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Title: Ron Paul: Trump may be vulnerable to 2020 GOP primary challenge
Source:
Washington Examiner
URL Source: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/r ... mary-challenge/article/2644395
Published: Dec 26, 2017
Author: Steven Nelson
Post Date: 2017-12-26 21:45:25 by Gatlin
Keywords: None
Views: 3854
Comments: 38
Former Texas Rep. Ron Paul says a yearlong economic boom under President Trump is “a bit of an illusion” and that debt, inflation, and inequality could cause turmoil that benefits a “hardcore nucleus” of libertarians. The libertarian Republican leader told the Washington Examiner that Trump could face a strong challenger in the 2020 GOP primary, especially if “things are really much worse." “The big opening for us is the fact that this system is coming apart. We’re on the verge of something like what happened in ‘89 when the Soviet system just collapsed,” he said. “I’m just hoping our system comes apart as gracefully as the Soviet system.” Paul doesn’t believe the U.S. will break into separate countries, but instead expects a rethink of monetary policy and an end to what he considers a U.S. “empire” overseas. “We have ownership of these countries, but it’s not quite like the Soviets did,” he said. “I think our stature in the world and our empire will end, and that’s when, hopefully, the doors will be open and [people will] say, ‘Hey, maybe these libertarians have some answers to this.’” Paul said “the country’s feeling a lot better, but it’s all on borrowed money” and that “the whole system’s an illusion” built on corporate, personal, and governmental debt. “It’s a bubble economy in many many different ways and it’s going to come unglued,” he said. The former congressman for years has presented issues in stark terms, refreshingly so for supporters and with an alarmist edge in the eyes of detractors. Paul rose to prominence with 2008 and 2012 GOP presidential bids, running on an anti-war, pro-civil liberties message. When his son, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., appeared well positioned for a 2016 presidential run, news outlets declared the country was experiencing a “libertarian moment.” “The appearance of the libertarian movement has been set back partially because of Trump, but intellectually we’ve been doing well,” Paul said, describing a large "hardcore nucleus" of conference-attending enthusiasts. Although broadly critical of Trump, Paul likes the president's talk about removing government regulations and implementing tax cuts. “Trump’s being a good cheerleader. He’s a cheerleader for Wall Street, and I keep my fingers crossed, maybe lowering some of the taxes will help, certainly lowering the regulations. But I think the problems are so deep and structural,” he said. Paul said he's disappointed with Trump's foreign policy, especially his approach toward North Korea and his support for Saudi Arabia's military role in Yemen. “I think the foreign policy is a total disaster. Trump’s approach sounds good one day but the next day he’s antagonizing everyone in the world and thinks we should start a war here and there," he said. Domestically, Paul views Attorney General Jeff Sessions as a threat to civil liberties and said he would be “delighted” if Trump fired him, though he’s not hopeful the replacement would be better. The former congressman said he continues to view the U.S. as being on a path to fascism — on a long historical arch featuring authoritarian policies of Presidents Lincoln and Wilson. “This time when we have a permanent war on terrorism there’s no backing off — and with the war on immigrants, and the borders,” he said. “Anybody who thinks we’re not doing too badly has not been flying on an airplane lately. That’s about as authoritarian-fascism as you can get.” Paul said government policies that steer money to the wealthy create understandable anger among poorer Americans — pointing to the success of Sen. Bernie Sander, the Vermont socialist, in his 2016 campaign for the Democratic nomination. Paul said a libertarian answer, halting inflation and "crony capitalism," would result in more freedom. “We as libertarians have some work to do before [voters] are going to accept a true- blue libertarian,” he said, “but I think moving in that direction and having a popular candidate [in 2020] is very possible.” "If they only hear our message, I know they would choose liberty and sound money and freedom and peace over the mess we have today," Paul said. Poster Comment: “We as libertarians have some work to do before [voters] are going to accept a true- blue libertarian,” he [Ron Paul] said. ***SNICKER***
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Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 5.
#4. To: Gatlin, One Term Donnell (#0)
Washington (AFP) - US President Donald Trump may face competition to be the Republican party's nominee for the 2020 White House race if he decides to pursue a second term, a US senator said in an interview broadcast Sunday. "I do believe if the president is running for re-election, if he continues on the path that he's on, that that's going to leave a huge swath of voters looking for something else," Jeff Flake, one of the few elected Republicans to publicly criticize Trump, said in an interview on ABC's "This Week." "If he's the Republican nominee again, we're likely to see an independent candidate" in the November 2020 presidential election, said Flake, who announced this fall that was stepping down from his Senate seat in late 2018. "He's probably inviting a Republican challenge as well" for the 2020 primaries to tap a nominee for the Republican party, he warned. Sitting presidents are typically considered shoo-ins as the nominee for their party at the end of the first term, although an intra-party challenge is not unheard of. Democratic President Jimmy Carter faced off against Senator Ted Kennedy in 1980, and four years before that, Republican President Gerald Ford clashed with Ronald Reagan. Flake is among the few Republican lawmakers who have publicly criticized the president, both on a personal level and for his policies which the senator deems extreme. "You look at the audiences cheering for Republicans... you look out there and say, those are the spasms of a dying party," he said in the interview. "By and large, we're appealing to older white men. And there are just a limited number of them. And anger and resentment are not a governing philosophy." Flake was circumspect when asked if he was considering a run in 2020. "I don't rule anything out but it's not in my plans," he said. Congressman Charlie Dent, a leading Republican moderate in the House of Representatives who is also stepping down next year, on Sunday denounced what he characterized as the party's blind loyalty to Trump. "The issue is loyalty to the man. To the president. And for some, loyalty is not enough. You have to be angry and aggrieved," he said on ABC. "I have said to folks, if I set myself on fire for them, they would complain that the temperature of the flame is not hot enough." Dent said that even though he expects Republicans to maintain their legislative majority in mid-term elections in November 2018, the party can still expect to lose seats. His advice to colleagues: "Be prepared for the worst because this could be a really tough year."
Is a dirty shitbag traitor... and only a RINO loving fecal feeder would propagate anything fuckhead Flake has to say. It's not Xmas any longer... the gloves are back off, Hondope
#6. To: GrandIsland, *2020 The Likely Suspects* (#5)
Sure Flake hates Trump for all the wrong reasons, but he's on the right track despising The Donald. Roy Moore/Austin Petersen 2020! - Independent
Is a dirty shitbag traitor. " Flake is a FLAKE !! He is an example of one of several problems with the Republican Party. The party has too, too many globalists, RINO'S, and " Moderates " = which is another word for wussie shitbags. Other prime examples are McStain, Collins, etc.
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/LatestTrump could face challenge in 2020 primary, Republican warns
Senator Jeff Flake, pictured with Donald Trump in this December 5, 2017 photo, has been critical of both the president and his Republican party (AFP Photo/SAUL LOEB)
#5. To: hondo68 (#4)
Jeff Flake
Replies to Comment # 5.
#7. To: GrandIsland (#5)
" Jeff Flake
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