they are aware of it very well. but it is still marginal to have much impact on republican establishment which has control of the money. in the future - maybe, but not now.
Yup, like I said, slow to change; relatively speaking, in modern terms, of course, and to their detriment. To a Stone Ager this all would be blindingly fast, and as I age the change does seem to accelerate.
two parties are not enough to cover all spectrum. we really have 4 main distinct flavors: far-right/libertarian, center-right, center-left, and far-left/socialist.
I think that might be changed by the Internet too. Before the Internet, libertarianism could be easily dismissed. Just as products are increasingly becoming customized to niche markets, I suspect political parties will be too. I think this libertarian breakthrough may be just the cusp of the change. This isn't the fault of Ron Paul or the libertarians, it's a societal change, and that's what Rush Limbaugh and other dinosaurs don't understand (and I'm old enough to be a dinosaur too, in this fast-changing age--both Rush and I will be cast aside at some point, as will everything that isn't "new and improved").
Libertarians tried to warn establishment Republicans of all this, but they refused to listen and instead tried to dismiss Ron and all libertarians as "kooks" and "nuts." The chamelion, Romney, may still win, or maybe Perry will even regenerate, but the handwriting is on the wall. It's only a matter of time. An Internet society will become increasingly libertarian and segmented/customized. If the technology progresses, then so will this change and other unforeseen changes.
For example, traditional "values" and religion will become increasingly irrelevant and anyone who continues to espouse them (and some will, as there is a minority reaction to most actions) will become increasingly marginalized as reactionary kooks, even within the Republican party--especially if the fundamentalist Islamists continue to bomb people.
Romney's pretty sharp/cunning, so I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't change yet again and incorporate some of this libertarian boom into his own campaign. Never underestimate a chamelion. As a matter of fact, I predict that at some point Romney will adopt a more libertarian slant. He'll do whatever he thinks is necessary to win.
The most establishment of all Republicans has endorsed Romney...beware--don't count out or underestimate this Romney guy, libertarians:
Elder Bush backs Romney, snubs Perry, is no Gingrich fanhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-16310753 The elder Bush is showing his blue-blood, ivory-tower Yale roots and abandoning his brief Texas down-home pretensions:
"I'm not his biggest advocate," [George H. W. Bush] said, describing how Mr Gingrich withdrew his support after Mr Bush reneged on a campaign pledge of no new taxes, during a recession.
Ah, crap. It looks like the establishment have already dug up some more dirt on Ron:
In ad for newsletter, Ron Paul forecast "race war," (In ad for newsletter, Ron Paul forecast "race war," http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/sns-rt-us-usa-campaign-paul-plotstre7bm033-20111222,0,3766303.story).
You knew that the establishment were going to try to find something like this. This is ambrosia for the Romney camp. They had to dig deep, but the establishment media will love this and try to destroy Ron Paul over it. This is the fear-mongering the establishment have perfected to ensure their continued domination. I can hear it now: "Don't vote for Ron, he'll bring on this race war he predicted. Stick with the safe, sensible, Romney. Sure, he doesn't have any core values, but at least he isn't as kooky and DANGEROUS as Paul." They're clearly hoping that this will be the destroying revelation, a la the Cain revelations, that enable their favored establishment candidate (Romney) to rise above the plebian sludge and accept the predestined crown. Good grief, I hope my worst nightmare, of a Romney nomination, isn't coming true, but it seems almost inevitable, with the powers that be supporting him. If only the rest of the nation were intimately familiar with Romney's behavior in Massachusetts.
It's all so predictable, yet still disappointing. Let's hope that the libertarian trend overcomes this establishment attack, and others to come.
