Rep. Ron Paul Won't Run For Re-Election

by Reeve Hamilton
July 12, 2011
26 Comments

Update, 3:15 p.m.: One potential contender for the seat U.S. Rep. Ron Paul is vacating looks to be state Rep. Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood. He issued a statement this afternoon throwing his hat pretty close to the ring.

“Congressman Paul’s announcement today not to seek re-election has created a rare opportunity for public service at the national level," Taylor said in his statement. "I have received encouragement from conservative leaders across Texas this afternoon. It is an opportunity that I will consider very seriously in the coming weeks."

Earlier story:

Late Tuesday morning, U.S. Rep. Ron ...

Full Story

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Comments (26)

July 12, 2011 @ 12:49 p.m.

Karen Cummings via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Do you support Ron Paul?
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July 12, 2011 @ 1:07 p.m.

Mike Openshaw via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Of course, they do, Karen; the pot-smoking wing of the GOP is nothing but Paulites :)
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July 12, 2011 @ 1:14 p.m.

Bambi Clark via Texas Tribune on Facebook

When they redrew the district he said he could win anywhere. *LOL*
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July 12, 2011 @ 1:53 p.m.

Darrel Mulloy via Texas Tribune on Facebook

He could win again in his new district, but he stated that he is going to concentrate his efforts on the presidential run. This is total commitment, leaving the door shut behind him and moving only forward.
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July 12, 2011 @ 2:05 p.m.

Paul Wolf via Texas Tribune on Facebook

And after he drops out of the presidential race he can totally concentrate on his new career as just another cranky old man.
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July 12, 2011 @ 2:38 p.m.

Darrel Mulloy via Texas Tribune on Facebook

He has never been a cranky old man. You obviously know little if anything about the man.
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July 12, 2011 @ 3:28 p.m.

Jason Stoddard via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Sad commentary about a truly exceptional human being.
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July 12, 2011 @ 3:35 p.m.

Jalapeno Schwartz via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Rather have Larry Joe Taylor!
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July 12, 2011 @ 3:38 p.m.

Ara Lohan via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Good man, but misguided.
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July 12, 2011 @ 3:42 p.m.

Matthew Whitt via Texas Tribune on Facebook

I am sure that Mike was one of those Democrats that came over to the Republican party.
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July 12, 2011 @ 3:46 p.m.

Matthew Whitt via Texas Tribune on Facebook

I don't smoke pot but I do vote for Paul!
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July 12, 2011 @ 4:10 p.m.

Karen Cummings via Texas Tribune on Facebook

I am sure Ron Paul is a very nice man but he has some extreme and nutty ideas IMHO.
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July 12, 2011 @ 4:10 p.m.

Karen Cummings via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Oh, and his son makes him look sane.
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July 12, 2011 @ 4:19 p.m.

Todd Benzkofer via Texas Tribune on Facebook

I guess after witnessing how most in the Federal Government trample the Constitution and basically do whatever they please it does look a bit "nutty" when a true statesman takes a different stance on issues the way he does.
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July 12, 2011 @ 4:20 p.m.

Mike Openshaw via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Matthew; want to see my Goldwater buttons...that I wore while campaigning for him in '64? Reagan '76 and '80? '82 County GOP chairman plaque? Been in the conservative trenches a long time- long before it was cool.
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July 12, 2011 @ 4:24 p.m.

Matthew Whitt via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Well good for you Mike, but you brought the comment upon yourself with that little generalized statement. I can't say that I voted for Goldwater since he was before my time but my family were big supporters.
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July 12, 2011 @ 4:29 p.m.

Matthew Whitt via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Everything everyone tries to attack Paul for is very misguided and only rooted in ignorance. Was he wrong when he said we were going to invite a terrorist attack on US soil from Qaeda? Or was it the time when he said Osama was in Pakistan? Maybe it was the time he said the housing market was going to crash? So even though everyone said he was wrong (including most in the GOP) he turned out to be right. So why would we not listen to him on his ideas to "fix" the problems?
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July 12, 2011 @ 4:40 p.m.

Mike Openshaw via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Matthew: that level of understanding of people is what you get from getting all your ideas out of the Ron Paul cult echo chamber. The 'Great Prophet' Ron is normally viewed by us old hands as having a number of good points, but goes off on 'Crazy uncle' tangents way too often (especially on foreign policy) and his hypocritical pork-barreling makes him laughable. He'll pull his single digits in a few primaries and then wander off into the sunset to live off the fat government pension and medical plan he'll take every penny of while living off the leftover cash from followers like yourself.
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July 12, 2011 @ 5:03 p.m.

Matthew Whitt via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Actually he gave his salary back and refuses a number of other government programs given to politicians. I assume earmarks are what you mean by the pork but an earmark is the only way a congressional district gets its money back; otherwise it just goes overseas. I can't understand what you find so wrong with his foreign policy. That was actually the first thing that attracked me to Paul as a president. At the time I was in the infantryman in the Marines. It was a wasted effort of playing police officer int he Middle East since we were not there to win and only play the "political correctness" game with the UN. Afterward, I recieved my degree in economics (because Paul did make it interesting) and after working in the field for a few short years now I can see why he takes the stance on foreign policy. You know we don't have a defense right? Not enough for a real war. Again these are misguided or just plain ignorant statements that hold no water. I'm sure you are a smart guy Mike but I think you are more of a party man than a conservative.
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July 12, 2011 @ 5:27 p.m.

Paul Wolf via Texas Tribune on Facebook

I've heard Ron Paul talk. In addition to his tangential thought process, he tends to suggest the solution to moden problems is to just return to how things were when he was a kid.
Oh, and he wasn't all psychic about where Osama Bin Laden was. The only people who didn't know were Bush, Cheney, and the Pakistani government.
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July 12, 2011 @ 5:38 p.m.

Matthew Whitt via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Funny, I've never read anything that supports what you say Paul. I guess Obama finally figured out he was in Pakistan but it took him several years to say so after Paul said it and now we are going to fight more of the Middle East. We can continue this path of Obama/Bush policy and have a nice hyperinflation to deal with in the near future.
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July 12, 2011 @ 6:11 p.m.

Todd Benzkofer via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Ron Paul doesn't participate in the congressional pension fund (one of only two serving in the entire congress). Someone who actually serves his constituents and practices what he preaches.
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July 12, 2011 @ 6:12 p.m.

Todd Benzkofer via Texas Tribune on Facebook

You're doing a fine job schooling the elders on the page, Matthew. Keep it up......they're a dying breed.
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July 13, 2011 @ 9:57 a.m.

Hannah Katz

If Larry Taylor runs for the seat, it will be a major loss for the Texas House and major gain for the U.S. House. He is very smart and a man of integrity. And a solid conservative.
July 13, 2011 @ 10:42 a.m.

Chris Thornton via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Ron Paul 2012
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July 13, 2011 @ 11:21 a.m.

Riley LovesJoy via Texas Tribune on Facebook

It's disappointing that this seems to be the only piece on Ron Paul that the Texas Tribune has bothered to cover... They keep covering Perry based on the possibility that he might run for president.. Why not Ron Paul? He's actually running. Have some respect for a fellow Texan and start covering Ron Paul's presidential campaign like you cover Perry's non-campaign!!!
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