Many Republicans and conservatives seem surprised that Rep. Ron Paul overwhelmingly won the Conservative Political Action Conference presidential straw poll. Why? What is hard to believe about freedom? About getting out of endless, unconstitutional, undeclared wars, about removing ourselves from 140 countries we have military bases in? About minding our own business? About ending the private Federal Reserve banking cartel and returning our currency and money policy back to Congress as the Constitution requires and where we can do something about those who attempt to cheat and steal from us? What's wrong with demanding fiscal responsibility and self-reliance of ourselves? What is wrong with a small government that leaves all of us alone, doesn't tell us how to live and what we can and cannot teach our children? What's wrong with living with a government that doesn't tax us to death and even after death? The fact is, freedom is popular! Living your life as you choose as long as it doesn't interfere with others is what America is supposed to be all about. So why the surprise that Ron Paul would win a conservative straw poll when he stands for all of these things as a true conservative would?

JIM PAULSON, FARMINGTON