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Expectations

Weigel says: I’m always curious about what Paul voters expect from this race and what they’ll do if he doesn’t win. It depends on which Paul voters we’re talking about.  The young, optimistic and enthusiastic boosters for Rep. Paul may actually think he has a chance at winning, in which case I feel sorry for them.  It isn’t going […]

Weigel says:

I’m always curious about what Paul voters expect from this race and what they’ll do if he doesn’t win.

It depends on which Paul voters we’re talking about.  The young, optimistic and enthusiastic boosters for Rep. Paul may actually think he has a chance at winning, in which case I feel sorry for them.  It isn’t going to happen, and not necessarily because Paul’s message wouldn’t resonate with enough voters.  We have seen what happens when an insurgent anti-establishment Republican candidate has won in some of the early primaries, and it isn’t pleasant.  The mild irritation and contempt shown towards Paul and his supporters by the “mainstream” voices in the GOP would turn into incandescent hate and a concerted program of opposition if there was any chance of Paul acquiring a substantial number of delegates.  

It seems to me that other Paul voters are simply disaffected folks who are looking for someone whom they don’t loathe to support.    They expect precisely nothing, but are glad to have an alternative.  Then there are those, including myself, who have been familiar with Ron Paul for many years and who have been long-time Paul admirers.  We are in substantial agreement with virtually everything he says, and so will support him as a matter of upholding the principles he espouses.  We expect that Ron Paul will do these principles credit and speak on behalf of those libertarians and conservatives who have little or no representation these days.   

Speaking for myself, I really never expected anything, except that I thought Paul would present the libertarian-conservative case effectively and challenge others in the GOP to face up to the disasters they have helped create.  Now that there is a chance for a bit more impact on the outcome of the race, I am hopeful that Paul will become the rallying point for opponents of the eventual frontrunner.  That may not happen, but if there could be a large show of united opposition to the eventual frontrunner and nominee it would go a long way towards weakening the eventual nominee (who will, in all likelihood, be terrible on a number of major issues) without involving a futile and ultimately self-defeating third party bid.

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