“I continue to support Ron Paul, although I believe the only way he can effectively bring his revolution to the forefront of America is to seek the Presidency via a third party ticket. I, therefore, strongly urge Dr. Paul to continue his Presidential campaign by obtaining the nomination of the Constitution Party. (It is his for the taking, should he pursue it.) The Republican Party is too corrupt, too sympathetic to New World Order ideologues to allow principled patriots such as Ron Paul to obtain the nomination. In fact, a John McCain administration will finish whatever semblance of conservatism yet remains in the GOP. McCain’s nomination makes it all the more imperative that we break the two-party death grip that is choking the life out of America. If Ron Paul would take the bull by the horns right now and run as a third party candidate, he just might be the man who could do it. Otherwise, it is just another sign that the handwriting is already on the wall. “

As for predictions:

I believe that when all the caucuses and primaries are over, there will be such a close race that it will be unclear who won the nomination. Then at the convention, Paul delegates will run into a similar problem that they did in Texas. They will not be let into the convention. Such an incident will ignite Dr. Paul into a fury of political maneuvering. If successful, he will catalyze the third party coallition into a new third party (the Independent American Party). He will be forced to run as a third party candidate. There will be enough support for him to be taken seriously. There will be a three way race. The Dems will win (it may be Obama instead of Hillary–Thank Goodness). But there will be such a showing from the new party that soon representatives at all levels of government will be touting the IAP platform.

If Ron Paul loses we will have lost an enormous amount of momentum and we will have to work long and hard at all levels of government to keep the movement alive and grow the next generation of constitutional statesmen.

I’m split on Connor’s analysis here. I agree with almost his whole entry and thus I’m unconventionally committed to blogging, talking to neighbors and family, putting up his sign in my apolitical neighborhood, etc. because I really believe it basically ‘behooves’ me to get involved.

But – as a friend suggested to me – if the worst happens Ron already won in many respects. He won everything he set out to do. He changed the tone of the discussion on myriad subjects – particularly on war, empire, liberty, the Constitution, — the list goes on. And that is just astonishing. Of course now a new and unexpected (to hear him tell it) opportunity has opened up and he’s going for it.

I do opine, however, he actually shifted paradigms for decades to come – already. I don’t know much about Goldwater but sometimes the Paul campaign is compared to that. From the little I understand that seems far more similar than comparison to Dean who just disappeared back into the Democratic machine. Supposedly generations of successfully elected politicians (ie Reagan) were inspired by the ideas of Goldwater’s unsuccessful campaign.

I personally know some people considering national political runs (in races they could actually win) who are basically newly inspired “Ron Paul” Republicans. And I’ve heard tell of others. I actually do think the “movement” could live on.

About 70% of Americans are against the wars. Yet Paul is the only anti-war candidate. In actuality, Paul should be the choice of Americans, yet we see the power of the PTB in keeping the pro-war candidates afloat.

I have heard talk of an assassination attempt on Paul’s life, so that Paul will then be out of the neo-con’s hair.

If Paul cannot be persuaded to run as a third-party candidate, then I fear the Constitution’s final thread will break, leaving Paul’s supporters to pick up the pieces.