Hey! I’m blogging about Ron Paul.

From the Washington Examiner:

Republican presidential candidate Rep. Ron Paul (R-Tex.) has once more called for the privatization of airport security amidst the “appalling treatment” travelers receive at airports, in the latest post on the congressman’s “Texas Straight Talk” blog.

“The press reports are horrifying,” Paul wrote. “Ninety-five-year-old women humiliated, children molested, disabled people abused. Men and women subjected to unwarranted groping and touching of their most private areas, and involuntary radiation exposure.”

Paul mentioned a piece of legislation he will introduce this week — The American Traveler Dignity Act – that will address his concerns about airport security and personal privacy. The act, in essence, would hold Transportaion Safety Administration (TSA) employees to the same standards as average citizens in regards to physical contact, making images of another person or causing “physical harm” to another person through the use of radiation-emitting machines.

The TSA has been on the receiving end of much criticism after a string of recent incidents including a Nigerian man who slipped through the agency’s security all together with over 10 boarding passes belonging to various individuals last week.

Paul’s critique of the TSA and the federalization of airport security dates back to the agency’s creation shortly after 9/11.

“Congress should be privatizing rather than nationalizing airport security,” Paul wrote in a 2001 article. “The free market can and does produce excellent security in many industries. Many security-intensive industries do an outstanding job of maintaining safety without depending on federal agencies.”

Texas Congressman Ron Paul’s floating an idea that could gain steam in the debate over whether or not to increase the debt ceiling. At least some in the media like it.

Here’s the scoop:

How should the United States deal with its growing debt problem? Ron Paul thinks declaring “bankruptcy” might be a good idea.

The Texas congressman and Republican presidential candidate was discussing Greece’s fiscal trouble with Iowa radio host Jan Mickelson on Monday when he was asked, “If bankruptcy is the cure for Greece, is it also the cure for the United States?”

“Absolutely,” Paul replied.

Of course, sovereign nations can’t declare bankruptcy the same way a corporation might. Instead, the government would be unable to fulfill its obligations, and would stop making payments on its debt, resulting in a default.

Greece is currently embroiled in a debate over how to pare back its social programs and government spending to secure another bailout for paying its debts.

Paul said social programs — medical care and other benefits — have pushed Greece to the edge, and the United States should take note.

“The big message there is the fact that the people who are seeing they are losing their benefits and their free medical care and all, are rioting in the streets,” Paul said. “That is the problem, and we are not immune from that.”

The New Republic also has the story, and they call Paul’s plan “surprisingly lucid”:

Representative Ron Paul has hit upon a remarkably creative way to deal with the impasse over the debt ceiling: have the Federal Reserve Board destroy the $1.6 trillion in government bonds it now holds. While at first blush this idea may seem crazy, on more careful thought it is actually a very reasonable way to deal with the crisis. Furthermore, it provides a way to have lasting savings to the budget.

The basic story is that the Fed has bought roughly $1.6 trillion in government bonds through its various quantitative easing programs over the last two and a half years. This money is part of the $14.3 trillion debt that is subject to the debt ceiling. However, the Fed is an agency of the government. Its assets are in fact assets of the government. Each year, the Fed refunds the interest earned on its assets in excess of the money needed to cover its operating expenses. Last year the Fed refunded almost $80 billion to the Treasury. In this sense, the bonds held by the Fed are literally money that the government owes to itself.

Unlike the debt held by Social Security, the debt held by the Fed is not tied to any specific obligations. The bonds held by the Fed are assets of the Fed. It has no obligations that it must use these assets to meet. There is no one who loses their retirement income if the Fed doesn’t have its bonds. In fact, there is no direct loss of income to anyone associated with the Fed’s destruction of its bonds. This means that if Congress told the Fed to burn the bonds, it would in effect just be destroying a liability that the government had to itself, but it would still reduce the debt subject to the debt ceiling by $1.6 trillion. This would buy the country considerable breathing room before the debt ceiling had to be raised again. President Obama and the Republican congressional leadership could have close to two years to talk about potential spending cuts or tax increases. Maybe they could even talk a little about jobs.

I’m not exactly sure how I feel about this strategy. Essentially declaring “bankruptcy” doesn’t solve the problem in Washington, which is overspending. When you go to the doctor, he doesn’t seek only to treat your symptoms. While Paul’s plan may provide immediate relief to the debt ceiling crisis, it doesn’t focus on the long-term issue: overspending.

I’m taking the Dave Ramsey approach to this. Bankruptcy probably isn’t the answer.

This just hit my inbox (and when I get it once, it seems like I get it a dozen times):

Michael Delgiorno a radio talk show host in Tennessee just sent out a VERY offensive e-mail to his listeners calling Dr. Ron Paul “Dr. Whine” and also calling him “a loser”. He continued to refer to Congressman Paul as “reckless, naive, and a non-factor”. The actual e-mail he sent out is below…

If you disagree with Michael Delgiorno please call him during his radio show (called a callbomb) and let him know your thoughts about him insulting Congressman Ron Paul; his show is 9a-noon Central Time on weekdays. If you can’t get him during his show, try again the next day or after hours. Be aware that when talking to him or leaving a voice mail, anything you say could very well be live or played back on the air at a later time. So keep in mind that if you are calling in favor of Ron Paul, be sure to leave a good impression and represent Ron in a positive light.

Supertalk Call In Line
615-737-9986

Supertalk Hotline Number (use this if you can’t get through to the studio)
615-***-****

Michael Delgiorno’s personal cell phone number
918-***-****

Also send him an e-mail
michael@997wtn.com

And MOST IMPORTANTLY contact Michaels sales and programming managers letting them know you disapprove of his behavior:
brian.wilson@cumulus.com
tim.meagher@cumulus.com
615-321-1067

The email came from a “Tnsons Ofliberty” email address, and the communication was sent to the Nashville Ron Paul Meetup list. I’m fairly certain this constitutes harassment. This is indicative of a certain Ron Paul supporter, who was formerly employed by Cumulus Radio in Nashville. If it, in fact, was sent out by this individual, then he should really disclose who his employer is now — the Ron Paul Presidential Campaign.

UPDATE: I didn’t actually realize there was anything else to this email until it was brought to my attention by someone on Facebook. Apparently, this is the reason Ron Paul folks are outraged:

Big Debate Winner??? Republican Voters!
By Michael DelGiorno

Seven Republican candidates for President of The United States held a debate on Monday in New Hampshire and I think there was a clear winner: GOP voters! Oh.and there were two clear losers: Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul.

Newt is still trying to defend his attacks on Rep. Paul Ryan’s entitlement reform proposal, thus, insuring he’ll remain alienated from the conservative voters he needs, not to mention any qualified staff candidates willing to join his ship to nowhere. Ron Paul proved profoundly why he is a non-factor candidate with his naive, reckless, anti-war tirade (that actually disrespected military leaders along the way). OK, two clear debate losers, one a rambling intellect and the other a rambling libertarian trying to win a Republican Primary. Both non-factors, so who cares?

The truth is Obama’s most formidable opponent is OBAMA — his failed policies (economic and foreign policy) and the united belief that     things are bad and headed worse. For me, all the Republicans (except for Gingrich & Paul) performed in a stellar fashion. They all kept the focus on a united message against Obama, our nations failed reality and unsustainable direction. Obama is showing signs he will once again campaign against Bush, so it’s nice to know the GOP is unified and focused on running against him. Romney is the most polished messenger in style, while perhaps the least desirable for me, but Pawlenty, Bauchmann & Cain….all had their moments. Time will tell if they can rise to look Presidential and gain traction through the enormous exposure opportunity, but this was NOT a bad start by any of the top four!

Best of all, they are showing the courage to speak the truth about deficit, debt, entitlement reform, energy reform and strong defense, which is a far cry from 2008 when it was a contest to see who could appeal to non-Republicans the best. Like the bridge to nowhere, we ended up with the campaign to nowhere (McCain).

The most tragic observation was that there was only fifteen minutes focused on foreign policy! We are active in military combat in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Pakistan, Yemen, etc. and on the brink of a Holy World War and no one seems to be interested or focused on this job priority. I can only pray that the media, political parties and American people awaken soon (it is almost already too late)!

All this to say, Romney is still the most polished, but Pawlenty, Cain & Bachmann have a lot of time and exposure ahead, not to mention, extraordinary potential (not the least of which is the courage to speak the truth, stay on message, focus on the real opponent, and the spine to lead real change)!

OK, I’ll say Romney and Bachmann tied for the win. Mitt won the debate for the average, ignorant and non-activated voters, while Michele won from the perspective of those most engaged, activated and conservative. But Pawlenty & Cain was right there! Newt & Dr. Whine Paul were clear losers. However, when compared to 2008, we are all the winners! This crop is head and shoulders above the last GOP field. Now we just need to pray we have a “nick of time!”

So, what? The guy’s got opinions. He’s a radio talk show host. He’s paid to have opinions. That’s no reason to release the guy’s private cell phone number and the back door line to the station — two phone numbers only known to employees of the station (or former employees) or elected officials who might need to call in to talk about issues.

Hmmm.

The Des Moines Register revealed some interesting numbers this morning:

Two-time candidate Mitt Romney and tea party upstart Michele Bachmann are neck and neck leading the pack, and retired pizza chief Herman Cain is in third place in a new Des Moines Register Iowa Poll of likely participants in the state’s Republican presidential caucuses.

The results are bad news for the earnest Tim Pawlenty, a former Minnesota governor who is in single digits despite a full-throttle campaign.

Romney, a former Massachusetts governor and business executive, claims 23 percent, and Bachmann, a Minnesota congresswoman and evangelical conservative, garners 22 percent. Neither has done heavy lifting in Iowa.

The rest of the Republican field is at least 12 points behind them.

We’re only a couple months away from the Ames Straw poll, where Texas Congressman Ron Paul has shelled out a pretty penny for the prime location. This is the same spot Romney held in 2007.

While there’s still time for movement between now and the Iowa Caucuses next year, the same cannot be said between now and the Ames Straw Poll in August.

But there are a number of very interesting factors that make comparing this 2011 to 2007 difficult:

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