I'm not sure there is such a thing as an unbiased source..even those claiming the mantle of neutral are peopled by humans. Humans tend to be biased.
I'm a big time Ron Paul supporter, but it just wont happen. I don't think many people understand just how this thing works. There is an establishment elite in this country and perhaps the world. It's not like they are sitting around twirling mustaches and coming up with evil conspiracies (although now that the bilderberg has gone public with their own website, i guess that's up to debate, lol: http://www.bilderbergmeetings.org/index.php )but they generally have the same goals and promote the establishment line. Remember, due to government regulations and other powers, the mainstream media has been reduced to about 4 mega corporations. They all have the same goals, because that's the source of their power and wealth. That's why close to the top, both parties are EXACTLY the same and push the EXACT same policies, despite differences in rhetoric. Remember that Bill Clinton was basically a libertarian when compared to big government W. Bush, and now Obama comes in with basically the same level of massive government as W Bush. The establishment elite pushes BIG GOVERNMENT. Whether in regulation or spending. They love it, because if they didn't have the billy club of big government, then these guys would actually have to compete with other corporations/companies/people. It is much easier to get a regulation passed which restricts competition rather than to actually make a better/cheaper product. It's much easier to get a fat tasty contract from the government, then earn it from real people in the marketplace. So, would the establishment elite ever allow such a thing as a true small government guy to take over? NEVER. If he even started to gain any serious traction, you would not see the end of the stories, i can see it now: Ron paul = racist Ron Paul = rapist Ron Paul = pedaphile Ron Paul = murderer etc. Their establishment puppets like Obama, Gingrich, ex FED director Cain, the ken dolls Perry and the Mormon guy (forgot his name), et al.
There is truth to what you say but here's the thing, the establishment elites are not the only ones voting in the primaries. Ron Paul is polling first in Iowa and second in NH right now. He has the organization, fundraising, and most importantly, a genuine message of change (real change, not Obama change). As reality coalesces with the message he has been preaching for decades, more and more Americans are waking up to the interchangeability of our two party duopoly and the fact that Ron Paul is truly not of the status quo. Seeing as how the status quo is responsible for getting us to the edge of the proverbial cliff, Ron Paul, as you well know, provides a legitimate chance to turn things around. The entire political establishment, both left and right, has engaged in a concerted effort to marginalize both his support and fragment his message and the end result has been more fundraising and better poll numbers. The Ron Paul revolution now has a momentum of its own. Will he definitely win the GOP nomination? I would not make that claim. However, he has a legitimate shot. If he does well in the first few primary states, the lack of a strong establishment front runner means the GOP herd will be divided and many will be open to a Ron Paul presidency. So, while I agree with much of what you've stated, I disagree with your adamant belief that "it just won't happen". It may not happen, but he has a legitimate shot.
If Mitt the flip was the consensus GOP pick, we would not have had rotating front runners for the last several weeks. Clearly the GOP elite does not think Mitt can overcome his flops or his Mormanisms.
If we wanted to quantify "big government", and get an idea of that number's meaning in context, what variables would we look at?
Me too, but I don't have much hope he'll win the election doing so. Doing so WOULD all but guarantee another 4 years of the Obama disaster though.
But what are the negative symptoms? Your taxes are too high? Your freedoms too constricted? I mean, without symptoms, what you've stated is a technicality. Look around the world, your taxes (excepting California for the moment) are middle of road (remarkable, considering we're an empire). Your freedoms are still envied. So how is government "too big", just in theory?