Ron Paul's World View

Back during the early days of the Republican primary season, I posted an analysis of Rep. Ron Paul's foreign policy agenda. Or, more precisely, his lack thereof. In short, my argument was that someone like Ron Paul is great at what they do while in Congress, but in substance and in practice couldn't seriously handle one of the most powerful executive offices in the world.

Presidents, like any executive, CEO or manager, are expected to act. You could argue that this is an inevitable result of bureaucracy, and with good reason. Nevertheless, Americans look to their presidents for a certain degree of clarity, for a platform and a plan.

Unlike any other elected office in the country, we judge this person nationally, and as a result expect motion, maneuvering and action. I saw very little foreign policy vision of value in the candidacy of Ron Paul.

It's obviously neither here nor there at this point, as Paul has now been repeatedly repudiated on the national stage, and represents only a marginal and minor viewpoint in the country. But it's with a certain sense of validation that I now, finally, get a deeper understanding of Paul's world view:

I don't know that this video proves Ron Paul to be a 9/11 conspiracy theorist. It does however prove that Ron Paul understands his constituency rather well; enough not to dismiss one random crank and her concerns about 9/11 "truth" while being videotaped.

Paul actually made points I agreed with both then and now about America's role in the world. But it's the company he gladly keeps that makes him the marginal figure he is, and this video only reaffirms what Republican voters thought of Paul back in 2007 and 2008.

The country - and the world - are better off for their sound judgment.

(h/t Hot Air)