I have often wondered who Ron Paul would choose as a running mate. I got my answer from Phil Harris. Alan Keyes joined the race for the Republican nomination long after I stopped doing candidate endorsements, but when I looked at his positions I found someone who was ideologically very similar to Dr. Paul on most issues.
Dr. Keyes is light years behind Dr. Paul organizationally and financially, nor does he inspire the same fervor among his supporters, but he seems to bring a similar love and understanding of the Constitution. Another advantage would be that Dr. Keyes, being black, would quell the baseless fears of those who dislike the small financial support that Dr. Paul has received from members of some white-pride types of fringe groups. Dr. Paul would demonstrate that their prejudices are not connected to him.
I’m not saying that this would happen, only that I have finally seen someone who would seem like a good running mate for Dr. Paul.
That is a great idea! I’m surprised that I didn’t think of it first. I voted for Alan Keyes (including to write him in in the general election) for president when he last ran.
Perhaps this is why the establishment has seemed triply nervous of the Paul campaign (doubly because of his fundraising abilities and climbing poll numbers) as of late.
Paul and Keyes formidably together would make absolute imbeciles of the establishment and would be an excellent team to bring about changes in foreign (especially) and domestic policy that would restore us to our previous prosperity.
I guess step one is to get a nominee who believes the Constitution before it matters whether there is a running mate to match.
Think outside the box and please check out David Walker, Comptroller General of the United States, he is someone who is trying to get a vital message out to the public. With little success. He knows what is needed to get the country back on track when you look at the economy, and the problems that we face relating to the economy in the not so distant future.
You are right about two things Jeff, David Walker as a running mate is outside the box thinking and his message on fiscal policy is perfectly aligned with Ron Paul. I have written before about the wake up call that Walker is trying to give the nation on our financial outlook and fiscal policy.
The only drawback to looking at Walker is that I know nothing about any of his other positions to know if they would also fit in a Paul administration. At the very least Dr. Paul could put him in the Cabinet as Secretary of the Treasury or Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
Alan Keyes believes that we need to continue with our current foreign policy. He also believes that the government should mandate military service for all Americans for the first two years after high school, with no getting out of it if you are rich or poor or any other excuse. Alan Keyes also has a lot of baggage. I once was a strong supporter of Keyes, but Ron Paul cured that. If Ron showed any interest in Alan Keyes it would be the beginning of the end for his candidacy. Alan Keyes is a lot like Hickupee, in that they want to change the “moral fiber” of the nation by creating laws.
Thanks for that insight Mike. I knew that Keyes was very socially conservative, but I wonder how he can reconcile a solid understanding and love for the constitution with that codification of morality into law.