Morning Joe 11/3/2011 -- Ron Paul and Bob Woodward -- Two Americas

This morning on Morning Joe, I have to hand it them, they put on a good show, despite the continued Herman Cain-bashing. Interspersed in serious conversations was the repeated accusation that Cain didn't know China has nuclear weapons, yet the Cain campaign has answered that charge by stating  Cain meant attack capabilities on submarines and such -- Mika's father, who was on the show later, even alluded to this in a back-handed way. Even if this expanation is not believed, Morning Joe should have reported the explanation. It's petty to withhold such information.

But enough about Cain, and enough about how Obama is helped politically by Republican weakness. The media play up the weaknesses of Republicans and ignore the strengths, and this is why I commend Morning Joe for puitting Ron Paul on the show, as well as Paul Ryan. Before Paul came on, the panel talked about no viable, intelligent and informed Republican candidates to challenge Romney. Paul has been basically ignored by the media, and when he gets play, it's usually to frame him as extreme, but when you listen to Paul you realize he is far more informed and intelligent than most people in DC. Paul understands our fundamental problems regarding government spending, the Fed central planning, foreign intervention and corporate welfare. If Republicans can embrace these ideas, perhaps they can become relevant once again.

Bob Woodward was on the show, and contrast between Woodward and Paul is striking. Woodward represents the liberal status quo and Paul represents the new opposition to statism and the liberal status quo in DC. Scarborough represents the old Republican Party which has become irrelevant, although, as usual, ever the people pleaser, Scarborough tried to identify with Paul. Scarborough and Paul do agree on Afghanistan and Iraq and mideast interventions in general. As Paul was making his case for bringing home the troops, Woodward sounded pathetically out of touch as he parrotted the administration's position of keeping al qaeda out of Afghanistan. It's such a tired defense of this decade-long slog in the mideast.

Paul might not have the poll numbers, but he has strong and loyal support of many young people, and the support of soldiers who are suffering the consequences of our foreign policy. Paul's time is drawing near as the nation learns more about our government's failed statist interventions, and as the nation understands the power games in DC. Paul Ryan was on later, and his explanation of what the new Republicans are attempting is at odds with Obama's nation-wide dissing campaign as he attempts to frame Republicans as haters of the poor, the environment, safety in the work place, etc. Ryan makes sense, and he has a plan to back it up. Obama should justify his plan over the Republicans plans rather than dishonestly frame the Republicans as evil.

Today, the Morning Joe crew had some useful conversations, and at least we got to hear different perspectives. As Paul said, this is about philosophy and direction. If we as a nation don't decide we must empower the private sector and limit government, then we'll get the same statist results over and over as we decline. Jonathan Capehart and Rick Stengel were on, and they talked about lack of economic opportunity and the failure of public education, but what they didn't talk about is how government intervention has played a major role in creating these problems. The welfare/warfare State is broken.