Reason on Facebook
Reason on Twitter
Reason on YouTube
Reason RSS
It's all up at Reason TV.
The Devil and Dr. Paul
I spotted Ron Paul before his speech to the Family Research Council on Friday, intending to ask him some fairly bland questions about the religious right and James Dobson's third party ruminating. (For the record, Paul thinks it's good and fair for the self-identified religious right to get into politics, and he would not run as a Dobsonite spoiler candidate.) A few people were right ahead of me, so I let them ask their questions and turned on my camera. The result: Three encounters that even the harshest Paul critic would agree make the man look like a statesman beset by crazy people. (First questioner Max Blumenthal isn't crazy, just asking a weird question to get Paul's response.)
It's all up at Reason TV.
It's all up at Reason TV.
Comments to "The Devil and Dr. Paul":
Syloson of Samos | October 22, 2007, 4:31pm | #
Is it worth turning down the German techno for? ;)This Max character needs a headbutt to the balls. Not for being rude, but for being unfunny.
Sal | October 22, 2007, 5:03pm | #
"I spotted Ron Paul before his speech to the Family Research Council on Friday, intending to ask him some fairly bland questions about the religious right and James Dobson's third party ruminating."No surprise here...
RonPaul#1 | October 22, 2007, 5:09pm | #
http://www.thisnovember5th.com/Pro Libertate | October 22, 2007, 5:14pm | #
Ah, S of S, you are a connoisseur of das Technoviking. Gut.Syloson of Samos | October 22, 2007, 5:35pm | #
Pro Libertate,German Techno is always pleasant to listen to when I have a cold. :)
Seer | October 22, 2007, 5:42pm | #
That last guy was odd."I know your cousin!"
"Do I have a cousin?"
GILMORE | October 22, 2007, 5:44pm | #
why lord, or why, is a 4th string candidate getting hassled by losers treated as News here? Why!?Its the work of Satan. Wiegel, I cast thee out!
Oh for the love of God! Take your camcorder off 16:9 if you're going to upload to YouTube!
andronoid | October 22, 2007, 5:53pm | #
Gilmore,(1) this is a libertarian website (2) that 4th string loser happens to be the only libertarian or libertarian-esque candidate to ever garner this much support (3) the losers are exactly the type of people that libertarians normally gripe about.
Syloson of Samos | October 22, 2007, 5:59pm | #
andronoid,I can't think of a libertarianish candidate who has ever garnered this much attention, money, etc.
Bingo | October 22, 2007, 6:09pm | #
Rob: one of my main gripes with youtube's technical merits is its reliance on 4:3 when HD capable TVs and most new laptops come in 16:9 or 16:10. They really need to update their viewing format.Stevo Darkly | October 22, 2007, 6:27pm | #
This comment posted at reason.tv deserves recognition:Brian Sorgatz | October 22, 2007, 5:56pm | #
"If Satan were here, what would you say to him?" The political journalism quote of the decade.
Hypothetically, I would say, "I like your food cake."
Brightcove is far superior, IMO, both in terms of compression and allowing users to really control the experience. Perfect for vblogging. Leave YouTube for the kids.
TLB | October 22, 2007, 6:30pm | #
Let me suggest getting a better microphone.Let me also suggest stopping being a Blumenthal apologist.
Syloson of Samos | October 22, 2007, 6:34pm | #
I just ran across this statement by Paul on Christmas:http://www.house.gov/paul/tst/tst2003/tst122903.htm
Reactions?
Tommy_Grand | October 22, 2007, 7:18pm | #
To Devil: I done told you once, you son of a bitch, I'm the best that's ever been.Brad Linzy, Evansville, IN | October 22, 2007, 7:40pm | #
Way to go, you moronic sycophant. You might impress Stephen Colbert after all with your "out there" antics.The bottom line is, Ron Paul is an intelligent and thoughtful man, NOT a demagogue, and your little line of questioning was completely misdirected on him.
If you'd pull your head out of your ass you might realize he's the most consistent, honest, and worthy candidate we've got and instead of asking him asinine questions so you can be some big shot 'liberal blogger', you should be picking up a fucking sign and supporting him like thousands of other young people already are.
mistletoe jack | October 22, 2007, 7:54pm | #
Ron Paul should read this in time for Xmas. I wish it would fit on a reasonably sized Happy Holidays card.joe | October 22, 2007, 8:07pm | #
What bugs me about the War on Christmas crap is that they aren't complaining about the absense of Christmas imagery, or even forthrightly religious Christmas imagery. They're complaining that - quell horreur! - there open expressions of non-Christian celebrations, too.Why must that clerk make sure to kowtow to your holiday, and not somebody else's? Are you really incapable of feeling the Christmas spirit when somebody wishes you happy holidays? What's up with that - can you not stand the idea that somebody might for one moment think you're a Jew?
These people aren't complaining about being shut out of the market, but about not being granted a monopoly.
iih | October 22, 2007, 8:13pm | #
If nothing else, Max Blumenthal really deserves a lot of credit for this.Captain Chaos | October 22, 2007, 8:41pm | #
Brad-Who are you shrieking at? Are you under the impression that the poster was one of the people in the video?Calm down.
Take a breath.
Read carefully.
Captain Chaos | October 22, 2007, 8:44pm | #
Incidentally, a sycophant is a person who kisses ass, often insincerely. If you're going to wax hysterical, try to use words you understand.iih | October 22, 2007, 8:45pm | #
Brad-- you are preaching to the choir here.BakedPenguin | October 22, 2007, 8:58pm | #
Captain Chaos - this is the second or third time I've seen a Paulista come on to H&R, take something way out of context, and freak out.Maybe we need to get the True Believers™ some Ativan or something.
ItsHappening | October 22, 2007, 9:08pm | #
For those who might like more info:(0 Troop support) http://www.ronpaul2008.com/states/iowa/#military
(1. straw polls) http://www.ronpaul2008.com/straw-poll-results
(2. Ron Paul: A New Hope) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FG2PUZoukfA
(3. National Threat) http://www.ronpaulnation.com/tv.html#controller_general_david_walker
(4. True cost of gas) http://www.terrarossa.com/?p=225
(5. America: freedom to Fascism) http://www.freedomtofascism.com
(6. The Secret Government...1-9) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82g3KxcFuoY
(7. Truth about Giuliani) http://www.rudy-urbanlegend.com/
(8. CIA drug dealing) http://youtube.com/watch?v=1l31x-IIK4E
(9. Civil Liberties Lost) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8QwTKKSvR8&mode=related&search=
(10. Money Masters) http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-515319560256183936
(11. Iraq War: Legal or Illegal) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Khut8xbXK8&mode=related&search=
Book list from Ron Paul recommended reading for Giuliani:
- Imperial Hubris by Michael Scheuer
- Dying to Win, by Robert Pape
- Blowback, by Chalmers Johnson
- 9/11 Commission Report
- 1984, by George Orwell
iih | October 22, 2007, 9:33pm | #
I would to ItsHapenning's comment that there is a deadline at midnight to raise another $70k. If you can contribute, go herehttp://www.ronpaul2008.com/
iih | October 22, 2007, 10:00pm | #
Syloson,I am a big fan of Colbert. In what sense do you mean by "considered"?
I had a difficult time hearing the video, since there was a high level of background noise. But what I did hear was just pointless. Ron Paul was gracious and polite but baffled by the inane questions. Long ago I remember "Stuttering John" on the Howard Stern TV show and he would ask similar pointless questions. He once asked Liza Minelli, "Why do so many fags like your mother's records?" Liza didn't miss a beat, "Because they have good taste." Anyhow, Paul was fine; the questioners were just baiting and nonsensical.
iih | October 22, 2007, 10:47pm | #
Syloson:Setting aside a possible joke about the support for RP, Colbert has some (very little?) chance getting a vote in the SC primaries (assuming he actually gets the 2,500 signatures).
As far as RP is concerned, I think it is most important that his message be heard.
Brandybuck | October 22, 2007, 10:55pm | #
ItsHappening: Stop mixing goddam conspiracy links in with Ron Paul links! HE IS NOT ONE OF YOU!!! He will have a hard enough time winning the nomination without you nutbags deliberately spoiling his campaign.Brandybuck | October 22, 2007, 10:58pm | #
p.s. There are only three Ron Paul links you need:http://www.ronpaul2008.com
http://www.ronpaullibrary.com
http://www.house.gov/paul/
BakedPenguin | October 22, 2007, 11:00pm | #
Brandybuck - upthread I said we should get the TrueBelievers some Ativan. Perhaps Haldol might be more appropriate.iih | October 22, 2007, 11:03pm | #
Brandybuck -- BTW, I did not take a complete look at ItsHappening's links. So, going to my post, I would replace "I would add to..." with "Most importantly, note that there is a deadline...". Thanks for the critical eye. It is too late in the day and I am tired, I guess.Edward | October 23, 2007, 1:13am | #
You can always find somebody nutty enough to make Ron Paul look sane. Big deal.Taktix® | October 23, 2007, 7:35am | #
You can always find somebody nutty enough to make Ron Paul look sane. Big deal.I can only wonder what sort of miserable life one must lead to be compelled to go on message boards and post stupid jabs at people's opinions.
tarran | October 23, 2007, 8:45am | #
You can always find somebody nutty enough to make Ron Paul look sane. Big deal.Like you, for example.
BakedPenguin | October 23, 2007, 9:35am | #
Haldol for Edward, too.Edward | October 23, 2007, 9:56am | #
I can only wonder what sort of miserable life one must lead to be compelled to go on message boards and post stupid jabs at people's opinions.That's funny. I find myself wondering what kind of miserable life must lead one to embrace an ideology that's so blinding as to make one actually believe that a nutjob like Ron Paul has a realistic chance of becoming president. Is it just plain stupidity?
Nurse Ratched | October 23, 2007, 10:07am | #
C'mere, Mister Edward. Those nasty libertarians and that eeeevul Ron Paul won't bother you after this. Just hold still...tarran | October 23, 2007, 10:08am | #
That's funny. I find myself wondering what kind of miserable life must lead one to embrace an ideology that's so blinding as to make one actually believe that a nutjob like Ron Paul has a realistic chance of becoming president. Is it just plain stupidity?Edward, quick question:
Does this degree of blistering illogic come naturally to you, or do you have to work at it?
I'm just curious how much effort you put into your posts.
miche | October 23, 2007, 11:17am | #
Colbert was funny as hell discussing his SC presidential run on Meet the Press.Edward asks "Is it just plain stupidity", and my irony meter vaporizes, producing an EMP that shuts off all electronic devices in a ten block radius.
Art-P.O.G. | October 23, 2007, 11:20am | #
Edward said: "I find myself wondering what kind of miserable life must lead one to embrace an ideology that's so blinding as to make one actually believe that a nutjob like Ron Paul has a realistic chance of becoming president. Is it just plain stupidity?"Nothing in this statement makes any sense to me.
Max | October 23, 2007, 11:49am | #
I'd like to add another good link to Paul's political and economics writings at LewRockwell.com.Do any of the other candidates have as clear an understanding of liberty as this man?
iih | October 23, 2007, 12:15pm | #
Max:An excellent quote Paul's debate with D'Souza in that link you just sent: "We never remember, and they never forget".
GILMORE | October 23, 2007, 9:54pm | #
Art-P.O.G. | October 23, 2007, 11:20am | #
Edward said: "I find myself wondering what kind of miserable life must lead one to embrace an ideology that's so blinding as to make one actually believe that a nutjob like Ron Paul has a realistic chance of becoming president. Is it just plain stupidity?"
Nothing in this statement makes any sense to me.
Well, i see where he's coming from
paul is nice. Nice, like i agree with 90% of what he says, as opposed to 30% of the others.
but the others are going to kick his ass in actual elections. Which is why i wonder what the point is, sometimes.