Ron Paul Gets it Right

Those in attendance at the Southern Republican Leadership Conference were clearly confused by Ron Paul's just criticism of Republican foreign policy positions. 

Later, when it was his turn to speak at the convention, the libertarian Paul delivered a scathing criticism of Republican foreign policy views:

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. (boos) [...]
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! (mixture of boos and applause)

Throughout his speech, Paul’s comments were met with an awkward tension from the crowd, many of whom appeared uncomfortable with him.

It's tremendous how Paul, who many deem to be too kooky and flighty for serious contention for president, is the one making the most sense at these things.  As ThinkProgress points out, the neo-con right already began their swift break from him after his success at CPAC in February:

Rush Limbaugh responded by claiming CPAC is “not an organization of conservatives,” and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee similarly said CPAC is becoming “increasingly libertarian and less Republican.”

None of this should come as a surprise to anyone following the steady bifurcation of the Republican Party over the last few years.  Anytime some self-proclaimed Tea Partier tries to bemoan the liberal destruction of the constitution and sprawl of our federal government, remind then about Ron Paul's position and watch them flail about and make strange noises.  

Teabaggers love stressing individual freedoms and constitutional liberty until you remind them that their position should also mean an end to American imperialism, the legalization of marijuana, allowing a woman's right to an abortion and full civil rights for the gay community.  Then, of course, all bets are off.