Ron Paul, Cate Blanchett, more 'men of the year'

You wrote "a campaign with virtually no chance of success"

Which campaign are you watching? Is it the same one that has:

Ron Paul's support nearly doubling in a month?

Ron Paul raising more money than John McCain?

Ron Paul climbing to 4th in New Hampshire polls? (featuring polling numbers that omit many potential Ron Paul supporters such as those who own cell phones only or didn't vote last time)

by far the most devout following of any presidential candidate?

exploded in the last week and is reaching critical mass right now?

Safe with Giuliani or progress with Clinton?

What are you trying to say?

Let's see if you are saying the same thing about Ron Paul a month-and-half from now :-)

Visit Ron Paul's website here for more info. www.RonPaul2008.com

"virtually no chance of success"

Depending on the poll, John Kerry was somewhere between 4% and 10% nationally in December '04. But, I guess "virtually no chance" is a step up in media perception of Ron Paul's odds. Many reporters and bloggers have claimed absolute knowledge that this candidate--who is drawing larger, more motivated crowds than most and who is moving up in the polls (8% in NH and climbing, 7% in Nevada, even with McCain in Iowa)--will not win. (It's so "clever" when they substitute "no-shot" for "long-shot!") Give these soothsayers a crystal ball and a pink slip, I say, or at least a short course in probability theory. But not you, Mark Silva. You're a virtual soothsayer.

Wow, are you looking at this all wrong. Whether one likes Paul or not, he has changed the political discourse, increased popular involvement in politics, and demonstrated the value of substance over form (for once). Important? Fundamentally so--that's why the candidates and the opinion makers are reacting to these influences.

I am amazed, delighted, and appalled all at the same time. Amazed because Dr. Paul was considered by GQ as a dark horse..Delighted a wonderful international publication lists him. and Appalled, they see his campaign as a dark horse instead of the pale horse to the status quo i.e. International robber baron bankers, and CFR sponsored corporcrates, and neocons politicians.
The truth of Ron Paul Dark horse campaign will finish in the lead by a furlong.

PAUL/DOBBS DOBBS/PAUL 2008 I THINK IT WOULD WORK?

Mark, you are either:
a) just trying to "tweak" Paul voters,
b) in some weird way trying to give him a little perverse publicity, or
c) totally off your rocker.

It's sssooooooo trendy. If you write an unfavourable article on Ron Paul, we will come.

You're so hip baltimoresun, we're here to flood your site with hits and click-thrus.

Honestly, I don't think half the writers that author these article believe the drivel that makes the editor's cut.

But, hey ... it got me here didn't it. Just remember, no publicity is bad publicity ... especially when it's Ron Paul. If they had dirt on the Good Mr. Paul, it would have been flung long ago. The only ammunition they have is his "dark horse campaign" and his "no chance of success". They cling to it like the hope that spurs our revolution.

Paul, the Republican congressman from Texas and physician who is running for president with an Internet following of simply-obsessed Perilous Paulines who helped the “dark horse of the year’

"Perilous Paulines"?! What are you going to call us next, "poopy-pants bubble-heads"?! Grow up, man.

Paul plays simply a candidate.

But that's the beauty of it. Simple, honest, constitutional government.

The fact that there is a truthful presidential candidate, Somebody who wants to keep the one world governement from achivieving its goal, end the irs, it is a miracle. Whatever happens in the end he will have at least raised the american people's awareness about the governement's corruption on the constitution. He is the only candidate who points out the main issues: the gradual take over of people's privacy and liberty. it is created by making people more and more afraid so that under the name their protection and safety the government takes more and more control. Ron Paul is the only candidate who says that according the constutition the IRS is illegal. I haven't heard any other candidate who are refering to the constitution bring the subject of illegal IRS, they are too scared.

Ron Paul will win. People love his ideas and honesty. While some may think he does not have a chance to win, that he is a "long shot" candidate, they are wrong. He dominates in Straw Polls, Debate Polls, Fund Raising, Web Traffic and Grass Roots Networking. I have created a website to support this statement.

Please visit www.thecaseforronpaul.com and judge for yourself.

Hey there Mark, for all the criticism that you are taking over this piece, you actually did Dr. Paul a favor as one other post had already mentioned. You mentioned the name RON PAUL! You also did yourself a favor, because if you never mentioned the good Doctors name, you would remain in relative obscurity. So feel free to mention Ron's name all you want, I even dare you to try to find some dirt on him. You can't, cause there isn't any! GO RON PAUL GO!

"for a campaign with virtually no chance of success"

If it were true, you wouldn't need to keep writing it.

"First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win. -Mahatma Gandhi

“In the absence of the gold standard, there is no way to protect savings from confiscation through inflation. ... This is the shabby secret of the welfare statists' tirades against gold. Deficit spending is simply a scheme for the confiscation of wealth. Gold stands in the way of this insidious process. It stands as a protector of property rights. If one grasps this, one has no difficulty in understanding the statists' antagonism toward the gold standard.” —Alan Greenspan

Ron Paul and the truth will win!

oh dear
Ron Paul's campaign has "virtually no chance of success" ?!?
well we Ron Paul supporters had better redouble our efforts hadn't we ?
thanks for the encouragement Mark Silva and God bless you !!!

I spent 15 years in the US Military with 11 of those as an officer.

I support Ron Paul.

I made a lifetime oath to protect the U.S. Constitution and I see it being trampled.

My officer training covered terrorism. One of my course manuals very specifically stated that terrorists were not crazy people but were a group of people who believed that all "legitimate" channels of redress of their grievances have been shut off.

We were the people you send to die on your behalf when the political process fails. The use of warfare is supposed to be a last resort when all else in the political process fails.

Now, we are willing to use Nuclear weapons as a first strike initiative.

From my professional military training of weapons of mass destruction, the use of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons is the most perverse, ugly, nasty thing one human being can do to another.

As a former military officer, and as a private civilian traveling to 7 countries, I believe our foreign policy has created the terrorists. They are doing what WE taught them to do; they are doing what you and I would do to defend ourself against a perceived threat that is so powerful that no other force on earth could stop it.

The weapons of mass destruction that are coming back to haunt us were developed by our own government and paid for by your and my tax dollars. The right hand kills the left hand.

The US is the most powerful nation on Earth at this time and there isn't a close second from any one nation.

After someone told me that the income tax was so-called voluntary, I ridiculed them until they challenged me to prove them wrong. For two years I studied and researched the history of the tax going all the way back to congressional records in 1913.

I wrote letters to the IRS's Chief counsel 4 times requesting that they show me the actual statute making you and me liable for a tax; no answer provided.

I found "interesting" information after two years that support that the taxing system is illegal and I'll leave it at that.

I have a back ground in the military, engineering research and finance and I'm very well versed in analysis of factual data.

When any political institution has almost unlimited access to funds - via directly taxing the citizenry or indirectly taxing via wanton printing of fiat currency, therein lies the danger of absolute power that corrupts absolutely. Therein lies the ability to crush anything that gets in the way of that institutions objectives; Therein lies the roots of arrogance and self deception leading to abuse of power that breeds hatred and contempt. When the abused have nothing left to loose, they resort to suicide and terror to make a statement and affect political outcomes.

The mark of "ANY" terrified, paranoid government for the survival of it's ideals, power and physical existance are the imposed restrictions on individual liberties. When people and governments fear a loss of control, they attempt to enforce absolute control.

Look at North Korea, China, Russia the Arab nations and the Taliban; then look at what our own country is rapidly becoming. Camera's everywhere, national ID card in 2008, wire taps, Internet privacy, Patriot Act (signed and read after the fact).

When we live in fear, we are not free. The trouble is, we created the very monsters we fear and it is time we ended the insanity by making fundamental and, above all, PEACEFUL changes in our current political and policy environment.

There is an undercurrent in the American psyche that many in the political arena are missing. That message is desperately attempting to make itself known - to "those who have ears".

A true and honorable political leader will listen.

That can be anyone. It should be everyone.

WOW! "Virtually no chance of success" From where do you base this statement? It is obvious that your readers do not agree with you! Quick, get on board now and no one may remember later that you said that!!
"Dr. Paul cured my Apathy"

Ron Paul certainly hasnt been anointed by special interests and God Bless him I will vote for him until the end.

I am voting on principle not what these dirt bags tell me who I can vote for. Spend a few minutes and at least look into the man.

Start at the our currency, while he has never said he wants to return to the gold standard, which is always misrepresented, he said to make Gold and Silver a competing currency.

Maybe you like to lose money because the FED decided to save a few people on wall street and destroys my money by printing new, but I dont like that one bit. Everything is about money.

No other candidate has dealt with the Federal Reserve since Andrew Jackson, until we understand and get behind this idea of the Federal Reserve is the worst thing that has happened to this country we will always be voting on the cause and effects of the monetary policy.

I'm a 24-year-old disabled Marine combat veteran. I'm right behind Richard on this one.

Restore Our Republic.

Mark, you might want to check with Snuffaluffagus over at ABC before making comments that will come back to haunt you. He's getting dry mouth now and feeling a little queasy because he bet everything that Ron Paul wouldn't win the election. I think he's regretting his idiotic comment and soon, you will too.

Stuff your foot in your mouth.

I was surprised to see Paul mentioned by GQ. I think they're right on though about the Dark horse of the year.

If the truth were to be told, the only reason your pitiful point of view got any play at all was becasue you mentioned Ron Paul's name in your article. How much traffic did any of your other stories generate? Doesn't the answer to that refute most of the claims you mad?

Wow. It is good to see Ron Paul recognized for style, him being a man of some definate substance.

Sad and petty you cannot get over your political bias and choose to dogpile with the rest of the media on him and his campaign instead of choosing to post at least a neutral story acknowledging the recognition.

"virtually no chance of success" You have virtually no idea what you are talking about.

Cate Blanchet played Bob Dylan? Gee, I suppose maybe a dozen people even knew that until GQ told it's nearly two-dozen subscribers.

And in all seriousness, Mark, pull your head out of the sand! The reason so many people think the sky is falling is because IT IS.

Visit www.teaparty07.com

You will see that he has virutally a GREAT chance of winning!

I love this.
another opportunity to talk about Ron.

The Chance of success gets better by the day. by the hour. He is the real deal you know. Take the time to read about Ron.
A breath of fresh air. And consistent.

You should have seen the support yesterday, when a call for funds was issued. People, real people..The ones that are SUPPOSED to be running the government, reached into their wallets again..300, 000 dollars in the blink of an eye. Impressive. And it shows increasing support.

I'm already donating to the Tea Party on Dec 16th..But...I've decided to increase my donation by 1 dollar for every negative Article I see.
I put it in My "RON CAN"..as in Ron Can WIN..
It's really just a coffee can.
I encourage other supporters to do the same. Donate on the 16th..And Increase your donation in retaliation to Bad press!

I love this.
another opportunity to talk about Ron.

The Chance of success gets better by the day. by the hour. He is the real deal you know. Take the time to read about Ron.
A breath of fresh air. And consistent.

You should have seen the support yesterday, when a call for funds was issued. People, real people..The ones that are SUPPOSED to be running the government, reached into their wallets again..300, 000 dollars in the blink of an eye. Impressive. And it shows increasing support.

I'm already donating to the Tea Party on Dec 16th..But...I've decided to increase my donation by 1 dollar for every negative Article I see.
I put it in My "RON CAN"..as in Ron Can WIN..
It's really just a coffee can.
I encourage other supporters to do the same. Donate on the 16th..And Increase your donation in retaliation to Bad press!

When you start attacking Paul
like that, that just means
RON PAUL is a THREAT to the
other candidates. YOU BET HE IS.......RON PAUL is authentic. If it's not in
the Constitution, Ron Paul will oppose it. He even refused to sign up for a congressional pension. RON PAUL IS NOT FOR SALE TO THE
LOBBYISTS. GO RON PAUL....

When you start attacking Paul
like that, that just means
RON PAUL is a THREAT to the
other candidates. YOU BET HE IS.......RON PAUL is authentic. If it's not in
the Constitution, Ron Paul will oppose it. He even refused to sign up for a congressional pension. RON PAUL IS NOT FOR SALE TO THE
LOBBYISTS. GO RON PAUL....

Great. Another thread taken over by the Ron bots.

How are those blastocyst American rights doing? Life begins at conception and all that. I'd like to think that it's none of the gov't's business what a woman does with her blastocyst American, but nutty Ron Paul disagrees. Another Republic party dirtbag pretending to be a normal American. Nice try.

Mark Silva is out of touch with the American public - he has been living around the beltway a little too long. Mark get out of town, smell the fresh air once in awhile - it does a body good. A Brain too.

Ron Paul is the real thing!!!!!!!!

The American public is asleep!!!! Ron Paul has awakened the minds of so many people. The people are doing all the work, not big paid lobbyist.

VOTE RONPAUL2008

The time to rise up for a candidate who actually cares about the people has come. Reign in the executive power and vote Paul.

I must be obsessed, I just read an article in the Baltimore Sun.

weinerdog???

You need to wake up. This isn't about abortion or welfare. This is about the financial health of our country. We cannot support Neocon war spending. Nor can we support Dem 'programs'. The spending of money, that we do not have, has to stop. Period.

Your Dems have signed on. Hillary has received more contributions, from military contractors, than any other candidate. Their line will be 'we owe it to the Iraqi people' -a la Huckabees talk about 'honor'. In other words, we have to send -not spend- more of your and my tax dollars directly into the hands of the defense corps that have PAID THEM TO DO SO...

A Dem buddy said that we need to raise the tax cap -to over $100k. That's great. Let's make it $200k. Right? Sure. Let's take it from anyone and everyone that is doing just a little better... But as a very affluent -read: more than you or I will ever be worth- once told me, "Republican or Democrat in Office, it doesn't matter. Big business will never pay it's fair share of taxes."

You owe it to yourself to see that this isn't an issue of Republican or Democrat. They take the few issues that you and I disagree on and use them to separate us. The issue here, with Ron Paul and the 08' election, is the financial health of our nation. You have to understand that if we go broke, and do your due diligence in learning how close that is, topics such as abortion, which we love to fight over, WON'T MATTER. The country will be broke.

But as for the issue of abortion, I find that the best arguments often come from the left...

"It seemed to me that liberals traditionally have cared about others and about human rights, while conservatives have cared about themselves and property rights. Therefore, one would expect liberals to be defending the unborn and conservatives to be encouraging their destruction."

"The same people who wax hysterical at the thought of executing, after countless appeals, a criminal convicted of some revolting crime would have insisted on his mother’s unconditional right to have him killed while he was still innocent."

-Rosemary Bottcher

More to the point, abortion isn't a liberal/conservative argument. It's part of the feminist movement. This is the same movement that has insisted that dads who were once portrayed as 'Father Knows Best' be thought more of as Al Bundys or Homer Simpsons. But regardless, like Aaron Russo stated, before he died, the feminist movement was not sparked by young activists. It was sparked by people in power that wished to have yet another source of taxation. ---Get the women out of the homes. Have them quit raising the babies. Get them into the workforce. And tax them.---

It cracks me up every time all these statists say bluntly (and often, usually more than once per article) that Ron Paul won't/can't win. It's so desperate, like if they say it enough, it will come true somehow.

Every dictator that was ever in power spoke of the masses and to the masses before he was elected/supported. stalin, hitler, chavez, mussolini all of them.

Claiming to want to break down the IRS and close the borders might speak to people without many other desires in the heads but it is not electable.

I urge everyone in this forum to watch "the wave" and see if you can identify. Not only is Ron Paul a fanatic cult leader but he is also a racist and this is well documented:
http://dirtyelection.com/?p=27

I hope that Ron Paul gives up fast enough so his lunacy does not hurt our country!