Ron Paul Has Already Changed the Game

The "biggest story yet of this presidential campaign"? Easy, writes Charles Krauthammer in the Washington Post. It's Ron Paul. He has just about brought libertarianism "to a position of prominence in a major party," doing for his cause what Jesse Jackson did for African-Americans in the 1980s and Pat Buchanan for social conservatives in the early 1990s. Paul could well wind up with the second highest number of delegates behind Mitt Romney, which will give him much clout with the crafting of the party platform, not to mention "a prime-time speaking slot" at the convention.

That means Republicans can look forward to "a major address by Paul calling for the abolition of the Fed, FEMA, and the CIA; American withdrawal from everywhere; acquiescence to the Iranian bomb," etc. Not exactly what the GOP needs. "For libertarianism, however, it would be a historic moment: mainstream recognition at last." Paul knows he'll never reach the White House himself, no matter what his fervent followers believe, writes Krauthammer. Instead, he's building a "cause"—and possibly a path for son Rand. Full column here. (More Ron Paul 2012 stories.)