NYT Transcript of the NH GOP Debate

The New York Times has the transcript.

Ron Paul: A walking, talking no-spin zone

Scott, commenting on a Ron Paul article at The Liberty Papers, writes:

“I’ve never seen a candidate that doesn't slip and slide around every question asked. He directly answers it from what his principles are, not what 40 PR people have told him how he should answer each question and how to dodge each question. Don't agree with all his policies, but I think it's more important to get someone willing to do some housecleaning in the White House.”

BBC: Ron Paul, the authentic candidate

Mr Paul's beliefs are out of favour with the modern Republican party but they represent a very important strand of American political thought: Mr Paul is a rational believer in freedom.

He is not, we may surmise, a social conservative, who wants the government to take an interest in what is going on in America's bedrooms. In fact he does not want the government to take an interest in anything much: he wants it gone from people's lives.

He does not want American power to be projected around the world because he does not want American power to be vested in Washington. He prefers the notion that local control, local democracy, local power, is the genius of the American way.

Mess with it and you get 9/11.

Mr Paul speaks, at least in part, for many Republicans who feel their party has been hi-jacked in recent years by two groups who do not really speak for them: the religious conservatives and the neo-conservatives.

Source: BBC, Giving the US minnows their moment, by Justin Webb

LRC Blog Roundup

The good folks over at the LRC blog are on a roll after the June 5 GOP debate:

• Of all the wonderful things Ron Paul had to say in the debate last night, I think the best was his introduction of himself: "I am the champion of the Constitution." Not a champion — the champion.” Mike Tennant
  
• I received an e-mail from a conservative website that is promoting Giuliani's candidacy. They inform me that, for a $100 donation, I can receive a "Rudy" baseball cap. They do not mention how much a "Rudy" brown shirt would cost! — Butler Shaffer
  
• Family Guy on Democracy in Iraq:
  
  

MSNBC: Ron Paul interviewed by Tucker Carlson, June 6 2007

TUCKER CARLSON: It isn't easy standing alone as one of the last, true small-government conservatives in today's Republican Party. Even your colleages are apt to call you names: eccentric, odd, crazy. Congressman Ron Paul of Texas doesn't seem to care. He was at it again last night at the Presidential primary debate in New Hampshire, reminding his party and the country what it used to mean to be a Republican. In previous debates, Dr. Paul has gone after front-runner Rudy Giuliani and his lack of foreign policy experience. He even gave the former mayor a homework assignment on what he and the CIA see as the true causes of terrorism and ill-will toward America. Some were offended; to others, Ron Paul rose instantly to the level of folk hero. He himself joins us now. We are glad to welcome from Capital Hill, physician, presidential hopeful, and Republican congressman, Ron Paul.



CARLSON: I hope you can come on regularly just for a tutorial on what it means to be free, Dr. Paul.