code breakers, Enigma, and Ultra messages. Shortened WW2 by two to three years, depending on your historian. Neat stuff.

Good evening all! Hope you are well.

Yup. Warmest I can remember here for quite some time.

Hope you're enjoying your trip :)

46 Slumbering Behemoth Stinks  Tue, Dec 27, 2011 2:41:39pm

re: #31 EmmmieG

Nah. Most of the people I know IRL aren't very political at all. With perhaps the exception of one relative who recently informed my that the communists have made it illegal to pray in congress. I don't know if she counts, though, as all her political opinions are given to her by televangelists.

47 SanFranciscoZionist  Tue, Dec 27, 2011 2:42:35pm

re: #42 austin_blue

I cannot tell you how many times I have seen a "911 was an inside job" and a "Ron Paul Revolution- 2012" sticker on the same car in Austin.

Fifty two degrees in Bedfordshire, UK today. Warmest Christmas season since 1920. Colder in Athens and Barcelona. It's just weather, but I'll take it! Going to Bletchley Park tomorrow. Alan Turing, code breakers, Enigma, and Ultra messages. Shortened WW2 by two to three years, depending on your historian. Neat stuff.

Good evening all! Hope you are well.

Turing was an astonishing man, who did so much for the world, and was treated so badly in return. Sounds fascinating--is there a museum, or an exhibit?

48 Fat Bastard Vegetarian  Tue, Dec 27, 2011 2:46:49pm

re: #42 austin_blue

Bletchley Park

Admit it. You made that name up...

49 aagcobb  Tue, Dec 27, 2011 3:02:12pm

re: #46 Slumbering Behemoth

Nah. Most of the people I know IRL aren't very political at all. With perhaps the exception of one relative who recently informed my that the communists have made it illegal to pray in congress. I don't know if she counts, though, as all her political opinions are given to her by televangelists.

I bet she votes though, unfortunately.

50 austin_blue  Tue, Dec 27, 2011 3:05:45pm

re: #45 wozzablog

Yup. Warmest I can remember here for quite some time.

Hope you're enjoying your trip :)

Went and saw a Strange Face production of Pinnocchio this afternoon at The Stables outside of Milton Keynes followed by a late late lunch at the Dark Horse in Woburn. What a great day!

She Who Must Be Obeyed is putting together a Friday get-together with her UK musician friends (and all London Lizards should show up!) at 9:30 at Waterloo for a London Walks tour (the best evah!): a quick train ride to Hampton Court to see the traditional festivities at what used to be the Royal Courts. This was the old palace before the Royals moved to Buck House and is mostly forgotten through time. As a history geek, I am front-loaded for this tour. It's also dead cheap, given the price of everything else in London. Be there or be square, we are going to get small.

51 Wozza Matter?  Tue, Dec 27, 2011 3:09:00pm

re: #50 austin_blue

I'll turn my nic blue so you can send me an email.
I'm laid up in bed feeling quite rotten at the moment, but if i can make it I shall.

52 Wozza Matter?  Tue, Dec 27, 2011 3:09:28pm

the nic is now blue

53 austin_blue  Tue, Dec 27, 2011 3:11:23pm

re: #47 SanFranciscoZionist

Turing was an astonishing man, who did so much for the world, and was treated so badly in return. Sounds fascinating--is there a museum, or an exhibit?

Both. The original structure is a National Heritage site. The grounds, which contain the "huts" that individual teams worked within, (nobody really knew what anyone else was doing- it was compartmentalised to a T) are also protected.

I really can't wait to see it. Like I said, tech geek.

54 Slumbering Behemoth Stinks  Tue, Dec 27, 2011 3:34:20pm

re: #49 aagcobb

I bet she votes though, unfortunately.

And it counts as much as yours or mine. :sigh:

I just don't know how a person can get to the ripe old age she is, and still fall for objectively false bullshit.

55 chaosium  Wed, Dec 28, 2011 9:23:49am

Most of the Paultards I know are either "independents" aka all the Republican but with the shame of being CALLED a Republican, or stupid Democrats who LOVE 420 BRAH but don't understand what a States' Rights politician is.

56 chaosium  Wed, Dec 28, 2011 9:36:20am

re: #33 wozzablog

Eugene Robinson has a great line -
His isolationism appeals, his drug stance appeals, his stuff on personal responsibility appeals - but once people attend a few meetings and discover they will be carrying around their money to go shopping as gold bullion in wheel barrows...the novelty starts to wear off.

Yeah, he has more than a few stopped-clock "good ideas", but as they come from the wrong reasons, they'll be implemented poorly and to the same conservative ends.

"his drug stance appeals" For example, he's not for legalizing drugs, he's for States Rights and mini-fascist states.

"his stuff on personal responsibility appeals" How is this any different than the usual GOP plea for bootstraps and no social services ever, no food stamps/welfare/social security/medicare/CDC/FDA/USDA/EPA, though?


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