[transcript] Ron Paul discusses foreign policy with FOX News anchor Shepard Smith

(Transcript begins about 1 minute from the end of the clip)

SHEPPARD SMITH (FOX News Anchor): Congressman, were you President today, and you were seeing the problems that we have in Pakistan today, would you be concerned about the nuclear weapons falling into the hands of terrorists, and what would your message be for President Musharraf?

REP. RON PAUL: Well, yes I'd be concerned, but it's a consequence of our foolish policy over there. Here we have supported a military —

SMITH: But what would your message to the President Musharraf be?

PAUL: I would say, "No more money, pal. We'll deal with you. We've given you $10 billion, you're flunking the course. And you're on your own." But we would deal with it, we would talk to him, we'd try to trade with him. But we would no longer interfere in their country. We're bringing in —

SMITH: Would that make things more difficult in the fight against terror?

PAUL: No, —-

SMITH: I mean, it's not to say the terrorists aren't on the border there.

PAUL: No. I think the fact that we supported a military dictator and pretend we support democracy is what motivates the terrorists. That's why he was overthrown by his people. It's because he was a puppet of ours. So it's our foreign policy that we're seeing a reaction to. So I would say, change the policy, and we would have a better relationship with every country in the world.

Salon: The Ron Paul phenomenon

Glenn Greenwald at Salon writes:

Regardless of one's ideology, there is simply no denying certain attributes of Paul's campaign which are highly laudable. There have been few serious campaigns that are more substantive -- just purely focused on analyzing and solving the most vital political issues. There have been few candidates who more steadfastly avoid superficial gimmicks, cynical stunts, and manipulative tactics. There have been few candidates who espouse a more coherent, thoughtful, consistent ideology of politics, grounded in genuine convictions and crystal clear political values. Here is what Jon Stewart said to Paul on The Daily Show:

You appear to have consistent principled integrity. Americans don't usually go for that.

There is never a doubt that Paul actually believes what he is saying, nor is there any doubt that what he believes is the by-product of critical and rational thought grounded in genuine political passion.

TNR: The Wrath of Ron

Michael Crowley blogs at TNR:

Ron Paul has raised nearly $4 million in one day. That's four times what Mike Huckabee raised in the entire last quarter. It's still impossible to see Paul winning the GOP nomination. But he will certainly have the money to heavily influence the Iowa and New Hampshire if he chooses--and to make life miserable for any opponents of his choosing. Think Rudy Giuliani might regret jumping down his throat at that first debate?

P.S. The occasion is Guy Fawkes day, the anniversary of a failed 1605 attempt to blow up the British parliament. Quote of the day:

Mr. Benton clarified that Mr. Paul did not support blowing up government buildings. “He wants to demolish things like the Department of Education,” Mr. Benton said, “but we can do that very peacefully, in a constructive manner.”

Somehow I don't think the Gunpowder Conspirators figured into Mitt Romney's 50-step PowerPoint plan for winning the nomination.

AP: Ron Paul raises more than $4 million in one day

WASHINGTON (AP) - Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul, aided by an extraordinary outpouring of Internet support Monday, hauled in more than $4 million in 20 hours.

Paul, the Texas congressman with a Libertarian tilt and an out-of-Iraq pitch, entered heady fundraising territory with a surge of Web-based giving tied to the commemoration of Guy Fawkes Day.

Fawkes was a British mercenary who failed in his attempt to kill King James I on Nov. 5, 1605. He also was the model for the protagonist in the movie "V for Vendetta." Paul backers motivated donors on the Internet with mashed-up clips of the film on the online video site YouTube as well as the Guy Fawkes Day refrain: "Remember, remember the 5th of November."

Paul's total deposed Mitt Romney as the single-day fundraising record holder in the Republican presidential field. When it comes to sums amassed in one day, Paul now ranks only behind Democrats Hillary Rodham Clinton, who raised nearly $6.2 million on June 30, and Barack Obama.

Paul spokesman Jesse Benton said the effort began independently about two months ago at the hands of Paul's backers. He said Paul picked up on the movement, mentioning in it speeches and interviews.

"It's been kind of building up virally," Benton said.

The $4 million, he said, represented online contributions from more than 37,000 donors.

Paul has been lagging in the polls behind Republican front-runners. But he captured national attention at the end of September when he reported raising $5.2 million in three months, putting him fourth among Republican presidential candidates in fundraising for the quarter.

Paul as of Monday had raised more than $7 million since Oct. 1, more than half his goal of $12 million by the end of the year, according to his Web site.

Paul advocates limited government and low taxes like other Republicans, but he stands alone as the only GOP presidential candidate opposed to the Iraq war. He also has opposed Bush administration security measures that he says encroach on civil liberties.