Iran, Ron Paul, and What's REALLY the Cause of the 'Crisis'.

By: Thaddeus S. Kaczor, Jr.


Much is being written about what is snarkily referred to in the media as Presidential Candidate Ron Paul's 'dangerous' foreign policy. Most are using the current 'bad actor' on the World stage, Iran, as their favorite sounding board to misrepresent, then knock down the 'Straw Man' creation that they unfairly allege represents Ron Paul's foreign policy. Most times, they fail to interview or even QUOTE Ron Paul or his campaign, then proceed to present a near-total fabrication as if even remotely resembled Ron Paul's ACTUAL Foreign Policy! We are told that 'Iran wants to attack the U.S. (and, of course, Israel), and closing the Strait of Hormuz is an 'Aggressive' and 'antagonizing' act of defiance (and of course, that Ron Paul would 'do nothing'). While the policies and tactics of the Iranian Regime are despicable in so many ways As are many of the regimes in the Middle East- many of them our 'close allies!), when you strip away the domestic American political rhetoric from this story, and examine it purely from a geopolitical, diplomatic and strategic viewpoint, an entirely different story emerges.


In most accounts of this situation in the American Mainstream Media, you consistently seem to only hear the standard political talking points about 'Iranian Aggression', most always calling it 'unprovoked'. But what they intentionally (or incompetently) always forget to mention is the most important geopolitical action that has precipitated this whole 'Strait of Hormuz' incident. This entire 'confrontation' in the Strait of Hormuz has been spurred primarily by one event: The European Union, backed by the United States, has threatened a 'Death Penalty' sanction on the Iranian Central Bank (as part of the Massive National Defense Authorization Act or NDAA) in response to it's Nuclear Program'. Even Conservative Republican sites like www.gopusa.com agree with Ron Paul's view on the nature of this crisis, and how dangerous it is for the US to engage in economic and military brinksmanship like this. By taking this serious economic action, the US and it's allies will effectively shut down Iran's ability to not only sell oil, but will effectively make it impossible for Iran to maintain ANY banking relationships on the world markets- precipitously collapsing the Iranian Economy, and forcing their hand militarily. Threatened with this economically unacceptable possibility, most informed observers find that Iran has responded in a predictable and wholly understandable (and economically balanced) manner to this overt (let's put it bluntly) act of Economic War. In essence, the Iranian Regime said that if The West cuts off their ability to sell oil, they will respond in like kind by shutting off the straits of Hormuz, so NO ONE can sell oil from the Gulf. SO this 'confrontation can actually be seen as a DEFENSIVE measure in response to the overtly aggressive economic threats made by the U.S. and it's European allies.

Strip away the emotionalist sabre-rattling and American Political manipulation of this story, and you can boil it down to cold-hard geopolitical and economic facts, backed by predictable diplomatic and military strategies and outcomes. Unfortunately, most in the press are pliantly following the Propaganda lead of the Establishment War-Monger/Profiteers and are using their fear-tactic talking points to demagogue this story in an unfairly manipulative and emotional way in order to further THEIR interests- which are at odds with the interests and safety of the American People, who oppose unnecessary and dangerous wars of aggression. Many Americans are listening to Ron Paul, who accurately points out that these Unconstitutional, undeclared wars and 'conflicts' benefit not the American People, but instead those like the manipulative Internationalist Banksters and the War-Profiteering Military/Industrial Complex.  These people and entities- and NOT the American People- are the ONLY ones who benefit from War, the Instability and distortion of markets and economies, and the pre-emptive use of force to insure that their interests are pre-eminent, if not moral or even lawful. 




In the coming days and months, Americans are being asked to answer one question: Are you going to believe the demagogues running for the GOP nomination who use emotion-heavy and fact-light arguments like 'they hate us because we're free' and other simplistic bumper-sticker Foreign Policy statements designed to inflame emotions and obscure or stifle rational debate? The ones who viciously and personally attack ONE other candidate by misrepresenting his ACTUAL policies and positions? Or are you going to LISTEN to Ron Paul, who looks at foreign policy as a STATESMAN, refuses to engage in personal attacks, but instead forcefully highlights policy differences and factual differences between himself and his GOP opponents, and (in the specific case of the 'Iranian' situation, as with all foreign policy decisions) would, coolly and rationally taking into account all the underlying facts and motivations of ALL the players, then making an assessment based on NOT not what's best to advance his own political future, but instead what's best for AMERICA'S future? 


Just make sure you make an INFORMED decision. Ron Paul ALWAYS does.

Media 'Acknowledge' Ron Paul IS a 'Contender'

By: Thaddeus S. Kaczor, Jr.


A story by Peter Wallsten in today's Washington Post comes with the headline: 'Ron Paul becoming serious contender in Republican presidential race' Shouldn't the headline read: 'Media and Party Elites FINALLY ACKNOWLEDGE that Ron Paul Is A Serious Contender'? The Washington Post and the rest of the media are  apparently finally catching up to what is happening outside of the media and political bubbles in NY and DC! The grass roots support has ALWAYS been there for Ron Paul, but the media and the Party Bosses have been suppressing this information, along with any mention of Dr. Paul himself. Through selectively worded and carefully sampled polls (many of which are STILL being foisted on the public as 'scientific'- though their accuracy and methodology is dubious at best), Ron Paul's ACTUAL support among the American electorate has been minimized and disregarded- even to the point where, when he breaks through even the most biased polls, the media either simply omits him, or else ignores it's OWN data- instead perplexingly talking about those finishing just above and even BELOW him! 
 
Since it has now become impossible to ignore Ron Paul and his obviously growing support, and the tactic of dismissing him and his supporters through condescendingly snarky reporting has backfired, the media and GOP knives have been sharpened, and the REAL attacks have begun. Phony racist charges from 20+ years ago that have been thoroughly and publicly disproven and debunked time and time again seem to be the only 'dirt' that the yellow journalist mafia can dig up about the good Doctor. But that isn't stopping them from attacking, as many articles making outrageously unprovable or easily disproven charges are now floating around in the media like scum rising to the top of a fetid pond.  
 
Unfortunately for Ron Paul's detractors, since there isn't any REAL evidence, and since the public's regard of the Media's integrity hovers somewhere between Congress' and Serial Killers', the false charges and accusations are actually ADDING to Ron Paul's strength, as most people who are undecided read or see these scurrilous accusations and say: 'If the media and the Party Establishment hate this guy THAT much, I need to find out more about him!'. That inevitably leads to a sort of revelation of the fact that most of the media is either clueless about, incorrect on, or  shamelessly actively working against Ron Paul. 
 
Ron Paul is doing all Americans a great service, whether they like him or Hate him, as his campaign has exposed (and continues to expose) the hypocrites, liars, sell-outs and the clueless in both the media and in the Political Arena. Among those who are not actually consciously attacking him, it seems that many are truly confused and bewildered by Ron Paul. Maybe they don't know how to respond to a public figure that; tells the truth, even when people don't want to hear it; is consistent on (and actually HAS) his principles, and remains so after 30 years in public life; doesn't seek power for power's sake- even to the point of campaigning to DIMINISH the power of the Presidency and the Federal Government in general; and (most importantly) actually UNDERSTANDS the vital issues of our time, being able to expound at length on ANY subject without benefit of a teleprompter; talking points, 'handlers' or safety net of 'crisis managers'. 
 
Ron Paul is every bureaucrat's nightmare, and every crony capitalist's nemesis, as he threatens to derail the twin Social Welfare/Corporate Warfare-Welfare Machine that has been draining the life out of the American economy for so long.  Alone among all the Presidential contenders, the is proposing ACTUAL budget cuts- not merely the sleight of hand 'cuts' that only reduce the rate of growth, and in many cases don't take place until 5, 10 or more years into the future (in the altered reality of Washington that = NEVER!). Ron Paul, alone among the contenders proposes REAL regulatory reform, and not the phony reform that allows lobbying mega-corporations to 'buy up' regulations (and regulators!) in order to squeeze consumers and the American taxpayers even tighter. Finally, Ron Paul threatens the Military  Industrial Complex, who, through a combination of scare tactics, a rigged contract bidding system and crony capitalist lobbying, maintain a 'perpetual warfare' state against a vague and ever-shifting enemy. This profitable swindle has enriched the coffers of the very few, while actually weakening America's REAL defense by expending Blood and Treasure abroad in never-ending and wasteful adventurist follies.


What the Crony Capitalists, and their proxies in both wings of the Washington MONEY party (along with their surrogates in the media) are most afraid of the American people seeing clearly for the first time how big business, hand in hand with big government, are raping our rights and freedoms, looting our economy, and turning most Americans into virtual wage-slaves, unable to achieve the American Dream when they are shackled to strategy of mere subsistence.


Ron Paul represents REAL change- and that SCARES those who profit from the corrupt status quo!

Michelle Bachmann- Muslim Hater or Political Opportunist?

By Thaddeus S. Kaczor, Jr.

On 'The Tonight Show with Jay Leno'on Friday night, Presidential Candidate Ron Paul was asked his opinion on each of his GOP opponents. He said Mitt Romney was 'a nice guy', Newt Gingrich 'should  run for Speaker of the House', and that John Huntsman was 'a good diplomat' and 'a thoughtful person'. But many people are talking about his opinion that Michelle Bachmann 'doesn't like Muslims, she hates Muslims'.

Maybe Michelle Bachmann doesn't 'Hate Muslims', or maybe she does. But the real question is: do people like her,  Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum (among many others) in reality LOVE to STIR UP hatred TOWARDS Muslims. These are the same people that decry President Obama for stirring up 'Class Warfare' for political purposes, yet they stir up hatred of Muslims for their OWN political purposes! What did Ron Paul call that? Oh yeah... Serial Hypocrisy. Here in America today we now hear the loud beating of the same tone-deaf tin-drum of war that the Neo-Con and Liberal Progressives LOVE to bang on, as it  deflects blame and attention from the lousy job they are BOTH doing, as well as helping them to consolidate power by taking away our Liberties (and our MONEY!) allowing Big Government to ' keep us safe' from those evil ______ (Insert Target Group Here).

This is an old (but effective!) Propaganda tactic that always works well with that group of people in a society who can't or won't use their OWN critical thinking skills, and abrogate that responsibility to the pundits, the party or their favorite spewer of propaganda on Radio or TV. This tactic relies on the emotionalism of those hearing the hateful message, and the resulting suspension of debate, as ANYONE who disagrees with them MUST, of course, hate America, apple pie and Chevrolet! It is truly astonishing (and more than a little bit frightening) to see otherwise rational people automatically go into mental DEFCON 4 whenever anyone merely questions any aspect of their fragile world view. It used to be that we Americans welcomed open debate as a healthy sign of our democratic Republic. Apparently, we aren't so 'democratic' anymore, and that means we are in danger of LOSING our Republic to those who put power, money an demogoguery ahead of our basic Constitutional Rights and Liberties.

Ron Paul's Strength in the 'Youth' Vote... And the Middle-Aged, and the Senior...

By Thaddeus S. Kaczor, Jr.


Sarah Palermo of the scripps-Howard News Service writes in her latest column in The Republic , dismissing the Youthful Enthusiasm of young Ron Paul supporters, that "Young voters tend not to pay very much attention," to politics, until "they get that first steady job, they get married, have kids, have a house."

They ARE paying attention, Mr. Smith. Just like middle-aged and older voters. They can't FIND that 'steady job', or are working at one well below their qualifications. They are worried about getting married- or BEING married- because they don't know if they can raise a family, even on two incomes. They may not be able to afford a house, or might be in danger of LOSING their house (or already lost it) due to the above reasons.

Too many pundits are reading the electorate by the old paradigms- Party Loyalty, affiliation with groups like age, race, ethnicity or income. But the 2010 election was just the beginning of a huge paradigm shift in American politics. Most people are NOT swayed by that 'influential talking head or news network. Most people won't vote for someone merely because of their party (many in fact will vote AGAINST them!). Even the older voter no longer will vote for someone because they 'trust him to protect Social Security'.

There is more information floating around than just the TV News and Newspapers. The electorate is more informed than at any time in our history, and they are downright ANGRY at what they have learned! Pundits and Party Elites are still trying to put voters in their 20th-Century 'boxes' and spoon-feed them the same old horse manure that 'always works'. What they still fail to realize is that, while you may preach to the choir successfully, whole sections of that choir have bolted and are deciding to sing solo. The American electorate is now leaving the old Two-Party (or One-And-One-Half Party) behind. They are coming more and more to realize that while the rhetoric from both wings of the ruling MONEY Party may SOUND different, the end results out of Washington are still the same wasteful, corrupt and managed Big-Government that has driven this country into literal bankruptcy.

Ron Paul is confounding traditional pundits and the party elites by saying what he believes instead of what he THINKS people want to hear. They are realizing he was the only 'voice in the wilderness' who actually warned us of our current catastrophe YEARS ago. They also are waking up to the fact that Ron Paul's most vociferous critics are the same people who called him 'a 'kook',  'fringe' and other demeaning names when he was ACCURATELY predicting the coming American Financial Meltdown.

Ron Paul is the ONLY candidate not afraid to speak unpopular truths- no matter the audience. Perhaps his many years experience as a practicing Physician trained him in telling people the hard truths they needed to hear, and in prescribing the harsh medicine they needed to endure in order to restore their health. Dr. Paul is now writing the prescription to save America from financial, social and societal catastrophe. While many wish to cover their ears and shout 'crazy' while he gives them their needed prescription, more are heeding the call to take the harsh medicine for America that the Good Doctor is prescribing. Many are also waking up to the fact that the alternative economic medicine being prescribed by the Snake-Oil salesman who oppose him is actually just more of the same bad medicine that got us deeper and deeper into the mess we now find ourselves in.

Don't take my word for it- do your own research. Look at ALL the candidates and their proposals. Match them up against their rhetoric and their record. I think you may just end up where I am at- not liking what Dr. Paul is prescribing, but realizing it's for the good of America's very survival.

Listen to the Good Doctor. Ron Paul 2012

Don't Go Down the Chute at the Charnel House!

By Thaddeus S. Kaczor, Jr.

I post, comment and generally spout off on a LOT of message boards and news sites- from international Media Conglomerates all the way down to the Little Blogs That Could. In my travels around cyberspace, I see a lot of anti-intellectual arguments about Ron Paul, such as "OMG, the Paulites are out tonight", "what a Paultard" and on and on ad-nauseum. Many posters (and even journalists) then proceeded to 'add nothing to the debate' with dismissive (and inaccurate) comments about things like the ridiculously inaccurate "Ron Paul's an isolationist" neo-con talking point, or just plain rude and sophomoric name-calling. This is (unfortunately) typical of much of what Ron Paul and his supporters are up against. Even if you wikipedia the vast difference between 'isolationism' and 'non-interventionism' (apparently many MUST get their info from there!), it's easy to dissemble that argument, and quite frankly, most of the simplistic and fallacious arguments against Dr. Paul.

Meanwhile, Ron Paul's supporters (most of them) soldier on through the ad-hominem attacks, the glittering generalities, the straw man attacks and all the other dishonest propaganda tactics, and continue to ask the hard questions in a reasonable manner. They also persist in deflecting and destroying the jingoistic bumper-sticker neo-con big government talking points thrown at them that are the only intellectual (!) ammunition many opponents seem to have against Dr. Paul.

Denigrating a candidate or his supporters in a simplistic and non-productive way is not 'debate'. It is propaganda. But it IS effective in deflecting the debate away from the issue being argued, and causing the attackee to either defend himself, or go back at the attacker in a similar manner. This is EXACTLY the purpose of such attacks- just ask Saul Alinsky! We, as supporters of Ron Paul and even more importantly, advocates of the principles that he espouses, must resist the temptation to respond in like fashion to the puerile attacks that we continually endure.

Instead, we need to continue the REAL debate and wake people up to how they are being robbed, jobbed and lobbed into the flaming pit of economic serfdom! We need to keep alive debate about the REAL issues facing America; the horrible cost in both lives and economically of the 5 (at least)  wars; the downward spiral that crony capitalism and corruption in D.C. have put this country into both economically and socially; the deleterious effects of the 'War On Terror' and War On Drugs'- whose only REAL effects seem to be the enrichment of those well-connected to the government (crony capitalism) and the massive consolidation of government power at the expense of the wealth, welfare and Civil Liberties of the vast majority of Americans; the phony and destructive 'efforts' of Congress and the President to negotiate a budget (none for three years now!) and the even more ridiculous Kabuki Dance about 'cutting' the budget that doesn't even use real or real-time numbers- let alone accomplish anything within the realm of reality!

Now, they may call us 'Paultard' or say how 'loony' these ideas are.... I welcome such attacks! They only serve to prove the points I have outlined above, and to put lie to the empty arguments being used against the fight for Liberty. When we respond in a rational and calm manner (yet still forceful and determined), we begin to win the argument by staking out the moral and intellectual high ground, and refusing to climb in the quicksand pit of emotional propaganda.

We need to wake up America- or else we will ALL continue to be led like political sheeple down the chute at the Government Charnel House.

CBS News owes the candidates on it's Debate stage, as well as it's viewing audience an apology.

By Thaddeus S. Kaczor, Jr.

What Follows is the text of my formal complaint to CBS News over the farcical and blatantly biased 'debate' the network hosted on November 12, 2011. I suggest anyone who was as shocked, disappointed and disgusted with the outrageous and shameless promotion of 'certain' candidates, and the obvious exclusion and dismissal of others will follow the link above to register your own complaint.

I am very disappointed with the format and execution of your GOP 'Debate' this evening. The distribution and time given to each candidate was so grossly disproportionate as to go beyond mere bias into the area of 'advocacy journalism'. Edward R. Murrow is spinning in his grave to see such a sham being peddled as a debate! All you have to do is look at the distribution of questions and time allotted to each candidate to see how unfair and ridiculously biased this affair was.


Contrasting this fiasco with the recent CNBC debate on the economy is a study in extremes. CNBC was EXTREMELY fair to each candidate, allowing EACH candidate to respond to EACH topic, and using follow-up questions to elucidate and expand on their answers. By comparison, the debate on CBS obviously and purposefully AVOIDED asking certain candidates ANY questions on MOST topics. Furthermore, follow-up questions were ONLY directed at Romney, Gingrich and (occasionally) Perry and Cain, and most times were mere restatements which allowed the candidates to add nothing to their previous answers.


CBS News owes the candidates on stage who were denied a fair chance to respond to the questions given to the 'chosen few' candidates, as well as it's viewing audience an apology. We were all expecting an actual 'debate', when in reality what was aired was essentially a joint press-conference for Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich. If no apology is proffered, or worse, justification for what is essentially an indefensible presentation is instead served, then greater damage to the reputation of the once 'Tiffany Network' and it's tarnished 'Crown Jewel' of a News Department will be done than has already been suffered by the mere presentation of this debacle of a debate.


I sincerely hope that you are able to look beyond the prospects of future political advertising and favors from those candidates who were 'promoted' by CBS through this program, and see the damage CBS has done to the American political system through it's attempt to unduly influence an election by showing blatant bias towards certain candidates, and against others.