Ron Paul Ad (New) – Rick Santorum: A Record of Betrayal

I’ve been waiting for the Paul camp to really go after Santorum, and it’s finally happened via this very effective and truthful ad.

 

Jon Huntsman’s Values : Supporter Ad or Hit Piece?

A newly released ad by a Ron Paul ‘supporter’ is garnering much negative attention.

The video shows Jon Huntsman speaking Chinese, dressed up as Mao, and a host of other negative and illogical things.

The uploader of the video is ‘NHLiberty4Paul,’ but I truly do question whether or not they are actually a Paul supporter. The video was uploaded on January 4th and has 29 likes to 1,090 despite a flood of Paul supporters demanding it be taken down in the comment section. Campaign Chairman Jesse Benton has also come out and stated, “The video is disgusting. Whoever put it up should remove it immediately.” However, the video still remains up.

I have serious doubts this video is the work of a Ron Paul supporter. Why would they leave it up despite such a negative reaction? Why is the actual video so illogical and racially charged? Why is it this person has only uploaded this one video? Why ignore Paul’s camp when they asked for this video to be taken down? What exactly would the purpose of the video if it is actually the work of a Ron Paul supporter? The video was quickly linked to Huntsman’s webpage, and within a few hours had Huntsman’s daughters talking about it throughout the media.

I would find it very believable and likely this act is intended to smear Paul and shed a bad light on his supporters (whom are often mocked and labelled as ‘Paulbots’ on social media). This video also has a high probability of being the direct work of Jon Huntsman’s camp.

There remain questions concerning this video, and I will update if I come across anything.

Update: the video has been uploaded again. This time on the account ‘NH4Santorum.’ This, imo, makes it even more clear this isn’t the work of a Paul supporter. The link for the channel is ‘http://www.youtube.com/user/NH4Santorum‘.

Another profile has uploaded the video, this time under a Mitt Romney username.
http://www.youtube.com/user/NH4MittRomney
This event has become an obvious fraud.

 

Ron Paul Surging In New Hampshire

The New Hampshire primary is fast approaching – its on the 10th – and Ron Paul is experiencing positive news; his campaign is surging in New Hampshire, at least according to a Washington Times/JZ Analytics Poll taken on Wednesday. While Romney sits quite comfortably ahead, polling at 38%, Paul holds 24% to Santorum’s 11 and Gingrich’s 9.

Campaign Chairman Jesse Benton had this to say:
“On the heels of his close third place finish at the Iowa Caucus, Ron Paul is polling a strong second place in New Hampshire. From here on out, it is a two-man race between Ron Paul and Mitt Romney given that one of the tickets out of Iowa was a dead-end due to Rick Santorum’s glaring lack of viability,”

Personally, I expect a Romney win, a Paul second, and Santorum third. I expect Santorum’s campaign will begin to really lose its steam – his issues will now be brought to light and he’ll experience harsh criticisms for the first time – but I’m not sure if this drop will happen before or after New Hampshire. Santorum’s numbers have risen in New Hampshire, but I expected them to be slightly higher after his performance in Iowa. In fact, when I looked at the Washington Time’s article I was quite suprised Santorum was sitting only at 11.

One thing is certain though; a two man race between Romney and Paul is likely in the makings, and I wonder what would result. The candidates are staring into the face of of a GOP electorate that is continuing to catapult candidate after candidate to top tier status and is wary of Romney.

The following image shows the full results:

More can be read at:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jan/5/santorum-gets-big-bounce-new-hampshire/?page=all#pagebreak

 

Ron Paul Finishing in Third Place

I was hoping for atleast a second place finish, but had some hope for a first place performance. I didn’t pay attention for a few days and then ‘bam’ Santorum. With Mitt sitting comfortably as he has the entire primary process and Paul conducting his usual grassroots, as I was watching on CNN, suddenly Santorum was boasting huge numbers, and I realized what missing a few days can do.

Not to jab Santorum’s campaign – he had little money but traveled lots – but one cannot discount the hype unleashed by the media. For a long time it was a two man race between Paul and Romney, so it wasn’t surprising for a third to be ‘placed’ in.

Santorum boasts a record of voting for the debt ceiling numerous times and being a heavy supporter of earmarks. His foreign policy is quite harsh, with Iran in his sights, and he is VERY socially conservative. When guests on the show were being asked why they supported him, they started rambling about family values and not being able to say much else.

Why do I wish Paul had won? Paul is the most fiscal conservative of the group. He realizes that not only the state is in over 15 trillion of debt, but that this money is owed by the citizens of America. He is much more socially liberal than his other rivals also. He doesn’t believe in a constitutional ban on gay marriage and is against the war on drugs. Other topics that are more socially liberal are not government by Paul’s personal beliefs. He believes in strict adherence to the constitution and liberty, and has no desire to dictate and control the lives of Americans with big government. It is costly, and along with the war on drugs, foreign aid, foreign wars, the military budget, the American empire, the nation will only be brought deeper.

He has stood against the Patriot Act and the TSA, and recognized the dangers of the newly passed NDAA, singed by Obama after he claimed he would veto.

Hope isn’t lost yet though. I wouldn’t be surprised in the least if Santorum surges stops and he begins dropping and the other candidates stay low or begin slowly dropping out expect for Huntsman (has campaigned a lot in NH). Paul maintained 20% while experiencing a harsh period of hazing and questioning over racist newsletters. However, this event struck a huge blow as I and many supporters were hoping for atleast a second place finish. New Hampshire will be interesting, and I’m curious to see how Paul campaigns and what ads get released and whom their aimed at (Santorums first potential moment to be in the crosshairs).

Some videos of the man who should have won:

 

Armed Chinese Troops In Texas

Although I support Ron Paul in the coming up American elections, I decided to post this message primarily due to the point it gets across; Americans would not accept the treatment their state has been providing towards other nations.

 

Ron Paul’s New TV Ad – Conviction

With the Republican field appearing weak and Paul recently being in second place in fundraising it has become clear he no longer is a fringe candidate. With this comes an important responsibility; marketing oneself to the electorate.

This ad delivers. A strong message as well as effective political marketing are present. Was very surprised at the quality of this piece!

 

The youth’s lack of political thought

A negative trend has stuck its face at me; the younger generation [Canada, other nations if relatable] lacks opportunity to learn political thought, and thus many remain ignorant.

Yes, we had the measly course of social studies when we were young, and yes we took a half credit course in civics, but we did not discuss our framework’s key issues, other ideologies and political philosophies, and the changes that should be worked for, such as the ever increasing inability for individualism to live comfortably off a job. In the 70s many individuals working common sectors were able to live comfortably unlike in this day and age.

Studies in school is so based upon that of business and the sciences. They are seen as either good money makers or prestigious areas to go into. Thus, few study politics. The problem? We are social beings, and our societies are so advanced; not understanding how they work results in little dissent, a lack of change, and a population often blinded by its partisan values. People seem to not view these issues as structural, and rather latch their political crushes on parties that have continuously failed us.

This brings me to the question; how much does the older generation know, and will our future generation remain ignorant? For example, the American society is riddled with so many issues, but they are often blamed, by both Americans and Canadians, on individuals or groups as opposed to our system:
-the war on terror (military-industrial complex and imperialism not Obama vs. Bush)
-deficit (careless spending and a slip to fascism, not Democrats vs. republicans)
-economic inequality (you get it by now)

Boy, a few courses in political and economic ideology could have worked wonders.

 

Voting Changes Perpection : Flawed Canadian Electoral System

A month ago on this day the 2011 Canadian Federal Election took place. It was the first election where I was eligible to vote. With me being enthralled by politics I couldn’t sit by and not vote my first potential time, so I headed off to the ballot box with a new feeling; a sense of involvement in Canada’s electoral process.

Not being a supporter of Harper left me with two choices I considered; voting NDP or liberal. I cast my vote for liberal, perceiving they would be the major opposition to Harper in my riding, and went back home to watch the results unravel.

The results started flashing on the board; conservatives were leading, as expected, with the NDP sitting close behind. I became hopeful; a Harper minority and NDP opposition? Hell yeah. However, this hope quickly lost its passion; while the NDP became the official opposition Harper gained a majority government.

As a child I watched the seats go up and down on the tracker as the results were being returned and waited to hear the final news. However, by voting for the first time I was more focused on the process, and scrutinized much more.

What I discovered was a broken electoral system; Harper attained 40% of the common vote, but was provided with a majority government. This is due to our representative democracy; we elect individuals in our own riding whom we have never met, will most likely never meet, and who we cannot ever fully trust. The general votes do not count; it is the particular riding’s attained by parties that matters . The party that gains the most ridings wins the election. In this case, Harper attained more than half of the ridings which resulted in a Conservative Majority Government.

An issue with democracy is that it is vulnerable to control by the majority, whom may be incorrect and flawed in their thinking. This election not only lived up to this ideal, but went passed it; a minority became the leaders of a nation.

The day of the election I wrote this on my facebook wall, and I still stand by it:

Sucks too that despite being so against the outcome you are forced to accept it, and the changes that come. It was nice going into vote, feeling like I have some say in Canadian politics, but this was so far from the truth. An effective minority should have been what we all wanted; individuals not stepping out of their power and forced to cooperate. That minority obviously never materialized.  we can do no more than blame our system which breeds rivalry and competition over working in the interest of Canada. Really sad knowing S-10 will pass in 100 days, and that a lifestyle I have chosen will now be subject to even harsher penalties, which could result in me seeing jail time. Feels like my vocal cords have been chopped in half.

 

Busted Knuckle, Unsatisfaction, and Universal Health Care

Well, I did something not too rational in either December or January; I was enraged with the stupidity I was surrounded by at University and decided it would be a good idea to take a walk and let lose some testosterone by punching various hard surfaces throughout the university residence. The adrenaline coursing through my body was so high that I didn’t notice the pain. However, when I stopped I knew my pinky knuckle on my left hand was not going to be okay come morning.

Little did I know that six months later the pain and discomfort experienced would remain the same as earlier months, and that a doctor’s appointment I had been putting off for months would leave me enraged.

I arrived at the doctors at 4:10 for my 4:20 appointment, but had to wait until 5:30 to be checked up; only double the normal wait times I’ve experienced my entire life. I got checked out, had my scan, and discovered the news; nothing was broken, the joint was injured, and I could expect to heal within perhaps three weeks. What he forgot was that it had already been “healing” for six months and that the incident had occurred in the winter months.

I quickly realized this mistake, and pointed it out. What did I get? A look of confusion. Then, an explanation; my tendon was most likely injured. Silence.

“How long will it take to heal doc? A year?”

He smiled, and gave an inconclusive answer I do not remember that essentially put my healing time in a bracket of three weeks to over a year. I walked out, but questions quickly came pouring into my head; how will I know the progress? Isn’t leaving it unprotected not helping, considering three out of seven nights I wake up and experience a throbbing pain in my left hand knuckle due to sleeping on it? If my knuckle has healed so little in six months (almost feels like it is worse some days) why will it heal at such an exponentially higher rate in the next six months?

I should have asked these questions, but hearing the holy words of the man with the PhD clearly turned my brain into ignorant fodder for a minute or two.

This is not new. Long wait times, terrible diagnoses; I have experienced it all in Canadians highly “esteemed” Universal Health Care system. Perhaps I am being too rash, but I have heard so much of the same, and my experience ever since I was a child has not changed; instead of playing with toys and waiting for far too long, I now sit in the chair and curse the service I am always being provided.

 

Hip Hop, Capitalism, and Change

Hip-Hop began as a respectable movement, but has succumbed into being one of the most sold out and badly misrepresented genres of music. Hip-Hop began as a movement not only to produce heartfelt music, but was meant to be a stand against the corrupt system of society its early MCs grew up in.

New York, the home of hip-hop, was home to terrible slums, gang violence, and a strong feel of hopelessness; this was projected through the music. Many early MCs rapped from their hearts, which incidentally was filled with a brutal depiction of life living in the ghetto. Spitting real/skilled lyrics was a key property for MC survival. Beefs in this era were not meant solely to gain publicity, but had the purpose of “killing” an MCs career through proving their lack of skill, as seen in the beef between KRS-One and Boogey Down Productions.

It is quite obvious this past of hip-hop no longer remains in existence. Unfortunately, hip-hop gained great amounts of exposure, and it was inevitable its market would fall into the hands of capitalists caring about surplus and capital rather than keeping real hip-hop and the movement alive. Being a strong lyricist, having a good flow; these things were no longer required to “go big.” Now, one needed a stronger delivery and a beat able to mesmerize the ignorant masses.

Thus, it becomes quite clear that while hip-hop began as a positive movement fighting what was not right its heavyweights in terms of exposure would soon become a part of this very corrupt system. The label issue with Lupe Fiasco’s most recent album illuminates this; he was not able to put out the album he wanted, and it become the record label rather than the artist deciding the final product.

The future of hip-hop has many questions for me. While there are certain newer MCs I quite like – J. Cole, Big K.R.I.T., Freddie Gibbs – I think little will change, and whatever is best at the time for profit will prevail. MCs have always discussed smoking marijuana, but now it has become a strong selling suit for and is a market (Kid Cudi, Wiz Khalifa, Mac Miller). It is things like this that make me fear for the future of my beloved hip-hop, and wish for a return to its past golden age.