Ode To Ron Paul's Coalition of the Chillin'

We know, we know: this blog is no place to get all earnest-like. But on behalf of that part of the world that finds itself beneath the gaze of America's military eyes, we humbly submit a tiny paeon to Ron Paul.

He's done now, Mr. Paul is -- shut down in Tampa, denied a spot at the GOP convention microphone, his worshipping hordes crestfallen. At 77, he'll retire. Done. Done we say.

And sure, there's plenty in Paul's suitcase of libertarian tonics to send the average Canadian running hard for the hills, clutching universal health care to their bosom.

But let it also be said that Paul was the first Republican candidate in a generation (ever? Dear American neighbours, help us out here) to challenge the party's default mindset on war.

It really was stunning during those endless primary debates in the early months of 2012 to see Paul standing alone on national security with the message that Americans should think long and hard -- and then think more -- about the half-cocked calamity of foreign intervention. Everyone else was looking for a tub to thump. At times, Rick Santorum seemed ready to crack open a big can of Iran and start eating it right there at the podium. 

But Ron Paul. No, he had this kooky idea that you could be an American conservative without being locked, loaded and ready for deployment.

Okay, we'll shaddup now. Except to remind you, with a snap from Paul's last stand in Tampa, that he awakened several million young Americans to this way of thinking. As you can see, America loves its troops and the Paulistas are no different -- but they're convinced the best way to love them is to keep them home as often as humanly possible.

That is all.