Today, Ron Paul will hold a press conference to ask his band of extremely loyal supporters to honor Paul's Endorsement of "None of the Above".
In light of the fact that less than 40,000 votes in three key states during the 2004 election would have resulted in a John Kerry victory...and even fewer votes which were secured by Ralph Nader in 2000 put Bozo the Clown into the Oval Office, the Ron Paul Endorsement may very well play as significant of a role in the current cycle as did John McCain selecting a trailer trash adulteress as his Vice Presidential Run Around Sue.
I can easily understand either a McCain Stepford Voter, or any of the courageous Ron Paul Supporters looking at this piece from a somewhat skeptical perspective. And, while I admit I did not share the same enthusiasm with respect to any of the last twenty-seven times that Ralph Nader has run for President...in this instance, my praise of Ron Paul and his devotees, is quite legitimate.
Throughout the course of this entire Presidential Campaign, there have been two and only two Candidates whose story has not changed...whose courage has not waivered, and whose core values and principles remain fully intact.
The Democratic Party had not the courage to nominate Dennis Kucinich...and the Republicans gave equally short shrift to Congressman Paul.
I do think it a bit odd that Ron Paul would point his supporters in the collective direction of Cynthia McKinney, Ralph Nader, Bob Barr and Chuck Baldwin. But...couched in the form of any "Anybody but THEM" recommendation, Paul's repeated suggestion that Washington can't be changed by a Republican Candidate whose Campaign Manager lobbied for Fannie and Freddie, while his Campaign Chair was securing Billions of Dollars from the government of Georgia... A Johnny McNuts endorsement was never going to happen. Of course, Paul would find most Democrats equally unacceptable...and though I am a rock solid Barack Obama Supporter, I can respect Paul's decision to stand on a principle which has carried him to a position where hundreds of thousands of Americans, young and old will follow his lead and vote conscience ahead of what they perceive to be a "lock-step" mentality on the part of mainstream America.
I sincerely wish that my own Party had the courage which has been demonstrated by Ron Paul. At a time in our history where "True" Democratic Candidates are routinely "forced to the middle of the political spectrum" in order to secure the Independent Voters which Washington Think Tanks convince them they need to win a General Election...what every American Voter ends up with is a muddled ideology exhibited by both major Parties...and no more than a hope and prayer that once elected, their Candidate will suddenly remember where he or she came from.
Were there truly three or more viable Parties in the United States, as there are in most other civilized nations, Ron Paul's brand of Libertarianism...Dennis Kucinich's call for the creation of a Department of Peace. and even Ralph Nader's incessant desire to break Pat Paulsen's All-Time Record for Most Presidential Campaigns...would present significant numbers of caring, compassionate and dedicated Americans an opportunity to have their vote truly count, for perhaps the first time in any of our lives.
Ron Paul, I bow in your general direction, for your willingness to stand tall now, and in the face of what will undoubtedly be the fiercest challenge your own Party will have ever made against your Congressional Seat. I don't agree with your positions on most issues, but...you make America a better place.