The Foremost Of Many Inconsistencies

I'm glad that Ron Paul addressed one of the central problems the Republicans have these days: you can't advocate limited government while engaging in unrestrained military spending. Empire is not consistent with low taxes. One or the other has to go. The Democrats have their issues too: they love the contracts that go along with unrestrained military spending. But they don't talk about limited government at the same time. Ron Paul's economics aren't good, but at least he brings these issues up. No wonder his reputation is on the increase:

Texas Rep. Ron Paul proved once again Saturday that his politics continue to divide the Republican Party.

He was met with both disapproval and applause during the Southern Republican Leadership Conference for describing conservatives as hypocritical when they call for a return to Constitutional values while supporting foreign wars.

"The conservatives and the liberals, they both like to spend," Paul said, according to Think Progress. "Conservatives spend money on different things. They like embassies, and they like occupation. They like the empire. They like to be in 135 countries and 700 bases.

"Don’t you think it’s rather conservative to say, ‘Oh it’s good to follow the Constitution. Oh, except for war. Let the President go to war anytime they want.’ We can do better with peace than with war."

While most of the other speakers at the event used plenty of rhetoric for "easy applause," as Washington Post reporter David Weigel put it, Paul stuck to the outrage over American foreign policy that has defined his platform.

Whenever the boos grew loud enough, Paul returned to his "humble" foreign policy stance.

"It's been 60 years since we went to war in Korea," said Paul. "Why do we have to have troops there?"