I currently dislike all candidates in the field, both Democrat and Republican, except one: Ron Paul. And if Chuck Hagel ever declares, I would consider him an exception as well. The mainstream candidates from both parties would give us unrestricted free trade (US jobs be damned), endless interventions (even if they do condemn Bush’s foray into Iraq), no solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (in fact, most would escalate it), and more regulations and controls on free speech, basic rights, guns, and a host of other things. I think there is one candidate in the field whom the founding fathers would recognize as one of their own: once again, Ron Paul. He mentions on his website:


He has never voted to raise taxes.
He has never voted for an unbalanced budget.
He has never voted for a federal restriction on gun ownership.
He has never voted to raise congressional pay.
He has never taken a government-paid junket.
He has never voted to increase the power of the executive branch.
He voted against the Patriot Act.
He voted against regulating the Internet.
He voted against the Iraq war.

He does not participate in the lucrative congressional pension program.
He returns a portion of his annual congressional office budget to the U.S. treasury every year.
Sounds great to me! He’s also strongly pro-life.

I recently got a letter from him asking for funds. I don’t as a rule give to candidates, but once I get more money in the bank, he also may prove an exception in this way as well. Although my mind is not made up just yet, I am leaning strongly towards Ron Paul.