IGNORANT MASSES
Ron Paul-types will never become president as long as Americans remain blind
BY MIKE ZIGLER

Mike Zigler is editor of Liberty Watch: The Magazine. After serving as news editor at Las Vegas CityLife and editor-in-chief at the UNLV Rebel Yell, he currently directs internal communications on the Las Vegas Strip. Feel free to reach him at mikezigler@cox.net  Other stories by Mike Zigler

In this era of Republican politics — where winners emerge from a base of buck-toothed hill dwellers who prefer lenses stained with nationalism and obstructed views from within their churches — Ron Paul certainly earned his verbal lynching at a South Carolina debate last month. The non-opportunist Americans who understand this country’s core problems weren’t sitting in that audience, have peered beyond the textbook messages during their so-called public education, and remain a tiny segment of the population. Suggesting America had some responsibility in the results of 9/11 was akin to the South Park episode where Priest Maxi suggests the Holy Document of Vatican Law should be changed to disallow child molestation. The audience just could not accept the message. 

Like usual, Rudy Giuliani — who has been cashing in on 9/11 and working with Karl Rove’s ruthless subordinates — immediately pounced on an opportunity to advance his well-packaged performance for the, yes, ignorant masses.

Before a nationally televised audience, Paul asserted that America’s Middle Eastern affairs such as the bombing of Iraq during the 1990s, contributed to Osama bin Laden’s 1996 declaration of war on America — a declaration that bin Laden said (get this) stemmed from America’s bombing of Iraq during that decade. Giuliani, trying to brand himself as the testosterone-driven leader America is now used to (despite his feeble physical presence), whipped up the Republican fortitude to challenge Paul, saying (and lying), “I don’t think I’ve ever heard that before, and I’ve heard some pretty absurd explanations for September 11th.”

Insert the crowd’s overwhelming approval — and demand for Paul’s retraction.

I met Paul in April 2006. His presence isn’t much, but his message and genuineness are powerful. Giuliani, on the other hand, delivers soft rhetoric overshadowed by tough patriotic talk. Frighteningly neckless, with unorthodox shoulders, forehead and posture, he all but mirrors our current reckless leader, physically and verbally. Giuliani’s identity as “America’s Mayor” is, sadly, the high-powered engine behind his strong standings in the run for the Republican nomination.

In fact, his message on terrorism, too, is eerily the same as Bush’s: Stay on the offensive. Even as my die-hard Republican publisher points out in his column this month, a position like this will eliminate conservative power.

While Giuliani has the grace and charm of George W. Bush at an elementary school meet-and-greet, that’s what America is eating up these days: Painful jokes and (perceived) exclusive access. The president (and candidates like Giuliani) strains for obvious crowd-pleasing humor as his policies cripple not only his party, but our country. Meanwhile, school-age children wear pins and buttons with his name, motto and election year, only to face warfare when their secondary education concludes and their leader’s efforts fail.

True American heroes used to be compared to this country’s Founding Fathers — those who sacrificed their lives for individual liberties and a free nation. Today, we place the likes of George W. Bush and Rudy Giuliani atop pedestals despite their lack of interest in American welfare. They care only for their agendas, and we allow them to pawn our soldiers to advance their political careers and opportunistic agendas. And this is all while great, Constitution-respecting leaders like Paul are not only isolated for their realistic views on this country’s world affairs, but crucified for suggesting that an American confession — like the one he offered — might assist America’s future.

It’s been said before, but real change requires real change.