2012-02-18

Romney/Paul ticket is now in trial balloon phase

In Does a Romney/Paul ticket make sense?, I speculated that Romney's desire to be president was not in conflict with Ron Paul's desire to further a cause because Romney's campaign is not very ideological. Now, the idea has graced the pages of the New York Times in Amid Rivalry, Friendship Blossoms on the Campaign Trail
In an interview on CBS this past weekend, Mr. Paul volunteered that since his rivals were largely identical in policy substance, “when it comes down to those three, it’s probably going to be management style more than anything else.” According to one person close to the Paul campaign, it would be accurate to infer from that phrasing — “management style” — that Mr. Paul has a willingness to listen to overtures from Mr. Romney, who has been trying to sell himself to voters as a proven manager.
Political pundits refer to speculative ideas leaked to the press as trial balloons. Usually these are leaked by those in power to gauge public interest, but this appears to be more natural or possibly even coming from the Paul campaign. Either way, this idea will hit the mainstream soon and we'll see whether it has legs. It makes sense because Paul will step aside to let younger leaders take over the movement and Romney needs the support. Also, Paul has some very popular ideas that serve as wedge issues against Obama. One area that can't be left alone is foreign policy, but Romney could agree to ask Congress for a declaration of war before sending troops into harm's way (something he'd likely receive from a Republican Congress anyway). On domestic issues, he could agree to deescalate the drug war. He could agree to legalize gold as currency and form a serious committee that pursues monetary reform, a committee that would be majority influenced by Paul. Finally, less likely but an electoral vote winner, would be if Romney agreed to look at the Patriot Act and restrict the increased police powers to terrorism cases. Currently, the expansion of government power allows federal agencies wide latitude. The best case that sticks in my mind is the one where a couple getting intimate on a flight were arrested for terrorism.
Mid-flight sexual play lands US couple afoul of anti-terrorism law
A couple's ill-concealed sexual play aboard a Southwest Airlines flight from Los Angeles got them charged with violating the Patriot Act, intended for terrorist acts, and could land them in jail for 20 years.
According to their indictment, Carl Persing and Dawn Sewell were allegedly snuggling and kissing inappropriately, "making other passengers uncomfortable," when a flight attendant asked them to stop.

"Persing was observed nuzzling or kissing Sewell on the neck, and ... with his face pressed against Sewell's vaginal area. During these actions, Sewell was observed smiling," reads the indictment filed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

On a second warning from the flight attendant, Persing snapped back threatening the flight attendant with "serious consequences" if he did not leave them alone.

The comment was enough to have the couple, both in their early 40s, arrested when the plane reached its destination in Raleigh, North Carolina, and charged with obstructing a flight attendant and with criminal association.

They have been placed under legal surveillance until their trial on February 5. If found guilty, they both could be sent to jail for up to 20 years.

Persing's lawyer William Peregoy said his client was not feeling well when he placed his head on his companion's lap, and that he only threatened the flight attendant with reporting him to his superiors on landing.

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