Who are these people at Strib? They want massive public money put into Wilfare, and they call Ron Paul a "firebrand." What are they using? Ron Paul appears to believe what he says, and he says it in a respectful way inviting disagreement and debate. He avoids name-calling, unlike say Bachmann discussing Obama policy. Ron Paul a Firebrand? Get real.

This paragraph, this item:

In addition, Shortridge has been working quietly to appease supporters of libertarian presidential candidate Ron Paul. The firebrand's adherents have won a large majority of delegate spots to the Republican National Convention, locking up 20 of the 24 spots so far. Paul supporters, who long have disdained the GOP leadership's close ties to more establishment candidates, are nibbling away at state party leadership.

Here.

He is working from within the political process not from outside it.

He wants to audit the Fed, not burn it down.

He wants to restore peace and bring the troops home.

He has beliefs and defends them, orally and in writings. Was Bill Buckley a "firebrand?" Closer to one than Ron Paul, but compared to the neocons of Bush-Cheney-Powell warmongering us into Iraq on false evidence and inflamed rhetoric, no way is Ron Paul a firebrand.

Rev. King? Ghandi? Each wanted change and confronted issues in ways the public noticed. Is that being a firebrand?

Some things Ron Paul advocates I agree with. On other things I disagree. Never in a million years would I call the man a "firebrand." I would call him rationally dissatisfied with the status quo. For that, I'd give him a gold star, not any pejorative and insulting terminology.

That one word used as it is in a lengthy report discredits the authors, who did well on much else they wrote.