12.1.08

Thank God for Ron Paul

Andrew Sullivan, sobre o debate na FOX:

"And, yes, thank God for Ron Paul.

No one else, except McCain, copped to the GOP's rank betrayal of fiscal conservatism, limited government, prudent foreign policy and civil liberties. When he was asked to disown the 9/11 Truthers, he gave a revealing answer, and one that reflects on the newsletters issue. It just isn't in his nature to adopt other people's views, or to tell anyone else what to believe or what to say. He doesn't just believe in libertarianism; he lives it. This means that he doesn't have the instinct to police anyone else's views or actions within the law or the Constitution. I don't think it excuses his negligence in the past, but it does help me understand it better.

One other vital thing: none of the candidates seems to have the slightest nuance on the Iraq war. I don't find Paul's extreme non-interventionism to be palatable; but I don't think it's less inherently reasonable than McCain's belief in occupying half the planet for ever as long as we don't have US casualties. Giuliani is the nuttiest. Romney just vacuous and dumb. To listen to McCain, you would honestly think Iraq would soon become a peaceful, unified, independent nation. At best, that might happen in 50 years time. Until then, we have to occupy the place, constantly juggling various militias, appeasing various factions, arming those who will one day attack us and then the next day realign with us? Empire is a rough business. And when you're running en empire on borrowed money and your own currency is going down the tubes, it's not an indefinite prospect. And if McCain believes Arab culture will tolerate a permanent American occupation the way that Koreans or Germans have, he has learned nothing from these past five years and even less from history.

He is, however, clearly the Republicans' best viable candidate. That is the good news for the GOP. Given the imperial over-reach it implies, it is also the bad news."

Continuo a pensar que, mesmo o Ron Paul perdendo a eleição, uma das suas grandes vitórias é ao longo desta campanha ter, pela sua inteligência e consistência, acumulado credibilidade suficiente para quando as coisas correrem (mesmo) mal vir dizer "bem vos avisei". Com um discurso tão repetitivo, demagógico e sentimentalista por parte dos outros candidatos, Ron Paul só pode vir a lucrar quando uma crise surgir (financeira/económica ou militar).

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