Transcript
John J Duncan, Jr.: Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my friend, Ron Paul. I have now served in Congress for 24 years, the last 16 of which I have served with Congressman Paul. During all of that time, I have never once seen him waver or stray from the commitment to liberty and freedom and his promise to uphold and defend our constitution. I can assure that no one runs for office wanting to make people mad. In fact, many of the other people who run for office have a stronger desire to be liked than most people. Thus, I feel certain that at times it has been hurtful to Congressman Paul to be the only member out of 435 to vote ‘No’ on some popular bill or some seemingly harmless resolution. Yet, on many occasions, he has been the only ‘No’ vote on some issues. Yet, because of his courage and sincerity and steadfast belief in free-enterprise, private property and individual freedom, he has earned the respect and admiration of almost everyone with whom he has served on both sides of the aisle.
When there was tremendous pressure, especially on the Republican side to vote to go to war in Iraq, only 6 Republicans voted ‘No’. Three of those were very liberal Republicans, and 3 were very conservative. The three conservative ‘No’ votes came from John Hostettler of Indiana, Congressman Paul, and myself. It is probably accurate to say that during the 16 years Congressman Paul and I have served together, no two members have voted more alike than we have. Most of that time, we have arrived at our decisions separately and independently, but we also have discussed many votes over the years and I attended most of the meetings of the Liberty Caucus that Congressman Paul has hosted in his office with a wide variety of speakers. One national magazine about 4 years ago gave just 3 members 100% ratings on the freedom-index: Congressman Paul, Congressman Jeff Flake of Arizona, and myself. Last year, I was very surprised when the national tax payers union ranked me as the most fiscally conservative member on all 338 spending votes, but the only reason that Congressman Paul was not first was because he missed many votes during his run for the White House.
There have been articles and comments and questions about who would be the next Ron Paul in Congress. But really no one can replace Ron Paul or fill his shoes or be the next Ron Paul. He has achieved a fame and a following and a position of influence that is almost miraculous, considering his unique independence. He is such a kind, humble, almost bashful person, that I know he’s been amazed by the numbers that have turned out to support him, and especially the following he has among young people. After all, there’s nothing cool or hip about him, but several million college students and 20-somethings love the name. I think his appeal lies on his principle stands on the issues, the concern young people have for their future and where this country is headed, and the fact that Congressman Paul is real, there’s nothing fake about him. He believes what he says and says what he believes, and then sticks by it even when it is not ‘politically correct’. Financial columnist, Charles Goyette, probably summed up Congressman Paul’s time in office best in a column a few days ago. He wrote, “Politics has ways of bending lesser men and molding even the well-intentioned to become servants of the state. The tools are many: Congressional leadership bribes and bestows its favors, from plum committee assignments to nicer Capitol offices. The parties reward the lockstep-marchers, too. For those who stay in step, there are endorsements and campaign funds. Meanwhile, for those who march to a different drummer …” well, “… and then there’s the simple social pressure to which men whose eyes are not focused on a polestar of principle soon succumb. The description you’ve heard of Washington, that you have to go along to get along, is all too true.” Mr. Goyette concluded by writing, “Ron Paul never succumbed. He never sold out for a better assignment, a nice office, lobbyist largesse, or shallow conviviality”.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, I think words written in the 1930 Novel called ‘The Lion’s Den’ fit Congressman Ron Paul. The words describe a fictional congressman named Zimmer. The author, Janet Fairbank, wrote, “No matter how the espousal of a lost cause might hurt his prestige in the House, Zimmer had never hesitated to identify himself with it if it seemed to him to be right. He knew only two ways, the right one and the wrong. And if he sometimes made a mistake, it was never one of honor. He voted as he believed he should, and although sometimes his voice was raised alone on one side of the question, it was never stilled”.
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makes me happy to be from Tn. But then I remember im on the west side… and that he’s still a politician…
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Thanks for saying that. Many of us never know how successful we are when we try to help Americans learn the truth. And yes, we will do this for individual liberty and freedom.
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If “making a better system is going to have to be informed by history” then we are doomed to repeat the same mistakes. Thinking new systems through, and expanding them as they give good results will take us light years further than repeating history. Take our the experiment that our nation is for example. Just because it hasn’t happened doesn’t mean it isn’t better. I’m confident that through a free market system we would build highways, or systems that are better than highways.
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If you want to see who is ignoring history, you should have a look in the mirror. No one wants to destroy your infrastructure, so stop making things up. Destroying the department of education would be a huge step in improving schools. Keep the federal government out of education. That is not destruction, as you say. Just look at history.
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off topic:
Ben Swann Exposes Barack Husein Obama on his NDAA lies!
If you want to save our Freedoms — SPREAD THIS 3 minute video LIKE WILDFIRE!
Our wannabe Lil’ Dictator (BHO) lies on all levels. And when he starts stuttering you know a Big Lie is about to follow (while stuttering his small brain is trying to formulate a reply that may not be noticed as untruth).
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#1 Lie — Barack Hussein said he would Veto the NDAA (if passed). What a nice TRAP he laid for all these dunces that thought they could display “Patriotism” on the Floor (since then they could say: We voted for it, but the Prez Vetoed it).
Then does the COMPLETELY OPPOSITE and signs this pernicious Unconstitutional document into Law on New Year’s Eve, when no-one is watching!
When a Judge finds it, at a much later date, Unconstitutional, he, Barack Hussein, again breaks his word and sics his lawyers to overturn it in an Appellate Court (by some crony Judge) in a few days after the decision!
So, we still have this pernicious and unconstitutional Law — courtesy of Barack Hussein — that allows American Citizens to be illegally whisked away ON SUSPICION ONLY without DUE COURSE OF LAW. And if they, such US Citizens, are never heard of again, it is because Barack Hussein has usurped the Powers of the Courts, since they are to be denied legal representation!
And the list of the TRANSGRESSIONS AGAINST ALL AMERICANS by this Little Man, that occupies our White House, KEEPS GROWING!
Here is proof of Barack Hussein’s PERFIDY!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1Kf_0mEoYU
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Ron Paul: a flower of light in a field of darkness
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The flame of liberty lives on!
Thank you SO MUCH Dr Paul, we love you!!! :.)
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Nobody can replace him and nobody will. there will just be one more new douchebag to sell us out. Thanks Dr.Paul for curing my apathy!
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RP.
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there are centuries of history to see the kind of thing that happens, so far, the only long range highways have been built by governments… you may not like the roman government, me neither, but they built the oldest long distance highways. Making a better system is going to have to be informed by history.
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in the bubble you mean?
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Actually, it looks like you’re the only one who’s nuts..
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Let it be known!
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Yet we’re all fuckkkkkked …..buahahahahhahaha. Good game America.
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Ron paul inspired me, I wrote about him in my admission essays for college
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Congressman Duncan may well be our next Ron Paul. Congressman Duncan is the Best of the Best.
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I will remeber your name Mr. Duncan. Thank you for acknowledging Congressman Paul.
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You can question him. If you don’t question him you are a fool. If he really is for freedom he wants people to question government.
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Yes WE do,….Congressman Duncan is outstanding. We Love Jimmy Duncan and WE are thankful to have his leadership without question. Thank you Congressman Duncan!!!,…and God Bless Ron Paul.
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RP ‘s message was clear , Liberty and Freedom . It’s just gettin started .
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Beautiful
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i just discovered my second favorite congressman! Thanks for the video.
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Agreed!
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The title is incorrect. There will be more just like Ron Paul. All in good time.
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because youv been either sleeping under a rock and or CNN/FOX did a good propaganda job
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How come we never heard of this guy before now?
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i’m sorry… i cried… with joy.
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Rep. John Duncan Jr. for President 2016?… assuming Ron Paul doesn’t run.
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Rep. John Duncan Jr. for President 2016?… assuming Ron Paul doesn’t run.
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Never Succumb,never be sold out.
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This is the congressman I ran against this last cycle, after he had turned his back on Dr. Paul. He openly campaigned for Romney during the primary, even more than against me. But I may have taught him a lesson, and changed his ways.
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yes this sucks but we have to look at this positively. He’s passing the torch on to others; we must spread the word and hope for the best!
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We lost the best when Ron Paul retired. I don’t trust ANYONE ELSE. Words are cheap & actions speak. The future will show us what we have left & I sure won’t be holding my breath because the majority are corrupt.
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A true Patriot!
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sorry, I’m blaming Hamilton for the central bank, but of course not as president you are correct, I mispoke.
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