Ron Paul on Meet the Press

As part of the "Meet the Candidates" series on Meet the Press, Tim Russert gave Ron Paul a meager 30 minute segment.

Russert was very meek and mild in the beginning of the interview. He didn't challenge Paul or ask follow-up questions. Russert seemed to be treating Paul like a goofy, old uncle, outwardly showing a bit of respect for him but not even bothering to take his ramblings seriously.

Russert began with Paul's plan to abolish the IRS.

With the tone of an aide working in a mental hospital, Russert pointed out that would be a huge loss of revenue for the U.S. It would take away half the government's income.

Paul said that we wouldn't need it if we had a responsible foreign policy. He suggested that we bring ALL troops home, including those in Germany and Korea.

He said that because of U.S. troops being stationed around the world, "We get into trouble."

On foreign policy issues, Paul is NOT smarter than a fifth grader.

Paul wants to cut off all aid to Israel. That would be another area of savings for the government. Yeah, that's a good idea, abandon the only thriving democracy in Middle East.

Clearly, Paul's plan for the country requires the sort of isolationism that existed before we had air travel and the telephone.

Another idiotic statement came when Paul said there's a moral equivalency between Islamic radicals who want to take over the world and Americans meddling in the business of other countries.

It's that sort of stuff that really bugs me.

Most of what Paul says I can dismiss as babbling from a harmless extremist eccentric, the old uncle a bit off his rocker. But when he puts terrorists on the same moral plane as our officials and our military men and women, I have a problem.

Russert also noted that Paul wants to abolish the FBI and the CIA and only keep the Defense Department.

Paul definitely wants a bare bones government.

Russert launched many of his questions by referring to things Paul said during his 1988 presidential run as a Libertarian.

Russert slapped up a statement from Paul saying that he would abolish the public schools. Paul said he thought that was a misquote. He said he has no plan to abolish the public schools. It's funny that he wants to get rid of the IRS, the FBI, and the CIA, but he wants to hold on to the failed public school system.

At this point, Russert got a bit more engaged and energized. It was as if the coffee finally kicked in.

He pointed out that Paul voted against aid for victims of Hurricane Katrina, but when it comes to his district, he likes to be Santa Claus. This anti-big government guy consistently puts in dozens of earmarks for his district.

Paul countered, "I've never voted for an earmark in my life."

Russert suggested that he puts earmarks in bills, knowing they will pass. Russert evoked John Kerry's "I voted for it before I voted against it" remark.

Paul claimed it was different. He said the people of his district deserve the funds. "It's like taking a tax credit."

Paul went on to say, "I vote against everything."

hehehe

Russert argued that Paul has no qualms about taking the money when the bills pass.

Paul said, "I don't take it. It's the system."

Good grief.

On term limits, Russert questioned how Paul could run on term limits yet he's been in Congress for 18 years.

Paul said, "But I never ran on voluntary term limits."

HAHAHA

Regarding immigration, in 1988, Paul said, "There shouldn't be any immigration policy at all."

To explain his flip flop, Paul said, "Conditions have changed." He said, "It's an economic issue." Now it's necessary to control immigration.

OK...

In 1988, Paul said, "All drugs should be decriminalized."

He stood by that, saying that the War on Drugs is totally out of control. He said, "I think drugs are horrible... Prescription drugs are worse than hard drugs."

OK, Dr. Paul...

Russert brought up a statement from 2004, when Paul said that he would have voted against the Civil Rights Act because it actually caused racial tensions.

He claims the Civil Rights Act had nothing to do with race relations. It was about private property rights.

OK...

Russert brought up Paul's belief that "Abe Lincoln should never have gone to war." He said there were better ways to get rid of slavery, citing that every other major country in the world got rid of slavery without a civil war.

I hope some fanatical Paulites don't run out and deface the Lincoln memorial.

Some more quotes from Paul that Russert tossed out:

Ron Paul says that Ronald Reagan was a "dramatic failure."

In 1992, he said, "Bush [41] is a bum."

Russert quoted Paul's statement on resigning from the Republican Party before he ran in 1988.

Russert asked, "Why are you running as a Republican?"

Paul said it was because Republicans don't stand for Republican ideals anymore.

OK...

Russert wanted to know, "Will you run as an independent?"

Paul said, "I have no intention of doing that."

Russert wanted to pin him down, saying, "The door's open a little bit."

Paul replied, "Not very much."

Finally, the Huckabee "floating cross" commercial:

On CNN, Paul related Huckabee's campaign commercial to a quote some attribute to Sinclair Lewis, that fascism will come to this country "wrapped in a flag, carrying a cross."

Paul said he was blind-sided during the interview. It was an "instantaneous reflex." He hadn't seen the ad at the time.

Paul tried to make amends with Huckabee, saying the ad doesn't represent fascism. However, Paul insisted that this country has been moving toward fascism in the last 100 years.

"The country's moving in that direction."

OK...

What's stunning to me is that Paul has so many followers.

Listening to the guy talk for 30 minutes, I find that absolutely stunning. STUNNING.