This elections most intriguing candidate is neither an African American, nor a woman, but Ron Paul, the Texas congressman who seemingly apposes most of America's current endeavors and wants to take us back to the simpler times. I can't help but feel like Mr. Paul is something like 100 years too late for that, or so his political stances seem to dictate, but either way his voting record rarely wavers and his name is rock solid.

Ron Paul fever is spreading, and is especially popular on the internet and on YouTube, as you can see in this short yet inspirational video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FG2PUZoukfA

As for his stances on the issues and institutions in our country. To NATO and the United Nations, Paul says get out. He doesn't want to meddle in foreign affairs, the war in Iraq? Forget about it. The war on terror? He really likes it. To the federal income tax, he says scrap it. Congressman Paul pledges to not raise taxes, in turn lowering government spending and closing many federal agencies. Paul also wonders why we have the Federal Reserve, Patriot Act, a war on drugs and gun control, loose em. Lastly, taking a page out of the book of state's rights, he wants the legality of abortion to be determined on a state by state level.

Speaking of abortion, Paul recently received the support of Jane Roe herself, who now opposes abortion and believes in the presidential hopeful, according to MSNBC:

"I support Ron Paul for president because we share the same goal, that of overturning Roe v. Wade. He has never wavered on the issue of being pro-life and has a voting record to prove it."
Full piece here: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/01/22/599487.aspx

While Paul hasn't exactly been a Republican frontrunner thus far he has been no slouch either, finishing in the top five of each of the Republican primaries, according to the BaltimoreSun.com.

His internet popularity has also provided a steady stream of campaign donations, according to the BaltimoreSun.com:

"It's not as much as his totals last Nov. 5 ($4.3 million) or Dec. 16 ($6 million), but Rep Ron Paul has managed to again squeeze the Internet for a boatload of campaign cash. Paul hauled in $1.85 million on Monday, besting a Tuesday NYC fundraiser by Sen. John McCain, which gathered about $1 million, and former Gov. Mike Huckabee's Sunday trip to Chuck Norris's ranch, which Campaign Manager Chip Saltsman says brought in about $330,000. (Norris' goal was $10 million.)"
Full article: http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/politics/blog/2008/01/ron_paul_hauls_it_in_again.html

It is impressive for a presidential hopeful that is behind in the race and takes a rather radical stance on some of our countries most important issues. If all of the candidates had an awards banquet once the campaign season is finished, Ron Paul would surely take home the award for most inspirational.

I believe there is hope for America, but is it Ron Paul?

*Note*
I'll plug the man's Web site for those that are thirsty for more: http://www.ronpaul2008.com/

The folks over at Talking Points Memo, http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/, had an interesting piece on Republican Presidential hopeful and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. Movie jokes involving his last name aside, their is nothing funny about the ring of automated Robo calls now associating themselves with the Huckabee campaign.

A non-profit group known as Common Sense Issues has been deploying the calls in favor of Huckabee and frankly the numbers are staggering, according to TPM:

"In addition to the approximately 850,000 calls in Iowa and 1 million in South Carolina, the group made 800,000 in New Hampshire, and already hundreds of thousands in Florida (he said it wasn't up to a million "yet"). They're on the phones currently in Michigan, he said, and have reached on the order of two million homes."

What can you expect if one of these robo's comes calling?

Apparently the voice will ask you which candidate you are supporting then proceed to make negative comments about that candidate and offer a slew of support for Mr. Huckabee. These robo callers make no bones about their support for the big Bee. According to TPM, one phone call lasted as long as 2 min. and 45 sec. so be prepared for a lot of Huck love.

Common Sense Issues cites "Personal Identification Artificial Intelligence" as the reason why these robo calls are not push polls, which simply spread negative information, thus attempting to maintain any legality.

I can't say I'm prepared to discuss any candidates qualifications with a robot voice caller, and although you have to love a name like Huckabee, these calls seemingly fall into a telemarketing category, something no one enjoys. Either way, contacting millions of people is no small feat, thus i would have to say an A for effort, only time will tell if that work was in vein.

Check out the TPM article here: http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/005057.php

Sen. John Edwards should have heeded the advice of fellow Democrat and former presidential hopeful Gov. Bill Richardson when he chose to attack a teary Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton over the qualities of "strength" and "resolve" in her bid for the white house. 

Reported the New York Times Political Blog:
"Mr. Richardson, dressed in a blazer and jeans and pledging to get back to the job of being governor, had one final plea: that everyone play nicely and “not resort to personal attacks.”

While those words could have been a little more useful had they come just a few days earlier, or had Sen. Edwards travelled back in time to actually eat his own words, then Gov. Richardson might have made a real difference in campaign '08.

Instead the New Mexico Governor will have to settle with a return to his post, having lacked the necessary funding and oh so important support to continue his bid for the presidency, with a fourth-place showing in New Hampshire all but sealing the deal.

Welcome to a blog that will center around the 2008 presidential race as posted by a college student very new to the blogging process. Hopefully you can enjoy a good read and we can all enjoy a race for the white house as entertaining as the time Millard Filmore failed to win a bid as head of the Know Nothing Party in 1856.