Ron Paul Meets the Press

This morning the news interview show Meet the Press featured Ron Paul. I'd imagine all those who consider themselves true blue dye-in-the-wool conservative Constitutionalists were paying close attention, for this was the first real mainstream press exposure for Paul to elaborate on his quasi-libertarian perspective.

What I saw was a typically deft and well-prepared Tim Russert tear apart Paul, who appeared to hem and haw even in-and-around what many see as quite principled positions: dramatic reduction of the scope of government, ending the income tax, limiting our business in the affairs of other nations, and so forth.

Paul's problem is that the Agency of Cain must by nature behave in unprincipled ways. The primary functions of the World System's government are all murderously deceitful. Countless times in the past Paul bellowed about his disdain for that perfidy in very concrete ways. Russert was ready, pounding him with it and demonstrating that you can't be fully principled and be a governor at the same time.

Paul was questioned about his plan for reducing government in light of the massive earmarks he accepted for his district. Paul responded by saying he still wanted to get his share of the government largesse, but it came off as being extraordinarily hypocritical.

Paul was questioned about his call to amend the Constitution to keep illegal immigrants from having babies here on U.S. soil making them automatic citizens. Russert then reminded Paul that natural-born citizenship is constitutional, and Paul said changing the Constitution was constitutional too. It still leaves unsaid which parts of the Constitution Paul particularly likes and doesn't like.

Paul was questioned about his past rejection of the Republican Party, going so far as to demand his formal disassociation with it. And yet here he is running for president on the Republican ticket. Is this not simple pandering, being purely political for personal gain? Sure he knows he doesn't have a chance with another party, but this again reveals Paul's hypocrisy.

Please know that I am not anti-Ron Paul. I've known about his fine thoughtful ideas for years. But a number of years ago I discovered what government really is, and Ron Paul is swimming in a vat of sewage that only gets him more caked in filth. This year he's just seeking to get to the more slimy, fetid, churning whirlpool in the center.

What is most telling is to look at what that, oh, ten percent of the electorate who fawn all over the guy are thinking now. First, the ones who think he did well on Meet the Press will never take off their rose-colored glasses no matter what they see. The ones who think he did poorly will blame Russert for blind-siding him-- ooo, that evil mainstream secular media.

Really, the firmly Catholicist Russert was just doing his duty. The people who like Paul just don't get that if Paul is as unprincipled as Russert showed him to be, then he is perfect for the job of president. But I have the idea that many Paul devotees may look at that truth and chafe quite painfully, for haven't they desperately wanted a principled man in the White House? But then... but wait... but, um...

Imagine the abject bewilderment. Ron Paul no better than Hillary Clinton?

Maybe the agony of such an epiphany will make them so uncomfortable that they'd turn and seek a place nowhere near there.

Where is that place? Look here for some ideas about what it is. Excuse me, Who it is...