BigR,
I am also glad to see you cruise back in here, occasionally...

My comment about my continual "question" to my GeezerBuds is somewhat rhetorical, as I know most of them get their entire "news" from ~10 mins of Fox or Rush, et al.
Doesn't mean those sources suck, but a couple snippets of that stuff is not exactly "fair and balanced", or fully informative imo.

Thus, other than the usual right/conservative suspects, they can offer no real good ideas on "who" and "why".

(I always wonder what "conservative values" really means, even after reading some blogs/definitions/position papers on that toss around term.)

Back on point, sort of, Paul would be interesting and about a 180 from standard party machine politics in the US, but I suspect he has less chance than me breaking 75.
I have read considerably on he and his positions and ideas, but he may be too "smart" and tenuous for the typical TeaParty or RepublicanDem stuffed suits.

No polit xpert here, as I find myself ranting at all most all of them, and there are few I would hire to help me pick up yard debris, let alone "guide" me in any serious life task.

Things and, politics, and the Noise in this country is as loud and obnoxious and inane, and non-constructive, as I can recall in my 6+ decades here. I have no answer(s)...
it will probably not get better.

Good to read you again Ryan, and very good to read your back is on the heal.
BR, mD