Paul Campaign Calls Etch a Sketch Game

     The Ron Paul campaign released a new advertisement that scolds the media and other Republican candidates for talking so much about the Etch a Sketch comment when there are serious issues to discuss.  Eric Fehrnstrom, a Romney aide, used the example of an Etch a Sketch toy when referring to the difference between a primary election campaign and a general election campaign.  The press and Romney opponents jumped on the statement, trying to make it a campaign issue.  Ron Paul's  new advertisement asks if people are "tired of the games."

  

  The Paul advertisement talks about a "$15 Trillion Debt," "12 Million Americans Unemployed," and "A Country At War," as the issues candidates should be addressing.  As you can read in an earlier post, I see the Etch a Sketch issue as a Dog and Pony Show that has come to the forefront because the press and the candidates are afraid to discuss the real issues.  Ron Paul calls for discussion of "A Serious Plan To Restore America Now."  As a Conscious Conservative, I couldn't agree with him more.

Ron Paul Says NO to Secret Service

     Ron Paul told Jay Leno this week that he does not want Secret Service protection.  He stated that he sees such protection as a form of "welfare" and that candidates should provide their own protection.
     As a Conscious Conservative, I find this to be a tricky issue.  I applaud Dr. Paul for protecting himself and not spending taxpayer money.  I also realize that there are a lot of dangerous people in the world and would hate for something to happen to any of the candidates.

Conservative View of The Dog and Pony Show

     As I write this, an internet search for "United States 2012 Election News" brings up some interesting stories.  One is about a poll that explores how many Americans want politicians to talk about religion.  Another tells about Mitt Romney and an "Etch a Sketch" campaign.  Another reports the launching of a new Political Action Committee (PAC).  There is another about how much money Barack Obama is raising for his campaign and one about who former Florida Governor Jeb Bush is endorsing (hint: it's Mitt Romney).  Although these stories have some interest, the big question about all of these is:  Who Cares?  These articles only serve to draw the public's attention away from the real issues of this election.

     As a Conscious Conservative, I believe that here are only five questions which a presidential candidate must answer in this or just about any other election.

1.  How are you going to respect my body and property?

     

     We now have a government that spies on its own citizens, can imprison them indefinitely or kill them without trial and takes their property to give it to a private business interest.  This question is far more important than which famous person endorses a candidate.

2.  What do you believe about Taxes?

     

     By some estimates, the United States Tax code is over 15,000 pages long.  Why?  Because it is designed     less to raise revenue than it is to control behavior and grant favors to political supporters.  This is more important than an "Etch a Sketch" comment.

3.  How are you going to handle the issue of Us vs. Them?

     Typical political strategy in Washington D.C. is to divide and conquer.  Pit women against men, rural vs. urban, young vs. old, rich vs. poor, etc...  We need a President who refuses to categorize people.  This is more important than a candidates's religion.  In fact,a candidate stating a religion is just more Us vs. Them rhetoric.

4.  How will you protect the US Dollar?

     Inflation has been the largest curse that government has inflicted on the American people in the last 50 years.  Households have to earn more than ten times what they used to in order to keep the same standard of living.  People find that their life savings are worthless.  This is more important than how many donations a candidate is receiving.

5.  How will you restore faith in the election process?

     Voter turnout for Federal Elections hovers around 50%, even during Presidential election years. The President needs to do everything in their power to assure people that their vote matters.  This would include advocating open ballots and working more to help the United States than to win re-election.  Fair elections are more important than who supports which PAC.

     You almost never hear candidates talking about these issues.  They prefer to dodge real issues for easy fluff.  The press also fails to do its job for not asking these questions.  What is left is gossip, innuendo and a Dog and Pony Show.   

Why Does Missouri Hate Ron Paul Supporters?

     Reports come from a Missouri Republican caucus that two Ron Paul supporters have been arrested for "trespassing."  It appears that here were concerns that the Missouri Republican Party hierarchy supported Rick Santorum.  Reports are vague, but it appears that the St Charles County caucus degraded into a shouting match after both Ron Paul and Mitt Romney supporters disputed the selection of the caucus chairperson.  At this time, it appears that no Romney supporters were arrested.  This is not the first time that Missouri Police have targeted Paul supporters.

  

     In 2009, the Missouri Information Analysis Center (MIAC), a regional partnership of agencies set up by the Department of Homeland Security, released a report entitled "The Modern Militia Movement."  This report was sent to police departments across Missouri.  The report told police officers to view people who displayed "Political Paraphernalia" supporting Ron Paul as potential militia members.  It hinted that Paul supporters are like the Oklahoma City Bomber, the Atlanta Olympics Bomber and dozens of others involved in criminal conspiracies. 

     As a Conscious Conservative, I have to be suspicious of activities in Missouri.  How does a political candidate run a campaign when his supporters are automatically classified as terrorists?  

Is The Fix In For Romney?

     I just read an article that said Rick Santorum won the Southern States this week, but that Mitt Romney was still the victor for the week because he won the South Pacific. Really?  Hawaii is the only state in the South Pacific.  Although I have nothing but respect for my friends and fellow citizens from the Islands, the Pacific Island Nations are sovereign protectorates that do not participate in the Electoral College.

     It appears that the Republican Party and the Press have been pulling strings for Romney from the very beginning.  First, Romney won Iowa, then he didn't.  He was projected to win South Carolina, even though he didn't.  The Ron Paul campaign disputes the Nevada results.  Romney was declared the winner of Maine on February 11th, even though the voting wasn't supposed to be over until March 3rd.  About this time, some outlets started declaring him the "winner" of the nomination, even though Romney only had 10% of the delegates needed and not all of them were definitely pledged to his campaign.  Romney then won his home state of Michigan, or maybe he didn't, but the Michigan Republican hierarchy voted to give it to him anyway.

     As a Conscious Conservative, I realize that the caucus/primary system is very complex and that some elections are hard to call from early returns.  However, it appears that every benefit of the doubt from the Press and the various Republican Committees goes to Mitt Romney.  It sure makes it look like the fix is in.    

Ron Paul, Conservative Values

  I rated Ron Paul on the Conscious Conservative Scale (see earlier posts).  It appears that Dr. Paul scores:

90 points -- Conservative

Ron appears to favor a free labor force and ending the Estate Tax.  He seems to favor abolishing the Income Tax and the Federal Reserve.  Paul has spoken against the Inheritance Tax.  However, Ron Paul favors government meddling in personal issues, if done at the local level.  Ron Paul is much more conservative than Rick Santorum, Mitt Romney or Newt Gingrich.  He can really be called A Conscious Conservative.

Conservative Book List --- What's Howard Reading?

This week.  I just finished this book by Larry Schweikert:

I also am getting some laughs from this book by David Brenner:

Ron Paul Food Drive, Moneybomb Show Strength of Support

     Ron Paul supporters have once again shown support for their candidate with the Ron Paul Food Drive  and the Ron Paul Tea Party Moneybomb.

     The goal of the food drive was to gather over 10,000 lbs. of food to donate in time for the Holidays.  Ron Paul supporters donated over 12.000 lbs.

     As of this writing, the Moneybomb has raised nearly $5,000,000.

  

Conservative Book List --- What's Howard Reading?

When government has nothing to sell, bribery is useless.

--Dr. Ron Paul from End The Fed

I believe that this book is an instant classic.

This book is just plain classic.

Ron Paul Food Drive

http://ronpaulfooddrive.com/

      "We’ve seen what the power of grassroots action has done for Ron Paul’s campaign, despite mainstream opposition. Let’s combine that same grassroots action with voluntary charity to fight hunger and help those in need during these times of economic distress,"  says a passage on the Ron Paul Food Drive web site;  http://ronpaulfooddrive.com/

     The innovative people which support Ron Paul for President have again come up with a unique way to promote their candidate.    The latest plan is to donate 10,000 pounds of food to charity in the name of Ron Paul.  This promotion has the advantage of being just in time for the holidays, showing that the spirit of voluntary contribution is a viable alternative to government programs and multiplying the dollars spent by both supporting Dr. Paul and helping those in need.
     I plan on supporting my local Ron Paul Food Drive.  I hope you will visit the site listed above and donate some food also.