** Ron Paul will never get the nomination for a variety of reasons.** He is too libertarian for most, even among right-wing Republicans. He also has always voted against the many billions we give every year to Israel. That is a no-no. Between the Israel lobby and the evangelicals, both of whom are totally committed to Israel no matter what, he wouldn’t have a chance. Ask Pat Buchanan. I’m surprised that he is still on TV, though I have noted that he no longer is critical of Israel. With him, it’s a bread and butter matter. I admire Ron Paul’s courage. A man of rare courage.
** Just to clarify, I am pro-Israel. But the Israeli government under Netanyahu is totally unreasonable, **constantly building more settlements on what little land is left for a Palestinian state. If the USA had been wiser, it would have forced a fair settlement years ago that would have created peace as well as a secure Israel. Instead, Israel and the USA foolishly gave impetus to Muslim terrorists who scoffed at US ‘fairness’ and ‘democracy’ while we continued to lavishly support the Israeli occupation. Both Pope John Paul II and Benedict XVI have said as much, though in light of Christian history it is not easy to do anything that can be misinterpreted as anti-Semitic. To have an even-handed policy in the Holy Land is not to be anti-Semitic. It would be an enormous favor for Israel in the long run. It’s comparable to ‘friends don’t let drunk friends drive’.
** As for the debate Saturday evening**, in my view Huntsman was the most reasonable. Huntsman won’t get the nomination, of course. All the rest, except Paul were as irresponsibly hawkish as you can get, which apparently appeals to the far right. Raised in a conservative family myself, I recall how my very Republican Dad thought that the USA should follow the advice of George Washington and keep out of wars that did not involve self-defense. How the GOP had changed! We can’t solve all the problems of the world and when we try we lose out - and even risk bankruptcy, Can you imagine another war, this time against Iran? There are powerful forces, some economic, some paranoid, others simply brain-washed, which want to alarm us into one. Didn’t we learn a lesson in Iraq?
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** 9/11 was an evil attack, true, and we had to respond against Al Qaeda and the Taliban,** but our misguided, twisted, biased policy in the Middle East had played into the hands of Isliamic crazies. The invasion of Iraq was a catastrophe. Saddam was evil, but he was despised by bin Laden as an infidel. We lost 4000 brave soldiers, thousands more returned home seriously injured, ten of thousands of innocent Iraqi civilians were killed, we spent probably $3 trillion when everything is added up, we increased the influence of Iran, we alienated allies, our invasion led to persecution of Christians more than half of whom have fled, most to Syria, we opened up Iraq to religious civil war plus greater al Qaeda influence - and we could go on and on. Americans were united after 9-11, but the invasion of Iraq succeeded in seriously dividing us. As you can see, it alienated me.
** The GOP candidate I would never vote for is Gingrich.** It’s fine to talk about burying the hatchet, but more recently he established - how much was it? - a $500,000 credit line at Tiffanys! And much of his staff quit. Sadly, he has a gift for gab and considerable knowledge which he exploits and misuses. If he were president I believe he would embarrass Catholicism. What kind of family values does he represent? Because of his record, by the way, I believe he would be solidly defeated by Obama. Once the skeletons were brought out of his closet he would become toast. He brings to mind the recently-resigned top dog in Italy.
** As for the candidates and their performance at the Wofford debate,** I would give Huntsman an A - with the most experience and what seems to be the most intelligent position on foreign policy. Romney, Perry, and Paul get a B. Cain and Santorum get a C, Gingrich and Bachmann get a D. Did I miss somebody? Hm! Like Perry I can’t remember!
**God bless America.** May our voters choose wisely.So much is at stake,