Ron Paul to Hold Protest Convention

Just when you thought he was gone...

From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Ron Paul plans his own convention

Maverick GOP presidential candidate Ron Paul has booked an arena in Minneapolis for a "mini-convention" that could steal some of John McCain's thunder just days before he accepts the Republican nomination.

A Paul campaign aide said the Texas congressman hopes to pack about 11,000 supporters into the Williams Arena at the University of Minnesota on Sept. 2, which coincides with the second day of the Republican National Convention at the Xcel Energy Center in neighboring St. Paul.

Paul, 72, will announce details for the rally Thursday at the start of the Texas Republican Convention in Houston.

The campaign hopes the daylong event will "send a message to the Republican Party," Paul campaign spokesman Jesse Benton tells the Tribune-Review.

"There is a growing surge of people out there just craving" for a return "to traditional American government, limited government that places personal liberty first and places an emphasis on personal responsibility and essentially gets out of the way after that," Benton said.

Personally I hope he gets the number of attendees he's seeking. The GOP has strayed so far from its roots that its needs a wake up call or two and if nothing else some of the ideas Paul's campaign exposed have real value. Hopefully he'll be able to keep enough of supporters politically engaged so that the message will outlive the messenger.