I agree - Paul Ryan is no Ron Paul, primarily because he has a different mind and body.
Operating on the belief that convention delegates are not bound to vote for the candidate under whose banner they were selected, the author speaks only to the legally of the issue.
There is also an important moral issue for such delegates that consider "switching" - will they defraud those that selected them as delegate representatives?
Being a moral issue each individual will have to decide for themselves. If I were a delegate, and I am not, I prefer to see myself maintaining a fidelity and would not even consider the question of switching on the first ballot. But that’s me – it would be interesting to see many comments on this article that specify how they feel about this moral question.

So, we have the only honest, ethical, conservative, with a clear sense of the compassion and transparency needed to operate an ethical government, by the people, for the people (Dr. Paul), And the media never puts him in headlines. And we have the poster boy for the Power Elite (Willard Romney) who continue to bankrupt this country, both financially and morally, touting the most outrageous lies in political history, who gets the headlines all the time as the presumptive Republican candidate. Once more, the media and our intellectual laziness will continue to hand our country to that same Power Elite. We have only ourselves to blame, with the complicity of the media.

There is no moral dilemma here. If you originally supported romney and change your mind before the convention or vice versa and vote Ron Paul then that's perfectly fine, and is your right as a delegate a nd an American. However being a delegate at least in my mind I would assume you know your political stance and that of each candidate very well, that's why you were elected to represent your state. What is morally deplorable is using lies, strong arm tactics, and coercion to force and or intimidate any person, let alone a delegate to vote against their will.

You Ron Paul morons need to learn when to give up. Paul is not the answer in the first place. IMHO Romney is not the best. However he has won the necessary delegates and will be nominated. We have a Marxist ideologue to defeat, and need to get focused, and quit the childish little temper tantrums that you folks are always throwing. Grow the hell up!

Amen to that, Smitty. The Paul people are still tilting at their windmills and imagine Romney shaking in his boots over the power of the mighty Paul (i.e., the guy who more or less finished last in primary voting). I am not losing sleep over this, and I know Gov. Romney isn't either. The public barely even remembers Ron Paul (he might have a little media time with his "festival" near the convention), and after the convention and the dust has settled, the Paulbots will still be talking about vaccines, the illuminati and 9/11 in their little internet world.

We'll see. It is not over and done with yet. I am not affiliated with either party, but if the Republcans refuse transparency and undermine their own delegates attendance with shifty behaviors described above, they deserve defeat.

Thanks for all the great tips on what's wrong with Paul Ryan. It's a great start to the letter I'm writing for all my Democratic friends! Still have to verify, but it's great to have a starting place.
My DVR is all set for the Republican Convention, too. You guys are so much more entertaining than the Kardashians!

If the Romney campaign made an honest attempt at unifying the GOP by selecting a running mate whose views align with the Liberty Caucus, I was going to consider voting for him but this confirms that I won't be voting for either party. Good and timely editorial Jane.

Thank you Jane for the facts about Paul Ryan. Indeed, Ryan is no Ron Paul; Ryan cannot even stand in the shadow of Ron Paul. As you correctly point out, his voting record shows that he is just another big government, imperialistic neocon. Ryan adds nothing to Romney's hopes of becoming the next president. I lament the fact that there is not even one imitation of Ron Paul either in our midst or on the political horizon. This pseudo-imitation is grotesque when compared to Ron Paul.

Paul Ryan voted for TARP, the bailouts, making the PATRIOT Act permanent, surveillance without a warrant, No Child Left Behind, keep the troops in Iraq indefinitely, and the 2008 & 2009 stimulus. Ryan wants to balance the budget by 2040! Doesn't cut spending at all! RON PAUL will balance the budget in his first term & voted against ALL of Ryan's boondoggles. Help send me to Tampa. I'm a National Delegate and we are going to do everything we can to get Ron the nomination, and we won't back down!
I'm spending two weeks in Tampa serving on the Platform Cmte & attending the convention. It's very expensive & I'm not one of those rich republicans.Help send a delegate to Tampa to nominate RON PAUL! Any help will be MOST appreciated. Donate at the link below where you can read more about my effort:
http://www.cynseerlyyours.blogspot.com/

My article was a reaction to the question of whether Ryan was conservative enough to satisfy those who are not sold on Romney. It is simply my observation that they are not, due to his being very much like the status quo they protested since 2007. None of us are responsible for Ryan's record, only he is responsible for that. As for 'forgetting' about someone who has such the impact he has on the youth who will inherit the future of this country, the MSM tried very hard to keep its viewers in the dark, even suggesting several times that Paul had dropped out in an effort to promote Romney, but in this day and age of the internet those who seek truthful information weren't fooled.

Now we hear that the Romneyites are having more "tantrums" in Maine. How can anyone here talk about "temper tantrums" and "growing up" - they can't.

Thank you Jane! I really wish we had the option on Patch to "like" individual comments...

The reminder at the bottom of this column asks to tell how I feel. How about how I think? I think it is fortunate for the leadership that there are a lot of people like Smitty and nibelung, who can are induced by moronic slogans, hollow, pointless, ad hominem, attacks on the "marxist" Dems or the "fascist" Reps. They are all Republicrats. Obama a Marxist? Wake up. Obama is completely owned by the Power Elite. Romney IS the Power Elite. Paul Ryan is Romney lIte, without the backing and the mega-money and maybe the smarts. But with all the insincerity, say-anything-to-get-elected, suck-up-to-the-super-rich, lying behavior that the Power Elite must have in their rent-a-Congress.

Comments about Ron Paul, the only honest, accurate, thoughtful candidate, are to remind the asleep-at-the-switch Smittys and others that they ought to dig a bit. But honesty does not seem to be what the majority want.

Ms Aitken's article gives people a start, but the Power Elite who truly own the government and are screwing all of us, can be pretty sure that the Smittys and others won't bother to ponder much beyond their conditioned reflexes.

The never-fail way to find the truth: Follow the money. (They do not want you to follow the money)

"How fortunate for the leaders that the people never think" - Adolf Hitler.

Have an entertaining rigged election, all.

When will Romney learn no matter who he picks, people who support Ron Paul like myself will never vote for him. I dont care who his running mate is. Romney will be anything you want him to be but the biggest of them all is a JOKE

I agree, Paul Ryan is no Ron Paul. Thank God he’s not! When was the last time Ron Paul was the architect of and presented a federal budget? I know of no time. Paul Ryan’s expertise however is in budget development. When was the last time that Ron Paul actually voted for anything other than Libertarian policy? In my opinion he should shed his thin Republican cloak and finally come out of the closet as the true Libertarian he is!

As far as different Tea Party factions are concerned, that’s a good thing because some are way too far right for me aligning themselves with ultra-right-wing organizations. I’m assuming that there might be some Tea Party people that may try and disrupt the Republican National Convention protesting against Romney and Ryan but they won’t pull off a coup.

We as Republicans, Libertarians and Tea Party better understand that there are only two choices available in November. Stop the bickering and whining and vote for Romney and Ryan or live with Oboma et.al for another four years. In other words put up and shut-up!

Mike Kenney

Garret --> No "we" are not. This Ron Paul voter will vote for Romney.

Bill Clinton, Al Gore & Senator Obama supported the California 2006 Prop. 87, a GMO corn ethanol welfare program.

Bill, Al, have changed opinion on the ethanol mandate, I wonder if California will make this the time for CHANGE?

I support a waiver of the ethanol mandate, voluntary use of ethanol in my gas.

Federal ethanol policy increases Government motors oil use and Big oil profit.

It is reported that today California is using Brazil sugar cane ethanol at $0.16 per gal increase over using GMO corn fuel ethanol. In this game the cars and trucks get to pay and Big oil profits are the result that may be ready for change.

We do NOT support AB 523 or SB 1396 unless the ethanol mandate is changed to voluntary ethanol in our gas.

Folks that pay more at the pump for less from Cars, trucks, food, water & air need better, it is time.

The car tax of AB 118 Nunez is just a simple Big oil welfare program, AAA questioned the policy and some folks still agree.

AB 523 & SB 1326 are just a short put (waiver) from better results.

The delegate system was designed by the founders so if the government bullshitted the masses the people that actually studied the issues could inform the public and vote UNBOUND...NO ONE IS BOUND.. If they put up Dr. Paul They would get all the die hards that just vote party,independents,anti war,military,libertarians,conservatives,pist off dems, and the anybody but obama. That's why they treat him the way they do. He makes them all seem like Big Government conservatives...He is the only one that has been honest to the people. YouTube Ron Paul 2002 predictions and then vote for the American Constitution vote Ron Paul. Write his name on a napkin if you need to and hand it to them.lol Honestly, with all the abuse I've seen to Ron Paul delegates I don't think the votes even count. You live in a Country that funds wars from both sides, bombs and gives foreign aid to countries at the same time, and convinced the American people that an honest fiscal conservative,Dr.,libertarian,civil rights leader ,constitutional,veteran is dangerous/ racist/ crazy ... ONLY IN AMERICA..LOL

Addendum: The RLC link was recently taken down and replaced with this one which shows the same information. http://www.rlc.org/2012/08/11/the-paul-ryan-record/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdqRfN9XQgM

What the news wont show you, there is a revolution brewing. 71% of all active duty military donation go to Rpaul..look it up...turn off your msm news http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdqRfN9XQgM

Sorry speech to text

Looks under rug...oh there's the US Constitution. Just stay under there for a little longer. Everyone except those crazy Paulbots have long forgotten about you. Here's an old cheeto for ya.

Hope the video works on desktop

If you can watch this and not get that you are being played by both sides I don't know what to tell you. Romney and obama same questions same exact solutions http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZLqsRqKFyI

@Trish: I truly do not think Romney can win against Obama -- he's now made it worse by demolishing his 'nice guy' image with the stuff that went on in the caucuses. So he doesn't even have that anymore. But even if he could win? Republicans will sit back and become complacent about what is going on, all because there is an R in office, even though he'll be doing the same things. This is why the two party system is a fraud set up to control the agenda.. The same people run both..

Jane --> You are correct; the system is a fraud and I do not restrict it to only the 2 party system. It has engendered in the people a tolerance for fraud, even a reverence - how often we celebrate those that successfully lie and deceive for their cunning and guile.
The people are not prepared for Liberty for they have been brainwashed over a number of generations. Ultimately the people need to be readied. Much progress has been made, though it sometimes doesn’t look like it.
In 1991 the Libertarian Party held a weekend of education and camaraderie, including a march to the Supreme Court as a means to celebrate the bi-centennial of the Bill of Rights. I was there, with less than 50 people. If that were held today, I’m confident there would be a far greater attendance than 3 ½ dozen. There is much more understanding of Liberty today than then thanks to the diligent, and sometimes painful, educational work of libertarians. But to “turn it around” requires still much more people to become attuned to Liberty. The valuable work today is still primarily in the education, and educational examples, Liberty minded people offer their fellow citizens.

One thing you can clearly see reading through the comments on this forum: Ron Paul supporters are poor, whining losers. They remind me of a 4 year old who's ranting and raving because he didn't get the candy he wanted.

Of course Paul Ryan is no Ron Paul. Why would a presidential candidate select a running mate very similar to a candidate the voters have soundly reject on three separate occasions? Only the politically naive would expect something like that.

That's right people, same questions same solutions but you like Romney because he isn't Obama...very primitive brains here.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZLqsRqKFyI. monkey level.lol monkey see monkey do I guess.

The best is they think a guy that lost a 1/3 of the party by screwing Dr. Paul, has no youth vote, no independents, no military vote, and no democrat vote can male up 20 million votes from last election.lol I guess they use the smear math when they look at the debt and the Paul Ryan budget.LMAO...They prove why we are 24th in education...

WHy are you all still talking about Ron Paul? Yes he is correct about some things but so are the rest of them excluding Obama of course. Ron is not the great one he is just another candidate another lesser evil. You all want to make a difference work on your local leadership,town all the way up to state. This time around it is Obama vs Romney and that is an easy choice to make for anyone who has an sense and life experience.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdqRfN9XQgM that's why

I would have to agree that the American people are not ready for liberty. As Dump Obama pointed out we have voted against liberty (the principled Dr. Paul) three times already, not me personally but our fellow countrymen. I find it disturbing that, like the left last election, I am basically hearing, "anyone but Obama!". This mentality it foolish at best and dangerous at worst. To think that way is essentially a childlike response. I am not as... commited as many Ron Paul supporters but I will not be lead to believe that voting my principals is wrong because, "its a vote for Obama", "he can't win", ect ect. No in fact it is those who say such things that remind me of junior high kids saying, "why are you his friend? I'm smarter and better looking you should be my friend." We have a long way to go before people are ready for the liberty of self governance which the Constitution and Bill of Rights affords us. But I have seen a fair amount of youth rejecting this farce of a government we have evolved into.

I don't know a single person in real life who is so blatantly against Ron Paul, but it's funny how when you get online and see the comments, out pop all of the complete anti-Paul people. I have to believe that this inconsistency with reality is a sure sign that the 'anti-Paul' people who are always posting on these pro-Paul articles are obviously paid commentators.

Anyway, as always, it's clear that Dr. Paul is fighting on the side of goodness. There is not one other Presidential candidate that is talking about ending the senseless killing overseas, ending the senseless gluttony at home with our bloated governments, and ending the senseless stealing of taxpayers money to fund the whole debacle. This is my call to all good-hearted people in this nation, whether Christian, Muslim, Bhuddist, Jew, Agnostic, Atheist, or any other belief, to get behind Dr. Paul, because his fight for goodness is obvious. If you care for your family, your friends, and your freedom, you will unite behind Dr. Paul.

Thank you, and take care.

-Jake

If you want Ron Paul's voice heard on a national stage, please sign my petition. You don't have to believe it will do something, but the moment of effort is worth the energy put toward truth and liberty.
http://www.change.org/petitions/the-commission-of-presidential-debates-allow-ron-paul-into-the-obama-vs-romney-debates#share?utm_source=guides&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=weekly_summary

Dear Lynn Rodger

You suggested "He (Romney) should begin by reaching out to Ron Paul and giving him the nod as our next chairman of the Federal Reserve."

To suggest that is to show a complete lack of understanding of what the Federal Reserve is.

First, it's part of a private cartel of foreign banks who run things. Only certain people would be allowed on its board or as its chair. Ron Paul would be a nightmare for them. Why? (Aside from the fact he'd never accept)

Ron Paul would never agree to become chairman of something he know is illegal and corrupt and wants dissolved! Our association with them should be ended. This is why our founders fought -- to get away from the bank of England.. However we are back in its clutches again since 1913.

The Fed is responsible for the inflation, depressions, wars, and taxes on the middle class. the IRS is their collection agency. Their bankers never go bankrupt, only the people and governments they control. Did you know the World Bank works with UNESCO to brainwash our kids?

These banks and their collectioners are not legal entities of the US government.

Read up on Ron Paul and competing currencies. Competition = strength. Sound money is the goal. Constitutional currency is the legal option. The Fed is not.

http://youtu.be/tY0TuJrFbJU

Pioneer are you suggesting that Paul would ever be invited to serve as Fed Chair? If so you're the one drinking Koolaid! It's a close society of elites to which Paul does not belong... the whole point being, do you want these people manipulating the currency to your detriment?

Let's pretend that Paul Ryan is a brilliant economist and conservative. He's no Ryan Paul, that's for sure.

Oh, now it makes sense... an agent of change? I was wondering how someone so unimpressive could be so overly hyped.

Ryan... he crafts a plan to balance the budget in 30 years as we're on the verge of a monetary and economic collapse... vs Ron Paul's proposal to balance the budget in the third year of his 4 year term. We'll never be able to get back on track as a prosperous nation if we don't wise up now, bring home ALL of the US troops and rein in the FED. We can no longer afford to be played like fools with this "vote for the lesser of two evils" game that they have gotten over on us with for the last 40 years.

If people don't get their heads out of the left right paradigm and start voting for constitutional government this country is screwed. Both parties are only growing the government and covering their own asses. There's hardly a difference. The arrogance of Obama is astounding, and the ignorant supporters of the Dems don't even see their own hypocrisy. Both sides are war mongering, totalitarians and their is no real exposure of it on the corporate mainstream news. Lew Rockwell described them as fleas on a dog. They know they're going to get squished if they don't just keep moving around.

NOTE: Just to clarify, our group does NOT endorse candidates in any race so my articles are written from my own observations of what activists are saying. And likewise those who go on TV to endorse candidates do so personally.

I've been hearing a great deal of talk about how the purpose of this election is strictly to defeat Obama. While I'd love to see this happen, I think it's important to see the bigger picture of defeating progressivism as a whole. Unfortunately, this is a mindset that has infiltrated both the Romney and Obama camps. Ron Paul may not have much of a chance of winning, but we need to make some kind of effort to preserve our free market and keep some of the liberties that are slowly being taken away. A vote for Romney is just as much a vote for progressivism as a vote for Onama.

@davekpghpa and @Steve B: You are so right on the issues. Neither Romney nor Ryan is talking issues that are serious or anyone cares about. You hit the nail on the head of what I call the 3Fs... Fiscal (federal reserve, spending, bailouts, crony cap, etc) Foreign (foreign aid, wars) and Freedom (Patriot Act, NDAA, internet, spying etc) And they cannot because they both have the wrong positions on all of the above or have voted wrongly on all of the above.

They will NOT change the direction in which this country is headed... it will just be more of the same.

The 'koolaid' we drink is the Constitution. Apparently it's not important to some of you here.