Top of the Ticket, a Los Angeles Times blog, warns that Ron Paul’s cult is up to something:

But in the meantime, quietly, largely under the radar of most people, the forces of Rep. Ron Paul have been organizing across the country to stage an embarrassing public revolt against Sen. John McCain when Republicans gather for their national convention in St. Paul at the beginning of September.

Paul’s presidential candidacy has been correctly dismissed all along in terms of winning the nomination. He was even excluded as irrelevant by Fox News from a nationally-televised GOP debate in New Hampshire.

But what’s been largely overlooked is Paul’s candidacy as a reflection of a powerful lingering dissatisfaction with the Arizona senator among the party’s most conservative conservatives. As anticipated a month ago in The Ticket, that situation could be exacerbated by today’s expected announcement from former Republican Rep. Bob Barr of Georgia for the Libertarian Party’s presidential nod, a slot held by Paul in 1988.

Nevermind Ralph Nader, Republican and Democratic parties both face….

…potentially damaging internal splits that could cripple their chances for victory in a narrow vote on Nov. 4.

Nevermind Ralph Nader, Republican and Democratic parties both face….

…potentially damaging internal splits that could cripple their chances for victory in a narrow vote on Nov. 4.

Paul’s candidacy is not a “powerful reflection” of anything. His followers excel at gaming online polls, sending hate mail, and posting blog comments but he and his cultish followers are rooted firmly in the fringe of American politics. A few disruptive protests in St. Paul will not do anything to change that.

Ed Morrisey isn’t too concerned either:

For some reason, normally sensible people like John Derbyshire continue to put their hope for electoral victory into a candidate who consorted with and exploited racists and anti-Semites for years in order to bolster his political standing. Thankfully, that 7% Revolution will have no impact on the convention or Republican politics. Next time the libertarians want a hero, perhaps they will vet him or her more carefully.

James Joyner is equally dismissive:

Paul is, at best, a nuisance candidate. He’s raised wads of cash but he spent little of it and made nary a dent in the primary process. It would be absurd to give a guy who received less than one percent of the amassed delegates at the convention a platform for harming the party.

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3 Responses

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1. John Cobarruvias Says:
   May 12th, 2008 at 8:35 pm

   Paul is a nuisance candidate, but it really doesn’t matter.

   McCain is going to get beat like Bob Dole. With the history or failure by the republican party, he doesnt have a chance.

   So bring on Ron Paul. At least it will be interesting.

2. Gdienhart Says:
   May 13th, 2008 at 1:52 pm

   The Paulistinians don’t know when to call it quits- I think “pathetic” is the word I’m looking for…

3. LetFreedomRing Says:
   May 16th, 2008 at 7:00 pm

   The problem is that your so-called “Paulistinians” are aware of all of the problems in Washington, and they are supporting Ron Paul’s ideas more than Ron Paul himself. To be completely accurate, they are supporting the Constitution and the Founding Fathers. Until another candidate comes along who shares these views of the government and foreign policy, the Ron Paul supporters have nobody else to turn to… and they would like to see real change in the country. Ron Paul is their only hope for now.

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