There was an interesting article written the day before lift-off of the Ron Paul Blimp by Michael Duffy titled “The GOP Race: None of the Above” on Time.com (in partnership with CNN) you might have missed. http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1694094,00.html The reason you may have missed it is because if you were simply googling “Ron Paul” it wouldn't have shown up.

Why wouldn't it have shown up? Because the GOP's leading 4th quarter fundraiser (by far after Sunday's “Tea Party” raised $6 Million in a single day taking his total for the quarter to over 18,000,000)didn't merit a single mention in the article. Not one. If you haven't clicked the link yet, you haven't noticed that there is a nice picture from the youtube debate of Mitt, Rudy, Huck, John, and Fred (why do they all have four letters in their spoken name?) but Congressman Paul is like Rudolph (not the Mayor–the red-nosed reindeer) before that fateful foggy Christmas Eve–all left out.

At first I thought this was a typical MSM slight of Dr. Paul. But then I read the article. Yes, the one that doesn't mention Dr. Paul once. After reading it, I think this was actually a nod towards Paul's campaign and an implicit acknowledgment of his Front-Runner status (especially considering the campaign is past the “first they ignore you” stage). Why? Here is a quote from the aforementioned article:

“If somebody could run as None of the Above,” says former McCain campaign chief John Weaver, “he would be the front-runner.”

If you still haven't read the article or seen the picture (positioned directly under the article's title) who is the only candidate not running for VICE-President or who doesn't have a last name that is a homophone of the metal things used to unlock your doors who isn't pictured? Golly, you are smart; it's not Chuck Norris-Texas Ranger; it's Dr. Ron Paul-Texas Congressman. Thus making him “None of the Above.”

Another part of the article sounds as if Mr. Duffy watched this youtube clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTIRRThOTCQ

and then wrote the following paragraph:

Still, it is hard to overestimate the moral and intellectual power outage that now darkens the G.O.P.. Long out of step with a majority of voters on such secondary issues as outlawing abortion and narrowing stem-cell research, Republicans have more recently managed to get themselves on the wrong side of popular trends on what were once old reliables: foreign policy, economics, energy, even health care. Iraq is still somewhat taboo in Republican debates, so fearful are the candidates that the situation in Baghdad might again deteriorate. Thanks to Katrina and several war-contracting scandals, the party has squandered its bragging rights on running a more efficient government. “We've lost, clearly, some of the moral high ground on the larger issues of taxes and spending,” says South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford.

The one bright spot who has never lost his “high ground on the larger issues” during the “moral and intellectual power outage that now darkens the G.O.P.” is the Front Runner. Congressman Ronald E. Paul. That's R.E.P. for short-as in REPutation for never sacrificing his integrity and duty to fulfill his Congressional oath of defending the Constitution when it comes to the issues listed in the paragraph above.

If the passion of his supporters does ignite another “money-bomb” on Sunday, and that momentum carries over to the early primaries, the Front Runner status Mr. Duffy's article implies without specifically stating should be confirmed by Super Tuesday.

Since the problems the G.O.P. faces are spelled out beautifully in this article and Dr. Paul has actual solutions, the only way he won't be nominated is if enough of the rank and file Republicans don't hear his message before the primaries (assuming they actually show up to vote during the primaries).

If somehow the Front Running Paul doesn't get the G.O.P. nomination, he may ultimately prove to be the perfect conduit for the Libertarian Party's message. If he decides to use some of his funds to do an infomercial, or if he can garner enough support to make it into the National Debates this fall, he could end up proving that the old Libertarian slogan (Most Americans are Libertarians; they just don't know it yet) is true. In one of the most ironic twists of all time, the man the GOP didn't want could end up costing the election and give rise to a legitimate political movement that would last as long as America does since it is based on the same principles, and not based on a silly ephemeral notion like “Reform.”

Although he said on Wednesday that he was 99.99999 (give or take a 9) percent sure that he wouldn't run as a third party candidate, Michael Jordan once said he was 99.9% sure he was done with basketball. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/news/2001/04/10/jordan_comeback_ap/ When

When he talks about why he won't run as a third party candidate, he only mentions things like “the system makes it so difficult to get onto the ballot or into the debates.” (hint, hint meetup groups and supporters–he'll really need your help unless it's foggy this Christmas and Santa, er, the GOP realizes they do need him). He never says that he doesn't think it would be a good idea. And to be taken as a serious G.O.P. contender, he could never say he'd consider a third party run–the same way Romney, Huckabee, et. al., can't say that in order to do the things they want to do as President they'd have to either raise taxes or continue to run major deficits. I think it's kinda charming that the only “political” answer I've ever heard Dr. Paul give is when he answers questions about running as a third party candidate. It's also odd that he is shunned because he won't say that he'll support his party's nominee no matter what. Why would he say this? It may make sense in Rudy's mind that he would support his City's arch-rival Red Sox in the World Series because they are an American League team, but this isn't a game of baseball we're talking about. And even if it were, Dr. Paul would only support making sure that the integrity of the game was sound so that the game could be enjoyed by future generations (although I highly doubt he would use federal government funds–read YOUR tax money–to do it http://www.thebostonchannel.com/sports/14852691/detail.html. If a player was violating a contract he had signed (or gave his oath to uphold), there is no way he could support this person publicly. To do so would undermine everything he stood for. How is this a bad thing?

To continue on with our mixed political/sports metaphors; when Jordan eventually did return to basketball with the Wizards, he wasn't as good as he once was, but he did have moments of brilliance and he did sell out arenas. While Dr. Paul may not be as good as he once was (grrr…Why wasn't there an internet around in 1988? Or why can't he just look and talk like Mitt Romney now?) but if he can get his message out to the general population via infomercials, interviews that actually run (contact ABC now http://abcnews.go.com/Site/page?id=3271346&cat=20/20 and tell them to put on that amazing John Stossel interview (or at least put it on their homepage), and let them know that they have nothing to worry about under the “Equal Time” rule because they'd have to interview him for six months in order for him to catch up; or just have them have every other candidate on too as a series–they could even air this series as a political special), or being allowed to respond more fully in debates including only two other candidates, he will have moments of brilliance and sell out (metaphorically speaking) the voting booths next November.

Remember that while the MSM may tell you that a third party candidate has no chance, Ross “The Constitution is a document frozen in time that won't hack it” Perot was actually leading the national polls http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ross_Perot at one point in June before taking time off and ruining his momentum. Just imagine what would happen if someone with a real message had an opportunity to be heard.

In the end, hopefully the Front-Runner will have a chance to lead the Bulls, er, Elephants to another championship. But if they won't sign him, it wouldn't be so bad to see him sell out stadiums for the Statue of Liberty's (By the way, the Libertarian Party needs a new mascot; preferably an animal–I propose an Eagle).

No matter how it plays out, it's going to be one helluva game. I know I'll be there on the front row. And I'm bringing friends with me. Get your tickets now because no matter which team signs Congressman Paul in the end, they are likely to sell out fast.

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