Paul isn't a libertarian. He's a Republican with Libertarian views on most subjects. I like him because he's honest that way: unlike the fools on this board who say they're libs but really are just Republicans who would have been Dixiecrats before 1964, and make the right noises on other subjects simply because it's a requirement of their self-styled political philosophy, or because it fits in with their anti-Semitism. (Oh dear, I'm sure I offended some one of these fools. I'm so sorry.) I'm sure Ron Paul would disagree vehemently with me on this, but his son is a perfect example. I would be very comfortable with Ron Paul in the White House, and very uncomfortable with his son occupying the Oval Office. Paul Senior is the real deal, but is honest enough to understand which party between the two he belongs in. Even the fact he is unabashedly in the Republican Party is a point in his favor.
Republicans are authoritarian on social subjects. Paul is there because he agrees with them on abortion. He also agrees with them on immigration. Note that Tom Donlan, the editorialist from Barron's, a true Libertarian, once said in one of his editorials, that "the only problem with illegal immigration is the illegality of immigration." Paul would never say that. Neither would any of the self-styled Libertarians on this board.
Paul would never have agreed with Reagan granting amnesty nor did he agree with Bush and McCains attempts to grant amnesty Paul actually seems to despise the republican party and most of the party despises him.They even tried to keep him away from Mccains convention and republican leaders like Rush Limbaugh bash him on a regular basis,in debates republican politicians try to make him look like a nut etc
Ron Paul has always marched to his own drummer, but must be identified with a party for fund-raising, legitimacy, and so forth. The republicans don't want him and effectively blocked him from getting any traction in 2008. They will try again, but picking up supporters such as trefoil and AK could change matters. If these two idiots( AK being the lesser idiot) can figure it out, then maybe there is hope for the US after all.
That first sentence shows him to be in the Republican mainstream on the issue. It's NOT a Libertarian viewpoint. As for the Republicans trying to keep him away, well of course. Would the Democrats let a real socialist into their convention? Have you ever seen Bernie Sanders address a national Democratic convention? Do you think they'd let him anywhere near whatever arena they were holding it in? And if they finally allowed him in, it would be only to let him speak at 3AM in the morning after the nominee had been decided and everyone had gone to bed. Don't be naive.