Note: Updated upon reading comments
After the debates we viewed yesterday, and the commentary surrounding them at right-wing websites, it can be no doubt that the Republican party has given up trying to maintain any 'principles'. The only principles that they have are those that favor dictatorship, and all the powers it has, in order to defeat the evil Muslim enemy. By any means necessary. Which is why Ron Paul was ridiculed for even questioning the party line on whether our policies over there are effective.
From John Yoo, to Libby, to Bush and everywhere else, we can see how the Republican party has morphed into a 'do-whatever-it-takes-to-kill-the-enemy' group of people, who DESPERATELY need security and protection from the world. Pretty much the very opposite of everything our founding fathers were. Let's give Ron Paul a refresher on Republican positions.
Torture:
Ron Paul and McCain hurt themselves yesterday on the debate...why? Because they DISAGREED with all-torture, all-the-time.
The opinions of the others? Pretty much the trademarked Republican response of "Anything it takes." When McCain pointed out that torture of others would cause torture of our American soldiers, many reviewers pointed out that American soldiers are already tortured. I assume that means that it's alright to torture them, since they torture us.
There is NO limit to torture as espoused by the Republicans today. If killing unknown numbers of foreigners will save a number of Americans, it's worth it. Even the POTENTIAL to save Americans is justification for torture.
Voting for a ban on cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment of detainees? Ron Paul obviously has no idea how to fight terrorism.
Liberty:
Liberty? Ha! That's just something that terrorists use to kill your children!
The President needs the ability to listen to any conversation, at any time, and no one can overturn his decision.
Also, we need a national ID to determine exactly which people are Americans and which are DIRTY FOREIGNERS (tm), so we can rightly harass them as the second rate citizens they are.
Ron Paul, your record in this area is APPALLING. You voted against the Patriot Act AND the MCA? How else is our Fearless Leader going to protect us without vast new powers?
Pre-Emptive War:
Republicans used to have a faction of isolationism in their party that was relatively healthy. This faction has seemingly dwindled down to a small few. The great majority favor becoming actively involved globally, and by involved, I mean exterminating any who might threaten the United States.
But instead of doing this intelligently, using espionage and secret forces to take down our enemies, and better training and technology to prevent us from attacks, the Republican party favors a MASSIVE footprint of soldiers. Even if the country doesn't agree to it.
Yes, war has become an OFFENSIVE weapon in the Republican's playbook. Hmm, who else uses force because they can? I seem to remember what those are called... oh, that's right, bullies.
Instead of relying on diplomacy, and international backing, which a serious adult would do, the Republican party is content to play with it's 'toys' (you know, the military) and force them upon the enemy.
When Ron Paul, who was the only Republican to vote against the Iraq War, mentioned the blowback theory, and that Osama mentioned that the continued presence of America in the middle east was a catalyst, Rudy Giuliani took it upon himself to score cheap points. He declared that it was not America that caused 9/11, and he demanded Ron Paul take the comment back. This rung quite well in right wing circles, as the front page of NRO today was ringing with endorsements of Giuliani's "tough stance", as proclaimed by the National Review Online Debate Symposium.
Conclusion? Most Republicans are for eternal warfare, with despotic powers bestowed upon the President. They're backed by a near infallible sense of their own correctness (usually given to them by a higher power), and refuse to doubt.
Ron Paul will NEVER be accepted by the Republican gatekeepers of power if he keeps up at it like he has. Andrew Sullivan has collected just a few of the words of praise for the moral fiber of Ron Paul. Andrew Sullivan: Misreading Ron Paul
Now don't get me wrong, he does have a slight chance to become a candidate for the party of the eternally insane, as evidenced by this piece... Lefties Hate Christmas! But that's not simply enough. Anything less than a psychopathic, powerhungry dictator, who is foaming at the mouth at the thought of hurting an 'other' (and spending millions to do it), just won't do.
Someone needs to remind Ron Paul that the conservative party has officially become the neoconservative party.
PS. For those who are curious:Key Votes by Ron Paul