Who's "extreme?"

[tpfkaw]

Just looking through Republican contenders, I thought it'd be interesting to rank them based on their positions on the issues.  Anyone care to agree or disagree?

Based on statements during the campaign:

Fiscal conservative
Ron Paul
Gary Johnson
Tim Pawlenty
Michelle Bachmann
Herman Cain
Rick Santorum
Mitt Romney
Newt Gingrich
Jon Huntsman
Fiscal liberal

Social right
Rick Santorum
Tim Pawlenty
Newt Gingrich
Mitt Romney
Michelle Bachmann
Herman Cain
Ron Paul
Jon Huntsman
Gary Johnson
Social left

Social authoritarian
Rick Santorum
Newt Gingrich
Tim Pawlenty
Mitt Romney
Herman Cain
Michelle Bachmann
Jon Huntsman
Gary Johnson
Ron Paul
Social libertarian

Hawk
Rick Santorum
Tim Pawlenty
Newt Gingrich
Michelle Bachmann
Mitt Romney
Herman Cain
Jon Huntsman
Gary Johnson
Ron Paul
Dove

Based on their record in office (if applicable)

Fiscal conservative
Ron Paul
Gary Johnson
Michelle Bachmann
Tim Pawlenty
Newt Gingrich
Rick Santorum
John Huntsman
Mitt Romney
Fiscal liberal

N/A:

Herman Cain

Social right
Rick Santorum
Michelle Bachmann
Tim Pawlenty
Newt Gingrich
Ron Paul
Jon Huntsman
Mitt Romney
Gary Johnson
Social left

N/A:

Herman Cain

Social authoritarian
Rick Santorum
Newt Gingrich
Michelle Bachmann
Tim Pawlenty
Mitt Romney
Jon Huntsman
Gary Johnson
Ron Paul
Social libertarian

N/A:

Herman Cain

Hawk
Rick Santorum
Michelle Bachmann
Newt Gingrich
Ron Paul
Dove

N/A:

Tim Pawlenty
Mitt Romney
Herman Cain
Jon Huntsman
Gary Johnson

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Id say thats about right. Just shows Ron Pauls awesomeness

[King]

Id say thats about right. Just shows Ron Pauls awesomeness

Or his extremism.

I like how Bachmann is pretty much put in the middle of all of these.    If you put McCain, Dubya, Dole, Bush Sr, and Reagan on this list, they'd probably be the most leftist on a lot of these ranks sans Hawk/Dove.

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

generally accurate, though I'd consider Huntsman's statements more fiscally conservative than Gingrich's (ex. entitlement reform), and Cain above Romney on hawkishness.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

Ron Paul is in fact much more socially authoritarian/conservative than what is popularly assumed.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Id say thats about right. Just shows Ron Pauls awesomeness

Or his extremism.

To quote my other hero "Extremism in the Defense of Liberty is no vice. And Moderation in the Pursuit of Justice is no virtue".

[Хahar 🤔]

They're all extremists.

[Ⓐnarchy in the ☭☭☭P!]

Id say thats about right. Just shows Ron Pauls awesomeness

Or his extremism.

I like how Bachmann is pretty much put in the middle of all of these.    If you put McCain, Dubya, Dole, Bush Sr, and Reagan on this list, they'd probably be the most leftist on a lot of these ranks sans Hawk/Dove.

I am really urging to yell "golden mean fallacy" right here.

[King]

Id say thats about right. Just shows Ron Pauls awesomeness

Or his extremism.

To quote my other hero "Extremism in the Defense of Liberty is no vice. And Moderation in the Pursuit of Justice is no virtue".

To also quote Barry Goldwater,

"Do not associate my name with anything you do. You are extremists, and you've hurt the Republican Party much more than the Democrats have."

-- Goldwater on conservatism, 1996.

[The Mikado]

How is pro-life, anti-immigration Ron Paul a social liberal?

[tpfkaw]

How is pro-life, anti-immigration Ron Paul a social liberal?

He isn't.  Hence why the words "social liberal" appear nowhere in my post.

[King]

How is pro-life, anti-immigration Ron Paul a social liberal?

He isn't.  Hence why the words "social liberal" appear nowhere in my post.

So, if social liberal and social libertarian are also different things now, what galaxy does social left (which was in your post) reside?

[tpfkaw]

Well, as an example, supporting "anti-discrimination" laws for gay people, or "net neutrality" legislation, or banning fast food would make one both more socially leftist and more socially authoritarian.  "Social liberal" =/= social libertarian by any stretch of the imagination.

[The Mikado]

OK then, how is there anything "Libertarian" about Ron Paul's stance on immigration?

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

OK then, how is there anything "Libertarian" about Ron Paul's stance on immigration?

That's just one issue out of numerous others. Ron Paul is Libertarian in the issues of Healthcare, Gay Marridge, Marijuana, and Foreign Policy, to name a few.

[King]

OK then, how is there anything "Libertarian" about Ron Paul's stance on immigration?

Ron Paul does not take Libertarian positions.  Libertarians take the positions of Ron Paul.

[courts]

OK then, how is there anything "Libertarian" about Ron Paul's stance on immigration?

Favoring little to no immigration restrictions after social programs are dismantled and opposing Real ID, the arizona law, mandating E-verify, etc. is pretty libertarian compared to the status quo. Not something I'm thrilled with but it is what it is.

[opebo]

One dog turd may smell worse than another, but they're still, ultimately, all roughly as objectionable, no?

[Mercenary]

Ron Paul is in fact much more socially authoritarian/conservative than what is popularly assumed.

Social conservatism and social authoritarianism are not the same thing just as social liberalism and social libertarianism aren't. Ron Paul is socially conservative, but socially libertarian.

An area I can think of where someone could claim he is "authoritarian" is pro-life issues, which itself is a debatable issue since the "libertarian" position could be either side depending on when one considers person-hood to begin.

It just happens that most social conservatives are generally authoritarian and thus give a bad name to social conservative ideology which is basically just morality and a strong respect for culture and traditions. Of course most establishment social liberals are also social authoritarian, like Obama. The base may not be as much so though. But it is a bad thing to assume social conservative = authoritarian and social liberal = libertarian.

I'm socially libertarian, yet socially conservative. One has to do with how you believe and live, the other has to do whether you force that belief on others. Just like one could support economic equality, yet oppose economic authoritarianism.

Although his position on immigration, is indeed, not really libertarian. But he is still the most libertarian person in congress, on both social and economic issues.

[King]

Ron Paul is in fact much more socially authoritarian/conservative than what is popularly assumed.

Social conservatism and social authoritarianism are not the same thing just as social liberalism and social libertarianism aren't. Ron Paul is socially conservative, but socially libertarian.

Christ, in 15 years the Libertarian Diamond of Ideology will be so chopped up every American will have their own spectrum with axises in the third and fourth dimensions.

[Stranger in a strange land]

Bachmann is without question the most socially authoritarian. She wants to ban pornography.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Bachmann is without question the most socially authoritarian. She wants to ban pornography.

She isnt winning over any male youth voters...

[Stranger in a strange land]

Bachmann is without question the most socially authoritarian. She wants to ban pornography.

She isnt winning over any male youth voters...

[TJ in Oregon]

Ron Paul is in fact much more socially authoritarian/conservative than what is popularly assumed.

Social conservatism and social authoritarianism are not the same thing just as social liberalism and social libertarianism aren't. Ron Paul is socially conservative, but socially libertarian.

Christ, in 15 years the Libertarian Diamond of Ideology will be so chopped up every American will have their own spectrum with axises in the third and fourth dimensions.

One thing I’ve learned in politics is to never call someone a libertarian because any time you do, you will instantly get four or five offended libertarians ripping that label apart to show you exactly why the person in question is not a libertarian.