I see big differences between Ron Paul and the baggers. Rand, I won't comment on, don't really see much substance.

Ron Paul was around and talking a right to middle libertarianism lonnnnggg before the teabaggers existed. He is very sharp, and has an understanding of history that none of the baggers even think is important. Palin and Bachman are populist but as ignorant as can be.

The youtube posted here makes some excellent points about real issues, and the issues are worth discussing even if folks are of differing viewpoints, and Ron Paul is really good at stimulating that discussion, which is what I like about him.

I used to like Noam Chomsky for the same reasons, a bright guy who understands history and the issues and is really good at lighting up issues. I am less impressed by his work over the past 5-7 years, too strident, I think age is catching up with him.

With respect to the debt limit, I think Ron Paul makes a good point. Default now or default later, and choose the method of default. I firmly believe the debt limit will be raised, stemming disaster for another, later day. But it won't change the basic dynamic that we are broke and can never pay off this debt.

Raising the debt limit is choosing to put off the inevitable pain hoping that conditions will be better in the future. I don't think that is true but am pretty confident that's what will happen.

And get ready for 2012, when the Republicans are elected, the SHTF based on delaying the default, and then the Rs take the heat, and then we ping pong back again.

A pox on both their houses.