Ron Paul Wins Straw Poll At 2011 Republican Leadership Conference

NEW ORLEANS -- Rep. Ron Paul of Texas has won the presidential straw poll at the Republican Leadership Conference.

The perennial libertarian candidate won 612 votes from the gathering that brings presidential candidates, party elders, grassroots activists and donors. Coming in second place was former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, who served three Republican administrations and then worked as President Barack Obama's ambassador to China.

Huntsman got 382 votes, but did not address the conference. Aides said he was ill.

His wife, Mary Kaye Huntsman, came to meet privately with activists.

Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, a tea party darling, collected 191 votes. Former pizza executive Herman Cain won 104 votes and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney skipped the event and picked up 74 votes. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich got 69 votes.

 

 

Comments

[Pdubya]

10:23 PM on 07/02/2011

If you're a fan or have caught some of my posts, its no mystery that I suport Ron Paul. On the political compass (take the test, its interesting www.politicalcompass.org), I fall on the graph 2/3 below the statism line, into the individualism line, and center on the false left/right paradigm, correctly portrayed in the test as libertarianism (right), and collectivism (left).

I had a call from a dear friend of mine today. In today's jargon, she has been a lefty democrat all of her life, proudly supported clinton and obama, demonized all republicans...etc. Suffice to say, we've had some fiery discussions. Out of the blue, into our conversation she said "I have some big news for you....I'm going to vote for Ron Paul. After reading about him, taking a peak at a few pieces of literature, I've realized I've swallowed the party line whole." I don't agree with 100% of what he believes in, but the biggies I do - and I checked his record and he's maintained it for 30 years!...and that tells me I can trust him...and since when have we had that?"

We joked that we should all be able to vote in the primaries simply because we're citizens. But, she is going to switch parties to vote for him in the primaries and then perhaps switch back for the general. If SHE can see the sense in Paul, anyone can....believe me, please lol.

[New by]

07:31 PM on 06/21/2011

I have been posting and defending Ron Paul, I am shocked I have to but for the people who genuinely don't know how great he is then its worth defending him, for the others who are politically motivated and here to misrepresent his message and blatantly lie then I am glad to show others the lies..

Vote Ron Paul

Libertarianism is a political philosophy that upholds individual liberty, especially freedom of expression and action.[1] Libertarianism includes diverse beliefs and organizations, all advocating minimization of the state and sharing the goal of maximizing individual liberty and freedom

This is what he has given you even if you have not appreciated the messiah that is Ron Paul..

Liberty is what the USA is meant to stand for, against Communism and Fascism, where the state controls too much of the peoples freedoms..

Libertarianism is a political philosophy that upholds individual liberty, especially freedom of expression and action.[1] Libertarianism includes diverse beliefs and organizations, all advocating minimization of the state and sharing the goal of maximizing individual liberty and freedom.

The last bit is the best...MAXIMIZING individual liberty and freedom..Embrace this political philosophy and Ron Paul..

[EdCorner]

07:58 PM on 06/21/2011

Thanks again for standing up against these fear mongers that would portray Ron as some kind of mon. ster and seek to bury all positive comments about this great man. Fav'd - already fanned

[gggeorgewashington]

09:08 AM on 06/22/2011

I agree that Mr. Ron Paul is the man for the job as well. Nicely put Sir; Mr. Paul has a strong ground game, early fund raisers, high profile legislative endorsements, GOP fellow candidates who literally are echoing Mr. Ron Paul's stead fast platform, supporters not only from 1 "party related team" but supporters who are democratic, libertarian, republican, and all others. Most importantly, all those people who feel kind of "snowed over" by all the failed campaign promises of Mr. Obama, realize now that ideology and rhetoric never supersedes substance and track record. Walk the walk and talk the talk. Mr. Ron Paul does just that.

Ron Paul 2012

[EdCorner]

07:19 PM on 06/20/2011

And for all you jokers that are saying he wants 100% deregulati­on of markets - totally ridiculous BTW, but for your edificatio­n and hopefully you can add 2 + 2. Regulation­s mean nothing if the rules of law aren't enforced.

Appearing on C-SPAN’s Newsmakers (interview­­ed for a second time by the Journal’s Sudeep Reddy), Paul responded to recent comments by incoming House Financial Services Committee Chairman Spencer Bachus (R. Ala.,) on bank regulation­­. “I don’t think we need regulators­­. We need law and order. We need people to fulfill their contracts,­­” Paul said.

http://blo­­gs.wsj.co­m­/economi­cs­/2010/1­2/1­7/ron-­paul­-i-do­nt-th­ink-­we-nee­d-r­egulato­rs­/

[FLECKENSTEIN44]

10:26 PM on 06/22/2011

agreed alot of regulation is harmful and bad for the economy. but regulating stuff like nuclear plants,food and drugs id support.

[Quinxy von Besiex]

05:54 PM on 06/20/2011

From the sorry lot of Republican candidates thus far, President Obama might not need to engage in a serious campaign.

[New by]

09:44 PM on 06/20/2011

How can you guys not love Ron Paul. Watch McCain and Romney choking with the nerves, as Ron Paul tells the truth...

Watch these and then do some research on this man

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqv31-r4244&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHTCG3gGJKQ

[gggeorgewashington]

06:25 PM on 06/21/2011

I do Sir, Mr. Paul has a strong ground game, early fund raisers, high profile legislative endorsements, GOP fellow candidates who literally are echoing Mr. Ron Paul's stead fast platform, supporters not only from 1 "party related team" but supporters who are democratic, libertarian, republican, and all others. Most importantly, all those people who feel kind of "snowed over" by all the failed campaign promises of Mr. Obama, realize now that ideology and rhetoric never supersedes substance and track record. Walk the walk and talk the talk. Mr. Ron Paul does just that.

[snack cakes]

10:26 PM on 06/20/2011

Yep! Considering he's just as "republican" as the other "republicans". Parties don't mean anything anymore.

[New by]

08:17 PM on 06/21/2011

He is actullay a Libertarian in the Republican party, he was in the Libertarian party but its gone now...But he is still flying the freedom flag in the republican party because 'The Founding Fathers were Libertarians' lol

So really it is a third choice, something the USA has not been given in a long time

Watch these lol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6OJMta2Pss

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHTCG3gGJKQ

[Rozanna]

05:44 PM on 06/20/2011

Here is another little know fact about Ron Paul. He loves the John Birth Society and has spoken at their conventions. I have had the dubious experience of having attended a John Birth meeting. They are all a bunch of whack job conspiracy theorists. You all need to educate yourselves about Ron Paul.

[Rozanna]

05:47 PM on 06/20/2011

Sorry. John "Birch" Society.

[New by]

10:10 PM on 06/20/2011

All the conspiracy theorists love Ron Paul, but Ron Paul is not a conspiracy theorist..

The conspiracy theorists believe Ron Paul is a masonic Satanist or some crap...

http://www.endgameplan.net/2008/03/the-truth-ron-p.html

Do you believe this too lol

[fredlynn07]

03:47 PM on 06/21/2011

I thought he was making a perady on the Bithers?

[laurawee]

11:46 PM on 06/21/2011

Absolutely... like we should have educated ourselves about Obama. Hopefully we have all learned from our past mistakes.

[ron ray]

02:38 PM on 06/20/2011

So Ron Paul is denouncing Romney for refusing to sign a pledge to use government to stop women from getting abortions. I've never quite understood how you can be libertarian and anti-choice.

[Pyrum]

04:24 PM on 06/20/2011

It's not inconsistent at all if you believe life begins at conception. Libertarianism is all about protecting the most vulnerable members of society, so this is a fetus rights issue.

[ron ray]

04:36 PM on 06/20/2011

but since so many have different views -- the libertarian party, and ayn rand who believed there were no rights until birth -- how do you justify using the government to enforce your particular point of view?

[Eris23Skidoo]

04:43 PM on 06/20/2011

To begin with he isn't even libertarian. He's fascist.

[Pyrum]

05:06 PM on 06/20/2011

I'll bet you don't even know what fascism is.

[FLECKENSTEIN44]

10:28 PM on 06/22/2011

your a idiot but dont worry your speech is protected under the 1st amendment, the same amendment that Ron Paul tries to protect and fend off from democrats and republicans that dont understand the concept of freedom.

[Mr Universe]

02:17 PM on 06/20/2011

The title is a bit misleading:

http://t.co/3edAIaz

[Rozanna]

02:59 PM on 06/20/2011

Indeed it is. Thanks for the link.

[SilentSolidarity]

02:03 PM on 06/20/2011

Don't get fooled!

He might seem liberal on foreign policy and personal freedom. But what about social services, economic regulation, mitigating global warming?

He's completely insane. The last thing we need is another decade lost.

[Rozanna]

02:41 PM on 06/20/2011

Liberal on personal freedom? Unless you're a woman. He opposes a woman's right to choose.

[New by]

09:22 PM on 06/20/2011

I don't like posting this because it is quite disturbing on many levels, but this is why Ron Paul is against abortion, I don't blame him after his experience

"Paul refers to his background as an obstetrician as being influential on his view, recalling inadvertently witnessing a late-term abortion performed by one of his instructors during his residency, “It was pretty dramatic for me to see a two-and-a-half-pound baby taken out crying and breathing and put in a bucket."

He says leave it up to the states to sort it out, he is not going to ban abortions, its a legal argument that the states can vote on it, and most states will probably allow it..He won't interfere if they do...So lets get his story straight please...

Watch him yourself

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EL1BOWC3No0

[laurawee]

11:48 PM on 06/21/2011

or is it an unborn child's right to have a chance at life?

[TheAlchemyst]

04:40 PM on 06/20/2011

Tell me what is insane about letting either the states or We the People determine what is right or wrong, and I will enter a hearty debate with you, sir (ma'am)

[badman400]

01:27 PM on 06/20/2011

Those few wealthy and powerful who actually run our world, do NOT want Ron Paul in office. So they will order the news outlets that they own to make him out a kook, and repeat over and over that he can't win. Ron Paul would be good for our country and all peoples, except the elite who steal from all of us. IMHO, if Ron Paul doesn't win by a landslide, then the game is most certainly rigged, or we have some very stupid people voting.

[EdCorner]

02:04 PM on 06/20/2011

Fanned and fav'd badman400 !! Good post

[Eris23Skidoo]

04:46 PM on 06/20/2011

Ron Paul IS a kook, so it isn't hard to paint him that way. All you have to do is put a microphone in his face and listen for a few minutes. He'll say something completely crazy, you watch.

[badman400]

09:06 PM on 06/20/2011

It is amazing the mass conditioning that has taken place using propaganda that is spewed daily on the mainstream media. Only a brainwashed person out of touch with reality and what this Republic truly stands for, would consider the greatest statesman alive, as a "kook". Can anyone think for themselves anymore? Hearing it on the mainstream media or "news" outlets, should in itself be a clue that the opposite is probably true. This man has served our country in the miltary, and as a doctor who delivered over 4000 babies. He is a well educated, and brilliant economist! He has a record of honesty and integrity. A few spliced sound bites though, taken out of context, and run on the liberal media is all it takes to make believers and pseudo intellects out of the sheeple. The sheeple who are eager to lap up the latest slop that is spoon fed to them by their rulers' puppets. Don't be so gullible! Do a little reading and research, and you will find that Ron Paul is part of a dying breed. A true patriot and a statesman! Without more well educated people who know what Ron Paul knows and who understand as he does, our founders' true intent and the Constitution's true meaning, our country may very well be doomed. If left to those "sheeple" who think Ron Paul is a kook because the almighty CNN says so, then we are surely headed down the path of no return.

[New by]

09:39 PM on 06/20/2011

Yea, then watch this and wathc Mccain and Romney twisting and turning. They are shamed ....

Really, watch this then do your own research in this great man..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHTCG3gGJKQ

[standalonespirit]

12:58 PM on 06/20/2011

I have no choice but to vote for Ron Paul. We need to send a message--a revolution would be best but Americans would have to put down their TV remote for that and get emotional--so forget that one. He is the closest thing to a revolution Americans can muster at this time. I simply don't consider him a Republican by any means---he stands alone but is smart enough to get one of the political machines behind him. I won't even vote in a Romney/Obama election what would be the point?

[badman400]

01:28 PM on 06/20/2011

I will be voting for Ron Paul this year. He is the closest thing to a perfect president we have running. No one else even comes close!

[Rozanna]

01:36 PM on 06/20/2011

Except that he is a racist, believes in creationism and does not wish to uphold Roe vs. Wade. Oh well, the heck with non-whites and women in your "perfect" world.

[standalonespirit]

12:50 PM on 06/20/2011

Reading some of the strong negative comments about Ron Paul it makes me wonder why some Dem's are so afraid of him? He's at least the next best thing compared to Obama from a Liberal perspective--or is it that those fears can come true Ron Paul can actually defeat the ineffective Obama if he achieved the nomination.

[TheAlchemyst]

04:45 PM on 06/20/2011

Almost everyone these days is used to our Nanny State in some form or fashion. Democrats are afraid of touching Entitlement programs or Federal controls, such as the EPA. Republicans are afraid of losing their Social Conformity laws such as the War on Drugs or the gay marriage fights. It's the rest of us left between the cracks that fully support his small-government ideologies.

[Eris23Skidoo]

04:48 PM on 06/20/2011

Ron Paul is a libertarian and is pro-monopolization and privatization of our economy. A Ron Paul presidency would be a disaster for our economy as he would definitely apply his amateur notions about how economies work and he would likely set up a new great depression. We already tried libertarian policies during the Bush Admin and they didn't work, in fact they resulted in the Great Recession.

[snack cakes]

10:41 PM on 06/20/2011

When will you be enlisting to assist your president's war effort? He's your guy; step up to the plate.

[-swift]

12:29 PM on 06/20/2011

Ron Paul supporters are like Firefly fans. They can't believe why everyone isn't in love with their show, and they get on every poll possible and vote their obsession to the top.

But in the end, Firefly will never come back. Ron Paul will never be President.

[EdCorner]

12:31 PM on 06/20/2011

Anything is possible

[oilfield]

01:00 PM on 06/20/2011

i cant imagine why everyone isnt in love with the show that is one now....stay tuned 2 more years maybe 6 more of the greatest show on earth....lol

[Majority2012]

11:50 AM on 06/20/2011

Ron Paul is more a constitutionalist than a libertarian and wont do anything against the constitution. It would be up to congress to get rid of many of these laws and Ron Paul as a president would not overstep his constitutional bounds. What he could do though is end these wars that were started through executive order and he would in turn get rid of executive orders because they are unconstitutional. He would stop the war on drugs. He said in his speech that he couldn't all by himself get rid of the federal reserve but what he could do his make it legal for people to trade in gold and silver. Listen and use logic before you dismiss him. He is the only anti war candidate running including Obama

[Eris23Skidoo]

04:50 PM on 06/20/2011

It's already legal to trade in gold and silver.

[Majority2012]

07:48 PM on 06/20/2011

As a result of the Dodd-Frank Act enacted by US Congress, a new regulation prohibiting US residents from trading over the counter precious metals, including gold and silver, will go into effect on Friday, July 15, 2011.

[New by]

07:19 PM on 06/21/2011

Obama is going to trick you into believeing he is ending wars, take troops home from afghan, then after re-election on to Iran...

[EdCorner]

11:34 AM on 06/20/2011

I'll tell you what, the Ron Paul fear is just oozing in this thread. Bots are really afraid of Ron as they don't want Obama to face a real candidate that could beat him. So they try to bury all the positive Ron Paul posts. I know this for a fact

[ron ray]

12:46 PM on 06/20/2011

for the record, most progressive, democrats and liberals would love to see ron paul or michelle bachman get the gop nomination. really.

[TheAlchemyst]

04:46 PM on 06/20/2011

I am a liberal and I would never vote for Bachman. While she is a lot more fiscally conservative and Constitutional than other GOPers, she still wants to enforce her own personal ethics on the nation

[Eris23Skidoo]

04:52 PM on 06/20/2011

Don't make me laugh. Ron Paul would be one of the easiest for Obama to beat. The religious wing won't turn out to vote for him because he doesn't have the family values credentials. He's from the libertarian wing and the "values voters" don't care for him. Meanwhile, Obama will be taking all of the democrats and all of the moderates.

[EdCorner]

11:13 PM on 06/20/2011

If that were true you wouldn't be posting misleading information. The facts would be enough - but as you've shown, they aren't, and that says fear to me.

[New by]

07:22 PM on 06/21/2011

Family values, sure are not two of his children doctors, he has delivered 4000 babies, he is married like 50 years.....All he has to is bring the family on the stage, White Protestant American Doctors...Still Married....I think he has family values wrapped up....and its 100% genuine...

[vulpecula762mm]

11:32 AM on 06/20/2011

Libertaian = dooosche puddle