Des Moines, Iowa (CNN) -- When Rep. Ron Paul walked into Hy-Vee Hall last month, a single blue sign with a simple message was placed near the escalator that took him upstairs to a fundraiser attended by 300 Republican activists.
It read: "President Ron Paul 2012."
The sign was symbolic in many ways: Even as Iowa Republicans are focused on midterm elections, the 2012 presidential contest is not far from their minds. And it was just three years ago that Paul did not receive an invitation to participate in a presidential candidate forum held in this very building.
The sight of the Texas congressman riding the escalator up to address this group of influential Republicans was illustrative of how he has risen from a little-known congressman and afterthought presidential candidate to the national spokesman on libertarian philosophy.
All of this comes from a man who has no illusions that he can win his party's presidential nomination, but that won't stop him from running again in 2012 if he decides to do so.
"It is probably hard to believe, but I look at it a little bit differently than others," Paul said in an interview during his recent visit to Iowa. "I don't expect to be president. I don't expect to be. That doesn't mean I won't run for president, but I am really energized when I think we make inroads ... to broaden the outreach on the philosophy I have been talking about for 40 years."
I have to agree with you. In about 87 and 88 he came very near selling me his drink but over the years after that he has driven me way, away from him for anything.
Of course Ron Paul won't get even that far. The bottom line is that lots of people want freedom for themselves but they don't want it for other folks because those other folks may do something or not do something with their freedom that they don't like.
I find myself in the same tension. His words are captivating and are sweet music to my ears. However, his actions belie them and leave me wishing for someone to walk the walk that Ron Paul talks. If he ever comes around, sign me up.
Without a doubt, Ron Paul walks what he talks. I will vote for him if he runs in 2012 in the primary(as I did in 2008) and/or the general election if he is on the ballot here in Arkansas.
Oh, that's right, for some folks being 99% correct in one's actions as a Congressman, thus falling short of perfection, means he/she goes off and votes for someone that is way short of being 99% correct.
I know you want to down play the issue but this is not about being only 1 % wrong. It is about the specific issue he has. To rail against earmarks as being unconstitutional (which he is right) and then taking them home himself is a very big deal. Only one who wants to ignore the level this issue reaches would try to bring up his percentage of error.
I refuse to ignore all of correct things that Ron Paul does over this one, singular issue. I'll stand by Ron Paul over folks like Barack Obama, John McCain, Harry Reid, Sarah Palin, and the rest of the Political Establishment in this country.
Not to beat a dead horse, but it's far more than just this one issue where Paul says one thing and does another. But we've been round and round on that. He's your guy.
I support Ron Paul because he supports limited, constitutional government - as do I.
I wish more Americans would support limited, constitutional government.
Among Republicans, as far as I am aware of - Rand Paul and Gary Johnson.
Other than those two just about anyone the Libertarian Party nominates for president.