Musing on GOP candidates

Ron Paul, Wikipedia

Ron Paul - I remain conflicted about Ron Paul.  The reasons are simple and shared by a number of GOP voters.  Let's first look at the plus side.  I love the man on fiscal and monetary policy.  As he once described his zeal to cut federal spending, “I am absolutely convinced it is the only road to prosperity.”  So am I and I believe he means it.  On monetary policy - Ron Paul is the gold standard (pun intended).  If not for the Tea Party, I'd have bolted from the Republican Party a few years ago because I wasn't seeing enough Republicans "walk the talk" that Rep. Paul walks every day.

Yes we had Paul Ryan and Jim DeMint and others -- but too few.  In short, I was becoming disgusted.  Then I discovered Ron Paul.  When Ron Paul says he'd cut a trillion dollars in federal spending year one, he even tells you how he'd do it.  When he talks about The Fed's destructive, easy money policies -- he means it.  I admire his courage and consistency. 

Unfortunately, I have to describe Rep. Paul's foreign policy thus: "Blame America First."  It's dangerously naive to brand virtually all American foreign intervention as "nation building" and as Commander-in-Chief, Dr. Paul could become Dr. Disaster.
 
He's more worried about domestic TSA agents, than foreign enemies of this country plotting against us.  He's obsessed with rights of enemy combatants (non Americans) in Guantanamo, Cuba and then he dismisses the record of security our existing policies (maintained by leaders in both parties) have engendered.  I also question his commitment to Israel.

I recall an attempt Mr. Paul made to appeal to people like me (Republicans that terribly want to vote for him, but struggle to do so), when he highlighted the fact that he had voted to use force after 9/11.  Hallelujah!  Who didn't?  My fear is that a President Paul would wait for another 9/11 before acting.  Ignoring one's enemies has nothing to do with liberty. 

All said, people like me have much more in common with Paul supporters than either side has with Democrats -- and probably always will.  I respect the ideological purity of Libertarians -- their loyalty and unswerving respect for the Constitution.  My problem is their all-hands-off judgement about containing evil and preserving national security.

Newt Gingrich, Wikipedia

Newt Gingrich - If you never took the opportunity to see Newt Gingrich speak in public, you really must make the time.  He's a rare breed of public speaker - impressively poised, colorful, with a command of American history and politics that is virtually unparalleled.  I've never seen him use notes.  He doesn't need them.  Speaker Gingrich also says dumb things at the worst possible moments.  His recent attacks on Romney's private equity group were reprehensible, desperate attempts to harm Romney which utterly failed.  Mr. Gingrich will not be the nominee of his party.                    
                                                     Rick Santorum

Rick Santorum, Wikipedia

A lot of Americans are getting their first taste of Rick Santorum.  He's been a part of the Washington landscape for a long time while managing to keep his nose clean and maintain strong stands that win respect from people who agree with him and scorn (welcome publicity for him) from those who don't.  Mr. Santorum will not be the nominee of his party either.  His character, social values and deeply-held convictions are the stuff that lands one a spot on Mount Rushmore, but we need a CEO in the Oval Office more than a role model for at-risk youths.  I'm also troubled by (and suspicious of his explanation for) a vote against the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania when it tried to become a Right To Work (RTW) state.  Mr. Santorum says he'd sign an executive order allowing all states to become RTW states.  Perhaps he would.  By the way, check out this site to learn more about RTW...site.

Mitt Romney

That brings us to Mr. Romney.  Words that come to mind are: urbane, wealthy, smart and energetic.  Of course, that's not nearly enough.  I hope Governor Romney's commitment to balanced budgets will remain as pure as Governor Scott Walker's performance here in Wisconsin. 

By the way, I'm now awarding an annual Maddente.com MVP Award for public adherence to fiscal responsibility under adverse conditions.  Mr. Walker earns the inaugural award -- hands down -- for his 2011 performance.  Taking a $3.6 billion dollar deficit to a $300 million dollar surplus, without raising taxes, against a Tsunami of cheap legislative stunts and vicious public union attacks, has re-defined courage and leadership in this state. 

But back to Mitt.  There's much more to learn and discuss about Mitt Romney, of course, but for now I'll close with this thought: Mr. Romney will be the GOP nominee facing Barack Obama in November and if elected, he'll become an infinitely better President than his predecessor.