The African American Clarion Call - Latest Comments

Re: Our Black Year: A Odyssey to Support Black Business

Greg L — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 07:20:58 -0000

For some reason, I've once again lost the ability to copy and quote.

Anyway,it just seems to me that any analysis of how decline began in our communities excludes the whole idea of this brain drain. The civil right movement was both spawned and lead by a talented tenth that had ties to the community and the loss of that linkage goes a long way in explaining the state of affairs now business, politics and everything else. As I see it, the head was severed from the body and just as a headless body represents a frightening horror to most, so it is with our communities today. You're right of course, when you suggest that this is not a easy trend to reverse. I think any analysis of our condition must consider this as a huge contributing factor, but I rarely, if ever, recall seeing this discussed specifically.

Big business capitalism, as practiced by the oligarchs and kleptocrats, is a scourge on the world and is grasping for air in its death throes. We would want to replicate that in any way. There are scores of small businesses that operate outside of that realm and this is where more African-American involvement in providing everyday needs is key in economically developing our communities. I see a backlash brewing against big business and the beneficiary of this will be the local small business as opposed to some nameless faceless corporation, but since African-Americans have thin representation in the ranks of small business, this movement may pass us by. I'm reminded again of how we lost control of black hair care products--- an industry we once controlled---to a group that was prepared to take care of business while we were not.

It just seems to me that we've got no agenda or infrastructure set up to support a self help agenda. There's no shortage of infrastructure set up to address social justice issues, but those issues aren't our only problem. As I think about it , business and economic development tends not to lend itself to movements per se as these are usually initiatives that are shouldered by a community's "fathers and mothers" and their absence explains the lack development in this regard. I'd argue that their absence and the absence of the talented tenth are in fact one and the same.

The Chinese, Koreans and other groups don't have their most talented separated from their masses. Because their leadership group is intact and on the scene, they can strategize and build. And due to this, we never hear calls for ethnic solidarity or for folks to buy Chinese. There's no need for it because they control industries where everyone buys from them.

Whereas I understand and can benefit from a call to "buy black", I do see it as a call of desperation. And just as it's easier to call for protests rather than calling for accountability and fixing things within, so too is it easier to call for "buy black" rather than to call for the investment and infrastructure needed to create the businesses. The latter is far more effective than the former and if successfully done, there'd be no need to call for folks to buy black as there might exist compelling enough reasons for anyone to buy based on what one has to offer.

Historically, successful black businesses such as Madam CJ Walker and Atlanta Life backed and financed social justice movements. Since the businesses were independent, the movements themselves could enjoy a very brief period of independence prior to being taken over and funded by others. So because we lack a degree of economic independence, we effectively don't control the politics nor the social justice issues. Due to the lack of economic independence, we don't control our own agenda, rather it's controlled for us. This is so, because we don't fund it, instead it's funded for us. This should be unacceptable to all concerned, but few see this as an issue. For me, it's the main issue.

In my view, it's well past time for us to begin to deal in concepts of power. Again, I don't refer to power in the meglomaniacal sense of the word, the world has seen enough of that, but we do need power to control our backyard and to address our issues. Everything we do needs to be set against the litmus test of whether the initiative or proposal contributes to our power to address our issues ourselves. If we did that, fully 99% of the stuff that's proposed or pursued would be dismissed

Re: Our Black Year: A Odyssey to Support Black Business

Black_Diaspora2 — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 23:05:01 -0000

"It is our best and most talented who possess the organizational ability and the know how to run the businesses, politics and anything else. They’re not on the scene and this figures prominently—very prominently—in the conditions that exist within the African-American community. Basically, we need to take our MBA’s and our training and begin investing and executing within. "

You're describing a brain drain, a condition that benefits whites at the expense of black communities--our political, social, and economic development.

Reversing this is extremely unlikely as we have adopted the ideals of whites in this regard, selling our talent to the highest bidders--namely, those who can pay us the most money.

We have thrown our lot in with those who were our oppressors, and it appears that this alliance will either further our cause, or thwart it, but we're in it, not for an ounce, but a pound.

"Here’s what my experience informs me of—a real business is not about civil rights, buying black or any other romantic notions. It’s about business and that means offering competitive services that the public wants."

Capitalism is unforgiving-- implacable and harsh in its dispensations. There has to be a better way. For all the good it has done, it has left broken lives in its wake, those under-insured, or uninsured, gross unemployment, poverty, and a government that struggles to make up for its deficiencies--usually against a Republican party that calls for little or no government involvement, believing that the "invisible hand" should rule the day.

Re: Our Black Year: A Odyssey to Support Black Business

BNN — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 20:18:28 -0000

Caught
Maggie Anderson on Book TV this past weekend on Book TV. Interesting interview.....I'll read the Book

Re: The musings of a useful idiot (Thomas Sowell): Is the US Now on the Slippery Slope to Tyranny?

Greg L — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 21:42:07 -0000

Perhaps a review of the fact situation is in order as it seems in your headlong rush to defend Sowell, that those somehow escaped your attention. The specific comparisons Sowell makes in describing Obama's policies as Nazi like are related to BP's cost of remediating the gulf after a spill that created legal liability anyway. At the outset, Obama did nothing and only moved to get an agreement with BP after he held his finger to the air to see which way the political winds were blowing. Those winds gathered steam primarily because of increased clamor from the public to do something about the livelihoods that were lost due to BP negligence not to mention the environment damage. The main issue that Sowell and others on the right have an issue with is the fact that the $ 20 million commitment wasn't capped and for that, Obama is a Nazi. That deal BP cut with Obama is likely far less than that which would have been awarded in a jury trial had that occurred and had there been a jury award, I suppose that Sowell would have compared the jury to Nazis. I stand by my original characterization of Sowell's comments as egregiously stupid.

Having said that however, there are some things that Obama and his administration have done that could be characterized as Nazi-like--such as the recent National Defense Authorization Act or the proposed interventions in Syria and Iran, but Sowell and his army of sycophants fall strangely silent here. I suspect that they're okay with this as it fuels the favorite industry that pays their salaries; that industry being the military industrial complex.

The problem with people like Sowell and you is that your ire is very selective as is your supposed concern over the erosion of constitutional rights.

Re: The musings of a useful idiot (Thomas Sowell): Is the US Now on the Slippery Slope to Tyranny?

Correction — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 18:31:46 -0000

Sowell simply compared the political tactics of Obama to the political tactics of Hitler. That comparison says NOTHING about Obama's character or the merits of the actual policy he is pursuing, it only speaks of the strategy he is undertaking to accomplish what he wants. If someone calls Obama a socialist or a communist, you don't seem very interested in hearing what evidence they have to present to back their claim. You simply dismiss it as an impossibility, a trait that marks the cl0se-minded.

A classic fallacy which you also argued here is that: "On the other had, there are statements that are so egregiously stupid, that you’re inclined to never listen to what the offending party has to say about anything else."This is likewise a way to dismiss a host of arguments from someone without one trace of logic or evidence. For an extreme example, let's go back to Hitler. He may have been an evil man bent on murdering millions of people, but that doesn't mean that when what he had to say about public speaking is any less valuable or reliable, as he was one of the most gifted public speakers of his time. This rhetorical tactic has also been pointed out by Sowell repeatedly in his books, you should read some of them before you dismiss every single argument from a person because of once stance you find displeasing.
You're misrepresentation of Sowell's argument with the use of verbal virtuosity such as "Nazi-like" - implying that Sowell has compared Obama as a person, his moral values, or specific political objectives, to Hitler is such a skewed argument that you're the one that can't be taken seriously. Sowell compared how Obama and Hitler build/built political support, and THAT'S IT. If you want to dismiss everything else that a respected and distinguished scholar has to say off of an absurd comparison you've conjured up in your head, go ahead. You'll continue to wall in the close-mindedness of those pursuing some vision that doesn't align with any factual reality that the rest of us factor into our daily lives.

Re: US Government seizes 307 domains in the defense of the NFL

Greg L — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 17:02:32 -0000

I don't know how this entire primary season can be considered other than a disaster for the republican party. According to our local newspaper, even Pennsylvanians don't think Santorum will best Obama and he still remains seen by majorities here as extreme let alone when one considers the electorate as a whole. Santorum can't even count on carrying his home state.

I say and say again that you guys made a strategic blunder that will be fatal for your party this year and beyond. You guys doubled down on the right to get your base all worked up in 2010, but now have to run to the middle for the general. Your base is rejecting that move and demanding a hard right conservative, but that person can't get elected. You guys are trying to deflect attention away from this crisis with the attacks on Obama's apology to the Afghans, but it won't work. Yes, make no mistake LTE, this is a crisis of major proportions for your party.

Re: US Government seizes 307 domains in the defense of the NFL

LTE2 — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 13:11:33 -0000

Watching the last debate, Santorum could only do a double when he needed a home run...

Re: US Government seizes 307 domains in the defense of the NFL

LTE2 — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:17:41 -0000

"but the other side is that practitioners are increasingly being positioned as tax collection agents."
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I had seen this coming years ago, regardless of Republican or Democrat you were going to see a continued growth in the welfare state. I deal with Europeans and it's taxes everywhere for them and it drives many crazy. The Wall Street Journal had an article on how after Merkel got into office she had a round table meeting with the major German industrialists asking why they were no longer investing and expanding businesses in Germany. They told her it was no longer worth the effort and they rather "take the day off" than work harder just to watch everything they earned get chewed up in taxes. The previous Socialist government admitted Germany could no longer sustain it's welfare system and programs would have to be rolled back.
It appears American will have to learn the lesson instead of learning from someone else's experience.
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As for Santorum, I can't say 2006 speaks that much. There was a strong anti-Bush mood and the Democrats made Santorum out to be Bush's lackey. His campaign released an ad that had inaccurate information and the Democrats made hay with that. The Democrats painted him as a religious kook. His support for Arlen Spector was a big, BIG mistake, that left a LOT of Republicans intensely angry at him. Robert Casey, Jr was widely admired and Bob Casey, Jr got great mileage from that admiration.
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Maybe it could be said it was remarkable Santorum was elected at all and the fact Pat Toomey was elected shows Santorum's basic political leanings were not far away from what Pennsylvanians wanted.
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Santorum is no show horse but his relatively positive message, his pit bull tenacity could wear well over time. Obama has played financial games, has not been honest with the Americans and has played socially divisive games.
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Santorum could also do an ethnic play as many Hispanics are Spanish, who are cousins to Italians. His being both Catholic and Latin could play well to that crowd.
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I would be more concerned if Obama played square with Americans, but he didn't. If Santorum is clever, has my sense of smoking out a con man, he could pull off a win. May only be by a 5% margin, but Obama's "landslide" was only 7% (I see 10%+ a landslide, 7% is a solid win).

Re: US Government seizes 307 domains in the defense of the NFL

Greg L — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 01:32:59 -0000

>>>You are now an agent for the ever expanding welfare state. Freedoms and
privacy will be casualties in the ever growing need for tax revenue.<<<

Anymore, this is very true. There have been a number of regulations that have been recently passed governing tax preparation. Some of it is good in the sense of eliminating some of these back alley shysters, but the other side is that practitioners are increasingly being positioned as tax collection agents. There are a new array of fines and penalties that can be assessed against practitioners for taking positions on a tax return that are deemed "unsupportable". The effect of that is to force them to be prepared more conservatively which results in more revenue.

>>>As for the Republicans, Santorum is a good possibility. He's a bull dog
and worse yet, well informed. I had watched him and Casey debate back
in 2006 and he was impressive, poor ole Bob Casey was left to flounder around.<<<

Wasn't it Casey who Santorum lost to by 18 points? I don't think Santorum has a snowball's chance in hell versus Obama. The main reason being the very narrow electorate that he'd appeal to. This is why they're talking about a brokered convention. The crowned front runner Romney, can't win primaries and looks set to lose Michigan. And the republicans know that a Santorum candidacy will doom them to defeat. The media and Romney here have been dead silent since Santorum's romp. This primary season has been an absolute disaster for the republican party and all the T-party craziness set this up. The base wants a hard right conservative, but that dog ain't gonna hunt in the general election.
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Re: US Government seizes 307 domains in the defense of the NFL

LTE2 — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 20:47:45 -0000

Oops, I forgot, you are an agent for the state... ignore those Obama comments.

Re: US Government seizes 307 domains in the defense of the NFL

LTE2 — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 20:46:32 -0000

You are now an agent for the ever expanding welfare state. Freedoms and privacy will be casualties in the ever growing need for tax revenue.
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As for the Republicans, Santorum is a good possibility. He's a bull dog and worse yet, well informed. I had watched him and Casey debate back in 2006 and he was impressive, poor ole Bob Casey was left to flounder around.
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I think he would maul Obama in any debate. Obama has supplied a lot of ammo to Republicans, it is up to the party to use it. I think Santorum would.
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As for the Tea Party, let them play the admiring comments of leading Democrats cooing over Occupy Now :).

Re: US Government seizes 307 domains in the defense of the NFL

Greg L — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 22:33:02 -0000

I'm watching both the situation in Iran and Syria closely as they're very much related and both were a part of the neo-con inspired Project for a New American Century where regime change is pursued in the middle east. I'm of the opinion that the larger strategic thrust is really about hemming in both China and Russia in a sort of Great Game reminiscent of that played in Central Asia. In the middle of all this is oil supply and the idea of peak oil, or dwindling supply on the one hand, and the defacto backing of the US dollar on the other IMO. With the debt situation unraveling in the whole of the western world and Russia, China and others attempting to develop trade outside of the orbit of the dollar/oil pricing mechanism, controlling oil is viewed at critical and if you think about it, it's not just by coincidence that we're involved in Libya, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Syria and elsewhere in the middle east. I think the rebel model that was used in Libya is what is being deployed in Syria now.

None of this will be without consequence for us. The main thing is the enemies we are creating and they're not limited to the middle east. Russia and China have ties in both Iran and Syria and aren't going to look at the situation kindly. I wouldn't be surprised at the emergence of the trading bloc that targets us directly where we're vulnerable.

Re: US Government seizes 307 domains in the defense of the NFL

Greg L — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 22:18:10 -0000

My fascination with politics has a lot to do with its similarity to business. When I was in school, we'd frequently dissect case studies revolving around strategic management decisions and how they either dimmed or brightened a company's future. The strategy that one plays at any given point can have long-term consequences both in business and in the business of politics. Obama's strategy in 2008 exploited the changing demographics in the country by changing the electoral map and that was driven primarily by turnout of disaffected segments of the population. The republicans have always relied on a strategy of suppressing that vote and using divisive issues to turn out their base. That will no longer work long term and the off year elections were really a flash in the pan that occurred only because of low turnout. The 2008 loss should have caused them to pause and reflect, but instead they doubled down on a strategy that is biting them very hard now. Basically, what gave them the house majority in 2010, will lose the presidency and perhaps some seats in congress as well. They're stuck---after running with the t-party and getting their base up around that, they now are asking that same base to support a RINO like Romney. The base is rejecting him for a hard right conservative---and that sort of candidate can't win a national election. They're damned if they do and damned if they don't--but they made the bed.

I'm sure this will wind up being a Harvard B-school case at some point---as will Obama's 2008 campaign.

Re: US Government seizes 307 domains in the defense of the NFL

Black_Diaspora2 — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 21:19:15 -0000

I surmised that your situation was job related. I'm taking a hiatus as well, but will get back into the fray once I recharge.

Agreed, the times they are a changing, here at home and abroad. Many believe that Iran is behind the attempted assassination of some Israelis, increasing the tension between the two nations.

Two Iranian warships passed through the Suez Canal, ostensibly to present a show of force, and a steadfastness of resolve against sanctions, further ratcheting up the possibility of a strike by Israel in the Spring as predicted by Leon Panetta.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/new...

Re: US Government seizes 307 domains in the defense of the NFL

Black_Diaspora2 — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 20:54:39 -0000

"You guys shot yourselves in the foot with this tea party craziness and that error is now unrecoverable it seems to me."

If you listen to the likes of Edward Cox, the Tea Party made the Republican party stronger than ever, and, with that strength, the party has Democrats by the short hairs. But we both know that by re-litigating the culture wars, where women, and their uteruses, are given center stage, they're holding a losing hand--if I'm allowed to mix my metaphors.

Re: US Government seizes 307 domains in the defense of the NFL

Greg L — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 17:18:49 -0000

BD,

Sorry about my lack of response. I got buried with work here, but your assessment is spot on. Greed has been our undoing and although heaven and earth is being moved to suspend the reality arising from the consequences, it will be next to impossible to continue the fiction. What we've arrived at is a form of crony capitalism where the kleptocrats rule. It is indeed a dangerous time for the country and the world at large.

Re: US Government seizes 307 domains in the defense of the NFL

Greg L — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 17:14:23 -0000

The Fed's have me in a sorta indirect way---considering that I have a practice heavily oriented towards tax prep, so I've been a tad bit busy which interrupts my ability to post. There's been a lot of stuff going on worthy of posting---particularly revolving around your boy Romney. Looks like he's got a problem, as I predicted, but I was wrong on the source. I though it'd be Gingrich, but instead its Santorum---he of losing his election by 18 points fame.

I just read today about you guys possibly planning a brokered convention due to the lack of a viable candidate now that Romney looks set to lose Michigan. This is an absolute disaster for the republican party. You guys shot yourselves in the foot with this tea party craziness and that error is now unrecoverable it seems to me.

Re: US Government seizes 307 domains in the defense of the NFL

LTE — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 08:46:42 -0000

This board was down a few times, I thought the Feds nailed you Gregg.

Re: frederick douglass

gio — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:09:19 -0000

so sad for the ones who dident make it

Re: US Government seizes 307 domains in the defense of the NFL

Black_Diaspora2 — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 19:00:18 -0000

"So what we have here is the US Government security infrastructure protecting private business interests by deciding who’s going to be in business and who will not. If you needed confirmation why our vast and growing security state exists, this would appear to give an insight to its purpose and function."

As you've indicated, the government failed in its responsibility to protect consumers and to prosecute those who violated the law.

The anti-government trend--reaching its full-throated expression by the several Republican presidential hopefuls--has called for the dismantling of the very agencies that we rely upon to check this kind of marketplace abuse.

As it stands, these agencies don't always operate in ways that protect the public good, yet it's still better to have them in place for those times when government does decide to act, and, hopefully, in the interim, to serve as a deterrent, albeit a weak one.

"This same security state, which includes the justice department, seemingly couldn’t do anything to prosecute those responsible for the robo-signing mortgage frauds— which have far broader impacts in the economy and which are largely responsible for the mess we’re in now ."

For General Electric, not even internal whistle-blowing reined in the abuse and the fraud:

"Dave Riedel, a former compliance manager at WMC, says sales reps intent on putting up big numbers used falsified paperwork, bogus income documentation and other tricks to get loans approved and sold off to Wall Street investors.

"One WMC official, Riedel claims, went so far as to declare: 'Fraud pays.'"
http://www.iwatchnews.org/2012...

Of course, if we're to believe Republicans, the real-estate debacle can be traced back to President Carter and liberals, as though Carter and liberals gave Wall Street and mortgage servicers license to steal.

Forsooth, it was unchecked greed that was our nation's undoing:

"The problems grew from a lot of sloppy recordkeeping that began during the housing boom, when Wall Street built a quick-and-dirty back-office operation to process mortgages quickly so lenders could sell as many loans as possible. As the loans were later sold to investors, and then resold around the world, the back office system sidestepped crucial legal procedures.Now it's becoming clear just how dysfunctional and, according to several state attorneys general, how fraudulent the whole system was."
http://www.oregonlive.com/fina...

Subprime, mortgage-backed securities, given Triple A ratings, and protected with the purchase of credit default swaps--credit protection which sellers usually pocketed without setting aside adequate capital reserve in case of defaults--fueled the greed, creating the perfect storm that roared through our economy like a category 6 hurricane.

Re: Newt Gingrich on Black Business

Greg L — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:48:52 -0000

>>Thanks for the link.<<

And thank you for this response my friend. Yet another keeper.

Re: Newt Gingrich on Black Business

Black_Diaspora2 — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:19:40 -0000

"For me, it gets down to the question as to what is the best course of action in light of that: continue to convince them to do the right thing or develop the power whereby doing it is compelled. I come down on the latter."

Reasoning with whites has failed miserably over the years. Those who saw a need for change, changed of their own accord; those who didn't see a need, didn't.

Most of our historical effort has been to use the law to force social justice. We used the law, too--legislation, that is--in an attempt to effectuate economic justice, but with mixed results.

Those efforts launched Lyndon B. Johnson's Great Society, first envisioned under John F. Kennedy--and then later Affirmative Action, mandated by Executive Order, and further revised using the same method under several presidents.

The Great Society initiative wasn't the colossal failure that many have made it out to be, perhaps making Lyndon Baines Johnson a better friend to blacks, than presidents before or after him, as he was also able to pass the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act, as well as the Great Society legislation.

From that legislation--established to attack poverty in this nation--came Medicare, Medicaid, and other social programs that exit to this day.

Power comes in many forms--political, economical, a just cause, spiritual, and military might. Of the several, our spiritual fortitude and prowess haven't kept pace with our desire for economic justice, and social liberation.

We should have pursued the one with the same fervor as the others.

I'm speaking of black America, but I could, just as easily, be speaking of white America--the two Americas existing side by side, but not in isolation, each impacting the other in ways that many on both sides of the racial divide will not acknowledge, let alone admit.

The Republican party, and those who subscribe to its philosophy of autonomy and individualism, are symptomatic of all that's wrong with this nation--as its principles militate against nature itself, and nature's primary concern, the principle of interdependence.

As such, the party carries within itself the seeds of its own destruction, as do our economic system, one built on greed, and the exploitation of labor, as well as the ever-shrinking resources of the planet, in the pursuit of profit at the expense of the environment, and the health of all life in that environment.

Gingrich received wild applause when he promised that, as president, he would approve the Keystone Pipeline System to extend "from the Athabasca Oil Sands in northeastern Alberta, Canada to multiple destinations in the United States, which include refineries in Illinois, Cushing oil distribution hub in Oklahoma, and proposed connections to refineries along the Gulf Coast of Texas."

It's a huge mistake--one I believe that Obama will ultimately make--as it allows this nation to postpone the production of alternate energy sources, and risk polluting an already fragile environment and aquifer, further entrenching reliance on carbon-based fuels that are already contributing to climate change.

Too often religious adherence is confused with spirituality, but they don't always coincide, and neither are they incompatible. I've seen more spirituality from those outside of religion than those who profess a religious belief, as religion often maintains and subscribes to a rigidity of thinking and beliefs that's not always conducive to, or encouraging of, spiritual exploration and expansion.

This nation, for all it's material success, is still a spiritual pauper, and our salvation as a people may be to come out from her, and develop a nation within a nation. I've suggested this before. It's doable, except that we, as a people, have adopted the values of the many, and are doomed to whatever fate that awaits this nation for all its sowing.

I'm told that every person in this nation has several slaves working for him or her. Because we don't see them--as they're working in sweat-shops and near slave-like conditions abroad--we don't always see the harm we do, but that doesn't exempt us from the reaping of what has been sown, which, as I see it, is a great deal of misery and woe.

Thanks for the link.

Re: The Political Establishment’s Nightmare: Ron Paul

Greg L — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:24:03 -0000

For want of a true debate on real issues and a real choice, the political system as really devolved into voting based on you "feel" and that is why campaigning is about portraying an image and selling "features". It's the entire reason why the political debate is so charged with emotion over issues that really mean little. As I say above, the real contribution that Paul could make is to actually force a discussion about things that would never occur otherwise. IMO, that's of immense value to the country at this point.

Re: The Political Establishment’s Nightmare: Ron Paul

Greg L — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 03:25:42 -0000

Hi Guy,

First, welcome to the blog and second, I agree totally with your definition of the power elite. The GOP establishment and the DNC are two sides of the same coin--the coin itself representing the power elite while the either side represents the contrived political differences that characterize American politics. The elite are not going to allow any challenges to the status quo, particularly given the backdrop of the economic and political situation in the world being in a state of flux. There's nothing more "predictable" for them than a presidential contest between Romney and Obama IMO.

Re: The Political Establishment’s Nightmare: Ron Paul

Guy Smiley — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 03:21:51 -0000

I've often said that if the conservatives could find a common candidate (Gingrich or Santorum) and if Ron Paul would take the mantle for the Libertarians, there would be a choice. Because the establishment would not be able to pre-empt the discussion.Thinking of how Gingrich and Paul both take the argument to the people, I'd think the president would have a devil of a time fighting off two opponents who do not mirror his ideology the way a Romney v. Huntsman v. Obama race would be. It's like the same flavor of ice cream in different cones.