Jeremy also has a cool tool belt that may or may not contain a grappling hook.

[phamos]

My friend Jeremy poses the question, "Why is Ron Paul awesome?" The New Yorker notes that he is wearing suspenders. All of this flies right over my head. Why haven't I learned yet that when magazines quote Columbia physics grad students, I usually know them?

Comments

[rationalpassion.livejournal.com]

I know that this post isn't exactly an endorsement of Ron Paul--it's more about your friend in the physics department at Columbia--and I know that I've already denounced Ron Paul over at my journal--it led to a pretty vehement argument about war and related matters--but I would like to warn you about why *you* should oppose the Ron Paul phenomenon despite his opposition to the war:

http://dneiwert.blogspot.com/2007/11/of-smears-and-facts.html
http://dneiwert.blogspot.com/2007/11/dark-side-of-paul-phenomenon.html

This past Thursday, my Paul-loving friend dragged me to a meet-up for Paul that was videotaped by someone from the PBS program NOW (formerly with Bill Moyers). When asked if anyone objected to being filmed, I was the only one who raised my hand--hopefully the kind lady who did the filming will be true to her word. I was not there to support Paul, but rather to see his supporters in person. Color me disturbed. Extremists these were--but not my kind of extremists. Not by a long-shot.

[phamos818.livejournal.com]

In Re: your second link -- of course Paul's going to attract skinheads. He's an isolationist. It's the same crazy cranks who voted for Buchanan all those years. I don't think that means Paul himself is a racist, or that all the people who support Paul are racists. I think that's demonstrably untrue, and you probably agree with me. But don't worry, I'm not voting for Ron Paul in any case. I mean, come on, the gold standard? That's even more far-fetched than single-payer health care. :)

[rationalpassion.livejournal.com]

In Re: your second link -- of course Paul's going to attract skinheads. He's an isolationist. It's the same crazy cranks who voted for Buchanan all those years.

The word "isolationist" is fraught with ideological baggage. But putting that to the side: "crazy cranks who voted for Buchanan all those years"--yes it's many of those same people.

I don't think that means Paul himself is a racist, or that all the people who support Paul are racists. I think that's demonstrably untrue, and you probably agree with me.

His supporters are a motley crew that spans the rainbow of crankery. Also, there are some decent and confused people (including my friend) who are frustrated with the status quo and foolishly think that Paul can somehow (how? don't ask!) overturn the bipartisan consensus singlehandedly. Even if I agreed with Ron Paul on everything--which I don't--that scenario will not happen and anyone who thinks it can is delusional about public opinion in this country.

But don't worry, I'm not voting for Ron Paul in any case.

I didn't figure you would. I just thought you might not be aware of the rest of his worldview and therefore might have some kind of sympathy for him due to his position on the war.

I mean, come on, the gold standard? That's even more far-fetched than single-payer health care. :)

That happens to be an issue on which I agree with Dr. Paul: bring back the gold standard! Of course, politically it's impossible. The welfare state would have to be dismantled first, and I don't see that happening for years, if not decades. But the erstwhile chairman of the Fed--when he was still (pretending to be) an Objectivist--got it right here: http://www.aynrandlexicon.com/lexicon/goldstandard.html