Arkansas Blog

Another shooting in Las Vegas, six schoolchildren getting off a bus.

Ryan White's mother came to Little Rock in 2004 with a message for Governor Huckabee, who was denying state funds to provide poor Arkansans with AIDS with medications. There's an audio clip of her message and a brief( 2 minutes!) review of Huckabee's record of caring for AIDS patients in Arkansas on YouTube -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8SLdZTtEK8

8:38 p.m.---------pouring rain in SPA.

Calling out Cato for what he says about RON PAUL ......"Great man" Paul is the candidate of choice by neo-nazi and white supremacists groups, he is for abolishing the IRS, he is an isolationist in foreign affairs, supports the abolition of the Department of Education and...........need I go on?

Here was my reply to you CATO:
Yes please go on..... So he has a handful of supporters that are neo-nazi and white supremacists people donate to him, so that makes him one??? I'm sure every campaign has a supporter that they would not like for everyone to know.... Last I heard Ron Paul is responsible for RON PAUL as you are responsible for your self and not what the other people think of you...... Dig dipper if that is the only dirt you have on him.
Abolishing the IRS is a bad thing??? Do some research on how the IRS was created back in 1913.... It was passed kind of like how the Bush administration passes things through law when no one is around. So your against the government taxing your fruits of labor? Doesn't the constitution say something against that???
Isolationist in Foreign Affairs? How is this....Do some more research on our affairs with other nations... Find out why other nations around the world hate us. Every effect that is directed towards you has a cause. Please explain how he is an isolationist when he talks about trade, travel and talking with nations instead of bullying them around with sanctions and un-constitutional wars.

Abolition of the Department of Education? Yes he does want to do this. This is a bad thing how? Since the 50's education levels have went down... What happened in the 50's to begin this trend? Did the Federal government get involved? So some guy in a suit in D.C. knows what I should learn better than the teachers in front of the class everyday? Take the Federal government out of it and leave it to the states to decide what is best at the local levels. What is so bad about this?

Reagan preached about doing away with the D of E when he ran for president. No where in the Constitution does is say anything about these kinds of Departments. It is directed to leave it up to the states. What is the purpose of states when the Federal Government tells every state what it can and can't do what the state things is best for the state. States get to decide whether or not they allow casinos, lottos, whether or not to allow wet or dry counties....If Nevada can have casinos why can't we? Maybe it's because the people of the state knows what is better for our state then the Federal Gov't does. Sure I want casinos here but the majority of Arkansans don't and so the people have spoke. It is the same way with Big Government... Leave these things to the states to figure out what is best for the state....

We had just short of a hundred voters at my polling place, Faith Lutheran, about a quarter of the school board turnout. I'm hopeful.

In resonse to JAHOGS

1).". So he has a handful of supporters that are neo-nazi and white supremacists people donate to him, so that makes him one??? I'm sure every campaign has a supporter that they would not like for everyone to know.... Last I heard Ron Paul is responsible for RON PAUL.."

-Exactly. He doesn't return the money to these groups. Candidates who don't share ideology with radical groups return the money to show disapproval of their ideology. Ron Paul has yet to do such. What does that tell you. Yep, Ron Paul is responsible for RON PAUL.

2). "Abolishing the IRS is a bad thing??? Do some research on how the IRS was created back in 1913.... It was passed kind of like how the Bush administration passes things through law when no one is around. So your against the government taxing your fruits of labor? Doesn't the constitution say something against that???'

---I can see you swallow that poisoned Kool Aid about the IRS, the 16th (?) Amendment and so forth. I guess that would make you a Ron Paul supporter alright. It's sheer poppycock, JA HOGS. Take it to the bank.

3). "Abolition of the Department of Education? Yes he does want to do this. This is a bad thing how? Since the 50's education levels have went down... What happened in the 50's to begin this trend? Did the Federal government get involved? So some guy in a suit in D.C. knows what I should learn better than the teachers in front of the class everyday? Take the Federal government out of it and leave it to the states to decide what is best at the local levels. What is so bad about this?"

---Learn a little history, JAHOGS. The federal government began to get involved in education with the Smith-Hughes Act (1917) and the Smith-Lever Act (1914). That was way before the '50's friend. Old Ronald did preach against the DE as a candidate, as he did lots of things to get your votes but he didn't accomplish any of it. None. Zilch.

4). "Sure I want casinos here but the majority of Arkansans don't and so the people have spoke. It is the same way with Big Government... Leave these things to the states to figure out what is best for the state...."

--Perhaps. Kinda like slavery? 11 southern states figured they knew better on that topic cause the "people spoke" what is best for the state." I have to assume you feel the central government did wrong 1861-1865 in telling those states what they should do in regards to slavery. Right? And it follows through that you believe those states enacted jim crow laws, legalized lilly white societies and practiced apartheid simply because the people (white people) wanted such made it all ok and the acts of the central goverment in challenging the states on these issues was in the wrong too. Right?

JAHOGS, Ron Paul has a lot of appeal. Just like George Wallace did. They appeal to our basest instincts on several issues. I kinda like some of Paul's positions but there is that dark side too, as with most candidates. He doesn't have a chance. I just hope he scares the dickens out of the two major parties like Perot did. That would bring applause from me.

In my dealings with Bobby Roberts I felt he was one smart dude. Congratulations, Bobby.

1) I agree that he should return the money simply because people like you look into those type of things more than they are worth..... It's not like these handful of people are funding his entire campaign. He even goes on the Alex Jones show on the radio, so that makes him a conspiracy theorist also, know doesn't it?

2) I gave you a fact about the IRS and all you could respond back is name calling and saying that it is "poppycock". Come on now Cato I'm sure you can do better than that.....

3) Sure there were issues when the Federal Government made laws about school before the 50's, but when did the education level start to collapse? It is un-constitutional. By eliminating departments such as these you will be able to eliminate things like the IRS. Which is also un-constitutional (16th amendment conspiracy)

4) There is a role for federal government, just like on the issue you are talking about. But some believe, that are RON PAUL supporters, other wise.

Why doesn't he have a chance? Not to knock on you here, but what is your past prediction percentages? Who is going to win since he is not? No one has voted yet and no one will until January 3rd. Hopefully you are wrong on saying RP will not win, I know it will be an uphill battle, but I hope he does. He is a man that does not pander to lobbyist's goals, gives back part of his paycheck to the his state treasury department, and does not take part in the congressional pension pay. You don't have to agree with him on every thing but who does believe in everything of a politican? I know I don't but he seems to be the honest person running and the most consitent person running.

Kudos to the people of Little Rock for spreading the written words! I am reading a wonderful new book ( Curveball by Bob Drogin) right now which I intend to donate to my library next week, as I often do.

Nice rebuttal Cato. Paul's voice on civil liberties and our defense posture are admirable but we need not throw the baby out with the bath water in order to straighten things up. At least not yet. The same people who support Paul are the very voters who elect the Reagans and Bush's who despise government therefore they run it into the ground while robbing us all blind.. and turn around and say, see i told you government sucks.

The challenge is to make government run efficiently for the people, not eliminate it, not run for the wealthy contracts or be run by private contractors for the benefit of the few. We have to remove private campaign finance, private no bid contracting and as much private contracting of government services as possible. Let the peoples voice back into the process...

Mark Pryor raises millions with probably just a few thousand wealthy supporters and no competition.. that is no proper way to maintain representation of roughly 3 million people.

"ll you could respond back is name calling "

Huh, oh, JAHOGS, please don't play the persecution complex with me. It doesn't serve well for you. Believe me, you can do better. Just because the response throws you for a loop which you have no answer please don't throw into your file of "name calling."

"when did the education level start to collapse?"

Present the reliable data that shows education levels ever collapsed.

"But some believe, that are RON PAUL supporters, other wise.'

Exactly. So? The point I made was the obvious. Now defend your statement about states knowing better than the federal government on those issues I mentioned. There are others but those two will suffice right now.

"Why doesn't he have a chance?"
History is against him. Tell me the last time a third party candidate won the presidency. I know but will see if you know. Today it's all about money. Money has corrupted our political system. The two major parties garnish the money and third parties simply cannot compete in elections with these two major parties. Billionaire Perot was able to some degree because of his own personal wealth he used campaigning but he got 19 % of the popular vote and 0 electoral votes. Those are facts. Not gibberish you Paul suppporters have to face.

"Not to knock on you here, but what is your past prediction percentages? '

1). I said Jimmy Carter didn't have a chance at winning in 1976.
2). I said Ross Perot didn't have a chance at winning in 1992.
3). I said Bill Clinton could whip all their arses in any presidential election.

So....I'm batting about 66 % average. How about you?

They have never collapsed, but here you go:
http://www.abcnews.go.com/2020/Stossel/story?id=3970423&page=1
I believe in the second video on the left he talks about the education levels in our schools. I will look more into this for you and will try to get more information on this issue.
Here is a statement by Congressman Paul about the Federal governments role in our schools.
http://www.ronpaullibrary.org/document.php?id=79

Like I said there is a role for the Federal Government. Especially when the states is doing something that is un-constitutional such as slavery. "WE THE PEOPLE" (except minorities?) The Federal government stepped in and changed this. But there is a role for the federal government, but not every single issue. When they do we lose our civil liberties.

Was it Theodore Roosevelt? You are correct in saying "Money has corrupted our political system. The two major parties garnish the money and third parties simply cannot compete in elections with these two major parties." So why not try to change this? You already know, and I know it will be hard to do, that RP will not get the Republican nomination. But why should people not vote for him because he is not a democrat or a republican or the MSM says he can not win? So we shouldn't support a candidate, because people like you says he can not win? Isn't that what the pundits said about Jimmy Carter, Bill Clintion, JFK? Look at what they did. People like you will be very surprised at the rise of Ron Paul in the up coming months... Just because he is low in the phone polls, which is full of s@%@, doesn't mean he can't win.

I don't get into predictions involving politics... But a 66% average for you is very good. Maybe you should move to vegas and begin taking your prediction skills to make yourself a lot of money.

This man is about change and he talks everyday he has been a Congressman. Name another candidate running for president that has the same record as Ron Paul has. Name one issue he has flip-flopped on like the other candidates.

Name another candidate running for president that has a consistent record like that off RP.

Abraham Lincoln in 1860. The Republican Party was a third party, created six years earlier by opponents to slavery.

What is frightening (?) is we are more in agreement than disagreement JAHOGS. But you really are not realistic with some of your expectations.

OK. Ron Paul attacks big government in public education on one hand but then has all these legislative proposals he wants passed by this big government to promote his particular slant on education (according to the article posted by you). Much like Reagan, he makes government the villian (and it may well be) but then embraces the same entity to legislate, promote, mandate a particular agenda.

" Name one issue he has flip-flopped on like the other candidates."

He can't decided if he wants to be a Republican or a Libertarian. He flip flops back and forth. Expediency, perhaps?

JA, he's not going to win. He will be fortunate if he even comes close to what Perot got in 1992. That's just political reality. The deck is stacked against third parties, the deck is dealt by lawmakers who are Republicans and Democrats. They look after each other's interests.

I too believe in states' rights. I believe the US Supreme Court stepping in and deciding the outcome of the 2000 presidential election was a serious breech of states electing the president and the central government staying out of it. But the party that did this wanton violation is the party that harps over and over about defending states' rights and shed crocidile tears over "violations" except their own, of course.

I am not so sure state governments are any more astute or wiser than D.C. when it comes to making good judgment calls. I can't see where their record is any better. Perhaps you can cite some. But either way, both governments must be answerable to the people and often they are not.