Go Ron Paul!

Your perception of Ron Paul sounds quite similar to what I thought of him five months ago.

The primaries allow for a different mix of idealism and pragmatism than is required in the general election. Living in Utah is also different than living in Missouri. In Missouri my votes might count for something in both the primary and the general election. In Utah, regardless of what I do, Utah will vote for Mitt Romney in the primaries and the Republican nominee (whoever it ends up being) in the general election.

I have long thought that Ron Paul’s ideas are very good. He combines the fiscal libertarian with the social conservative, which puts him in my ideological corner. I would be proud to have a congressman such as Ron Paul representing me in congress. But that’s where I think he ought to stay.

I fear that to bring real change to the culture of Washington, Ron Paul would be an ineffective president. His principles of what should be are great, but the president doesn’t make laws – that’s the job he’s had in congress for all these years.

What I believe we need in Washington is not just someone with the right ideas, but with the right combination of past experience and future intent to revamp the executive system. I want to see a president who will wield executive authority with strength and dignity, and who will use it to make the executive branch of government work like a business or a household. Mitt Romney, of all the candidates running, is the only one (in my way of thinking) that most appropriately brings together right thinking with the right kind of action. Ron Paul wants laws to change – as he should: he’s in congress. Mitt Romney wants the office of president to change – focusing on real executive responsibilities.

MRKH