Rick Perry

Ron Paul Calls Rick Perry 'Al Gore's Texas Cheerleader' In TV Ad

Benjy Sarlin | September 6, 2011, 9:00AM

New Ron Paul TV Ad, "The One"

Not all Texans are enamored with Rick Perry, as Ron Paul's new TV ad demonstrates. The new TV spot goes after Perry hard over his late conversion to the Republican Party in 1989, selling Paul as the true heir to Ronald Reagan...who also used to be a Democrat.

Here's the spot, which Politico reports will go on the air with a six-figure buy.

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Rick Perry

Perry Vaults Into Lead For GOP Nomination In Two National Polls

Kyle Leighton | August 24, 2011, 2:40PM

Former Mass. Governor Mitt Romney has been the frontrunner in most national polls of the GOP primary over the last year, and the general punditry considered it his nomination to lose, at least at first. And while it's still early, new polling released on Wednesday shows his unchallenged time at the head of the pack may be over.

A new national Gallup poll of GOP and GOP-leaning voters shows Romney, who had more than a quarter of the total vote in Gallup's June numbers in the same poll, has fallen to 17 percent, while newly minted candidate Tex. Gov. Rick Perry surges to 29 percent and the lead. Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN), considered a top contender, falls to fourth with 10 percent, behind Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) at 13 percent. The rest of the field is in single digits.

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Rick Perry

Ron Paul: Rick Perry 'Makes Me Look Like A Moderate'

Benjy Sarlin | August 18, 2011, 10:44AM

Ron Paul

Rick Perry's intimidating talk on Ben Bernanke may be too much even for Ron Paul, the patron saint of the anti-Fed GOP movement.

Paul mocked Perry's recent statement that Bernanke's polices may be "almost treasonous" on the campaign trail in New Hampshire Wednesday, referring to him only as "this other governor" and claiming he forgot his name.

"He realizes that talking about the Fed is good, too," Paul said, according to the LA Times. "But I'll tell you what, he makes me look like a moderate. I have never once said that Bernanke has committed treason."

Then the punchline: "But I have suggested very strongly that the Federal Reserve system and all the members have been counterfeiters for a long time."

Default

Who's Really Responsible For U.S. Debt Downgrade

Brian Beutler | August 17, 2011, 10:00AM

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN)

This article was updated at 10:00am Eastern on August 17, 2011 to include additional names pointed out by TPM readers.

Now that Standard & Poors has confirmed that the chorus of default doubters in the GOP was part of what spooked them into downgrading the U.S. credit rating, Republicans will do all they can to pretend that they never questioned the risk of missing payment obligations, or allowing borrowing authority to lapse. But they sure did! Here's a long, partial timeline of influential Republicans either vouchsafing default, or downplaying the consequences of passing the August 2 deadline without raising the debt limit.

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Michele Bachmann

Ron Paul Ad: Romney May Talk Smoothly But Only I Can Bring Peace (Video)

Michael R. Corjulo | August 16, 2011, 3:00PM

New Ron Paul TV Ad, "The One"

A day after The Daily Show's Jon Stewart blasted the national media for ignoring Congressman Ron Paul's (R-TX) presidential campaign, the twelve term congressman and narrow runner up in the recent Ames Straw Poll released a dramatic new ad.

Filmed as a Michael Bay-esque movie trailer, the ad even opens with a disclaimer that "the following preview has been approved for all audiences" and concludes that Ron Paul is "the one who will stop the spending, save the dollar, create jobs, bring peace, the one who will restore liberty."

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Tim Pawlenty

Michele Bachmann Wins Ames Straw Poll

Benjy Sarlin | August 13, 2011, 5:36PM

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN)

Michele Bachmann has won the Ames Straw Poll, state GOP chair Matt Strawn announced on Saturday.

Bachmann secured 4823 votes, edging out Ron Paul, who had 4671 votes. Tim Pawlenty finished a distant third with 2293 votes - a disappointing result for the Minnesota governor after investing heavy resources as part of his broader Iowa-focused strategy. He suggested recently that he may have to a "reassess" his campaign if he fails to make an impact in the straw poll.

"We made progress in moving from the back of the pack into a competitive position for the caucuses, but we have a lot more work to do," Pawlenty said in a statement congratulating Bachmann.

Rounding out the rest of the field were Rick Santorum with 1657 votes, Herman Cain with 1456, Mitt Romney with 567, Newt Gingrich with 385, Jon Huntsman with 69, and Thad McCotter with 35. The bottom four, except for McCotter, did not participate in the day's events.

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2012

GOP Fight Night: The Top Five Moments

Benjy Sarlin | August 11, 2011, 11:06PM

Remember that nice friendly New Hampshire debate from June when the GOP's fresh-faced field candidates, still basking in fluffy magazine profiles, joined hands to sing songs of President Obama's failed stimulus? That wasn't this debate.

Instead the candidates mixed it up early and often, even lashing out at the moderators. We compiled the pugilistic highlights, from Tim Pawlenty and Michele Bachmann's snowball fight to Newt Gingrich's war on FOX News, into a video. Read on for the nitty gritty details after that.

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Pres '12

Paul And Santorum Battle Over Iran

Eric Kleefeld | August 11, 2011, 10:52PM

Rick Santorum at the Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition's Spring Kickoff Event

Sparks flew between Ron Paul and Rick Santorum during Thursday night's Republican debate, over Paul's opposition to a hawkish foreign policy approach against Iran.

"Why wouldn't it be natural that they might want a nuclear weapon? Internationally they would be given more respect," said Paul. "Why should we write people off? We should at least talk to them - Reagan talked to the Soviets."

Paul added that during the Cold War that the Soviet Union and China had many nuclear weapons -- compared to Iran's current efforts to produce just one -- and represented genuine threats to the United States. But America did not go to war with those countries, instead maintaining diplomatic relations.

This prompted a fiery response from Rick Santorum, who boasted of how he had passed legislation to isolate Iran when he was in the Senate.

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Debates

Iowa Showdown: Five Stories To Watch In Tonight's GOP Debate

Benjy Sarlin | August 11, 2011, 6:00AM

Jon Huntsman, Mitt Romney, Herman Cain, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN)

You might say that 2012 really starts tonight. At 9pm Eastern time, the declared Republican presidential candidates take the stage at Iowa -- barely two days ahead of the Ames Straw Poll, which many consider the unofficial first round of the primary season.

Of course, this debate will also be interesting for who it doesn't have: Texas Governor Rick Perry. Today he made it official that he'll be declaring his candidacy on Saturday. His shadow is sure to loom large over tonight's proceedings.

TPM's livewire will keep you updated of the night's events as they happen. We'll also be posting blog posts, fuller articles, and video throughout the evening.

Meanwhile, in preparation for the debate itelf, here's TPM's advice on what to look for:

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Pres '12

Cain, Paul And Others Selling Campaign Gear Not Made In U.S.A.

Eric Kleefeld | August 2, 2011, 5:23PM

Presidential candidate Herman Cain (R)

Show us the invoices!

ABC News, which previously revealed that Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum were selling campaign T-shirts and other gear made outside the United States, has now found two other campaigns selling not-made-in-the-U.S.A. merchandise: Herman Cain and Ron Paul.

"No, I wasn't aware it was made in Honduras," Cain said in response. "I was just aware it was Fruit of the Loom ... which is an American company."

Ron Paul did not know, either -- but unlike other candidates, he isn't apologetic about it. "I wasn't aware of it ... but I wouldn't change it," said Paul. "I would argue the case that the market should determine it."

John Boehner

CIVIL WAR: GOP Coalition Splinters Into Open Conflict Over Debt Ceiling

Benjy Sarlin & Evan McMorris-Santoro | July 27, 2011, 6:00AM

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) and Speaker Boehner

The Republican leadership's efforts to avert a debt ceiling crisis with a two-tiered set of cuts is turning into the most divisive wedge issue the party has confronted since President Obama took over in 2009.

House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) may have thought his face-saving plan, which he hoped to bring to the floor Wednesday, offered a path to victory. However, since treading upon it he's been beset from all sides. It's not just that the President is threatening to veto the bill, should it ever make it past the Senate; it's that Boehner's fellow conservatives are sniping at him with (not so) friendly fire. Now the vote he'd hoped to bring triumphantly to the floor Wednesday looks delayed until at least Thursday, and even then the outcome is uncertain.

That's because the GOP is teetering on the brink of a debt-based civil war. More traditional Republicans and big business types are desperate to avoid a recovery-crushing default. But their Tea Party colleagues are leading a rebellion of epic - perhaps even galactic - proportions. Cue the John Williams music and find out who stands where in this stand-off between the Establishment's storm-troopers and the Rebel Alliance.

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Ron Paul

Ron Paul Goes All In Against Republican Leadership (VIDEO)

Evan McMorris-Santoro | July 14, 2011, 9:06AM

Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX)

Attention Republican primary voters opposed to raising the debt ceiling and fed up with the men running the party in Congress: Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) wants you to know he's been there for you before, and he'll be there for you again.

Just days after announcing his retirement from Congress to focus on his 2012 presidential bid, Paul is going up in Iowa and New Hampshire with his first TV ad.

And he's taking direct aim at the men running his party in Congress.

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Ron Paul

Rep. Paul Says McConnell Debt Plan Is D.O.A.

Susan Crabtree | July 12, 2011, 7:56PM

Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX)

Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) just announced he's foregoing a run for re-eleection to focus full-time on his long-shot bid for the GOP nomination so maybe he's feeling a little emboldened. Then again, Paul is rarely afraid to state it like is.

[TPM SLIDESHOW: Debt Negotiations At The White House]

Paul was the only GOP House member TPM found Tuesday afternoon willing to take a firm stand against Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's (R-KY) plan to hand the White House full authority to raise the debt ceiling with Congress only able to disapprove with a two-thirds vote. Conservative groups, Tea Party members outside Congress and activists are reportedly incensed over McConell's fall back plan.

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Ron Paul

Ron Paul Retires From Congress

Evan McMorris-Santoro | July 12, 2011, 11:54AM

Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX)

The 112th Congress will be the first and last shared by Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) and his son, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY).

Ron Paul tells the Clute, TX The Facts newspaper that he won't be seeking another term in the House next year, choosing instead to focus all his attention on running for the presidency once again.

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Afghanistan

Whatever Way You Go On Afghanistan, There's A Republican Prez Candidate For That

Evan McMorris-Santoro | June 23, 2011, 12:54PM

In the hours after President Obama's Afghanistan draw-down speech (remember that?), Republican presidential candidates fired off responses that ranged from subtly supportive but unimpressed to totally opposed and really unimpressed.

Yes, GOP primary voter: No matter where you stand on the longest war in American history, there's a Republican running for president who speaks your language.

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Libya

McCain: Tying Obama's Hands On Libya Will Come Back To Haunt GOP

Susan Crabtree | June 21, 2011, 12:17PM

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) pleaded with GOP colleagues Tuesday not to tie President Obama's hands when it comes to U.S. military action in Libya, reminding them it could come back to haunt future Republican presidents.

"We are all entitled to our opinions about Libya policy, but here are the facts: [Libyan leader Muammar] Qaddafi is going to fall. It is just a matter of time. So I would ask my colleagues: Is this the time for Congress to turn against this policy?" he said in a lengthy statement on the Senate floor. "Is this the time to ride to the rescue of a failing tyrant when the writing is on the wall that he will collapse?"

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Climate Change

Meet The New Pollution-Friendly GOP

Benjy Sarlin | June 21, 2011, 5:45AM

GOP Presidential Candidates Debate, Jun 13, 2011

In last week's debate, Republicans got their first look at a GOP field much more openly hostile to the environment than in recent elections, with several candidates openly calling for an end to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). But many of the top contenders have also flirted with eco-friendly policy in the recent past, even if they aren't too quick to proclaim it these days. Making matters more confusing, here's even some overlap between the two camps. So where do the big players stand right now?

On the far end, you have the "Abolish the EPA" crowd. These were the loudest and most noteworthy voices at the New Hampshire debate.

"What we need to do is pass the mother of all repeal bills, but it's the repeal bill that will get a job killing regulations," Michele Bachmann said at the event. "And I would begin with the EPA, because there is no other agency like the EPA. It should really be renamed the job-killing organization of America."

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2012

Muslims, Medicare, And Mandates: The Top 5 Moments From The GOP Debate

Benjy Sarlin | June 14, 2011, 5:45AM

GOP Presidential Candidates Debate, Jun 13, 2011

OK, so the fireworks weren't quite there on Monday. The candidates seemed more concerned with introducing their dozens of grandchildren and out-doing each other's attacks on President Obama than in directly addressing each other. But the GOP debate produced some illuminating moments, from Tim Pawlenty's awkward avoidance of a confrontation with Mitt Romney to Herman Cain's plan to root out "violent" Muslims. Without further ado, here are the top five highlights:

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2012

Let The Games Begin! A Guide To Tonight's GOP Debate

Brian Beutler | June 13, 2011, 6:45AM

Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty

Not since the first head-to-CPU contest between Gary Kasparov and Deep Blue has the world waited so breathlessly for the kind of battle of the minds we're likely to witness Monday evening.

For the first time this primary season, seven of the top contenders for the GOP presidential nomination will field tough questions, pitch Republican voters, and take on each others' foibles and apostasies during an 8 pm ET, CNN/WMUR/New Hampshire Union Leader-sponsored debate in Manchester, New Hampshire.

On hand will be Herman Cain, Tim Pawlenty, Rick Santorum, and Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) -- all of whom participated in the first GOP debate last month. They'll be joined on stage by three big names in Republican politics: Newt Gingrich, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN), and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney.

Like every primary debate since the advent of cable television, the forum will be marked by predictable talking points, unctuous spells of self-flattery, and reflexive attacks on the incumbent president.

But as the GOP field takes shape, it will also be one of the first opportunities for the contenders to stake out or clarify their positions on the issues defining this race. Here are the five key things to be on the look out for.

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Iowa caucus

PPP Poll: Romney Starts Out Ahead In Iowa Crowd

Eric Kleefeld | June 1, 2011, 11:24AM

Mitt Romney

A new survey of Iowa from Public Policy Polling (D) finds Mitt Romney with a small plurality in the very crowded Republican caucus field, and posting some other strong numbers for the contest that he lost in 2008 after making heavy investments of time and resources. But other contenders like Herman Cain, Newt Gingrich, Michele Bachmann, Tim Pawlenty and Ron Paul are not too far behind.

The initial numbers: Romney 21%, Palin 15%, Cain 15%, Gingrich 12%, Bachmann 11%, Pawlenty 10%, and Paul 8%.

Another question was asked, for a scenario in which Palin did not run. The new numbers: Romney 26%, Cain 16%, Gingrich 15%, Bachmann 14%, Paul 11%, and Pawlenty 10%.

"Romney has the nominal lead but the fact that there are 6 people polling at double digits shows how wide open the race is in Iowa," writes PPP president Dean Debnam.

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Ron Paul

Ron Paul's Latest Government Bugaboo: Mississippi Flood Control (VIDEO)

Eric Lach | May 16, 2011, 6:20PM

Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX)

Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX), you may have heard, is no fan of government assistance. Just last week, as he kicked off his third run for president, he voiced his opposition to the 1964 Civil Rights Act and government aid for victims of natural disasters.

Asked again about the second issue on Fox News Sunday, Paul went a step further. While arguing against the existence of FEMA, the aw-shucks Libertarian erroneously claimed that the agency was in charge of the levees currently being used to try to minimize flood damage along the swollen Mississippi. And he seemed to suggest that federally-run flood control systems themselves are a problem, because now officials have to choose where to send the excess water.

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Ron Paul

Ron Paul: I Would Not Have Voted For The 1964 Civil Rights Act (VIDEO)

Evan McMorris-Santoro and Jillian Rayfield | May 13, 2011, 6:12PM

Another Paul family political announcement, another battle on MSNBC over the landmark law that helped end segregation in America.

Just about a year after his son Rand Paul stepped in it when he told Rachel Maddow he was opposed to provisions of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) told Chris Matthews Friday he wouldn't have voted for the law in the first place had he been in Congress at the time.

Rand's statements on the law (which he later retracted) came during his first week as the Republican nominee for Senate in Kentucky in 2010. Ron's criticisms of the law came on the day he declared his third run for the presidency.

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Ron Paul

Ron Paul: You Don't Deserve FEMA Help, Also I'm Running For Prez (VIDEO)

Evan McMorris-Santoro | May 13, 2011, 8:58AM

Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX)

Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) kicked off his third run for the presidency on Good Morning America Friday morning. And in keeping with his role as the Libertarian anomaly of the Republican field, Paul launched his new campaign with some strong opposition to the concept of government assistance.

In response to a question from a viewer, Paul outlined to ABC's George Stephanopoulos his contention that government aid for victims of natural disasters goes against the foundations of America laid down by its founders.

"Do you think everyone should just be responsible for themselves and if a flood washes your house away no FEMA?" the viewer asked via email. "Sink or swim?"

"I think that's the way a free society works and that's what the Constitution mandates," Paul replied.

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Tim Pawlenty

2012 GOP Rivals Slam Obama In First Debate

Susan Crabtree | May 6, 2011, 9:01AM

The biggest boon for the five Republican presidential candidates who showed up in South Carolina for the first debate of the GOP 2012 race Thursday night may have been simply allowing viewers to put a name to a face.

The GOP field is still shaking out, and the debate was perhaps less notable for who was in attendance -- Tim Pawlenty, Rick Santorum, Herman Cain, Gary Johnson, and Ron Paul -- than for who wasn't -- Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Sarah Palin, Donald Trump, and Mike Huckabee.

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Pres '12

Ron Paul To Open Campaign Office In Iowa -- First 2012er To Do So

Eric Kleefeld | May 5, 2011, 5:41PM

Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX)

Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX), who announced last week in Iowa that he was forming a presidential exploratory committee to potentially run for the presidency, is now gaining a new status among the candidates: The first to open a headquarters in Iowa.

The Des Moines Register reports:

The congressman will arrive Tuesday to unveil his Iowa headquarters in Ankeny, according to David Fischer, vice chairman of Paul's Iowa team.

It's the first candidate headquarters in Iowa.

Given the rudimentary shape of the current 2012 GOP field, does this make him the frontrunner?

Pres '12

Bachmann Tells Iowa Home-Schoolers: 'I'm A 7th-Generation Iowan...We're Fighters'

Eric Kleefeld | March 23, 2011, 6:27PM

Michele Bachmann

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN), Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) and businessman Herman Cain addressed a rally of home-schooling activists today in Des Moines, Iowa, a key venue for potential Republican presidential candidates.

"I'm a seventh-generation Iowan," Bachmann boasted, CNN reports. Bachmann was born in Iowa, and her family moved to Minnesota when she was a child. She also added: "What I love about Iowans is that we're fighters."

"It's up to you to decide. It is not up to some bureaucrat to decide what is best for your children," she also said, the Des Moines Register reports. "I am so tired of the establishment telling us that they know best."

Paul and Cain also had a lot to say on the subject.

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2012

Rand Paul Mulling Presidential Run

Benjy Sarlin | March 22, 2011, 12:26PM

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY)

Have 2012 observers been looking at the wrong Paul? According to the Charelston Post and Courier, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) may follow in his father Rep. Ron Paul's (R-TX) footsteps with a presidential bid of his own.

"The only decision I've made is I won't run against my dad," Paul said at an appearance in key primary state South Carolina on Monday.

Paul said that he would also visit Iowa and New Hampshire, because "I want the Tea Party to have an influence over who the nominee is in 2012."

The Tea Party vote will be a hot commodity in the primaries and several candidates with major followings, including Sarah Palin and Michele Bachmann, could enter the race. Ron Paul's epic fundraising numbers and intense grassroots following from his 2008 run were a major boost to his son's Senate campaign in 2010 and likely would be a factor in a 2012 bid.

Of note: Rand and Ron Paul are from different states, making a Paul/Paul '12 ticket constitutionally sound should Rand change his mind.

John Boehner

Strikes In Libya Divides GOP, Puts Boehner In A Bind

Susan Crabtree | March 21, 2011, 10:34AM

House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH)

Freshmen House Republicans are already putting House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) in a bind over the budget, with a contingent of Tea Party-backed fiscal conservatives refusing to vote for any more continuing resolutions. Now a group of libertarian-leaning Republicans are balking at President Obama's missile strikes in Libya.

Republican Reps. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT), Ron Paul (R-TX) and Justin Amash (R-MI) over the weekend objected to the President's decision to use military force to contain Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi, with some questioning the constitutionality of the operation and others opposing U.S military intervention in another Arab country because they aren't convinced that the U.S. has a clear national interest in the action.

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Pres '12

Bachmann, Cain, Ron Paul And Steve King To Appear With Iowa Homeschool Group

Eric Kleefeld | March 17, 2011, 11:46AM

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) and Herman Cain

A homeschooling group in Iowa will be hosting some potential presidential hopefuls for a rally at the state Capitol next week, the Des Moines Register reports.

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN), businessman Herman Cain, and Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) will be speaking at the Network of Iowa Christian Home Educators' (NICHE) annual "Homeschool Day at the Capitol" on Wednesday, March 23.

Afterwards, the three will speak at a NICHE event in Des Moines, along with Iowa Congressman Steve King.

Afghanistan

GOP Rep: Republicans Are Turning On The War In Afghanistan

Evan McMorris-Santoro | March 9, 2011, 4:09PM

Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC)

A bipartisan group of House members are pushing a new plan to end the war in Afghanistan. Many of the lawmakers who spoke at event on Wednesday announcing the new effort have been outspoken on ending what has become America's longest military conflict for years, but one Republican, Rep. Walter Jones (NC), says the names on the list of legislators opposing the Afghanistan conflict are expanding on his side of the aisle.

"The number of Republicans is slowly growing," Jones told reporters. "There were 12 tea party-types who won election that we checked to see what their position was on Afghanistan and 12 said for either policy reasons or financial reasons we need to get out."

Jones said some veteran Republicans are also signing on to an end to the war, which has has been met with growing public discontent according to public opinion polls. "In time, they're beginning to say, 'I don't know what we're trying to accomplish, there seems to be no end point,'"Jones said. "It is slowly on the Republican side changing to [support for] getting our troops out."

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Ron Paul

Rep. Ron Paul: "Education is Not a Right" (Video)

Meena Rupani | March 3, 2011, 1:42PM

Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX)

For Rep Ron Paul (R-TX), education and medical care are not rights but rather "things that you have to earn."

In an exchange about U.S. credit policy with MSNBC's Cenk Uygur on Wednesday, Paul was asked whether people should be able to borrow money to buy a house, or car. "Oh, in a free market, you can do that," Paul said, but only so long as that credit is backed up by real money, and not something that "comes out of thin air."

Uygur asked the Congressman if students who can't afford tuition should be able to get government loans. "No one has a right to anyone's wealth, I don't have a right to come to you and say my poor kid needs 500 dollars for an education," Paul replied, "an education is not a right, medical care is not a right."

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2012 Presidential Primaries

Herman Cain Wins Straw Poll At Tea Party Summit

Jon Terbush | February 28, 2011, 10:39AM

Herman Cain

Forget AM radio. Herman Cain is hitting the road to pitch his bid for the presidency -- and it may be working.

Cain delivered a speech at a Tea Party summit in Phoenix over the weekend, and was rewarded with a first place finish in the event's straw poll, even topping higher profile candidates like Sarah Palin and Mitt Romney. Cain captured 22% of Sunday's straw poll vote, followed by former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (16%) and Texas Rep. Ron Paul (15%).

Read more »

Pres '12

Obama Trails Generic Moderate GOP Challenger In Polls, Wins Against Current Candidates

Jon Terbush | February 16, 2011, 12:59PM

President Barack Obama

None of the prominent Republicans believed to be considering presidential bids came out ahead of President Obama in a new PPP poll of registered voters nationwide. However, Obama did trail in one hypothetical match-up -- versus an unspecified moderate Republican challenger.

The results underscore just how weak the slate of GOP candidates is: only one Republican, Mike Huckabee, posted a net favorable rating in the poll, with 36% of respondents viewing him favorably, and 30% viewing him unfavorably. Over half of all registered voters had a negative opinion of Newt Gingrich (53%), Sarah Palin (56%), and Donald Trump (56%).

And when voters knew the other candidates well enough to form an opinion of them, they viewed them unfavorably more often than not. For example, almost one-third of respondents had no opinion of Ron Paul -- but among those who did, 45% had a negative opinion of him.

The results also show that, though Obama's approval rating has surged in recent weeks, he is in no way out of the woods as he gears up for a reelection bid. The PPP poll found that 49% of voters approve of his job performance, compared to 46% who disapprove.

Read more »

Pres '12

Ron Paul: How Many Elections Has Donald Trump Won? (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | February 14, 2011, 1:18PM

Donald Trump and Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX)

Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) is firing back at Donald Trump, who provoked a cascade of boos when he declared to the Paul-friendly crowd at CPAC that the libertarian Republican Congressman from Texas can't win a presidential election.

Paul appeared today on MSNBC's Morning Joe, and was asked about Trump's comments attacking his electability.

"Well, you always take that risk when you put your name on the ballot, you know -- you could get elected," Paul responded." But you know, the other thing is, is that's what they told me years ago. Because Joe, you've known me long enough that I've said the things and voted the same way for many years. And they told me that when I first started running for Congress -- there's no way you can run on that platform. You're sort of obsessed with this Constitution, and you know, you live in the Dark Ages, you can't be elected.

"So I was elected 11 times. And somebody said, well how many times has Donald Trump been elected? Does he have, really, the right to go and criticize others and say they're unelectable?"

Read more »

Ron Paul

Ron Paul Wins 2011 CPAC Straw Poll

Evan McMorris-Santoro | February 12, 2011, 5:14PM

Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX)

For the second year in a row, Ron Paul won the CPAC presidential straw poll, taking home 30% of the votes cast. Mitt Romney came in second with 23% of the vote. The rest of the 16 candidate field shared single-digit levels of support.

Results of the poll were first published by Human Events, with other media organizations following shortly after. The final results were announced to attendees at about 5:30.

Paul's win was widely expected, as his supporters have packed the halls here (and spent big money to do it.) It's true that he has a lot of die-hard support, but it's hard to see the CPAC win today as a sign that he has any kind of a broad base in the GOP electorate

For Romney, who made a big deal out of his 2008 CPAC straw poll win, second place here probably solidifies him as the frontrunner in the early stages of the 2012 presidential race.

Read more »

2012 Presidential Primaries

Ron Paul Asks The Youth To Opt-Out Of America (VIDEO)

Evan McMorris-Santoro | February 11, 2011, 5:40PM

Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX)

Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX), the definite star of CPAC this year, just got done speaking. He offered up his standard fare: opposition to the PATRIOT Act, opposition to foreign aid and a clear distaste for the Fed. He also proposed a deal to America's youth: how about we let you opt-out of all government services, forever?

A lot of Republicans running for president (or "maybe running for president") these days are trying to reach out to the Libertarian wing of the party, whose fiscal views have come to dominate the tea party movement. But Paul made it clear how far the Mitt Romneys and Tim Pawlentys of the world will have to go before they really talk like a libertarian. Where they're talking about small government and shrunken entitlements, Paul's suggesting young people be allowed to walk away from the government entirely. His proposed deal works like this: you pay the government 10% of your income (presumably to protect your borders and such) and you promise you'll never take advantage of a government service for the rest of your life.

Read more »

CPAC

CPAC Throws Pro-Pot Legalization Libertarian Off Stage (VIDEO)

Evan McMorris-Santoro | February 11, 2011, 10:54AM

Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson (R) is one of the many coy presidential contenders speaking at CPAC this year. He hasn't said officially if he's running for president, but he showed up here with staff who are on the ground for him in Iowa and New Hampshire, as well as a slew of Gary Johnson for President signs. CPAC is generally very welcoming of Republican presidential contenders, giving them space on the dais to speak and time to make their case to the thousands gathered here.

Unless they're pot-legalization supporting libertarians like Johnson. Those, they throw off the stage.

Read more »

CPAC

Paul Supporters Hijack Cheney-Rumsfeld Reunion (Video)

Evan McMorris-Santoro | February 10, 2011, 4:52PM

Dick Cheney just popped up here at CPAC to introduce his old pal and Bush administration colleague Donald Rumsfeld. Fans of Ron Paul turned what should have been a friendly moment before an audience of fellow conservatives into a screaming match and protest action that resembled what a Cheney-Rumsfeld hug at the Netroots Nation convention might look like.

Rumsfeld is being given CPAC's "Defender Of The Constitution" award, a concept that apparently rankled Paul supporters in the crowd. Many of them got up and walked out en masse at the mention of Rumsfeld, though some stayed behind in the conference hall to heckle the architects of the invasion of Iraq.

One shout of "where's Bin Laden?" rang out as Cheney spoke of Rumsfeld.

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Donald Trump Trashes Ron Paul At CPAC: He 'Can't Get Elected' (VIDEO)

Jillian Rayfield | February 10, 2011, 4:12PM

Donald Trump was at his Donald Trumpiest in his CPAC speech today, bragging that he's "acquainted with winning," and declaring that Ron Paul "cannot get elected" as President.

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