Was this a front page editorial?

Ron Paul supporters are "off-center"?

Ron Paul supporters "perhaps" spam the blogosphere or are "perhaps" just known for it?

Ron Paul supporters are "Paulites"?

All Ron Paul supporters are the same? It is not "some"?

Ron Paul made substantial campaign contributions in one day, but "Of course" there is a "flip-side" and "semi-creepiness" to the source of the contributions and what they represent?

I don't know what is the worst... the implications, generalizations, or prejudicial style.

Writers like David Bromwich and Jane Smiley post here. Have some respect for journalism.

I find it rather annoying when idiots try to patronize. While I'm not a Paul supporter, and don't have any plans on voting for him (yet), I think Jason Linkins would do well to educate himself before he tries to deconstruct the correlation between the movie "V" and the Ron Paul supporters. Anyone who thinks that "V" was such a smashing success because it told the story of some fictional British government being overthrown by a modern, Fawkes mask-wearing terrorist is complete out of the cultural loop. This movie was popular because the analogy to our own government was chillingly accurate.

The movie wasn't popular because it was based on a comic book, it was popular because the director's used that story to implicate our current administration. Faith-based government (Strength through unity, unity through faith), torture, suspension of personal liberties, constant surveillance of the populace, utter (and violent) repression of dissent... the list goes on and on.

The movie even alludes to the government being involved in the worst terrorist event in the nation's history (a nod to the 9/11 conspiracy movement perhaps?).

Believe what you like, but if you do not see "V" as a bold criticism of our current political arena, you will miss the very point of the millions of people who will support Ron Paul.

They aren't interested in blowing up Parliment any more than the characters in "V" were. They are interested in changing the course of their country... and that is what we are seeing with those who support Ron Paul. They see him as "the explosion" that will change our political direction. And from the looks of how the funds are pouring in, they may be on to something.

I followed your links and could not find any association with this Guy Fawkes by either his campaign or supporters. In fact your entire piece is nothing but a bizarre, weak-minded and foolish smear of Paul and his supporters. I feel that you have violated HuffPo's conditions re abusive postings. Perhaps if the 'moderators' weren't friends of yours this post would have been refused.

A Ron Paul supporter approach me at the neighborhood farmer's market in July. When asked, I said I knew who Ron Paul is and no, I wouldn't support him. The guy then launched into a "Why? Do you think his ideas are crazy?" tirade and started following me. I turned and said, "I'm not supporting him because he's a Repubican and I disagree with him on most issues - including the right to abortion". Then the guy started screaming repeatedly that abortion was murder. I told him he didn't live in our neighborhood and he should return to his own neighborhood and scream at his own neighbors because we're Democrats and we don't treat people like that - even Republicans.

My regret - that I won't be at the GOP caucus to see how the whole Ron Paul thing works out. I bet there will be a lot of pissed of Paul supported come January 4.

Most of Ron Paul's supporters, as diverse as we are, share one essential belief. We see the US devolving into a fascist police state. We see the deleterious, long term effects of Central Banking and Fiat Currency. For some, these concepts are new, for others they are very old news. Congressman Paul is the only candidate willing to face these monsters. The last candidate that dared challenge the Federal Reserve was named John Kennedy. The last time I felt this excited about a campaign was when I was knocking on doors for Bobby Kennedy. Those of you who continue to demean and ignore Ron Paul based on a party affiliation are being played as pawns. Wake up and smell the Fascism.

it's worth noting that the peeps who ponied up all that $$ or blogged so heavily, at least knew about Mr Fawkes, which is alot more than the av. NASCAR dad knows.

You are correct to point out how rabid and pervasive Ron Paul's fans can be. I first noticed this on MySpace, as a hundred add requests came from Ron Paul supporters. I actually agree with more of his platform than any other GOP candidate, but his supporters make me wince.

How much of the Paul campaign is fueled by hatred of Hillary? It's worth thinking about as a proposition.
Me, I see another dried up old white guy who wants everyone to pay attention to him.

Say what you will about Mr. Paul, but please leave the snide, and ill-informed remarks about comic books out of this.

Alan Moore's V is considered to be one of the greatest works of the genre, and as a writer he is credited with elevating comics to the level of great literature. V is a pointed commentary on Thatcher's England and is very much a political work. And to call V's characters "terrorists" for overthrowing a Orwellian, totalitarian government is fairly amusing - no, make that ignorant - considering America's own proud history.

Ron Paul's supporters are indeed a strange mixture. For instance, I have a degree in American History; a passion for politics going back to when I shook Adlai Stevenson's hand in 1960; a public record of picketing against Louis Farrakhan and debating against David Duke; I spent part of this evening along with 2,000 other people listening to and applauding the esteemed liberal columnist Paul Krugman.

I don't fit your stereotype of a Ron Paul supporter. And Dr. Paul does not fit your stereotype of himself, either. I met the man 20 years ago and have always been impressed with his personal integrity and political consistency.

I can't quite figure out how a HuffPost editor reduces himself to the rhetorical and subethical level of a RedState-t­ype---frot­hing at the mouth over Ron Paul's popularity.

As Dr. Paul said earlier today, his support is mainly because of his opposition to the war.

We're all sick of the cave-ins by the key Democrats, so why not line up with a guy who meant what he said and said what he meant---an Elephant (of all things!) who's faithful, 100 per cent.

if hillary is the democratic nominee, i will put my support behind paul as well. the idea that the democratic establishment is taking my vote for granted and letting the bushies continue to destroy our country makes me furious.

hillary is neocon lite. and i am not buying.

Ok, even if Ron Paul won the presidency, what could he accomplish with a Congress filled with Democrats and Republicans? Wouldn't he have to try to be like Bush and do his best to disrupt the system of checks and balances?

One thing common to Ron Paul detractors is they inevitably resort stupid name calling, because that is all they have.

You will never hear them say Dr Paul is factually incorrect. Printing money and excess credit does not lead to inflation. Inflation hits the rich and the poor equally. The Iraq war was constitutional. The Congress was correct to abjugate it's authority to declare war to the President. The war isn't being funded by debt and borrowing from foreign countries. Giving up civil liberties and habeus corpus is good and necessary for some security. Doesn't matter what the experts or the 9/11 commission report says, they attacked us because we are free and rich...

No they can't dispute the message, so they resort to assinine name calling.

As Dr Paul said, the flakes and kooks are the ones in charge!

You have to be a flake and a kook to claim you were duped into voting for the Iraq war and then write Bush/Cheney another blank check by voting for the Kyle-Lieberman bill.

You must be a flake and a kook to promise to end the Iraq war but still maintain troops for combat missions.

Only a flake and a kook would
vote for the Iraq War
vote for the Patriot Act (2001)
vote to renew the Patriot Act (2006)
vote for the Kyle-Lieberman bill

Dr Paul is the only sane one among them.

Oh yeah? I have ancestors who came over 387 years ago (and some who came later)! I'll vote for a Libertarian when Congress can be adjorned sine die; there being no more use for new laws because the natural goodness of mankind will have won out over those evil instincts that lead people to do bad stuff to others.

I am not a "Paulite," however I am sympathetic toward people who are disparaged simply for believing there's got to be a better way. Ron Paul's appeal (as he pointed out on the Leno show recently) derives not from the man but from his message, which resonates with a significant segment of the American public that is desperate to stop the imperial wars, the suicidal fiscal policy, and the abrogation of constitutional rights that have been perpetrated by both parties. None of the media-annointed, so-called responsible candidates offers any hope of change, that much is clear. Cheap shots by writers such as Linkins typify the trapped-in-the-box, conventional thinking that has plunged this country into a real crisis. For god's sake, if this is best you can do, Linkins, just shut the f*ck up.