Today's political news brings us the woman whose husband didn't inhale reefer smoke apologizing to her opponent for making references to his admitted use of marijuana and cocaine as a teenager. On the other side of the aisle, the various "religious" candidates are poking each other in the eye with pointed crucifixes over whose God is bigger than whose.It's painfully clear that none of the "major" candidates running for the U.S. presidency are qualified to be school crossing-guards, much less president of the United States of America.
Despite the supposed differences between candidates, should America elect Clinton, Obama, Edwards, Giuliani, Romney, Huckabee or that actor guy — the country will continue to slip-slide away from our once-proud ideals. Debt will continue to mount, personally and nationally. We'll entangle ourselves in further senseless wars, at home and abroad. Gas prices and taxes will continue to rise, and home values may continue to plummet as foreclosures increase. Much of the rest of the world will keep on hating us. Our Constitutional freedoms will continue to evaporate.
While the press bombards us with the daily antics of these seven clowns and buffoons, pretending there are no other candidates in the race, U.S. Representative Ron Paul of Texas is getting his message heard via the Internet.
I first heard of (and voted for) Ron Paul when he ran for president in 1988 on the Libertarian Party ticket. Then, as now, he was all but ignored by the mainstream media.
Why has the mainstream media ignored him? Because what he says makes sense, and if his policies were enacted, we'd soon live in a significantly different, and in my opinion, better world, a world in which much of the status quo would be overturned. Dr. Paul's message doesn't play well with entrenched pundits and mega-corp advertisers who thrive on keeping America titillated by sensationalist gossip, mudslinging and flag-waving while ignoring more serious, fundamental issues.
Who is Ron Paul?
Congressman Ron Paul is the leading advocate for freedom in our nation’s capital. As a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Dr. Paul tirelessly works for limited constitutional government, low taxes, free markets, and a return to sound monetary policies. He is known among his congressional colleagues and his constituents for his consistent voting record. Dr. Paul never votes for legislation unless the proposed measure is expressly authorized by the Constitution.In the words of former Treasury Secretary William Simon, Dr. Paul is the "one exception to the Gang of 535" on Capitol Hill.Some background on Ron Paul as a U.S. representative:
- He has never voted to raise taxes.
- He has never voted for an unbalanced budget.
- He has never voted for a federal restriction on gun ownership.
- He has never voted to raise congressional pay.
- He has never taken a government-paid junket.
- He has never voted to increase the power of the executive branch.
- He voted against the Patriot Act.
- He voted against regulating the Internet.
- He voted against the Iraq war.
- He does not participate in the lucrative congressional pension program.
- He returns a portion of his annual congressional office budget to the U.S. treasury every year.
- Congressman Paul introduces numerous pieces of substantive legislation each year, probably more than any single member of Congress.
The Burning Taper joins with countless other voices across the nation and across the Internet to support Dr. Ron Paul's campaign for president.
Last week a group of academics from across the U.S. endorsed Ron Paul, in part with these words:
A Paul administration would dramatically reduce the size and scope of the federal government over our lives and liberties. President Paul will work to abolish the Internal Revenue Service, emphasize free trade and diplomacy over confrontation, cease the war on drugs, which has destroyed the lives and liberties of the poor in inner cities, and end our error-ridden system of federal capital punishment. To accomplish these goals, and ensure that those in greatest need do not suffer during the transition, Paul will bring home the troops and abandon our ruinously expensive and futile effort to police the world.I couldn't have written it better myself. A Paul presidency would restore and renew our country, returning us to the ideals of which we still boast but seldom (or never) practice.
Paul is the only presidential candidate with a proven record of defending academic freedom across-the-board. He has stood against efforts by both the political right and left to restrict the free discourse of ideas in higher education. He strongly opposes the use of speech codes to restrict academic freedom. For the same reason, he has spoken out against the so-called Academic Bill of Rights and other proposals that would empower politicians to impose "ideological balance" in the classroom. As Paul points out, these "speech codes of the right" would, if implemented, create a chilling effect on free and creative academic inquiry and teaching.
The Widow's Son and The Burning Taper endorse Dr. Ron Paul for President to restore the American principles of peace, individual liberty, personal responsibility, and limited government. You are urged to vote for Dr. Paul in your state's Republican primary.
Related link: Ron Paul's official campaign site
Image: U.S. Representative (R-Texas) Dr. Ron Paul
Presidential Endorsement | Ron Paul | 2008 Presidential Election | Burning Taper | BurningTaper.com
Good post, WS. Most intelligent people ALWAYS vote Libertarian, the main reason we are usually defeated. BECAUSE THE REST OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY ARE UTTERLY STUPID AND INTERESTED ONLY IN THE SENSATIONAL METHODS AND CORRUPT POLICIES OF THE DEMOCRAPS AND RETARDICANS. May they all be damned to the bowels of the Hell they so fervently believe in for all eternity. So mote it be!
ReplyDeleteVote LIBERTARIAN to bring this country back to the foundation established by our fellow brother MASTER MASONS.
Fraternally yours,
The Libertarian
I support Paul too, and I voted for him when he ran as a Libertarian in 1988. Go Ron!
ReplyDeleteI support Dr. Paul as well - the man speaks with such clarity and vision that you can help but be enamoured with him. For those that support Dr. Paul, there is another one day fundraising money-bomb coming up tomorrow (dec 16th), the anniversary of the Boston Tea Party. You can read about it on http://www.teaparty07.com/.
ReplyDeleteI'm likely voting for Ron Paul. I've always voted third party. I've thought about Libertarians before, but never voted for one thus far. Paul seems like a straight shooter. Nobody else is looking like a decent 3rd party candidate either.
ReplyDeleteI like Dr. Paul's views and stands on most things; however, if he’s to get my vote he'll have to support the "Fair Tax", support capital punishment, never support an anti-gun law, defend this Nation’s interests around the world, and not be an isolationist.
ReplyDeleteHe also has to get rid of those over-zealous college kids who make fools of themselves in the name of "Ron Paul" at political venues.
All in all, he’s probably the best candidate. I wish him well.
Peace.
Quote the libertarian
ReplyDeleteGood post, WS. Most intelligent people ALWAYS vote Libertarian, the main reason we are usually defeated. BECAUSE THE REST OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY ARE UTTERLY STUPID AND INTERESTED ONLY IN THE SENSATIONAL METHODS AND CORRUPT POLICIES OF THE DEMOCRAPS AND RETARDICANS.
endquote
Wow, there is a truely "Intelegent" response...
wow...
Normally, I don't comment on issues that are not related to Freemasonry on a forum such as this, but as a Mason, I feel obligated to inform all of you of some horrible crime that has occured, for which we as U.S. citizens must petition Congress about and help this young lady who was raped get some due justice.
ReplyDeleteGodspeed to all who will help out.
Subject: Help hold contractors accountable
Hi, Jamie Leigh Jones was working in Iraq for a subsidiary of Halliburton when she was drugged and brutally gang-raped by several coworkers.
For the last two years, she's been asking the US government to hold the perpetrators accountable, but the men who raped her may never be brought to justice because Halliburton and other contractors in Iraq aren't subject to US or Iraqi laws.
I just signed a petition urging Congress to investigate the rape of Jamie Leigh Jones, hold those involved accountable, and bring US contractors under the jurisdiction of US law. Can you join me at the link below?
http://pol.moveon.org/contractors_ac...RFupo&rc=paste
Thanks!
Hmmm, well, I don't imagine I would ever even consider Ron Paul as a candidate for anything, so I guess I am out of step with the posters here. That isn't really a surprise either.
ReplyDeleteThen again, NEVER would I use my blog, designed to discuss masonic issues, as a political platform, but that's just me I guess... and my grand lodge.
For some traditional reason, my grand lodge makes is a rule that no brother should associate freemasonry and politics, so I would never post on a masonic blog who I favor for any political office...
That's just me, I guess.
Theron:
ReplyDeleteNot that WS needs me to defend him, but his blog is HIS blog. It's not a lodge room, and it's certainly not chartered by his Grand Lodge. What he puts here is his opinion.
Further, as masons, we need to tolerate and respect differences among ourselves. I think, personally, that Bill Richardson is also an outstanding candidate, but that doesn't mean I think any less of WS for supporting Dr. Paul.
We aren't in a tyled lodge with the VSL open. I see no reason why this blog cannot have discourse about any subject among like minded people.
ReplyDeleteYears ago I had someone tell me that they would have liked to vote for Ross Perot but since he was a third party candidate he did not have a chance to win. This idea that voting 3rd party is a wasted vote is just dumb.
ReplyDeleteLuckily, at the moment Ron Paul is not a third party candidate. It is okay to vote for him in the Republican primaries.
I don't believe that Ron Paul will get the nomination from the Republican party. He will have to run under another party, the Libertarian Party has extended an invitation to him for Denver in May. Dr. Paul could also run as an independent.
For being a man that nobody supports he has definitely raised a lot money for his campaign. Perhaps he has more support that others are letting on? I wonder why anyone would try to ignore Dr. Paul in the race? Could it be his philosophy? What is wrong with liberty?
Brandt
As some of you know, I've been looking for an honest man for quite some time.
ReplyDeleteI'd never heard of Ron Paul until his name was mentioned in a "comment" here a few months ago, and with a degree of intellectual curiosity, I researched him and was astonished at what I learned. From all indications, he seems to be a man of honor and integrity, which is almost unbelievable for an American politician these days.
But who could he find for a running mate? My first choice would have been Ross Perot, but he's too old now. Back in 1992, when the mainstream media portrayed him as a "nut," he predicted that unless major changes were enacted, the US national debt would reach $8 trillion by 2007. In reality, his estimate was about $1 trillion short; the national debt is slightly over $9 trillion now, and is steadily increasing at a rate of about $1 million per minute (yes, that's $1,000,000 dollars per minute).
From my limited political knowledge, the best running mate I can think of for Ron Paul (a Republican) would be retired US army general, Wesley Clark (a Democrat). I think Clark is also an honest and honorable fellow, who genuinely wants to serve and improve his country. Wouldn't it be a "dream team" if a smart, honest Republican and a smart, honest Democrat ran together on the same ticket for the betterment of the country?
Unfortunately, they'd probably both be killed before either one of them had a chance to make a significant difference. The "powers that be" have spent their lives establishing today's status quo, and they certainly don't want anyone upsetting their apple cart.
-- Diogenes
We need to quit allowing the media to tell us what to think and start thinking for ourselves.
ReplyDeleteRon Paul is probably the only choice if want to see any real changes in Washington.
AWESOME POST! Thanks WS.
Paul seems interesting, I'll have to take a closer look.
ReplyDeleteBi Sheng
The way Theron reacted(instead of saying nothing at all, but having to explain why he won't comment, because he FEARS his GL, not repsects it, because as he knows, those rules apply to a tyled Lodge, as many intelligent brethren have pointed out already)in a way of showing how we do not promote freedom of thought.
ReplyDelete"I can not comment on politics because my GL has rules saying I am not allowed..."
Then say nothing and go on about your business!
I must agree, while I found it unusual that a blog on Freemasonry would include political endorsements and commentary, it is not a tyled lodge. WS has the right to exercise free speech—besides it’s his blog.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, I make it a point never to talk politics, or religion, in a Masonic Temple, during fellowship or when filling my pie-hole before or after lodge.
What surprises me though are some of the comments on this thread—where’s the brotherly love and affection?
Peace.
Hey, we want Masonry to be relevent don't we?
ReplyDeleteBrandt
The very first comment left on this thread does not seem to promote any freedom of thought, although I doubt it was left by a libertarian I have seen this type of emotional response come from purported libertarians before. To my mind, it is an error to suppose people are 'utterly stupid' for having an opinion different than yours.
ReplyDeleteI agree that, "This idea that voting 3rd party is a wasted vote is just dumb." I voted for Perot. Twice. The candidate or the party have ceased to matter. The ONLY thing that matters is that they are honest serve the interests of the citizens. Was Perot? We'll never know. Better to support a candidate you suppose will serve the country and improve things than vote for someone who you know probably won't. I'm still undecided, but leaning towards Ron Paul. I'm supposing the field is not yet closed and someone better might possibly come along.
I think Theron's statement is wise to remember. Politics can be had anywhere on the internet. Sometimes it is good to just enjoy fellowship. I assume that can be found on the internet too.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI'm a huge Ron Paul supporter as well. I've been on his mailing list for months and if I had two nickels in my pocket I would have donated to him.
ReplyDeleteI think the media is finally waking up and taking him serious.
Him may just have a chance.
Good post.
Cory
What?
ReplyDeleteThere's politics in American Masonry?
I'm SHOCKED!!!
Here in my state, politics and Masonry NEVER mix. Of course, our Grand Secretary and most famous Past Grand Master often says: "Masonry is ALL politics," but I'm sure he's mistaken, or is simply misunderstood.
As an example, consider "illustrious" brother Wilbur D. Mills, a 33rd degree Mason, who was Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee during the Nixon administration. At the age of 65, the senior congressman was forced to resign after a drunken and highly publicized affair with a married 38-year-old stripper named "Fanne Foxe." He was charged with un-Masonic conduct for that, and briefly kicked out of Masonry, but was quietly reinstated as soon as the publicity died down.
Oh, wait... maybe that doesn't help the point I was trying to make.
Never mind about that.... Consider instead the George Washington National Masonic Memorial, in Alexandria, Virginia. It's a beautiful temple replete with huge statues, murals, and stained glass windows depicting Washington, Jefferson, Hamilton, Adams, and numerous other Masonic politicians of bygone eras.
A few miles away, just a short walk from the White House, is the Scottish Rite's "House of the Temple." Inside is the "J. Edgar Hoover" memorial room, which houses Hoover's desk, and numerous other historical artifacts from his tenure as FBI director. Curiously, that's the only room in the temple where visitors are forbidden to take photographs.
Consider also that in 1988, when George H. W. Bush was sworn in as President of the United States, he took his oath of office on the same Masonic Bible that George Washington and several other Masonic presidents used for their oaths. Three brothers entrusted by their lodge as "keepers" of that book, traveled several hundred miles on a train with it, just to make it available for the occasion.
See? It's just like I said -- Masonry and American politics have never mixed!
Maybe I didn't make a very convincing argument, but that's what many Masons claim, so I'm sure it must be true.
-- Diogenes
ARE THE GLOBALISTS OUT TO GET RON PAUL?
ReplyDeleteby Alan Stang
December 24, 2007
NewsWithViews.com
Warning! As you know, I always give you my best jokes in these pieces. This one will contain no humor. Will the conspiracy for world government assassinate Dr. Paul? That is the stark question now before us. Since the Paul campaign started to take off, I have been hearing agonized comments to that effect from his supporters. So far, I have said nothing, hoping they would subside, but now comes an authentic reporter citing “reliable sources” from inside.
He is Daniel Estulin, an author who lives in Spain, and whose welcome, new exposé is The True Story of the Bilderberg Group (Walterville, OR, Trine Day, 2007). The Bilderbergers meet at least once a year. Somewhere in the world, they take over a five-star establishment, kick all the other guests out, surround the place with guards armed with machine guns and meet in secret, where they decide what will happen to you and your property, which you have not elected them to do.
Estulin apparently has a good record for accuracy. He says that sources in a think tank in U.S. intelligence tell him that people at the top of the U.S. government are considering the execution of Dr. Ron Paul, whose exploding popularity is causing them to fear they could lose control. Recently, he became the 18 Million Dollar Man, after people around the country raised more than $6 million for his campaign in one day, a gargantuan record.
Estulin told commentator Alex Jones: “I am getting information from my sources that there are people involved from a higher level of the American establishment who are seriously considering – this has not been confirmed – but assassination is definitely on the agenda and I pray to God that this is not the case.” Estulin says his source has been accurate for ten years, and says that if the “Ron Paul Revolution” continues to multiply, assassination could be a “serious option.”
Needless to say, the utterly genteel lunatics who operate at that height in Washington do not use words like “assassinate” or “execute.” Certainly, they would never breathe the word “kill,” a word that has hair on it. They talk about the possibility of “removing” Dr. Paul, who is perfectly aware that assassination is a favorite technique of the conspiracy for world government. “If you can’t lick ‘em, join ‘em,” becomes “If you can’t lick ‘em, kill ‘em,” in the lexicon of world government.
Andy Jackson opposed the National Bank and someone tried to shoot him in the Capitol Rotunda. President James Garfield talked too much about money backed by gold and was assassinated. Huey Long, the “Kingfish,” opposed serial killer Franklin Roosevelt. He too was assassinated. Arthur Bremer stepped out of a crowd with a handgun and crippled George Wallace. John Hinckley, Jr. stepped out of a crowd with a handgun and shot Ronald Reagan. Of course, these are just a few examples.
Later, we are told that most of the assassins are demented. Richard Lawrence, who tried to kill Andy, told interrogators he was Richard III. Hinckley said he tried to kill Reagan to win the love of actress Jodie Foster. No doubt Hinckley would have been disillusioned and maybe would not have done it had he known that Jodie Foster is a dyke. Often the perpetrators leave an incriminating diary behind.
In the Soviet Union (which regular readers know never did collapse) there are literal schools of assassination. They teach how to kill an enemy by running him down with a truck. Was that what happened to General Patton? They teach how to kill a man with cyanide. The killer walks past him with a rolled up newspaper under his arm. When they come abreast, he puts the newspaper to his lips like a funnel and blows cyanide crystals into the target’s face. The crystals do their job and dissipate. When the doctors examine the corpse, all they can determine is that he had a fatal heart attack.
Defenestration is another favorite technique. The target is simply thrown out a window, which in German is a “Fenster.” The Soviets did that in 1948 to Jan Masaryk, who stood in the way of their conquest of Czechoslovakia. That is what happened to Secretary of Defense James Forrestal who could have done much to stop the Reds. He “committed suicide” in 1949 by tying the sash of his robe around his neck and “jumping out” a 16th floor window of Bethesda Naval Hospital. Investigators found broken glass on his bed.
So it would be a very easy matter to assassinate Dr. No. His campaign threatens literally everything the conspiracy for world government is doing. Logic tells us that the conspirators will refuse to let one mild, avuncular doctor derail them when they are so close, which now becomes realistic to discuss. Ron loves to mix among his people. It would be very easy to inspire a nutbag who thinks he is Sitting Bull or Joan of Arc to step out of a crowd with a diary in one hand and a .38 in the other, and blow him away with his campaign.
Daniel Estulin says his sources tell him the “risk assessment” people at the top who are considering “removal” are asking each other, “What would happen if? . . . .” What would happen if Dr. No were “removed?” They are wise to ask. The fact that they are asking is an indication that they recognize something is different, something in the air. They are not sure what it is and it is making them nervous. I believe I can be helpful. I do know what would happen. There is something different.
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I am talking now to some of my readers, to those men at the highest levels of government in Washington who are discussing the ramifications of the murder of Dr. Paul. I am talking to their factotums who would arrange it. You have successfully killed many men with impunity. I have mentioned a few. You killed Jack Kennedy who cooperated but was not really one of you; you killed Mike King when his exposure destroyed his usefulness. You killed and got away with it. The people grumbled – some even suspected – but they bought your explanations, however farcical.
It was a “lone gunman,” a wack job disconnected from everyone else, a guy with a diary proving how crazy he is, a guy with a mother problem, who can’t find a girl. I once asked Sara Jane Moore, convicted of trying to assassinate Gerald Ford, whether she had acted alone or in concert with others. She replied, “I have never answered that question, and I never will.” Not “I acted alone,” but “I never will answer.”
No more – no more – no more! Yes, you could easily take out Dr. Ron, but by doing so you would irrevocably change the rules and make it a new game. It’s too late. Too many of us know who you are. Too many of us know what you want and that you have names, addresses, phone numbers and faces. And you can’t put the toothpaste back in the tube.
You have seen the passion of his supporters. You yourselves call them fanatics and wackos. They are volunteers; they quit their jobs, go broke and work for free. They hitch rides across the country, high-five each other and sleep on the floor. They are consumed. This is what they live for. Ron doesn’t tell them what to do. They tell him.
Losing in a fair fight would be bitter, but because of their beliefs – and Dr. No’s benign influence – they would go home in peace. Losing unfairly – because you kill the candidate, proving he could win – after such enormous effort would be intolerable; in other words, they would not tolerate it. I can assure you; they would not let it pass.
Who are they? Remember the patriot campaigns of old, run by little, old ladies from Pasadena in tennis shoes, accompanied by little, old men with no expertise? You used to make fun of them. David Rockefeller used to joke that they didn’t have $5 to attend their own meetings. That too is gone, finished.
Dr. No’s people are also doctors, lawyers, engineers, etc. They are the people who make this country go. They are computer nerds. Dr. No enjoys a monopoly on the nation’s nerds, because they know he is the only candidate who advocates real freedom, the only one who would keep the internet free. All the others would acquiesce in the conspiracy’s desire to control it.
The nerds can hack into anything. They have successfully hacked outfits like DOD. If they can get into DOD, they can get into anywhere. You can’t keep them out. They can take your identity and ruin your credit. They can create a lien on your property and a debt of $8 million to I.R.S. They can shut you down. If you whack Dr. Paul, they are going to be mad. You are terrified, as well you should be, about what they might do.
Even worse, Dr. No has enormous support in the military, certainly more support than any other Republican, even more support than Arizona traitor John McClunk. What does that tell you? Did you happen to know that the .50 caliber rifle has a range of more than a mile? Do you know how far that is? It’s far enough so that by the time you find out where it came from, the sorehead who did it has another name and identity supplied by the nerds and is dancing the tango in Buenos Aires.
Remember, I’m not the guy you need to worry about. I’m too decrepit to hit a face with a pie. The guy you need to worry about is out there now, watching, stewing. By now, he is legion. He knows you are coming for his guns. And he is for instance the deadliest creature who ever stalked the earth: the Marine Corps sniper. Gunny maybe a little heavier, and a tad slower, but he is still fast enough to stick the red dot in your eye on his way to Buenos Aires.
But Dr. Paul would never do such a thing! You’re right, a man so meek and humane, so truly Christian, would not. But remember that Dr. No is the champion of the Constitution, and the Founding Fathers said they gave us the Second Amendment in case we need it to overthrow the government. Indeed, President Tom Jefferson urged us to rise in a bloody revolution every twenty years or so, just for the fun – for the principle – of it.
Consider also that you can whack Dr. Paul, yes, but you can’t kill his ideas. His ideas would still be there and so would these people who chose him. They would choose someone else who would probably be meaner. If you hit Dr. Paul, you well-paid flunkies who implement the schemes of the psychos at the top will always need to be looking for the red dot, because to do your jobs you must be out among the people.
The Ron Paul fanatics could even decide you are implicated in the hit just because you work for the federal government, maybe for I.R.S. or the Fed. Yes, that’s crazy, but, remember, they’re fanatics! They’re wackos! When you see the red dot, you could have time to hear a distant tap, maybe two. Those faint sounds will solve your problems here, but tomorrow morning you will wake up in Hell.
Unlike your flunkies, you psychos at the top do not mix among the people. You are surrounded by security. You just pick up the phone and give orders. We know that. Thank God it is impossible for Gunny to reach you. The only thing you need to worry about is cocktails on your balcony or sailing off the coast, or meeting in some five-star joint surrounded by machine guns, or eating dinner in a restaurant, or getting into a car or getting out of a car. Other than that, you have nothing to fear.
Needless to say, I pray daily that none of this happens. It won’t for sure if Dr. No survives the campaign intact.
© 2007 - Alan Stang - All Rights Reserved
I found this long after the original discussion started, but it is interesting so I thought I would throw in my comments as well.
ReplyDeletePolitics and religion are not to be discussed in a tyled Lodge. However, you should hear the politics at meal time...religion some, but politics quite a bit (by the way, sports hardly ever - Thank God.) Lodge is the place to keep the separation.
This website is not a lodge, nor is it run by a lodge. It is a site for discussion run by a fellow mason, and I am personally happy that he is speaking up. Ron Paul's politics happen to be closely aligned with Masonic teaching. Ron Paul has a large number of Supporters in the fraternity, most especially the younger Masons. As a matter of fact I came out of Lodge one night, went around the corner to a Ron Paul meet-up and about half of the guys at that particular meet-up were interested in joining once they heard where I had been -the others didn't hear where I had been. One is now a fellowcraft, another is an MM, and a few others are still considering it and I believe at least two of them are going to go through. Politics of freedom and true Masonry are always closely aligned (for those who don't immediately realize it, this is all just my personal opinion on the matter, not that of any Grand Lodge.)