Debate over "Cut, Cap, and Balance" Continues

Sen. Rand Paul often jokes about the effect his political differences with his father will have on which table he is permitted to sit at when the Paul family gathers. Rand is clearly very much Ron Paul’s son, as they tend to agree completely on most issues; but there is one disagreement that you won’t hear either Paul laughing about: how to handle America’s debt ceiling crisis.

Although the elder Paul has had much more time to prove his fidelity to the Constitution and his desire to seriously reduce the size of the federal government, young Rand is quickly proving his dedication to the same goals and principles. So it is no surprise that both Pauls agree that something must be done to cut spending and ease the threat of the looming financial catastrophe, and it must be done soon. Where they disagree is on what constitutes an acceptable means of achieving these goals.

After more than two decades in office, Ron Paul has never voted to raise the debt ceiling and vows that he never will. Despite his sympathies for the objectives of proponents of the Cut, Cap, and Balance Act, Rep. Paul simply couldn’t support the bill in its current language.

Ron Paul Will Not Seek Re-Election in 2012

After close to forty years in government, Texas congressman and libertarian bulwark Ron Paul announced today that he will not seek re-election for his congressional seat should he not make it out of the GOP presidential primary.

According to local news website The Facts, Rep. Paul is stepping aside so he can focus more on the 2012 presidential campaign. Although polls are showing him in the middle of the pack in key states like Iowa and New Hampshire, straw polls conducted by interest groups and PACs (most notably CPAC and the RLC) show a large, vocal base of support for his candidacy. His decision to leave will result in an open-seat election in 2012, which is expected to stay in GOP hands next election given the district's general right-leaning slant. 

When asked what he plans to do when he leaves the House, Rep. Paul said that he would advocate for the small-government principles he believes in, but "not in the U.S. Congress." Mr. Paul will leave behind a long legacy of small-government, non-interventionist principles he spent his career pushing in Congress. Today, his liberty-minded ideology has given rise to movements like the Tea Party, and various action groups Like YAL and Campaign for Liberty that are determined to make the cause of liberty a mainstream political discussion.  The so-called “intellectual godfather of the Tea Party” may be leaving Washington, and the road to freedom and liberty is still very long, but the movement must continue.

Originally published at www.silverunderground.com.

Ron Paul Shaking up GOP Politics

Ron Paul is continually reshaping the face of the GOP, Jaun Williams reports:

Here's a  news bulletin - it is becoming increasingly clear that we are living in a time when Republican politics are being shaped by a 75-year-old, 12-term Texas congressman with a son in the Senate. And incredibly, it is no longer out of the realm of possibilty that this outcast of the GOP establishment may win the party's presidential nomination.

If you have not been paying attention, it is time to look around and realize that we are living in the political age of Rep. Ron Paul.

A CNN/Opinion Research poll released last week shows Paul faring the best against President Obama ...

See the full article here.

Ron Paul Is 'Very Excited' about the Work YAL Is Doing

Reports Robert Wenzel at the Economic Policy Journal of his recent visit with Ron Paul:

On Thursday, [Ron Paul] landed in Reno, Nevada for the speech at the University of Nevada-Reno. He told me that he was excited to see a crowd of between 600 and 700 in attendance for his speech.

He told me the event was organized by the Young Americans for Liberty, and he seemed very excited about the work they are doing across the country. He also pointed out how well organized the Reno event was, which was coordinated by YAL Southwest Regional Director Adam Weinberg.

That's exciting, no?  Read the rest of the piece here.