Fox Breaking News: Trancredo Drops Out Thursday

[Minuteman2008]

Some of us are just libertarians. You know the people RP panders to when he wants our money and votes ( depending on how you look at it). Maybe pander is the wrong word. But RP certainly knows how to campaign to appeal to freedom loving libertarians and then shift a little to the "hard right" people who seem influenced by hate/fear/bigotry,etc. This is why you will find pretty heavy support in both LP and CP types in addition to "old conservatives."

Dr. Paul differentiates himself STRONGLY from the xenophobes, at least in rhetoric. He has spoken out against Scapegoating immigrants ( as well as gays and other group the wackjobs hate) and tends to frame it more as a welfare and sovereignty ( libertarian supporting the existence of a state with borders rather than anarchist). I hope that is how he really feels.

Frankly, I think if he pushes too hard in the extreme anti-immigrant direction he risks alienating a lot of his supporters ( many who have supported him 20-30 years) who will question his true beliefs and consistency when it comes to free markets, libertarianism,etc.

He also risks losing a lot of the recent anti-war converts who make up a huge %.

Otherwise, he might as well be a CP candidate.

I think, at least in articles I've read by Paul, that he's been pretty straightforward about differentiating between legal and illegal immigration, which is mostly what the debate on immigration has been about. At least for those paying attention and not dismissing concerned citizens as "hateful, bigoted xenophobes." What is "hard right" anyway? Someone concerned with sovereignty?

 

[majinkoola]

I love it when people from states not affected very much by illegal immigration like to comment on it. It's really funny.

The situation with immigrants now is much different than those in the past. Never before has there been such a mass movement, nor one where they did not have to go overseas to enter the country. I've lived in Arizona my whole life, in areas that are highly comprised of illegal immigrants. Many, including second-generation immigrants, do not consider themselves Americans, they consider themselves Mexicans living in America. I find something wrong with that. I would feel the same if a bunch of Canadians came into a couple states and considered themselves Canadians living in America.

Again, I have no problem with the people who are illegal immigrants. It makes all the sense in the world for them to come here. And I know many, probably more than all these people who are spewing hatred toward the minutemen and Tancredo. Most are good people. The thing is though, much of Arizona is rapidly becoming an extension of Mexico. That is something I don't want, not because I'm racist, but because I like Arizona as Arizona. As do most people legally living in this state.

There's a reason Arizona has passed some harsh anti-immigration bills, and I'm sure a lot of the idealists here would change their minds if they lived in SoCal, Arizona, New Mexico, or Texas.

 

[RedLightning]

Some of us are just libertarians.

Ron Paul is running for the Republican nomination, while Ron Paul is a libertarian Republican, he needs support from other Republicans to win the nomination, not matter how small it would be very good to get an endorsment from Tancredo.

 

[majinkoola]

"If anything, their protests underscore the Balkanization of America caused by widespread illegal immigration. How much longer can we maintain huge unassimilated subgroups within America, filled with millions of people who don’t speak English or participate fully in American life? Americans finally have decided the status quo is unacceptable, and immigration may be the issue that decides the 2008 presidential election.

We’re often reminded that America is a nation of immigrants, implying that we’re coldhearted to restrict immigration in any way. But the new Americans reaching our shores in the late 1800s and early 1900s were legal immigrants. In many cases they had no chance of returning home again. They maintained their various ethnic and cultural identities, but they also learned English and embraced their new nationality." - Ron Paul

Ron Paul yet again articulates what I want to say better than I can.