It was mostly fair. but frankly did avoid the Ron Paul stance on abolishing the Federal Reserve. He talked about his smaller Constitutional Government, bringing home all American troops, stopping aid to Israel, but Ron Paul was quick to point out he would stop all aid to the Arab States in the region too. However, I believe we are bound by a treaty brokered by Jimmy Carter to aid Egypt as part of a Peace treaty between Israel and Egypt. he also spoke about abolishing the CIA, IRS, FBI, DOE, Ron Paul was allowed to qualify all these positions but not really say exactly how he would do it. I do think Tim Russert somewhat framed the questions to Ron Paul as to get a visceral negative reaction from listeners, especially talking about the Civil Rights Act.
I think Ron Paul defended himself well, I don't think he changed many minds, but I'm sure he may have created a little more curiosity about himself to voters not so in tune with the Internet. But as I type this Tim Russert is presenting the Poll numbers and Ron Paul is practically missing from all those. There are those who might think that this part of the Meet The Press hour is the Media promoting the usual Establishment Candidates with the usual emphasis on the Democratic top three. Hillary, Obama and John Edwards names being said over and over blah blah blah.
It's worth noting that change is often desired but rarely pursued by people in their regular lives. Change is hard, and there's always the uncertainty that change may make things worse. I think that is often the subtle attraction of status quo candidates. Ron Paul is the candidate offering the sea change to American Governance. It's all well and good to run on reducing spending but at the end of the day people want spending reduced but not their benefits. Tim Russert ran down a list a ear marks for Ron Paul's district and asked him point blank why he doesn't refuse them. Ron Paul said that he's just trying to get his district's money back for them. He then went on with some stump speech about a corrupt system.
As for me, I have no idea what candidate I'll support. I see reality disconnects in all of them. Perhaps it's best in our soft Fascist state that special interests will simply rig the election and try to keep this Great American smoke and mirrors game going. Like I said, change may not always be good. Change always sounds good in the sales pitch, but the devil is in the details on the ground. So far I'm unconvinced, besides, no Candidate is saying how all this change would be made and how it would come to be.
