So Ron Paul, the Texas Congressman, is running for president.  This isn’t news, he’s been doing it for months.  What is interesting is how popular he has become, particularly in the liberal bastion that is the People’s Republic of Austin.  Why does there seem to be more bumper stickers in our great city for this Republican with an odd libertarian slant than the Democratic frontrunners?

Ron Paul is a man who has made a political career as the anti-”politics as usual” politician.  A gentle-looking old man with a goofy smile, Paul is not afraid of anyone and will speak his mind right in the face of popular opinion if he thinks the popular opinion is wrong.  He doesn’t use candidate-speak to answer tough questions, he answers you like your grandfather would at Thanksgiving dinner, “yes sonny boy, I did sleep with that hooker in Korea while I was over there fighting for this country.  So what?”  He doesn’t confom his beliefs and platform to the latest polling numbers which show that voters really want someone that can cook a mean turkey.  He says what he really thinks and has been doing so for decades, so we know his genuine nature is not a front for the campaign.  And this is what attracts people to him in rabid droves, it seems.

People are growing increasingly tired of politics as usual, and here in Austin we get a larger share than most with the circus that comes to town every biennium and meets in the pink palace.  I think that is why Ron Paul is growing in popularity here, and I think that popularity is very good news for the system.  Whether or not you agree with Paul’s agenda, you have to like his tenacity and ability to tell Washington to shove it.  He won’t win the nomination, and he claims he will not run as a third-party candidate, so he is pretty harmless overall, but his rebelliousness and the support it has won is a harbinger for things to come.  Maybe not this cycle, and maybe not on the level of presidential politics yet, but soon the people are going to join Paul in telling off the career politicians and we will have a revolution at the polls at which candidates that are more interested in solving problems than getting reelected will win.  When that happens we will hopefully turn around this crazy ship and start addressing real issues.  This is very good news for all of us.