printI scanned a few headlines for coverage of Ron Paul’s showing in yesterday’s Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri presidential contests, but could find no mention of the man who placed second in Minnesota. Skim this New York Times page. The Congressman from Texas is absent from the report. (And some have argued with me over the utter corruption and cretinism of the American media, although, given that the lead doesn’t even contain the contested states, I suspect that idicoracy more than ideology is at play here). Finally, while Rick Santorum swept these states, they “were essentially nonbinding straw polls.”
Buried on the PBS News Hour’s page is one line to the effect that “Texas Congressman Ron Paul finished second in Minnesota, third in Missouri and last in Colorado.” No more.
The matter of low turnout interests me more. “One of the big losers was GOP turnout, which was down in every state, compared to four years ago,” observes The Guardian. “The ratio of turnout from 2012 to 2008 in both counties were in the bottom quarter of all counties in Iowa. Had turnout in either county been at the same level relative to 2008 as the average county, Romney’s less-than-100 vote loss would have been turned into a win.”
Perhaps voters who poured their heart and soul into Tea-Party politics have prefigured that the nature of American politics is such that even if their candidate wins, nothing will change in their lives or in the politics. It is amazing that in the face of hopelessness—growing economic misery commensurate with the assurances of trillions more in debt—the only shot across the bow comes from the confused and revolting Occupy Wall Street Movement. Or “Freak Street.”
Promises by the presidential contender to repeal all the unconstitutional legislation the incumbent has passed are just that: promises that can never be fulfilled. The fact that presidents come and go and leave in their wake such devastation—essentially trashing the office and the country—demonstrates the reality of power without limitation. Since the Constitution is a dead letter, the political process consists in each faction passing its unconstitutional infractions into law, as the other gang guarantees repeal.
“The Democratic and Republican parties each operates as a necessary counterweight in a partnership designed to keep the pendulum of power swinging in perpetuity from the one set of colluding quislings to the other, and back.”—ILANA (January 15, 2010)
“No sooner do the Republicans come to power, than they move to the left. When they get their turn, Democrats shuffle to the right. At some point, McCain reaches across the aisle and the creeps converge.”—ILANA (January 15, 2010)
UPDATE: (Feb. 9): “Obama would defeat all of the four Republicans if the election were held today, but Ron Paul fares the best against the incumbent. Obama leads Paul 44 percent to 40 percent, with 16 percent undecided,” says a “WND/WENZEL POLL.”
TELL ME the generic Republican isn’t stupid:
“In every case except the match-up against Ron Paul, more than 20 percent of Republican voters said they are more likely to support Obama than the Republican challenger. And Ron Paul is close, as 19 percent of Republicans said they are more likely to support Obama than Paul.”
A hopeless polity.
A bleak essay, but essentially accurate; even RP has proven a weak vessel…tired, whiney, and that bob-and-weave he did over the “Newsletters” was disasterous. As far as the TP goes, when push came to shove, 50 out of 80 in the House voted to increase the debt ceiling; no more than a couple of months in the District of Corruption, and already invested in the Universal Ponzi. On the other hand, complete economic collapse, probably sparked by the now-inevitable Iran War, will likely preceed the election and precipitate a Civil War that will sweep all this rotteness away.
Your last paragraph sounds like you’re describing a very boring variation on the line-dance.
Hey Reb, please note:
1. Ron Paul is 76 yrs old – I met him in 1981/82 in Dallas and he was much younger back then. Don’t blame him too much – he has carried the torch a very long time.
2. Voting to increase debt ceiling, well, considering that NEW JERSEY SPENDS $30k on each student and they still cannot read at an 8th Grade level, why would anyone expect these students – much less their uncaring, uninvolved parents – to understand Keynesian vs Austrian economics as RP
has consistently spoken about?
3. You may be very close to the truth re Iran, economy, and Ponzi, but the 80% / 20% Rule will apply and there will not be a Civil War because the 80% have no frickin’ idea what it would be about. Proof: Ask people on the street who or what guarantees their RIGHTS and how those RIGHTS were obtained / recognized?
As it pertains to the legislative process, it is “GOOD COP vs BAD COP” and we, the AMERICAN PUBLIC, are played for fools. But, where in the world is there a safe haven to which one may flee?
My proposed solutions: buy a habitable island, establish an independent, neutral country, and designate yourself as a citizen of that country – OR – stay here and start in small towns, cities, counties, and States to change the Rules of the Game in a non-violent way.
ps: Alabama, Mississippi, New Mexico are smaller states having warm climates…much better than New Hampshire!
Were it ever determined voting could bring about change it would be dispensed with, or properly nobbled. Voting does nothing more than inure one to the bad smell of a process that serves as nothing more than red herring.
“Colluding quislings.” Too true, but what’s the answer? Obviously, in the short run, nothing. In the long run a third party is called for. The Tea Party is a good start but good ideas are not enough without organization. All new movements are full of warring factions and in fighting. Couple this with the lies and demogoguery from the media and both political parties a third party needs a powerful, dedicated, aggressive message and membership to match. It must have charismatic leadership and the ability to hang against the slings and arrows sure to come their way. All this is not likely to happen. So we need to get four square behind whichever candidate goes up against the Democrat monolith we face and hope for the best. Wish I was smart enough to figure out how to do all this but I’m not.
The Tea Party probably should be re-named: The Decaffinated Tea Party
The recent “contraceptive coverage” controversy is indicative of the depravity of our political system. Obama makes a “health care rule” that religious employers must cover birth control and there are some objections from religious people – but mostly on the cultural grounds that they don’t like THAT rule.
In other words, if President Santorum made a rule that there must be a crucifix in every hospital room, those people would like that rule.
The CONSTITUTIONAL point is that: (a) there is no power granted to the Federal Government on the matter of health care AND (b) Congress, not the President, gets to make rules. The Republicans, by an large consisting of culturally religious statists, do not care about the Constitution (note there support of all the Wars).
The Tea Party is just a group of “conservatives” who don’t like Obama running the country.
Your points are all spot on. Sadly, limited government (e.g. the Constitution) died years ago and rigor mortis has set in.
Given the following:
The average American when it comes to politics and economics is dumb as a box of rocks.
Democracy is a system in which control of the most dangerous institutions in society is determined by the winner of a popularity contest between two charismatic demagogues.
Is it rational to expect anything other than a bad ending?
Good Morning James H. – Good take on the situation. Good Morning MRP – Death of the Constitution? Remember Lazarus!?
http://tartarus.org/~martin/essays/burkequote2.html
EVIL IS OUT THERE – WHAT WILL YOU DO TO THWART IT?
“The Tea Party is just a group of “conservatives” who don’t like Obama running the country.” Sounds like a good place to start to me.