Ron Paul: Saying Iran Will Invade Israel Is "Like Saying Iran Is Going to Invade Mars"

Posted by GottaLaff , Cliff Schecter's Blog at 11:03 AM on December 23, 2007.

Ron Paul was on Meet the Press. My patented, world-famous, award-winning, renowned quick notes ensued (some paraphrasing, some direct quotes):

On taxes/spending: We can make money by cutting spending. "I want a constitutional-sized government." "Anything would be better than income tax."

On military action: We could save hundreds of billions of dollars by withdrawing all the troops, everywhere. We shouldn't be the policeman of the world and we shouldn't start wars.

He did not know the number of troops the U.S. has around the world. Tim Russert told him.

If North Korea invaded South Korea, he would not declare war. "We can't afford [this] any more. We're going bankrupt."

On Iran: If Iran invaded Israel, "That's like saying Iran is going to invade Mars... It's an impossible situation." Israel encourages America to go into Iran. "There's not a doubt that they've encouraged us to [bomb] Iran." They can't defend their borders without coming to us. We've made them second class citizens.

On Al Qaeda: "They attack us because we're over there." We've provoked Al Qaeda. Our bases in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere, bombing Iraq, siding with Israel over Pakistan, our stance on Iran...all contribute to that provocation.

Having no troops at all, bringing them all home, would eliminate Bin Laden's incentive, he'd disappear. "The problem is both the U.S. and Al Qaeda."

"We're in 130 countries, we have 700 bases"...There is "some" moral equivalent between the U.S. and Islamic fascism. "Some...I like the program Bush ran on." It changed before 9/11 when he wanted to attack Iraq.

On civil liberties: We're in wars against drugs, terrorism, etc. People are willing to sacrifice liberties. "Enough is enough. We don't the suspension of habeas corpus, we don't need the Patriot Act..." Abolish the CIA and FBI. Keep the Department of Justice and Defense. "I'm not against the CIA, FBI, just their spying and secret wars." The CIA tortures. Abolish that, but not our requirement for intelligence.

On public schools: "I was never against them. I was misquoted."

On Social Security: "We need to offer the kids a chance to get out."

On earmarks: "You're confused." That's how he tried to justify his apparently contradictory position.

On term Limits: For them. He's been in Congress for 18 years. "I've never been for voluntary term limits. That's different...Philosophy is the solution."

On immigration: In 1987, he welcomed everyone. Now, he says the "welfare state is out of control." We have to deal with immigration economically. 911 changed things. It's an economic issue. Birthright citizenship should be changed.

On the Constitution: I'm a strict Constructionist, but "amending the Constitution is constitutional."

On legalizing drugs: In 1988 he said they should all be decriminalized at the federal level. Now he says they're like alcohol was. "The war on drugs is absurd and out of control." Legalize medicinal marijuana. The decisions should be at a state level.

On race: In 2004 he criticized the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Now he says it's a property issue. All private property being under federal domain is wrong. He said, "I appeal to black people." This all has to do with the Constitution, he says.

"The Civil War was wrong. Lincoln was wrong... Slavery was phased out all over the world without civil wars... You buy the slaves and release them" instead.

On Ronald Reagan: He supported him. Now he is quoted as calling him a "traitor". "I didn't use the word 'traitor'. A 'dramatic failure', yes."

On George H.W. Bush: He says it's true that he said he "is a bum".

On George W. Bush: "He misled us. I didn't vote for him."

On Republicans v. Libertarians: "I was a Libertarian for one year [in 1988]." "But I represent what Republicanism used to be." He allows a .1% chance that he'd run as an Independent if he loses the primary.

On Mike Huckabee: He referred to Huckee's Christmas commercial using the word "fascism". He now says he was caught off guard when asked about it.

On fascism in the U.S.: "The country in the last 100 years is moving toward fascism, corporatism [not Huckee specifically]" via antagonism; by saying "if you don't vote for the war, youre not supporting our troops", we're "close to fascism...We're not moving toward Hitler fascism, but a soft form of fascism. ... Very dangerous."

Tagged as: paul

GottaLaff is a regular blogger for Cliff Schecter's Blog