Ron Paul -- Bushwhacking McCain at the Convention

As a lifelong Libertarian I've followed Dr. Ron Paul's candidacy and I support his campaign. I had to change party affiliation to vote for him in my state's primary. Not a problem really, since I always vote the candidate and not the party.

But that brings up an interesting point: Is it because Ron Paul is a Republican candidate that he's been effective at all? I can't help thinking he would have had even less Main Stream Media (MSM) coverage as a Libertarian candidate. Yet he really is a Libertarian.

Can anyone here name the Libertarian presidential candidate? I love that Ron Paul's influence is within a major party, where he is somewhat more effective and cannot be completely ignored.

This is a valuable lesson for all future Libertarian candidates. Since we have been almost completely ineffectual in past campaigns, perhaps the paradigm must now shift to working within one of the two major parties. It may be time for a full-time Libertarian Caucus within the Republican Party.

And... Who's to say that there couldn't be a groundswell of disaffection "coming out of nowhere," and suddenly the MSM (along with McCain) finds itself "blindsided" by an actual FIGHT in the Republican convention between supporters of the status-quo and Ron Paul. If enough people got active between now and the convention, it could happen.

Naysayers will declare these ideas ridiculous and tantamount to "handing the election to Obama" or whatever, but the process is designed to allow this to happen if enough people act. Always act and VOTE YOUR PRINCIPLES, even if it seems hopeless.

It doesn't matter if our candidate has fewer "leadership qualities" than the charismatic opponent. We can wish all day long that Ron Paul was taller, that he didn't sound so whiny, that he wasn't treated so outrageously unfairly in the debates, etc., etc.

He is the one ethical candidate. He is the one supporter of Constitutional ideas, behavior and values. He is the only acceptable alternative.