I am well up on my history, so please...
The internet trumps radio and tv though as to what information is available and its ability to mobilze grassroots movements. You say its impact has not been felt, and I agree as this is what I am talking about.
Lincoln and FDR did positive things through their disregard of the constitution. I would bet that most of the people in America thought that what was being done was for their own good and agreed with it. I believe our current administrations approval rating is at record lows? And according to the article the OP linked, our congresses rating is even lower on the whole.
As for Ron Paul, I don't understand why people don't think he is a serious contender:
Could it be because he raised more money in 1 day than any other GOP candidate? I don't suppose.
Maybe it is because he has just as much money raised now than the other front runners? Nah.
Ron Paul wants a revolution and a return to the Constitution as our government's law. This is why I support him.
I would've voted for Colbert if he was allowed to run, but at least his attempt showed that not just anyone can run for president in America.(Contrary to what we would idealistically like to think)
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Internet may trump TV and radio by todays standards, but by the standards of the the time in which they were released they had the same potential for impact on the system. TV and Radio, particularly Radio, had the potential to spark grass roots movements in the same way in it's early days.
So in your estimation the illegal suspension Habeas Corpus and the illegal detention of thousands of American citizens was a good thing? JFK and his party's more or less blatant theft (via ballot box stuffing in Illinois) of the 1960 election was ok?
Contrary to what the popular media would like you to believe, approval ratings mean very little when it comes down to it. Nearly every modern president since FDR that has served 2 terms has had their ratings bottom out in their second term. In the end it didn't mean squat.
Your entitled to you opinions on Ron Paul, but in the end he has no real chance of gaining a foothold anywhere on the political spectrum that would give him a snowballs chance in heck of winning. I apologize if that comes across as rude, it is not intended to. Heck Bush has a better chance of being re-elected than Ron Paul does and he can't even run.
can't say i know much about bloomburg(sp?) but I know that Ron Paul is the only one on the GOP and DFL side that will commit to an immediate withdrawl from Iraq...
Which would be a huge mistake. Outside of the radical left there is no real majority consenus on just walking away.
