What to Look For in the Upcoming Republican and Democrat Conventions
The party conventions aren't very dramatic anymore. But there may be something interesting - even dramatic - going on behind the scenes at one of them.
Year ago, it wasn't uncommon for a candidate to actually be selected at their party's national convention. No more. These days, by the time the convention gets started the candidate has been chosen. 'The voting is mere formality. There isn't even any room for those legendary "smoke-filled rooms" of yesteryear where the party's bosses would get together and hammer out a compromise far from the gaze of the delegates on the convention floor.
So why bother to pay attention to the conventions at all? It's a fair question. I've hardly paid them any mind since...well, I don't really remember the last time I watched TV coverage of any convention. And now that I think about it, I'm not sure I paid any attention whatsoever to the last few.
No matter, the Republican convention will start August 27th and the Democrat convention starts September 3rd. The only thing interesting about the Democrat convention, from what I can see, is that the NFL is rumored to postpone the first game of the season because Obama will be giving his acceptance speech that Thursday night. (Does anyone know if this is true or not?) On the other hand, the Republican convention may be somewhat interesting - even interesting enough to pay some attention or even watch some of it. And it's got to do with Ron Paul.
I've heard that Ron Paul supporters will do something pretty unusual at this convention. It seems they're thinking of becoming "good" Republicans this time around, meaning they don't want to be seen as some kind of "fringe" element of the Republican party. I'm guessing they're thinking that going the Libertarian Party route won't ever get their basically Libertarian ideas into the mainstream. And I'm guessing that they perceive that the Republicans have so few really clear or compelling ideas anymore, that they could use something substantive to attract committed voters.
Ron Paul and his ideas are certainly something substantive. And he's got a son, Rand, who may want to carry the fight forward, since Ron Paul has no chance of being nominated this time around and he's getting up there in years.
So we may see the Ron Paul folks somehow actively support Romney - who will of course be nominated - and whoever Romney chooses as his VP...at least this time around (holding their noses?). And somehow they will communicate this message to the convention: We'll support you this time around, but you need us and our ideas if you ever hope to continue as a viable party in the future.
Are they right? Is the Republican Party in danger of somehow disappearing in the future? Well, I'm no political expert, but I'll be darned if I can think of anything the Republicans offer that's all that compelling, especially in light of the economical and financial crisis we're stuck in and the accelerating loss of liberty we're witnessing these days. Can you?
All I come up with is that Romney is somehow going to get the economy going because he was a private equity guy and believes in capitalism and/or free markets. If we vote for him, he'll somehow "unshackle" the economy and it'll go roaring into a bright and prosperous future. Hmmm...
As for our liberties, I think Romney fits right in with those who believe that the U.S. needs to build up its internal security apparatus to protect us all from the threat of terrorism. And, of course, the concept of building up an internal security apparatus and the concept of liberty don't really mix together all that well. He also believes in "projecting" U.S. power throughout the world, continuing the "imperial" policies that have our diplomats and - more importantly - our military in more countries than anyone can name in one breath, or even several breaths for that matter.
So if the Ron Paul folks attending the convention state their case clearly and emphatically, maybe the Republican convention will be something to keep our eyes on.
Year ago, it wasn't uncommon for a candidate to actually be selected at their party's national convention. No more. These days, by the time the convention gets started the candidate has been chosen. 'The voting is mere formality. There isn't even any room for those legendary "smoke-filled rooms" of yesteryear where the party's bosses would get together and hammer out a compromise far from the gaze of the delegates on the convention floor.
So why bother to pay attention to the conventions at all? It's a fair question. I've hardly paid them any mind since...well, I don't really remember the last time I watched TV coverage of any convention. And now that I think about it, I'm not sure I paid any attention whatsoever to the last few.
No matter, the Republican convention will start August 27th and the Democrat convention starts September 3rd. The only thing interesting about the Democrat convention, from what I can see, is that the NFL is rumored to postpone the first game of the season because Obama will be giving his acceptance speech that Thursday night. (Does anyone know if this is true or not?) On the other hand, the Republican convention may be somewhat interesting - even interesting enough to pay some attention or even watch some of it. And it's got to do with Ron Paul.
I've heard that Ron Paul supporters will do something pretty unusual at this convention. It seems they're thinking of becoming "good" Republicans this time around, meaning they don't want to be seen as some kind of "fringe" element of the Republican party. I'm guessing they're thinking that going the Libertarian Party route won't ever get their basically Libertarian ideas into the mainstream. And I'm guessing that they perceive that the Republicans have so few really clear or compelling ideas anymore, that they could use something substantive to attract committed voters.
Ron Paul and his ideas are certainly something substantive. And he's got a son, Rand, who may want to carry the fight forward, since Ron Paul has no chance of being nominated this time around and he's getting up there in years.
So we may see the Ron Paul folks somehow actively support Romney - who will of course be nominated - and whoever Romney chooses as his VP...at least this time around (holding their noses?). And somehow they will communicate this message to the convention: We'll support you this time around, but you need us and our ideas if you ever hope to continue as a viable party in the future.
Are they right? Is the Republican Party in danger of somehow disappearing in the future? Well, I'm no political expert, but I'll be darned if I can think of anything the Republicans offer that's all that compelling, especially in light of the economical and financial crisis we're stuck in and the accelerating loss of liberty we're witnessing these days. Can you?
All I come up with is that Romney is somehow going to get the economy going because he was a private equity guy and believes in capitalism and/or free markets. If we vote for him, he'll somehow "unshackle" the economy and it'll go roaring into a bright and prosperous future. Hmmm...
As for our liberties, I think Romney fits right in with those who believe that the U.S. needs to build up its internal security apparatus to protect us all from the threat of terrorism. And, of course, the concept of building up an internal security apparatus and the concept of liberty don't really mix together all that well. He also believes in "projecting" U.S. power throughout the world, continuing the "imperial" policies that have our diplomats and - more importantly - our military in more countries than anyone can name in one breath, or even several breaths for that matter.
So if the Ron Paul folks attending the convention state their case clearly and emphatically, maybe the Republican convention will be something to keep our eyes on.
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