What Is a Ron Paul Republican?

Congressional hopeful Peter James isn't just running as a Republican. According to the the Washington Post, the 52-year-old is running for the seat held by Rep. Albert R. Wynn (D-MD) as a "Ron Paul Republican."

First of all, anyone who is running on that platform may have difficulty in Maryland's fourth district in Montgomery and Prince George's counties outside of Washington, D.C., where are fair amount of voters work for the government Paul and other libertarians despise.

Moreover as the Post notes, "James acknowledged running with an `R' after his name will be tough, but he said at least a third of those who attend local weekly Ron Paul meet-ups identify themselves as liberal Democrats concerned with the growth of the federal government."

Four other candidates in Maryland are running similar campaigns, the paper said. That raises the question of what exactly is a Ron Paul Republican? He disagrees with many of the positions of his party's leadership including the Patriot Act and the Iraq War that it's makes me wonder why he's even still in the party. I know he advocates "low taxes, free markets, and a return to sound monetary policies" but dare I say so do many Democrats.

Relax Paulistas, Paulites or whatever you rabid Ron Paul supporters call yourselves, I like your fearless leader even though I don't agree with him politically. The good doctor inspires people, something that few Republicans or Democrats with the exception of Barack Obama, do. Let's hope that when the Texas Republican loses in the primaries, all of that passion is put to good use.