Paul rallies his troops
By Brian C. Mooney, Globe Staff
MINNEAPOLIS -- As Republicans gathered in St. Paul to get their convention on track today, thousands of devotees of Ron Paul, the Texas congressman who lost a bid for the GOP presidential nomination and became an irritant to John McCain, held an all-day counter convention across the Mississippi River.
Democrats and Republicans alike were verbally abused by speakers at the "Rally for the Republic" at the Target Center, the home of the Minnesota Timberwolves of the NBA.
The irregular band of libertarian-leaning activists heard author Bill Kauffman say "there are a lot more of us than there are Dick Cheneys, and he knows it, that's why he sleeps in his bunker."
Thomas Woods, an author and professor, derided the major party candidates as "McBama," and Doug Wead, an author-historian, who worked in the White House of the first President Bush, declared: "I say to the Republicans across the river, come home, come back. This is where you started, these are your roots. Join the campaign for liberty."
Wead received a standing ovation from the several thousand in the arena.
Commentator Sean Hannity may be the darling of the right, but when he appeared twice on a video clip after the Fox News Channel presidential debate early this year, he was roundly booed both times by the assemblage.
Besides Paul, who is to address his supporters tonight, scheduled speakers include former Minnesota governor and professional wrestler Jesse Ventura, Howard Phillips, chairman of the Conservative Caucus, and John McManus, president of the ultraconservative John Birch Society.
UPDATE: Another speaker was Olympic swimmer Erik Vendt, a native of North Easton, Mass.
Vendt, 27, recalled that, before heading to Beijing for the Olympics, he was briefed that he should expect that his movements and conversations, even in taxi cabs, might be monitored. Vendt said he wasn't surprised because China is a communist state, but then realized that "we're just one terrorist act away from martial law" in this country.
Hearing Paul, Vendt said, "really cured my apathy."
Two other Bay State natives spoke during the eight-hour rally at the Target Center: Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, who grew up in Weston and graduated from Harvard; and Llewellyn "Lew" Rockwell Jr., a libertarian writer-commentator and former congressional aide to Paul, who was born in Boston and graduated from Tufts University.
God help America. It's sad to see a nation so asleep as to allow the hijacking our our nation through the sold out Replicrats. Please look at what has caused 15,000+ Americans to travel from all 50 states and Europe to attend. Ron Paul is on to something and if YOU don't take the time to find out, YOU will be responsible for the downfall of this once-great nation.
I've been watching the Rally for the Republic today on CSPAN-2. Wow, what a great convention! As ticked off as I'd been at Tucker Carlson for what he did during the presidential campaign, seemingly to intentionally damage Ron Paul's image, Carlson has been a very inspiring speaker on behalf of Ron Paul today! Jesse Ventura, for all of his roughness around the edges, was very pointed in his speech as well. Great event all around!
Thank you for this article. I was quite curious as to what was happening. I am glad that Dr. Paul is continuing to fight for our Country!
Please Campaign For Liberty! Campaining for Liberty is an essential American Function. Think about it. This is OUR republic.
The Constitution is the Solution.
I have been watching the Rally for the Republic all afternoon and find your comments about " Democrats and Republicans alike were verbally abused by speakers at the "Rally for the Republic"" very offensive. I heard no abuse. I only heard truth. The fact that Democrats and Republicans alike feel the hearing of TRUTH is perceived as abuse by those parties tells you they are not used to hearing truth and the media is not used to reporting the truth. It is time that ALL citizens of this country hear the truth not just once but daily again and again.
This has been a great convention and this is just the beginning. I see a very viable new political party on the horizon and I plan to be part of it.
I have been watching the Rally for the Republic all afternoon and find your comments about " Democrats and Republicans alike were verbally abused by speakers at the "Rally for the Republic"" very offensive. I heard no abuse. I only heard truth. The fact that Democrats and Republicans alike feel the hearing of TRUTH is perceived as abuse by those parties tells you they are not used to hearing truth and the media is not used to reporting the truth. It is time that ALL citizens of this country hear the truth not just once but daily again and again.
This has been a great convention and this is just the beginning. I see a very viable new political party on the horizon and I plan to be part of it.
God bless America and Ron Paul..
We have the right man with the right message at the right time, so I hope we
don't blow it.
We the people.... we have the constitution on our side still, despite the Patriot Act and the Military Commissions act and all the other strikes against our civil liberties. We the people have the right to throw the bums out and put in people who will follow their oaths to uphold, protect and defend the constitution. We need to remember how this nation was once free and we need to become free once again: free of overly burdensome federal control of our lives. Vote Libertarian if you must, write in Ron Paul if you can, but more importantly: never stop talking about freedom. We must demand that the elite owners of this nation get their hands off of our government and release the wealth back into the hands of those from whom it was stolen. We must abolish the Federal Reserve and the IRS and the CIA and the Department of Miseducation. How did we ever let so many people become so brainwashed into thinking that the role of federal government was to control everything?
RON PAUL FOR PRESIDENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So much needed emphasis on foreign policy. One of the facts I like to remember is that Ron Paul received more donations from military personal, than all the other republican candidates COMBINED.
Ron Paul for President!
How can Ron Paul fit in any current administration? If he cannot be made to bear with his superb knowledge and common sense based on our Constiturion,then, I do believe we are in for a very rough time. The happiness of these United States can only be achieved with following Ron Paul and his principles. Period.
Ron Paul gave his best speech last night. How come the nation can't come to grips with reality that he was their best candidate for President?
Go Ron Paul!! Down with Big Government!! Down with Big Spending!!
Protect our freedoms of Speech, Religion, and Assembly.
He's a racist.
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