We have been discussing the failure of President Obama and both parties to end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan while our cities and states continue to sell off property and shutdown vital programs due to a lack of money (here and here and here and here and here). Rep. Ron Paul again showed his mettle this month and again called for an end to the Afghan war. In legislation proposed with Rep. Walter Jones of North Carolina, Paul sought to withdraw funding for the war at a savings of more than $116 billion a year by ending the war in Afghanistan.
That figure again is $100 billion a year that would easily cover the budget shortfalls that we have been detailing in recent stories.
Nevertheless, the measure was voted down overwhelmingly by Democrats and Republicans alike — including the recently elected Tea Party members. So, the Congress will continue allow our states to cut away programs and sell off both parks and buildings to cover their bills. The failure of leadership is breathtaking.
I have long had respect for Rep. Paul and this is an excellent example of why. He has become the leading anti-war voice in this country as had Rep. Jones. Rep. Barbara Lee also joined in the effort with Paul and Jones.
This bill is an example of a profile of courage . . . as opposed to those who voted against it.
By the way, these same legislators also voted down an effort to prevent the Army from spending $100 million in endorsements for Nascar.
Source: SF Gate
if ron paul would call it “the defense of america act” throw in some b/s about abortions and single women, maybe a word or two about muslims in airplanes and a tax cut for anyone who makes over a billion per year, then the republicans would line up behind him.
A lot of name-calling here (nutcase, monster, crazy, wild, homophobe), but not much reasonable discussion. Guess I won’t be back. Have fun blowing steam at each other.
“but he is for a return to the gold standard. He is also anti-union. He is anti-abortion and homophobic. He meets in Iowa with anti-gay marriage groups.”
He has a consistant message and philosophy of the purpose of government. Most notably not to legislate on issues of morality (he may well be homophobic, but respects the rights of individuals to live their own life)
He personally advocates the gold standard believing that money issued from a centrwl bank will lead to disaster (The US dollar has only lost 95% of its value since the Federal Reserve was created.
He is against forced union membership and collective bargaining with public servants, probablt taking heed of FDR’s warnings:-
“All Government employees should realize that the process of collective bargaining, as usually understood, cannot be transplanted into the public service. It has its distinct and insurmountable limitations when applied to public personnel management.
The very nature and purposes of Government make it impossible for administrative officials to represent fully or to bind the employer in mutual discussions with Government employee organizations.
Particularly, I want to emphasize my conviction that militant tactics have no place in the functions of any organization of Government employees.
A strike of public employees manifests nothing less than an intent on their part to prevent or obstruct the operations of Government until their demands are satisfied. Such action, looking toward the paralysis of Government by those who have sworn to support it, is unthinkable and intolerable.”
Ron Paul is anti-abortion, but reaches that conclusion via logic and principal. He wants to delegate decisions of legality to the states.
I’m having trouble with posting this … I’ll try again –
http://www.truth-out.org/us-uncut-calls-out-corporate-tax-deadbeats67941
Say what….. Better be glad JE Hoover and LBJ are dead…. He would be too…..There is just too damn much money in War….. and Hell….they don’t even have to pay for it….
This vote tells you there is no real concern about budget deficits by the vast majority of either Republicans or Democrats. The true motivation of budget cutting is the gut the social safety net and destroy everyone from the middle, working and poor classes. This in short, shows that we have a class war in the US and the oligarchy is aiming to win.
Afghanistan is full of corruption, yet we continue to support it’s corrupt leaders while bombing their civilians into dust. This should disgust the American public. If we didn’t need the money, it is still wrong to engage in this war. I will post a picture of what we are doing in Afghanistan to its people. If you support this then do you have any moral line you won’t cross? The answer for the president and most of Congress is; “no, we make money and lives don’t matter”. We should oppose this govt. It is willing to commit heinous crimes on other people and the people of our own nation.
If you support what you see below, why?
http://www.worldcantwait.net/index.php/home-mainmenu-289/6971-25-tons-of-bombs-wipe-afghan-town-off-map
Buddha and the others got it right here. Ron Paul is a right wing crazy who happens to be right on one issue and one issue alone. He is almost as wild as his son. There is too much money involved in prosecuting these wars and too much political machismo at stake for Congress or this President to do the right thing. Since the Tea Party wants to take us back to the 1950’s and prior, you would think Ike’s warnings would be heeded by them. Not so much.
” So, the Congress will continue allow our states to cut away programs and sell off both parks and buildings to cover their bills. The failure of leadership is breathtaking.”
“Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed.
Dwight D. Eisenhower”
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCc5Gk1nops&w=480&h=390]
And what Moar said.
Aside from those two issues, Paul is a monster.
Paul is, on balance, a nutcase and his followers are worse. He’s about as effective a legislator as Dennis Kucinich. It’s doubtful that anything he sponsors will become law, even if it seems inherently reasonable.
And for the second time today, I find myself asking “Which one’s Pink?”. Same song, but with a different and appropriate video. Welcome . . .
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCfVFxRsKQc&w=480&h=390]
There is no longer honor in serving in uniform, not give the lies told to place them there. Volunteers all, they have been given a mission that can only end in more civilian dead as it continues to bleed our treasury, setting citizen against citizen. If volunteer militarists are going to claim they are “fighting for my freedoms,” I demand they do so honorably, or come home.
Color me shocked that the House wants to continue the literal and figurative bloodshed in Afghanistan.
Congress is no more interested in cutting the deficit (well, only if it’s on the backs of working class Americans) than Tootie is in practicing Christianity.
It is “mettle”, and although I think that Paul is a monster, I applaud his stance both the wars and drug legalization.
And that’s pretty much the only thing I back him on.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66jpPCIzza8&w=480&h=390]
the Tea Party teabaggers … the original ones, were formed as supporters of Paul … funny that the new breed voted “No” en masse
Maybe Paul will be the republican nominee. I support his efforts on this issue, but he is for a return to the gold standard. He is also anti-union. He is anti-abortion and homophobic. He meets in Iowa with anti-gay marriage groups. If one was a single issue voter, he might be a good choice. Rep. Jones and Lee don’t share his republican views on these other issues.
Shouldn’t that be “mettle”?