Reply #53: no worries, thanks for the reply.

[Truth2Tell]

I understand your response to Ron Paul. Libertarianism is a bankrupt philosophy. But it also has appeal to many people - and not just ultra-wackos.

I know this because in my younger years I was drawn to it, as are many people who strongly value personal freedom. But reading Chomsky and many others opened my eyes to the injustices that invariably occur in the vacuum of state power that libertarianism creates.

My own learning process on this taught me that it's possible for people who oppose war and oppression to evolve from a Ron Paul type outlook to a Dennis Kucinich type outlook on government. Even after you chop out the ultra-wackos and the militia types - I believe there are still a big chunk of Ron Paul Republicans, especially newer devotees, who are ripe for the same philosophical transformation I made some years ago.

I think this could potentially have enormous value to our party, but that it will require diplomacy rather than ridicule. Many, but not all, Ron Paul followers are new to politics entirely and have very shallowly defined political views. Many simply oppose wars of aggression, decry police state tactics and appreciate straight talk. It’s those voters we could potentially steal.