After polling all of our state chapters and receiving their votes determined from the preferences of their members, on Wednesday the Republican Liberty Caucus national board held a special meeting at which we certified the decision of our members to endorse Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX). The following press release was sent to national media in coordination with the Ron Paul campaign and we hope that our input will give Paul a little extra push going into the Iowa primary.

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 30, 2011 CONTACT: Dave Nalle at 512-656-8011 or chairman@rlc.org Republican Liberty Caucus Endorses Ron Paul for President Paul Nomination Will Send a Message from the Grassroots that the GOP is Back on Track with its Founding Principles! AUSTIN, TX – The Republican Liberty Caucus national board is proud to endorse Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) for the Republican presidential nomination.  In a field of candidates who show little genuine commitment to individual liberty or reducing the size of government, Rep. Paul stands out as a consistent champion of the values of the Republican Liberty Caucus; limited government, personal liberty and free enterprise. “Ron Paul has been the one Congressman willing to consistently stand up against abuses of government power and for protecting the rights of citizens,” said RLC National Chairman Dave Nalle. “He has led opposition to the War on Drugs, REAL ID and the PATRIOT Act.  Just in the past year he has joined us in fighting against unconstitutional military detention of civilians, government tracking of workers through e-verify and a federal takeover of the internet.  These are issues which grassroots Republicans are concerned about, but the party establishment is not listening.  Ron Paul is the only candidate who really speaks for the grassroots of the Republican Party.” “Paul has often been a lone vote against big government and big spending in the wilderness of the House of Representatives, but as president that lone vote would become a veto and stop government abuses dead in their tracks,” observed Earl Bandy, Chairman of the RLC of Colorado. “That alone is a great reason to put Ron Paul in the White House and give him that power.” A major goal of the Republican Liberty Caucus is to expand the number of Senators and Representatives who are truly dedicated to the principles of small government, free enterprise and individual liberty.  We made a good start towards changing Congress in 2010 and with Ron Paul at the head of the Republican ticket and a great field of liberty candidates we can win even more seats in Congress in 2012. With leaders like Ron Paul this is the year when we can bring our government back to the values of the founders and put the liberty and prosperity of our citizens at the top of the national agenda rather than the bottom. — Founded in 1991, the Republican Liberty Caucus exists to promote individual liberty, limited government, and free enterprise within the Republican Party. To find out more, please visit www.rlc.org.  This endorsement decision was the result of a vote of RLC state chapters nationwide and certified by the national board.  This is the first time the RLC has endorsed a presidential candidate since 1996.

By Michael S. Murphy – RLC-Wisconsin Chair

Ron Paul has now surged as the GOP Presidential Frontrunner in Iowa. This is making the Republican Warfare Establishment very nervous and some speculate there will be a GOP backlash if Dr. Paul wins the Iowa Caucus.

But will this be smart on behalf of Reince Preibus’ Republican Establishment?

Over the past several years, I have been deeply entrenched in all-things-Paul. Studying the comments in the forums and watching how the independents are polling, it’s obvious that there is a very deep resentment for the treatment Ron Paul has been receiving thus far. The GOP mainstream is disenfranchising the Ron Paul loyalists by contributing to this ridicule and shunning.  This is very surprising being that Ron Paul has garnered 27.5% of the vote in the recent poll.

Can the GOP afford to lose 27.5% of their Republican vote if Ron Paul is not the GOP Nominee?

Seeing how passionate Ron Paul’s supporters are for this man of Constitutional consistency, it would set off red lights and buzzers for me if I were Reince Priebus.  I for one would have at least tried to use my RNC Chair influence to make sure that major news media outlets were reporting equally on all GOP contenders.  If that didn’t work, then I would have made my own personal appeal to the GOP base.  But that didn’t happen. Reince Priebus has been silent in his own words and has not made a plea to keep things  ”Fair and Balanced”.

Now, the Ron Paul loyalists are angry.  You can see it in their online posts, their activism at events they volunteer for; especially in helping his campaign in Iowa, and impressively in their campaign contributions to any one of Ron Paul’s Moneybombs.  In fact, the latest TEA Party moneybomb had collected over $4 Million dollars. Yes, the Ron Paul loyalists are angry; and angry they should be.

Why are these supporters so loyal you might be wondering?

It’s very simple really.  In his 12 terms as Congressman, Ron Paul has a very consistent voting record.  Adhering to the Constitution, Dr. Paul makes no vote in favor of a bill unless it is granted in the US Constitution. He predicted the recession.  He is not afraid to acknowledge the unsustainable debt of our country, and that we cannot spend money we don’t have.  Ron Paul understands the military-industrial complex– the perpetual cycle of overseas wars and imperialism that has depleted our budget, caused enemies abroad, and resulted in tremendous casualties. And he has exposed the conflictions the Federal Reserve poses to our Free Market Economy.

Although these are just a very few of the major reasons Ron Paul loyalists are so enthralled with him, many can cite several pages for their support. But just these few reasons are examples that no other GOP Presidential Nomination contender can self-apply.  The field is currently stocked with the same old dyed-in-the-wool Neoconservatives and Big Government Progressive Conservatives.  With his never-ending passion to uphold the Constitution and the Founding Fathers’ intent, Ron Paul stands above all other Republican Presidential hopefuls both different and alone.

So why are so many Republicans against Ron Paul?

Today’s Republican Party has become a Big Government Conservative Party.  (Huh? Yes, I know…) The sentiment that is present is that Republicans can run a better Big Government than their Democratic counterparts. But Big Government policies and global stormtrooping are policies that are completely different from the Republican principals when the Party was established in our Great State of Wisconsin back in 1854. Ron Paul poses a serious threat to the GOP establishment and Republican Beltway politicians. In his struggle to keep a limited government, Ron Paul’s vision of limiting government would put many in government out of business and yield power to many of the powerbrokers.

Despite the new scene within the Republican Party, the major consensus that still stands strong is to keep government out of the hands of the Democrats. This is a core struggle that is the essence of the Party itself. Many Party loyalists go as far as to claim that come 2012, they will vote for “Anyone But Obama”.

REALLY?

If that is the sentiment within the GOP, then a Ron Paul nomination is not so far fetched.  In another poll recently released, Ron Paul is deemed the most likely to beat President Obama.  If the current crusade is “Anyone But Obama”, then only a fool would stand against Ron Paul being given the nomination. After all, polling reflects he can clearly beat the current President, whose base is fleeing as much as his approval rating is diminishing.  In addition, many are speculating that even anti-war/pro-civil liberties Democrats are looking to vote for Ron Paul over Barack Obama, if that is the match up come general election.

The Ultimatum

The Iowa Caucus will kick off all caucuses and primaries on January 3, 2012. Since there has been not one vote cast for any Republican contender, the field remains completely open.  No candidate is an actual frontrunner, as far as official votes are concerned, or Party favorite as of yet.  Therefore, despite what many in the mainstream media are trying to portray, Ron Paul IS NOT a spoiling third-party candidate; he is a valid Republican contender and should be treated as such.

Taking into consideration the current polling and the strong, unwavering support for Ron Paul by his loyalists, the Republican Party, if they wish to unseat President Obama, has to seriously consider nominating Ron Paul as the Republican Presidential Candidate.

Why?

As the RLC-WI Chair and fellow Ron Paul supporter, I am calling on all the members of the entire Republican Liberty Caucus nationwide, to vote for Ron Paul not only in the Republican Primaries and Caucuses, but in the Presidential General Election too.

I, along with many others, am done with having to be forced to choose the lesser of two evils in what really is a two-party dictatorship.  I see absolutely no difference between the likes of Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney and Barack Obama.  Individuals like these, both Democratic and Republican, have the same Big Government Statist, globalistic agenda. Sure, they may differ on some issues, but ultimately they have proven by their track records to be proponents of expanding government, not of limiting government. They have restricted individual rights, not upheld them.  And they have restricted and regulated our Market Economy, not completely allowed to maintain and keep it fundamentally free.

Come general election day, I shall vote for Ron Paul.  Whether I check the box for Ron Paul as the nominated Republican candidate or have to write-in his name, Ron Paul and only Ron Paul, shall receive my vote.  I call on all defenders of Liberty and the Constitution to join me as well; and encourage all those in your spheres of influence to do the same.

This Republic shall no longer be held hostage to the party elites and the agenda spinning media.  We, as citizens, shall no longer have to choose such marginal candidates who after time and time again, fail to keep their promises.  Ron Paul has a proven and consistent track record which backs every thing he says.

The option is now for all Republicans to decide…  Choose Ron Paul as your GOP Presidential Nominee or face a significant voter shortage come the general election for an alternate candidate that will suffer the same fate as John McCain did in 2008.

Many will claim that this action is simply another vote for Obama.  If Newt Gingrich or Mitt Romney becomes President, it is my personal belief that we will not see that much of a difference, if any.

If Republicans want Barack Obama removed from office, the only secure option is to vote Ron Paul as the Republican Presidential Nominee.

This is now the Republican’s ultimatum. Choose wisely.

 

WASHINGTON DC – In a late session last night, just one day before the 220th anniversary of the day the Bill of Rights were officially added to the Constitution, the U.S. House approved the Conference Report version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).  The NDAA includes provisions, contained in sections 1021 and 1022,  that would allow the President to use US Military forces to operate inside the United States, in violation of Posse Comitatus, to arrest US civilians and hold them in military detention without charges for an indefinite period of time; an act that will take away the right of Habeas Corpus, a fundamental legal protection guaranteed under the Bill of Rights.

According to the Roll Call Vote, which concluded with a 283-163 vote in favor of the conference report, the RLC-WI learned that Rep. Reid Ribble was the only Republican Congressional member from the State of Wisconsin to vote against HR 1540: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012.  All other Republican Congressman (Ryan, Sensenbrenner, Petri, and Duffy) voted in favor of this Bill of Rights killing legislation.

RLC-WI Chair, Michael S. Murphy, commented:

“I am literaly shocked to learn that only one lone Republican Congressman from Wisconsin had the courage to uphold and defend the US Constitution, a solemn oath he swore to keep upon taking office, while his colleagues simply negated the very same document that allows them to serve this great Nation.”

Murphy continued:

“I want to sincerely thank Congressman Reid Ribble for standing against his collegues and performing his Constitutional duties to uphold our civil liberties;  not only for his constituents, but for all American People. Rep. Ribble has shown that he can stand out on his own and do the job he was voted in to do for the people he serves.”

Sections 1021 and 1022 have been in heated debate during the course of this bill in Congress. Law enforcement -including the FBI, national security agencies and the military itself, all oppose this aspect of the NDAA. The RLC-WI believes if citizens commit crimes that they should not be held without being charged and should be prosecuted in civilian courts with their rights appropriately protected so that they receive a fair trial as defined in Amendments 4, 5, and 6 of the US Constitution.

The Senate is set to vote on this bill around 4 pm eastern today.

The Republican Liberty Caucus of Wisconsin was founded in 2009 to promote individual liberty, limited government, and free enterprise within the Republican Party.

Senate has Final Chance to Vote Down NDAA and Block Military DetentionThe final version of the National Defense Authorization Act has passed the House and will be voted on in the Senate on Thursday. Despite tens of thousands of emails and calls the wording in the bill which would allow indefinite military detention of US citizens has not been changed substantially.  The offending sections have been renumbered to cause confusion. They are now sections 1021 and 1022  (You can read the conference report in this PDF), and although there are slight changes in the language it still allows for military detention of civilians at the discretion of the President.

The only remaining way to block this unprecedented attack on our civil liberties and to preserve our Constitutionally guaranteed rights is to vote down the entire bill on the Senate floor and send it back to committee for revision.

Representative Justin Amash (RLC-MI) was surprisingly successful marshalling Republican opposition in the House but there just weren’t enough votes.  He wrote of our efforts:

“For those of you who don’t believe that your calls and e-mails to Members of Congress work, let me assure you that they do. Members “freak out” when they receive more than half a dozen calls on any issue.”

“Thanks to our efforts, several Members of Congress are reconsidering their support for the NDAA provisions that permit the indefinite detention of Americans without charge or trial. They have approached me on the House floor to let me know. Please keep up your efforts.”

Law enforcement, national security agencies and the military itself all oppose this aspect of the NDAA. Like most Americans we believe in a strong and effective national defense and the unqualified support of our troops, but that does not mean we should sacrifice our most basic legal protections under the Constitution in our pursuit of the War on Terror. We certainly shouldn’t make our own troops the enemies of our people in the service of a government which has forgotten the principles on which our nation was founded. If we give up everything which makes America a great nation in pursuit of a tiny bit of additional safety then the terrorists have won.

Please help support our work to bring our government under control and restore our liberties by donating using the PayPal link below. You can also join the RLCto become part of our network of member-activists.

You may think that this sort of insane legislation which totally undermines our Constitutionally protected rights can’t be real. You may find it hard to believe that most Republicans are supporting it. You may not think this could happen in your America. Yet this outrage is entirely real and our only hope is to demand that our elected representatives listen to our concerns and stand up for liberty by voting down the NDAA and resubmitting it without these provisions.

It is very unlikely that President Obama will veto this bill and we cannot rely on his judgement on this important issue. Even if you previously wrote in during our efforts to stop the bill in the Senate and during Reconciliation, please take this opportunity to write your Senators using the form below to ask them to vote down the final version of the NDAA and get to work fixing it and protecting our liberty. We encourage you to customize the text to express your personal concern and outrage.

If you prefer to call your Senators on Monday, use our tool to get their phone numbers.

Liberty Republicans Stand Against Military Detention

National media outlets join legislators in ignoring the pleas

of a people crying out for the preservation of their rights

 

This letter was sent over the weekend by New Hampshire State Representative (and state RLC Secretary) Andrew Manuse to his representatives in Congress. It sums up very effectively what many in the Republican party feel about the failure of our elected leaders on the issue of indefinite military detention in the National Defense Authorization Act. We can hope that even if they don’t listen to the thousands of grassroots Republicans who are calling and writing them they might listen to our compatriots like Rep. Manuse, Rep. Justin Amash and many others who hold elective office.

Dear Sens. Ayotte and Shaheen and Rep. Guinta:

I understand how form e-mails to representatives and senators are not taken seriously, because they indicate a lack of effort on the part of a constituent to even read into an issue and think about it on his or her own. I typically give such e-mails less attention when I receive them, so I wanted to make sure to type an original message to you before the form letter text, which is below my first signature. This letter is being sent to Sens. Ayotte and Shaheen as well as Rep. Guinta, as a grievance against the federal government and the Congress, as written by a state representative for his constituents.

I’m sure you know by now that I am disappointed with the direction of our Congress, particularly the House (I expect the wrong direction from a Senate controlled by Sen. Reid). To be clear, I am opposed to what all three of you are doing in Washington for the most part, with a few minor exceptions. I am also certain that the American people and the people of New Hampshire share my views. We expected more from you. I understand your job is to use your own judgment and not bend to the whim of a handful of constituents, like me; however, I would hope that you would at least take my grievance against you into deep consideration.

Specifically, I would expect each of you as my representative and senators from New Hampshire, a state that treasures the Live Free or Die attitude of our founders, to make a lot more noise against the usurpation of authority in the several bills that have come before you this session, particularly sections 1031 and 1032 of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2011. Your leadership has been quite unsatisfactory, to say the least, on this matter.

Besides the Patriot Act reauthorization bill, no bill would be more damaging to our way of life and liberties as Americans than sections 1031 and 1032 of the National Defense Authorization Act as adopted in the Senate. If this bill passes and the federal government acts to indefinitely detain a U.S. citizen without allowing that citizen to face his or her accusers and without allowing that citizen to be judged by a jury of his or her peers–inalienable rights under our Constitution–this government will be in breech of contract and I fear it will no longer have the consent of the governed, if it hasn’t lost that consent already. I do not want to think about what might come next, but I can tell you definitively that I very much want to avoid it. I have a wife and children, currently, and we just want to live at peace, without the government interfering in our lives. I know many of my constituents share this view.

To avoid the end to the path we’re currently on, I am pleading with you to fight against these two provisions, sections 1031 and 1032 of the National Defense Authorization Act as adopted in the Senate, with every ounce of energy that you have. This may just be the last shot we have at restoring a sense of honor to the Congress and our federal government.

The U.S. government was created to protect the life, liberty and property of all citizens, equally under the law. Yet, with laws like the Patriot Act and the provisions within the National Defense Authorization Act, we now have a government that is making war with the very citizens it was formed to protect. We have a government that is making it impossible for citizens to be lawful, and thus, they will become increasingly lawless and I fear even greater conflict between the government and the citizens, who are the rulers of themselves, will result. Such anarchy was what our government was created to prevent. But when the government passes laws that are unconscionable, let alone unenforceable under the Constitution, it leaves the citizens with no other avenue than anarchy. This would be an anarchy created by the government, and it is an anarchy that I do not want to live under, let alone subject my family to live under. What else would be the result than a government crackdown against its own citizens, even more horrific than the one perpetrated in these provisions. What kind of nation would we be?

I am asking you, no pleading with you, to heed my words and please, respect the rule of law and the constitution. Please do everything within your power to remove sections 1031 and 1032 of the National Defense Authorization Act (Senate version) during the reconciliation process. Our Republic is standing on such tenuous ground right now. We cannot afford anything else like these provisions that will weaken the Republic further, and put the very spirit of lawlessness, within our law.

Sincerely,
Rep. Andrew J. Manuse, R-Derry

Your Emails and Calls Can Stop Indefinite Military Detention in the Conference Committee

Last week we were part of an epic struggle led by Senator Rand Paul (RLC-KY) to block the inclusion of language in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which would make it legal for US Military forces to operate inside the US in violation of Posse Comitatus and arrest US civilians and hold them in military detention without charges for an indefinite period of time in violation of the right of Habeas Corpus, a fundamental legal protection under the Bill of Rights. Granting these extraordinary powers to the military is obviously unconstitutional and is opposed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other law enforcement agencies.

Efforts to remove indefinite military detention from the NDAA were blocked by establishment leaders from both parties in the Senate, though Senator Paul did lead a last minute effort to successfully defeat an unexpected additional amendment which would have given the government even more extensive powers to arrest and hold citizens without charges.

Please help support our work to bring our government under control and restore our liberties by donating using the PayPal link below. You can also join the RLCto become part of our network of member-activists. To make a recurring monthly donation try this link: Enter the maximum amount to pay each month: $ USD Sign up for

The original problem sections (1031 and 1032) are still in the bill and contrary to the claims of supporters of the bill, the wording of section 1032 does not, in fact, provide protection for US citizens. The use of the phrase “not required” instead of “prohibited” leaves the decision to allow the military to detain citizens entirely in the hands of federal authorities.

The only remaining opportunity to have these sections removed from the bill will be during the coming week in the reconcilliation process where members of both houses in a conference committee negotiate a final version of the bill. During this process all members of Congress can make recommendations for changes or adjustments in the language and if there is enough outcry it’s possible that the joint committee will do the right thing. Reconcilliation will be wrapping up in the next few days so a final push on this issue on Monday the 12th is absolutely essential.

This will be our last chance to fix the bill and protect our liberties short of hoping for an increasingly unlikely veto from President Obama. Even if you previously wrote in during our effort to stop the bill in the Senate, please take this opportunity to write both your Represenative and Senators using the form below to ask them to speak up against the inclusion of indefinite military detention in the bill. We encourage you to customize the text to express your personal concern and outrage.

If you prefer to call your Congressmen on Monday, use our tool to get their phone numbers.

Your Emails and Calls Can Stop Indefinite Military Detention in the Conference Committee

Last week we were part of an epic struggle led by Senator Rand Paul (RLC-KY) to block the inclusion of language in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which would make it legal for US Military forces to operate inside the US in violation of Posse Comitatus and arrest US civilians and hold them in military detention without charges for an indefinite period of time in violation of the right of Habeas Corpus, a fundamental legal protection under the Bill of Rights. Granting these extraordinary powers to the military is obviously unconstitutional and is opposed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other law enforcement agencies.

Efforts to remove indefinite military detention from the NDAA were blocked by establishment leaders from both parties in the Senate, though Senator Paul did lead a last minute effort to successfully defeat an unexpected additional amendment which would have given the government even more extensive powers to arrest and hold citizens without charges.

Please help support our work to bring our government under control and restore our liberties by donating using the PayPal link below. You can also join the RLCto become part of our network of member-activists. To make a recurring monthly donation try this link: Enter the maximum amount to pay each month: $ USD Sign up for

The original problem sections (1031 and 1032) are still in the bill and contrary to the claims of supporters of the bill, the wording of section 1032 does not, in fact, provide protection for US citizens. The use of the phrase “not required” instead of “prohibited” leaves the decision to allow the military to detain citizens entirely in the hands of federal authorities.

The only remaining opportunity to have these sections removed from the bill will be during the coming week in the reconcilliation process where members of both houses in a conference committee negotiate a final version of the bill. During this process all members of Congress can make recommendations for changes or adjustments in the language and if there is enough outcry it’s possible that the joint committee will do the right thing. Reconcilliation will be wrapping up in the next few days so a final push on this issue on Monday the 12th is absolutely essential.

This will be our last chance to fix the bill and protect our liberties short of hoping for an increasingly unlikely veto from President Obama. Even if you previously wrote in during our effort to stop the bill in the Senate, please take this opportunity to write both your Represenative and Senators using the form below to ask them to speak up against the inclusion of indefinite military detention in the bill. We encourage you to customize the text to express your personal concern and outrage.

If you prefer to call your Congressmen on Monday, use our tool to get their phone numbers.

The REINS Act (HR10/S299) is up for debate in the House today and in the Senate next week. Sponsored by Representative Geoff Davis (R-KY) and Senator Rand Paul (RLC-KY), this act would require federal agencies to submit any regulation which would have an annual impact of $100 million or more for a vote of approval by Congress.

The REINS Act would have a big impact in limiting the power of Federal bureaucracies like the EPA and Department of Energy by stopping them from using rules and regulations which have not been passed by Congress to interfere with commerce and impose huge costs and economic burdens on states and businesses.

Right now the bureaucrats are effectively legislating outside of the authority of the Constitution and setting policy and incurring huge costs with no oversight by the branch of government which is supposed to do the job. We need to return control over regulation and policy to representatives who we elect and can vote out of office.  The REINS Act does not end the legitimate regulatory role of the federal government, it just restores necessary oversight and accountability

While we believe that the threshold of harm set in the act is probably too high, this is a good start towards limiting the power of the Federal bureaucracy and stimulating job growth and the economy at no cost and a likely substantial benefit to taxpayers.

Please take a moment to email your Representative and Senators today and urge them to vote in support of the REINS Act.

There was something opportunistic about the Herman Cain presidential campaign from the get-go. No state campaign organizations, lots of emphasis on selling his recently released book, and issue positions which seemed to be made-up on the spot to entertain an audience. It worked for a while. It took him to the top of the polls in a number of states about a month ago in a surge generated by strong debate performances, but it couldn’t last and maybe it was never intended to.

Most of us who were waiting for a crash to follow his surge expected it to be on the basis of the illogic of his 9-9-9 plan which would have raised taxes on 80% of the population and subjected many in the middle class to forms of taxation from which they had previously been exempt. Once the novelty wore off it was clear that it was a recipe for disaster if it faced any serious examination.

Most probably didn’t anticipate the flurry of “bimbo erruptions” which filled the past month, a bulging handful of shaky accusations of sexual harassment and finally a full-fledged mistress with phone records and bank deposits which were hard to dismiss. It all raised the question once again of the seriousness of Cain’s campaign, because he is clearly no fool and has to have gone into this endeavor knowing that there was a strict time limit on his viability and a certainty that his rise to prominence would drag the skeletons of his past to the surface.

As he suspends his campaign we end with a sad commentary on the Republican Party which is so eager for someone to dislodge the mendacious mediocrities of the party establishment like Romney and Gingrich that they will turn to any charlatan with a good patter and the right brand of snake-oil in his hand.

With Cain proving to be just as corrupt in his own way as Perry and Gingrich and Romney, perhaps it’s time for the GOP constituency to try something different – a candidate with integrity. At the rate things are going they may be forced to this appealing last resort because the field of grifters and yes-men is narrowing and that leaves room for candidates with some integrity.

I’m not talking about Bachmann or Santorum here. I’ll grant they have a certain sort of fanatical integrity, but crazy trumps integrity every time and explains why they’re stuck in single digits and are never going to get out of them.

What the grassroots members who make up the backbone of the Republican Party are desperate for is a candidate with qualities which make them exceptional. Not exceptionally good at pandering and exceptionally good looking, but exceptional in the quality of their ideas and their character.

The irony of the race thus far is that they have had candidates of exceptional quality available to them all along and they have let the media minimize them and the party leadership marginalize them and they’ve gone for the flashier but far less substantial candidates who have let them down time and again as Perry and Cain have and as Gingrich and Romney are sure to do.

The three candidates who stand out as truly worthy of the support which Republican voters are Ron Paul, John Huntsman and Gary Johnson. They represent the highest ideals of the Republican Party, have histories of personal integrity and they have actual ideas which might solve the nations problems and put us back on the path to prosperity. They’re also far more likely to beat Obama in November than most of the other candidates if they’re given that chance.

Ron Paul stands out for having the strongest combination of integrity and proven ability to pull votes. Paul is already polling in the top three in almost every poll and has a powerful base of support which isn’t going to break and run and could easily push him over the top. Herman Cain supporters are already flocking to Paul, realizing that he’s the genuine version of what Cain was peddling in a watered down form.. Paul offers real reform, real fiscal conservatism and a record which suggests an absolute unwillingness to compromise with the leaders of both parties who have led us so far astray. His personal social conservatism gives him an edge in the primary and his libertarian principles could win over independents in the general election.

Jon Huntsman has a proven track record as a governor, an appealing personal charisma and a combination of fiscal conservatism and moderation on social issues which would win key independents and crossover Democrats in droves. He also has more personal money to throw into the campaign than most of the other candidates. Huntsman has some libertarian ideas and some original ideas and a streak of integrity a mile wide. His absolute refusal to pander to the religious right is endearing. He won’t go on Huckabee, he won’t have anything to do with events sponsored by the religious fringe and he won’t even campaign in Iowa with the compromises that seems to entail. And much to everyone’s surprise, before Cain had even bowed out, he hit 11% in the latest poll in New Hampsire, suggesting that he’s a real contender.

Of course, the best of the neglected candidates waiting in the wings is former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson. He has an outstanding record in office and some of the best ideas, including being the only advocate for the FairTax. He’s also been the whipping boy for the media and the party establishment. He’s been overlooked and excluded from debates and press coverage and left out of the polls, and he’s sufficiently disgruntled he’s even considered jumping ship to the Libertarian party. But despite all that he’s still in the race and if Cain’s departure opens a spot in the primary field then Johnson is the one who ought to be brought in to fill it. There’s no one more deserving and no one who could do more with another opportunity.

While the partisan press continues to prattle on about Romney and Gingrich, two candidates who no one really wants, one a replay of 2008 and the other a replay of 1994, there’s a real field of candidates out there that Republicans could truly be proud of. After all the disappointments and missteps of party leaders, a primary field led by Paul, Huntsman and Johnson might restore confidence in a party which is on the brink of failure and has broken faith with its own base too many times.

My Republican Party isn’t represented by the Newts and Mitts of the world. It’s not a party of tired old hacks and used care salesman smiles. It’s a party of smart ideas and responsible government and refreshing honesty. It’s a party which can celebrate candidates like Paul, Huntsman and Johnson, embrace them and let them show us what a real election with serious candidates can be like. They are the tonic for the disease which grips the party. They are the serious contenders to counter the damage done by flirtation with faux candidates like Cain.

Abraham Lincoln won the Republican Party its first national victory with a “team of rivals” bringing the best his party had to offer to Washington. Paul, Huntsman and Johnson could be that winning team for a new era of Republican politics if we can discard the baggage of our old mistakes and believe in the brighter future which they represent.

This article appeared in slightly different form in Blogcritics Magazine.