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Raymond, El Paso TX: Thanks for bringing a smile to my wife and I. We knew if we ranted enough some liberal moron would respond. Thanks for emphasizing my point that some people think big Govt is the panacea for all that ails us. Nothing could be further from the truth. Yes, there is a place for Govt to protect on a variety of fronts, whether it be unsafe products or foreign armed threats. The trick is to accomplish these goals without major intrusion or financial burden on our lives. Having worked for the Federal Govt for over 35 years in the DC, I have seen the waste that is funded on the backs of taxpayers. Don't get me wrong, there are some fine people employed by the Govt interested only in doing the best they can. Unfortunately the nature of the beast is inefficient, does not reward financial restaint, fosters "empire" building within the organization. I have long said that if there is a commercial viable alternative to Govt it should be taken it should be taken in the interests of efficiency and responsiveness if proper oversight can be achieved. I still maintain what I said previously....sorry you think it's funny that someone objects to blindly accepting proposals from a pandering politician whose only interest is to buy your vote using taxpayer money. BTW I am not a Bush supporter....though I am Republican, I am displeased with my party of late, but do not think the Democrats offer anything better. I am hoping a third party candidate will run so I can throw my support their direction to illustrate discontent with the poor quality candidates from the two major Parties. I might point out that Clinton either did nothing or aggrevated problems that festered to what they are today (i.e. Clinton ignored the recommendatins of the Jordan Commission on illegal immigration, Clinton left al Qaeda training camps prosper unchecked, Clinton sent jobs overseas by signing NAFTA, he had no energy policy, he slashed the slice of the military, gutted and handtied the CIA...should I go on?). Bear in mind that Clinton had the benefit of the so-called "Peace Dividend" that no other President had...and, frankly, he blew it.

By the way i am an Independent Libertarian

I want Ron Paul to win but Ron Paul made a huge mistake by not running as a libertarian or as an independant. There are millions of Americans that are dissillusioned with both the Democrats and Republicans that would rally around Ron Paul. In my opinion the current Republican party has parted ways with true libertarian conservatism the minute Neo- conservatives and compassionate conservatives hit the scene. It was foolish for Ron Paul not to distance himself from the whole party, as well as with the democrats. Instead, he should have catered directly to the millions of proud independents and libertarians that see the ruin of both the democrats and the republicans. RON PAUL PLEASE RECONSIDER AND RUN AS A LIBERTARIAN OR AN INDEPENDENT. THE GOP IS A SINKING SHIP YOU DON'T NEED TO BE ON AND THAT YOU ARE BETTER THAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you don't i will be forced to vote for Barack Obama.

Raymond, El Paso TX: Spoken like a moron who believes the Govt has all the answers.and someone who has likely never worked for the Federal Govt to see how it actually works. I bet it doesn't concern you about how much of your taxpayer dollar actually goes to providing services. You would be surprised to see the empire building that goes on, and the superficial unrelated programs that emerge that benefit no one but someone trying to make his mark in the Govt. I'll bet you have your hand out and very rarely give to charity. I'll bet you are a big union man that chastises corporations for going overseas to avoid the burdensome legacy costs imposted on them by unions. I'll also bet you complain about outsourcing, but you never look at the labels to see the place of manufacture before you purchase an item. I'll bet you belly ache about the price of gasoline, but drive some redneck gashog truck to haul your ATV around so you can shoot at some food. The problem is the spending....of the wasteful variety. I'll bet you vote a straight Democrat ticket and actually believe all the pandering BS coming from candidates that want to buy your vote by promising utopia paid by taxpayers.

BTW I challenge you to tell me what Clinton accomplished in 8 years especially after having the benefit of the Peace Dividend...and please don't tell me about the economy. I'll give you a hint....nothing. Boneheads like to cite the economy, but conveniently forget that Hillary's Health Care debacle was fortunately killed. ..had it not it surely would have resulted in a deficit. They also like to ignore the who controlled Congress at the time....well Republican actually acted like Republicans.

Oh, and for you information I am supporting Obama....I'm sick of the Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton crapola.

I'll agree that a simpler tax code sounds good but that so-called Fair Tax is not an answer.
Under a fair tax, we will get our paycheck with no federal or social security taxes. So what about the social security and medicare taxes I've been paying all these years? I have not found out what happens there.

Of course state taxes will still be deducted.

We would end up having a 25% federal sales tax on EVERYTHING, including services. I am going to need a new furnace soon – under the Fair Tax, that price, which is already several thousand dollars, will be increased by 25% – that's a LOT of money for me.

I'll never be able to replace the ricketty windows in my house, that's for sure – that 25% puts that out of my reach.

I am hoping my car lasts for 100,000 miles – can you imagine 25% on the price of a car? And health care? And daily groceries?

Sure sounds nice having no income tax, but I don't see this 25% Fair Tax helping anyone except possible the very well-off.

Oh, and what happens to the thousands of people who work in the IRS and the other government agencies that some of these people (Ron Paul, maybe the Huckster) want to get rid of.

Yes, the Republicans showed their Free Market, Global not for the average American mentality again with their positin on the Presidents Economy Plan. Well isn't it amazing two of the htree republicans has some type of enlightenlement when it comes to illegal workers. One says thta he has now learned we want the fence but said nothing about if and when he gets in about Comrehensive "Immigration". The other who has been liberal toward illegal workers right along now says ship them back. The third leading candidate believea the Free Market will solve everything and is saying it here in Florida. has the man heard the term Alllstate as yet? He also believes there are programs to hepp people. In my opinion how bad can bad get for the average and poor when we consider this Republican party and any of them. At least the democrats are talking good. I really like what Hillary has been saying but not her illegal worker views. Jon Edwards as well. I really do not like Obama. He is split down the middle some good and some bad. If I had to vote, considering Edwards will be out, it is Hillary! Now here is the kicker, I don;t think they are far apart on the Global issues if not identical. So I will work to change congress.

If you follow the Congressial House Committee Conference in their session wtih Ben Beranke of the Federal Reserve time and time again his recommendation to Congress was that the future of our economic well being is that Congress must consider a FAIR AND SIMPLE TAX CODE and to amend Social Security ( he indicated that should have been amended as recommended 10 years ago.) It was absolutely amazing how many times his answers to the questions posed to him was to adopt a simple and fair tax code and to assure that government spending was controlled accordingly . Only Mike Huckabee of the presidential candidates has posed a solution accordingly == a major concern we should all ponder is who will pay what for all those new programs . Already our grand children are headed for bankrupcy .

While I believe that the war in Iraq and the issue of illegeal immigration are national issues, the economy is more of a local and personal issue. Compared to other nations in the world, America has maintained a very high standard of living--actually quite inflated standards with the sense of entitlement as its base. Nowhere else in the world is education free (at least not in the sense that it is free in the US), nowhere else is food so abundant (provided for by the food stamps program, church programs, generous private individuals, other organizations), nowhere else are jobs avaliable (though looking at the unemployment rate, you'd think that there were absolutely no jobs available) in the same way as they are in the United Staes. The "normal" American should be able to maintain himself, his dignity, his integrity and stop believing that the issue of economy is because this patricular Democrat or Republican is in office. The issue of economy stars with personal responsibility.

If the economy is your concern then consider this. Who really knows if keeping our troops in Iraq will or will not bring about the change we hope for in that country. No one. I do know that keeping troops there diverts millions of dollars from our ability to change and fix things here at home: unmanageable healthcare costs, embarrassing education results, aging bridges and infrastructure, gasoline crisis, damaging environmental impacts, immigration control, nearly insurmountable national debt, national security, etc. etc. etc. These things cannot wait for the Iraqi outcome. These things cannot wait at all. It is time to get over a win/lose mentality when it comes to Iraq and bring our troops home immediately and only a democratic president will do that. There is no shame in re-evaluating what the United States can and cannot do and reaching what is an obvious choice of economics. It is grossly irresponsible to choose the problems in Iraq over the problems here at home when we cannot afford to address both. Voting for a democratic president is voting to turn our country around for the better.

I’m an Obama supporter. He brings an optimism we haven’t seen since JFK. He’s intelligent-he’ll learn quickly. I want to give him that chance. I believe what America badly needs today is a president of hope. Besides, our presidents aren’t dictators. They have advisors and a congress. But I will vote democratic no matter who wins the nomination.

yes ron paul is the ANSWER TO EVERYTHING!!

YES RON PAUL IS THE ANSWER TO EVERYTHING which brings me to the only conclusion America do not want answers or change, they LOVE CHAOS.

IF that's the case then the voters have taken Karl Rove and George W. Bush's BAIT!

If I were President BUSH, I would have sent a SURGE of troops to Iraq back in 2007 to CURB the violence long enough to make it ‘appear’ that Iraq is turning for the better (even if the ‘reason’ given for the surge was to curb the violence so that the political parties could reconcile their differences) - at least through the November election in 2008.

I'd also send out signals from ‘my’ commerce department that the economy ‘may’ be going into a recession. I’d also be offering a HUGE TAX REBATE to American's before November of 2008 to help the GOP keep control of the White House.

After this emergency rebate/bill is passed, I’d make sure that American’s are told by the Commerce department that the U.S. was NEVER in a recession, it was just a low growth period - a slow down.

This is how I would get my Approval Ratings to increase to that 45% rate that my public relations people have predicted. Giving American’s money always raises approval ratings.

Getting the Iraq War to APPEAR to be on the way to success – BEFORE - I leave office is also a very good way to place ‘blame’ on the Democrats for Iraq going bad - later. If the Democrats begin to pull the troops in 2009 as they’ve all promised to do, and things go to pot – THEY WILL BE GIVEN THE BLAME --NOT ME.

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For those that think the Democrats are better for the economy...go ahead, elect Hillary. See what hosed-up really is when she loads us up with more entitlement programs and National Health Care. The higher taxes we will be paying won't be going to pay down the national debt, it will be going to finance bigger Govt. The burden she places on the American taxpayers, businessmen and corporations will shrink the US economy like you have never seen before. Don't equate the dot com phenonema of the 90's with Clinton...he had nothing to do with it....neither did Hillary.

Brent, Fairfax, VA ~ You're a joke. I'll bet you're also the one screaming (caps lock) about nothing being done to stop the flow of illegal immigrants. Too bad we need to hire more people to protect the borders. I'll bet you also support the war against terrorism. Too bad we're still spending billions upon billions doing that. I'll bet you don't drive on our highways or think nobody should be inspecting our food or the drugs we take to help us live longer. I'll bet you also vote straight Republican ticket.

The same party that has made government the biggest it's ever been. The same party that has pushed the deficit to the highest it's ever been. The same party that had full control for the past 7 years and managed to pi$$ away our children's economic future. I'll bet you're even going to send back that rebate check you'll soon be getting.

Ok I'm done, you can stick your head back in the sand so you can continue thinking for yourself.

It IS the economy, stupid and Mitt Romney is the only guy on either side who can fix it by reaching across the aisle and across the world to get it done.
He's a genious at this stuff.
The other issues will fall into place as our country re-unites with itself and the world.
Mitt Romney '08!
Seriously people, check him out!

Romeny JOBS JOBS JOBS ~ "I need a job, and Economy Romney it the man to deliver. "

LOL!!! Vote for Romney and you sure won't be finding a job anytime soon unless you're willing to move to India or China. Mitt is a corporate elitist that eliminated jobs in corporations bought out by his company. Why would he change now?

Also, Republicans had full control of the reigns for the past 7 years and look where that's gotten us. Why do you think Democratic voters are outnumbering Republican voters by a longshot? Put a fork in it, the GOP (Greedy OLD Party) is toast in this election!

It's not that we are not paying enough in taxes...WE ARE. The problem is the spending....Republicans AND Democrats are responsible for this mess. Anyone who thinks the current Democrat controlled congress is submitting a balance budget to the WH for signature is dreaming. Earmarks are at an all time high. The fact is tax revenue is also at an all time high. The answer folks is for a smaller Govt....we don't need to be feeding more tax dollars to this monster. For someone to think we need to raise taxes without cuts, is misled.

this sub-prime mortgage mess that we're in, it's no different from what's going on in washington. we're borrowering money that we can't pay back. let's be real-isn't the deficit supposed to be shrinking rather than growing larger. and for all the people who are against tax increases, i love my country enough that if i have to pay a few more dollars to save it so be it. and i'm not rich.

I find it ironic if not amusing that Republicans are now calling the economy the most important issue. Laughable, really given what they have spent during the las eight years. The republicans running for president are definitely not to be believed on this matter because you can not improve the economy by promising tax cuts, (already done by Bush, didn't work) and those tax cuts are not "paid" for. No, people listen. If you care about the economy, immigration, the war in Iraq, health care or any other issues facing this country, then you are sadly misrepresented by anyone in this race, with the exception of Dr. Ron Paul, who has enough sense to realize that the exonomy cannot improve unless spending is cut. For those who don't understand this, look at your household budget: If you find that you are unable to pay your bills every month, do you rely on credit cards to do so? Okay some do, but in order to change your personal economy you cut your personal spending. Not one of these people can address economics, they do not ge it. I urge everyone who gives a rats behind to really take a hard look at the candidate you are thinking of voting for. Not one of them cares about where this country is in four, eight, ten years. They care about where their personal career lands. Come on, folks. We can do better than this. After all, youget what you deserve.

"My concern is now who can defeat the republicans"

.....BECAUSE I WANT TO PAY HIGHER TAXES FOR MORE ENTITLEMENT PROGRAMS THAT WILL ENSURE A LARGER GOVERNMENT AND MORE FAMILIES DEPENDENT ON THEIR MONTHLY GOVT CHECK. I LOVE GOVT INEFFICIENCY. i WANT MY GOVT TO SUCK THE LIFEBLOOD OUT OF THE ECONOMY BY TAXING US TO DEATH. I WANT THE DEMOCRATS TO WIN BECAUSE I CAN'T THINK FOR MYSELF. I WANT A BUREAUCRAT SITTING IN A CUBE FARM TO DETERMINE WHAT IS BEST FOR ME AND MY FAMILY.

I totally agree with "It's a no brainer"

The economy needs to be fixed and we need a business man in office who knows how to do it. Mitt Romney is our guy.

Ron Paul supporters...let me answer your question...the reason why he doesn't get support (or respect) is the simple fact that he's a Libertarian (not a Republican) – he is completely unelectable (he's like the Republican Hillary Clinton) – like to his platform when running for President as a Libertarian years ago....not changed at all (shutting down the FBI and CIA – closing the Department of Education and letting states fiend for themselves....classic fringe Libertarian views ) – 90% of his other ideas are very good....he just needed to hang up the Libertarian wacko fringe...but alas...he cannot

For the people who whine about needing a job and money. All you need to do is get off the couch and go look for work. If you want to live in a nanay state and have "Mommy" take care of you then vote for Senator Clinton. If you want lower taxes that bring jobs back to America then vote for Huckabee or McCain.

Notice that the media and democrat have shifted to the economy, which is still strong, from the war. That's because the left is weak on defense and wrong again on the progress.

Except America is not a business. When you mess up the premise nothing makes sense afterwards. Logic 101.

Romney the businessman. The slash-and-burn corporate raider and downsizer whose only REAL claim to fame is how many people he laid off.

Mmm yeah, if that's what you want to happen to America be my guest. I'm voting for Ron Paul because we'll NEVER fix the economy without a return to a commodity based currency. Right now all the government does is print money and cause rampant inflation that they LIE about with its complicit media. We'll be using dollar bills as toilet paper by November. Because we won't be able to afford real toilet paper.

Hey, here's an idea! Let’s find a guy who is REALLY smart and REALLY good with numbers. He'd have to be highly educated, maybe even the top in his class at one of our nations finest schools.

Someone with YEARS of business sense who also understands and has competed in the international business community extremely well.

Let’s find a guy with a proven record of organizational success!

Let’s make sure he is a man of character that would represent us all well, a guy that is family oriented, patriotic and pro military.

Then let's make him president!!!

Hey wait a minute– That sounds like Romney!

South Carolina proves how ignorant and uninformed voters are. (except the 15,000 + who voted for Paul; bless u)
They say they are worried about the economy yet they voted for McCain and Huckabee. McCain is unwilling to budge on the war when we all know that "staying the course" will ruin america. The world is starting to see americans as terrorists and McCain won't bring peace. My god people it's 2008 and we're still fighting!

Worse still is the way our civil liberties are being assaulted and the constitution is being spit on. We NEED Ron Paul now more then ever!

After hearing Clinton and Obama fight for most of the week over race, I'm turned off by their abilities to solve problems. I defintiely don't want either of them in charge. It will only get worse with either of them. I'm leaning toward Mitt Romney although I don't agree with everything. But, John McCain comes across very much like a politician who does not tell the truth. Huckabee...this guy is a joke!

I find this very amusing. We Republicans talk about the Constitution, we talk about our Founding Fathers, we talk about core Republican values, but 99 percent of our Republican candidate don't read the Constitution and follow it, they remove civil liberties that our brethren fought and died for, and they speak on the economy like democrats by just verbally appeasing the crowd, and not showing any progress or history to back their claims. There is only one person who has been consistent throughout his entire career, and that is Dr. Ron Paul.

But indeed it is true. He who controls the media controls the masses,and those who instill panem et circenses to the people, literally run their lives. The American people shouldn't fear the government, the government should fear its' people. If we don't return to what our Founding Fathers died for, then we might as well shred up the Constitution and have our government run subjectively, instead of objectively.

Dr. Ron Paul is our last hope for the Republican Party to return to what our heritage shed blood for. Let us not make a mockery of our Founding Fathers by voting for those who do not follow the Constitution and negate civil liberties for false security. But instead, vote for the right people who never lose sight of our beginning.

I've been following politics for close to 40 years and all of the candidates babble about change , and shaking up Washington and giving the country back to the people. It's hard to believe any of them.

Ron Paul is a true agent of change.

The man loves this country and the constitution. I trust him.

My name is Grover and I approve this message.

tony and other Paul supporters,

I like Romney, but am very pleased to hear Ron Paul's ideas. I think many Republicans think his views about the Iraq war are similar to the Democrats. Of course they are not the same at all.

The Democrats love our Government to stick its nose into every other country's business, just not when a Republican does it. They said nothing when Clinton bombed the hell out of Yugoslavia, even though that country never posed a threat to us. The Democrats have "selective outrage."

Because of our dependence on a Mideast oil supply, Bush attempted to ensure we would not have all our eggs in one basket, depending solely on the precarious Saudi Arabian Royal family. Until we become energy efficient, which is many years away, it is an understandable strategy. Just think what would happen to our economy if the majority of Saudis overthrew their oppressive King. Most of the Saudis hate us. (9/11)

Eventually we will come arround to implementing many of Ron Paul's ideas. Especially his economic ones.

At this time however, I think Romney is our best shot at beating the misguided Democrats.

My concern is now who can defeat the republicans.

I need a job, and Economy Romney it the man to deliver.

McCain says forget your jobs they are not coming back. Hello
Huckabee can get a past the evanglists to vote.
Hillary's supporters are an angry bunch of folks.

When Mitt Romney said JOBS JOBS JOBS, he got my vote, all the promises made have to be paid for and economy Romney has the right balance.

Rudy wants to go to the moon, thats what the deficet would do if he was elected.

Im just waiting for ONE network to give ole Ron Paul the victory dance he deserves..why are they covering somebody like Rudy who hasnt won anything anywhere??..ooo thats right cuz hes part of the "establishment"..my bad..anyhoo Rock n Roll to ya Ron....you got my vote!!..

If republicans name the economy, illegal immigration and the Iraq war as the most important issues facing us, then why are South Carolinans not listening to Ron Paul?
He is truly the most conservative economically, would deal with the immigration issue from a strict constitutional perspective and would end the iraq war and bring our troops home.

I am surprised that we have so many single issue voters in SC...I really thought we would see Thompson on Romney do better, and push McCain, who is not as conservative as we like 'em here.

The media convinced us to give Mcain the sympathy vote for trouncing him here in 2000.

Anyone who puts the economy at the top of their list of important issues shouldn't be voting for ANY of the current crop of Republican candidates.

Despite the conventional wisdom that Republicans are better than Democrats on economic issues, this current administration has been disasterous for our economy, doing damage that will take decades to undo, and all of the top GOP contenders (McCain, Romney, Huckabee, Guiliani) have indicated that they will continue this administration's disasterous policies. Say what you will about the various Democratic candidates' ideas, at least they aren't committed to sticking with policies that have already be proven to fail.

I have lost respect for many Republican canidates for there lack of respect for Ron Paul. The way they laugh at him win he makes a case about his views. There is no place for this.

Then why in the world would South Carolina vote for McCain OR Huckabee? Neither one of them can deliver on turning the economy around and they both supported illegal immigrants for YEARS until just lately. How convenient!

South Carolina, what were you thinking?

RON PAUL IS THE ANSWER TO EVERYTHING ! IF THE MEDIA GAVE HIM 1/2 THE COVERAGE THAT HE DESERVES EVERYONE WOULD BE ABLE TO SEE THAT!