Starting to notice

As predicted, the Nov. 5 "money bomb" effort for Ron Paul's campaign has paid extra dividends in media attention, though many are still trying to paint him as "unelectable" and "fringe."

WASHINGTON (AP) - Those who dismissed Rep. Ron Paul as a joke in the Republican presidential primary campaign aren't laughing so hard these days.

Paul, 72, recently set a one-day, online GOP presidential fundraising record, and pulled slightly ahead of Fred Thompson and Mike Huckabee in a New Hampshire poll, where he had 8 percent of the Republicans' support. In Iowa, he tied John McCain for fifth place, with 4 percent each.

Paul remains a very long shot for the nomination. ((Thus spake the Establishment... -- Jemison)) But as the only Republican candidate backing a prompt troop withdrawal from Iraq - and an airing of possible impeachment charges against Vice President Dick Cheney - he appeals to a mix of liberals and conservatives who feel alienated and deeply distrustful of the government. ((How about detailing the various sources of that mistrust and alientation, Mr. Free Press?? -- Jemison))

It's not a conservative/liberal thing. Not this time. Americans who are paying attention, regardless of party, are tired of the status quo. We need to be more worried about our borders than Iraq's. We need to stop printing money to the point it's not worth the paper it's on. We need to limit government's role in the economy and our personal lives.

Every time an independent-minded candidate does unexpectedly well in our biased electoral system, the two-party establishment colludes to make the process even more difficult for future standard bearers. We're always being told by the Republicans and Democrats to support them in "this most important election of our lives." This time, the rhetoric may be appropriate. The window for relief and reform is rapidly closing.