2:03 PM, December 26th, 2011

I just cannot see how he can be such a president without explaining away the newsletters convincingly….But the words and sentiments in those newsletters cannot attach themselves - even by mere appearance - to a potential president of this country. I see that now. Maybe my admiration for Paul’s courage and his extraordinary resistance to the authoritarianism and intolerance in his own party blinded me to this. But you can’t be both the solution and the problem.

Andrew Sullivan re-thinks his Ron Paul endorsement.

3:00 PM, December 23rd, 2011

thenewrepublic:

For years, Ron Paul published a series of newsletters that dispensed political news and investment advice, but also routinely indulged in bigotry. Here’s a selection of some especially inflammatory passages.

“The Los Angeles riots of 1992: ‘Order was only restored in L.A. when it came time for the blacks to pick up their welfare checks three days after rioting began. … What if the checks had never arrived? No doubt the blacks would have fully privatized the welfare state through continued looting. But they were paid off and the violence subsided.’”

Continue reading here.

Our Michael Tomasky says it’s time for Paul to answer these charges of racism. A sampling: “Among Republicans and conservatives, there simply aren’t enough people who care whether he’s a racist or not.”

Reblogged from The New Republic

10:45 AM, December 22nd, 2011

Frontpage: Thursday, Dec. 22

Rove Tells Boehner to Cave on Tax: The House GOP continues to take criticism over its failure to pass a payroll-tax extension. Meanwhile the Boehner and Majority Leader Eric Cantor are taking heat from Republicans for failing to warn their Senate counterparts that, you know, it wasn’t going to pass in the House.
At Least 63 Killed in Iraq Bombings: A dozen bombs killed 63 people in Baghdad on Thursday. These are the first major acts of violence since American troops pulled out earlier this week.
Romney: I’d Deport Obama’s Uncle: Onyango Obama, 67, is a Kenyan with a case pending in Massachusetts for not returning to Kenya 20 years ago.
U.S. Admits Blame in Pakistan Strike: The Pentagon has admitted responsibility for an air strike that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers on the Afghan border last month, blaming “inadequate co-ordination” with Pakistani officers.
Ron Paul Storms Out of CNN Interview: The candidate who had been complaining about a lack of coverage said he was sick of being “pestered” about racist newsletters that were sent in his name during the ’90s. He took off his mic and stormed off he set with CNN’s Gloria Borger.

Photo: People watch the launch of the Soyuz TMA-03M space ship from Baikonur, Kazakhstan carry a new crew to the International Space Station. (Dmitry Lovetsky / AP Photo)

Frontpage: Monday, Dec. 19

Kim Jong-il Died of Heart Attack: After 17 years in power, the North Korean dictator died while riding a train on Saturday.
Kim Jong-un Takes Over N. Korea: Kim Jong-il’s third son now has his finger on North Korea’s nuclear trigger. The first two sons were “too unpredictable.”
House to Vote Down Payroll Tax: After enjoying bi-partisan support in the Senate, a two-month extension of the payroll tax cut is set to be voted down in the House today.
Paul Leads in New Iowa Poll: After Gingrich’s 13% stumble, libertarian Ron Paul is currently leading in the key primary state.
U.S. Could Transfer Gitmo Inmates: The U.S. is reportedly considering inmates into the custody of the Afghan government as secret discussions with the Taliban “have reached a critical juncture.”

Photo: Hundreds of North Koreans gather to mourn the death of their leader Kim Jong-il in Pyongyang, North Korea. (Anonymous)

Back during the 2008 campaign, The New Republic’s James Kirchick tracked down old copies (late 1980s and early 1990s) of a newsletter that went out to subscribers under Ron Paul’s name. A paraphrase, above.

Ron Paul: Batty Old Reactionary for President

4:05 PM, December 14th, 2011

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But most important, I don’t believe that any of the other candidates, except perhaps Huntsman, would cut the military-industrial complex as deeply as it needs to be cut. What Paul understands - and it’s why he has so much young support - is that the world has changed. Seeking global hegemony in a world of growing regional powers among developing nations is a fool’s game, destined to provoke as much backlash as lash, and financially disastrous as every failed empire in history has shown.

—Our blogger Andrew Sullivan endorses Ron Paul for the GOP nomination.

But most important, I don’t believe that any of the other candidates, except perhaps Huntsman, would cut the military-industrial complex as deeply as it needs to be cut. What Paul understands - and it’s why he has so much young support - is that the world has changed. Seeking global hegemony in a world of growing regional powers among developing nations is a fool’s game, destined to provoke as much backlash as lash, and financially disastrous as every failed empire in history has shown.

—Our blogger Andrew Sullivan endorses Ron Paul for the GOP nomination.

The Cheat Sheet

Frontpage: Thursday, Dec. 22

Frontpage: Monday, Dec. 19

Back during the 2008 campaign, The New Republic’s James Kirchick tracked down old copies (late 1980s and early 1990s) of a newsletter that went out to subscribers under Ron Paul’s name. A paraphrase, above.

Ron Paul: Batty Old Reactionary for President

Newsweek

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