Ron Paul Wins CPAC Straw Poll - Draws Boos

As an independent conservative, and one who has only followed the CPAC conference minimally, I was pleased over the announcement Ron Paul was the top vote getter in the CPAC straw poll field of eleven. However, I was puzzled by the boos erupting from the crowd.

After a few brief moments it hit me. Boos were coming from those entrenched in the Republican Party establishment. The power structure of the party that has held control of, and was responsible for many of the failings of the out of touch current Republican party hierarchy.

While it is unlikely the seventy four year old Ron Paul will be a serious contender for the 2012 Republican nomination, he represents real conservative and libertarian principals. Principals not unlike those that fueled the conservative movement during the sixties and seventies. A movement that included Bary Goldwater, William F. Buckley, and Ronald Reagan. Modern conservatives were at one time lead by principled men.

The thirty one percent  Paul received (Mitt Romney received twenty two percent) should be viewed by the Republican Party as the starting point around which to rebuild the party. Ron Paul should be considered a strong and principled voice worth listening to. His principled conservative and libertarian values can, and should be a strong part of any rebirth of a viable Republican party.

Frankly this writer believes this will not happen. The entrenched power base of the party, with its considerable money, and it's pandering to special interest influence, will stand in the way of any attempt to wrest power from them and effectively reform the party. So what's and independent conservative or libertarian minded individual  to do?

Now is a time in American politics, if ever there was one, to support a strong principled third party movement. In answer to the rhetorical question as to what to do, the answer is to educate ourselves on the issues, seek out independent candidates who we believe will represent our interests and support them, cast our vote not along party lines but based on whom will best serve the long term interests of our country. In short vote our conscience.

I realize I just put myself on the firing line as I came out in support of Scott Brown during the Massachusetts special election to fill the senate seat vacated by Ted Kennedy. I did so even though the libertarian Candidate more closely mirrored my independent conservative beliefs.

This decision was not an easy one. But the idea of Cloakly possibly gaining the seat was, in any conservatives mind unacceptable. In short the idea of  Cloakley possibly winning because votes went to a candidate that couldn't possibly win that election was reprehensible enough I chose to be the pragmatist. So, Radical Perspective fire away. Simply put my decision in this instance was one that was in the best interests our country.

But I digress. The critical issues of returning to sound fiscal management of our country, a viable and coherent foreign policy, a reasoned response to our critical domestic issues, regaining international respect from countries the world over, and reuniting Americas under the shared banners of liberty and self determination for all... should be the desire and goal of all American patriots.

It is the belief of the publisher and editor of Rational Nation USA to do so will require the disengagement from our current two party system and its power based stranglehold influence. It is imperative to our representative republic that a third, or even fourth principled party become ascendant.   We The People must begin embracing a true independent mindset whether that be liberal or conservative and act accordingly.

The survival of our nation and its founding principles require, in fact demand, nothing less. Standing on reasoned and rational principals must be the guiding force behind our differences. But perhaps more importantly they must become the guiding force behind our similarities as Americans.

Ron Paul and his brand of conservative libertarian leaning politics deserves to be seriously considered by both the left and the right and be given it's day in court. The Republican party (read entrenched power base) would do well to give Paul a front and center seat at the table when defining its political agenda and platform.